WO2002035818A1 - Remote control data communications system and method - Google Patents

Remote control data communications system and method Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2002035818A1
WO2002035818A1 PCT/US2001/045119 US0145119W WO0235818A1 WO 2002035818 A1 WO2002035818 A1 WO 2002035818A1 US 0145119 W US0145119 W US 0145119W WO 0235818 A1 WO0235818 A1 WO 0235818A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
remote control
data
portable device
wireless link
connection
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2001/045119
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
John H. Mallard, Iii
John Maia
Original Assignee
Portal Player, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Portal Player, Inc. filed Critical Portal Player, Inc.
Priority to AU2002227081A priority Critical patent/AU2002227081A1/en
Publication of WO2002035818A1 publication Critical patent/WO2002035818A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08C—TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS
    • G08C23/00—Non-electrical signal transmission systems, e.g. optical systems
    • G08C23/04—Non-electrical signal transmission systems, e.g. optical systems using light waves, e.g. infrared
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08C—TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS
    • G08C2201/00—Transmission systems of control signals via wireless link
    • G08C2201/40—Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W76/00—Connection management
    • H04W76/10—Connection setup

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to a system and method for downloading data and in particular to a system and method for downloading data over a remote control link to a portable device.
  • Portable content devices such as portable digital music players
  • portable digital music players have become very popular.
  • a user of one of these portable devices must hook the portable device up to a personal computer using a typical cable in order to transfer data between the device and the computer.
  • a typical cable for example, in the context of a portable music player, a user must connect the player to the universal serial bus (USB) port of a personal computer with a physical cable in order to download new digital songs from the personal computer onto the portable device.
  • USB universal serial bus
  • the ability to physically connect the portable device directly to a computer is difficult because the portable device is in a different location from the computer or the like.
  • the user is unable to transfer data between the two devices.
  • a remote control data communications system and method in accordance with the invention permits content and data to be transferred between (e.g., uploading from the portable device to the system wirelessly connected to the remote control or downloading data from the system through the remote control to the portable device) a portable device and a -?-
  • the portable device may be connected to a remote control device and then the data or content may be transferred between the computer, mini-component or multi-component system and the remote control device over a wireless link.
  • the content or data may then be downloaded to the portable device from the remote control.
  • the content or data may then be uploaded from the remote control to the system.
  • a method for communicating data between a system and a portable device over a wireless link is provided.
  • a connection may be established between the portable device and a remote control device and a wireless connection may be established between the remote control device and the system using an existing wireless link between the remote control and the system wherein the existing wireless link being used to control the operation of the system.
  • data may be transferred between the system and the portable device (e.g., downloaded or uploaded) over the combination of the connection and the wireless connection wherein, during a download for example, the data passes from the system to the remote control and then from the remote control to the portable device.
  • Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating a typical multi-component system having a remote control
  • Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating a portable device being connected to the remote control of the multi-component system
  • FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for downloading data through the remote control to the portable device in accordance with the invention. Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment
  • the invention is particularly applicable to downloading music content to a portable digital music player and it is in this context that the invention will be described. It will be appreciated, however, that the system and method in accordance with the invention has greater utility since it may be used in connection with various different portable devices wherein it is desirable to be able to transfer data between the portable device and a computer or the like.
  • the system may be to either 1) download data from the system through the remote control to a portable device; or 2) upload data from the portable device through the remote control to the system.
  • a typical multi- component system will be described.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a typical multi-component system 10 having a remote control 12 wherein the system and remote control communicate with each other over a wireless link 14 that may be an infrared link or a radio frequency link or any other wireless link.
  • the remote control as is well known, is typically used to control the operation of the multi-component system such as to change the tuning of a radio 16, operating a cassette tape 18 or controlling a compact disk player 20.
  • the multi-component system may also include one or more speakers 22 for outputting the sound.
  • the system 10 may also include a port 24 that receives and transmits data with the remote control 12 over the wireless link.
  • the remote control 12 may have a port 26 for communicating in a wireless manner with the multi-component system 10.
  • the remote control may also include a key pad 28 with a plurality of buttons including a power button 30 that permit the operation of the multi- component system to be controlled wirelessly.
  • the same wireless link that is typically used for controlling the multi-component system may also be used for another purpose.
  • the same wireless link already built into the multi- component system and the remote control may be used to communicate content data.
  • the wireless link may be used to communicate digital music files from the multi-component system to a portable device as will now be described.
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a portable device 40 being connected to the remote control 12 of the multi-component system 10.
  • the portable device which may be portable digital music playing device in a preferred embodiment, may be connected to the remote control device via a physical link, such as a cable or via a wireless link.
  • the remote control may be connected to the multi-component system via a wireless link.
  • data may be communicated to the portable device over an existing wireless link.
  • the protocols that may be used for the wireless communications may include Bluetooth, IrDa, the IEEE 802.1 l a and IEEE 802.1 l b standards or any other wireless protocol.
  • FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method 50 for downloading data through the remote control to the portable device in accordance with the invention.
  • a connection between the portable device and the remote control is established wherein the connection may be wireless or an actual physical connection.
  • a connection is established between the remote control device and the multi-component system. With a typical infrared remote control, a connection may be established by pointing the infrared port of the remote device towards the infrared port of the multi-component system so that the two ports are in line of sight to each other.
  • the portable device may generate a command signal and send that command signal over the link to the multi-component system.
  • the command may request the download of a particular piece of data.
  • the requested data is downloaded over the communications link from the multi-component system to the portable device through the remote control device.
  • the digital music may be downloaded to the portable music player so that it may be played on the portable music device.

Abstract

A system and method for communicating data, such as digital music, between a system (10) and a portable device (40) accomplishes this by using the existing wireless link between a remote control (12) and the system (10). In particular, connections are established between the system (10) and the remote control (12) and then the remote control (12) and the portable device (40) so that data is then transferred between the portable device (40) through the remote control (12).

Description

REMOTE CONTROL DATA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM AND METHOD
Background of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a system and method for downloading data and in particular to a system and method for downloading data over a remote control link to a portable device.
Portable content devices, such as portable digital music players, have become very popular. Typically, a user of one of these portable devices must hook the portable device up to a personal computer using a typical cable in order to transfer data between the device and the computer. For example, in the context of a portable music player, a user must connect the player to the universal serial bus (USB) port of a personal computer with a physical cable in order to download new digital songs from the personal computer onto the portable device. At times, the ability to physically connect the portable device directly to a computer is difficult because the portable device is in a different location from the computer or the like. In addition, if the user has misplaced the cable to connect the portable device to the computer, the user is unable to transfer data between the two devices.
Thus, it is desirable to provide a remote control data communications system and method that permits data to be transferred through a remote control and it is to this end that the present invention is directed.
Summary of the Invention
A remote control data communications system and method in accordance with the invention permits content and data to be transferred between (e.g., uploading from the portable device to the system wirelessly connected to the remote control or downloading data from the system through the remote control to the portable device) a portable device and a -?-
remote control and the system connected to the remote control. In particular, the portable device may be connected to a remote control device and then the data or content may be transferred between the computer, mini-component or multi-component system and the remote control device over a wireless link. For downloading, the content or data may then be downloaded to the portable device from the remote control. For uploading, the content or data may then be uploaded from the remote control to the system.
Thus, in accordance with the invention, a method for communicating data between a system and a portable device over a wireless link is provided. A connection may be established between the portable device and a remote control device and a wireless connection may be established between the remote control device and the system using an existing wireless link between the remote control and the system wherein the existing wireless link being used to control the operation of the system. Once the connections are established, data may be transferred between the system and the portable device (e.g., downloaded or uploaded) over the combination of the connection and the wireless connection wherein, during a download for example, the data passes from the system to the remote control and then from the remote control to the portable device.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating a typical multi-component system having a remote control;
Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating a portable device being connected to the remote control of the multi-component system; and
Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for downloading data through the remote control to the portable device in accordance with the invention. Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment
The invention is particularly applicable to downloading music content to a portable digital music player and it is in this context that the invention will be described. It will be appreciated, however, that the system and method in accordance with the invention has greater utility since it may be used in connection with various different portable devices wherein it is desirable to be able to transfer data between the portable device and a computer or the like. In addition, the system may be to either 1) download data from the system through the remote control to a portable device; or 2) upload data from the portable device through the remote control to the system. To better understand the invention, a typical multi- component system will be described.
Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating a typical multi-component system 10 having a remote control 12 wherein the system and remote control communicate with each other over a wireless link 14 that may be an infrared link or a radio frequency link or any other wireless link. The remote control, as is well known, is typically used to control the operation of the multi-component system such as to change the tuning of a radio 16, operating a cassette tape 18 or controlling a compact disk player 20. As shown, the multi-component system may also include one or more speakers 22 for outputting the sound. The system 10 may also include a port 24 that receives and transmits data with the remote control 12 over the wireless link.
The remote control 12 may have a port 26 for communicating in a wireless manner with the multi-component system 10. The remote control may also include a key pad 28 with a plurality of buttons including a power button 30 that permit the operation of the multi- component system to be controlled wirelessly. In accordance with the invention, the same wireless link that is typically used for controlling the multi-component system may also be used for another purpose. In particular, the same wireless link already built into the multi- component system and the remote control may be used to communicate content data. In a preferred embodiment, the wireless link may be used to communicate digital music files from the multi-component system to a portable device as will now be described.
Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating a portable device 40 being connected to the remote control 12 of the multi-component system 10. In accordance with the invention, the portable device, which may be portable digital music playing device in a preferred embodiment, may be connected to the remote control device via a physical link, such as a cable or via a wireless link. As described above, the remote control may be connected to the multi-component system via a wireless link. Once the connections between the multi- component system 10, the remote control 12 and the portable device 40 are made, data, such as digital music files, may be downloaded from the multi-component system through the remote control to the portable device so that the digital music can be played on the portable device. Thus, in accordance with the invention, without physically connecting the portable device to the multi-component system, data may be communicated to the portable device over an existing wireless link. The protocols that may be used for the wireless communications may include Bluetooth, IrDa, the IEEE 802.1 l a and IEEE 802.1 l b standards or any other wireless protocol.
Now, a method for downloading data through a remote control in accordance with the invention will be described.
Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method 50 for downloading data through the remote control to the portable device in accordance with the invention. In step 52, a connection between the portable device and the remote control is established wherein the connection may be wireless or an actual physical connection. In step 54, a connection is established between the remote control device and the multi-component system. With a typical infrared remote control, a connection may be established by pointing the infrared port of the remote device towards the infrared port of the multi-component system so that the two ports are in line of sight to each other.
Once the two connections have been established, the portable device may generate a command signal and send that command signal over the link to the multi-component system. The command may request the download of a particular piece of data. In step 58, the requested data is downloaded over the communications link from the multi-component system to the portable device through the remote control device. Thus, for digital music data, the digital music may be downloaded to the portable music player so that it may be played on the portable music device.
While the foregoing has been with reference to a particular embodiment of the invention, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes in this embodiment may be made without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

Claims:
1. A method for transferring data between a system and a portable device over a wireless link, the method comprising: establishing a connection between the portable device and a remote control device; establishing a wireless connection between the remote control device and the system
5 using an existing wireless link between the remote control and the system, the existing wireless link being used to control the operation of the system; transferring data between the system and the portable device over the combination of the
connection and the wireless connection wherein the data passes between the system and the remote control and then between the remote control and the portable device. 0
2. The method of Claim 1 , wherein the wireless connection further comprises establishing an infrared connection between the system and the remote control.
3. The method of Claim 2, wherein the connection between the portable device and
the remote control device is wireless.
4. The method of Claim 1 , wherein transferring data further comprises downloading
5 data from the system through the remote control device to the portable device.
5. The method of Claim 1 further comprising generating a command at the portable device to select data to be downloaded to the portable device.
6. The method of Claim 4, wherein the data comprises digital music data.
7. A system for communicating data between a system and a portable device over an O existing wireless link, comprising: a system storing one or more pieces of data; a remote control that is connected via a wireless link to the system, the remote control
being used to control the operation of the system; and a portable device for accessing a piece of data from the system connected to the remote
control, the data being accessed by downloading the data from the system to the remote control over the wireless link and then downloading the data from the remote control device to the
portable device.
8. The system of Claim 7, wherein the remote control further comprises an infrared
device for establishing an infrared connection with the system and wherein the system further comprises an infrared device.
9. The system of Claim 8, wherein the portable device comprises means for establishing a wireless connection with the remote control device.
10. The system of Claim 7, wherein the portable device further comprising means for generating a command to select data to be downloaded to the portable device.
1 1. The system of Claim 7, wherein the data comprises digital music data.
12. A system for communicating data between a system and a portable device over an existing wireless link, comprising: a system storing one or more pieces of data;
a remote control that is connected via a wireless link to the system, the remote control being used to control the operation of the system; and a portable device for uploading a piece of data to the system connected to the remote
control, the data being uploaded from the portable device to the remote control over the wireless link and then uploaded from the remote control device to the system.
13. The system of Claim 12, wherein the remote control further comprises an infrared device for establishing an infrared connection with the system and wherein the system further
comprises an infrared device.
14. The system of Claim 13, wherein the portable device comprises means for
establishing a wireless connection with the remote control device.
15. The system of Claim 12, wherein the portable device further comprising means for generating a command to select data to be downloaded to the portable device.
16. The system of Claim 12, wherein the data comprises digital music data.
PCT/US2001/045119 2000-10-27 2001-10-24 Remote control data communications system and method WO2002035818A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2002227081A AU2002227081A1 (en) 2000-10-27 2001-10-24 Remote control data communications system and method

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US69924600A 2000-10-27 2000-10-27
US09/699,246 2000-10-27

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2002035818A1 true WO2002035818A1 (en) 2002-05-02

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2001/045119 WO2002035818A1 (en) 2000-10-27 2001-10-24 Remote control data communications system and method

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2002227081A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2002035818A1 (en)

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5802467A (en) * 1995-09-28 1998-09-01 Innovative Intelcom Industries Wireless and wired communications, command, control and sensing system for sound and/or data transmission and reception

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5802467A (en) * 1995-09-28 1998-09-01 Innovative Intelcom Industries Wireless and wired communications, command, control and sensing system for sound and/or data transmission and reception

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2002227081A1 (en) 2002-05-06

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