System and method for facilitating appliance control via a smart device
US9852615B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 25, 2011 |
| Grant date | Dec 26, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 12, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M2250/22
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A bridge device, in communication with a smart device, functions to command one or more controllable appliances in response to communications received from the smart device. The bridge device also includes input elements by which the bridge device can be used to directly command common functional operations of the one or more controllable appliances. In this manner, common functional operations, such as volume control, playback pause/resume control, etc., may be made readily available without necessitating the use of the smart device, while the more sophisticated GUI provided by the smart device remote control app may be advantageously utilized when more complex or less frequently used command functions are to be performed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.