Systems and methods for controlling devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11334037-B2
Application number	US-201313782071-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 1, 2013
Priority date	Mar 1, 2013
Publication date	May 17, 2022
Grant date	May 17, 2022

Abstract

Systems and methods for managing device controls are disclosed. One method can comprise determining an orientation of a controller and comparing the orientation of the controller and an activation orientation. If the orientation of the controller substantially matches the activation orientation, a control relationship between the controller and the user device may be automatically activated, and if the orientation of the controller does not substantially match the activation orientation, control options to a user of the controller.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
determining a first direction of orientation of a controller;
determining, from a first plurality of user devices associated with the first direction of orientation, a first user device based on a location of the controller;
activating a control relationship between the controller and the first user device by configuring the controller to control the first user device;
determining a second direction of orientation of the controller;
presenting, based on the second direction of orientation not satisfying an activation orientation of another user device, control options for a second plurality of user devices; and
activating a control relationship between the controller and a user device of the second plurality of user devices by configuring the controller to control the user device of the second plurality of user devices.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the first direction of orientation of the controller comprises receiving information relating to the first direction of orientation from an orientation element.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the orientation element is integrated with the controller.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the orientation element comprises one or more of a gyroscope or a compass.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the first plurality of user devices by matching the determined first direction of orientation to a stored heading associated with the first plurality of user devices.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second direction of orientation not satisfying the activation orientation of the another user device comprises determining that the second direction of orientation does not match the activation orientation of the another user device.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second plurality of user devices comprises the another user device.

8. An apparatus comprising:
one or more processors; and
a memory comprising processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:
determine a first direction of orientation of a controller;
determine, from a first plurality of user devices associated with the first direction of orientation, a first user device based on a location of the controller;
activate a control relationship between the controller and the first user device by configuring the controller to control the first user device;
determine a second direction of orientation of the controller;
present, based on the second direction of orientation not satisfying an activation orientation of another user device, control options for a second plurality of user devices; and
activate a control relationship between the controller and a user device of the second plurality of user devices by configuring the controller to control the user device of the second plurality of user devices.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to determine the first direction of orientation of the controller further cause the apparatus to receive information relating to the first direction of orientation from an orientation element.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the orientation element is integrated with the controller.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the orientation element comprises one or more of a gyroscope or a compass.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to determine the first plurality of user devices by matching the determined first direction of orientation to a stored heading associated with the first plurality of user devices.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to determine that the second direction of orientation does not match the activation orientation of the another user device.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the second plurality of user devices comprises the another user device.

15. A method comprising:
determining a direction of orientation of a controller;
presenting, based on the direction of orientation not satisfying an activation orientation of a user device, control options for a plurality of devices;
receiving, based on presenting the control options, a selection to control a device of the plurality of devices; and
activating a control relationship between the controller and the device of the plurality of devices by configuring the controller to control the device of the plurality of devices.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein determining the direction of orientation of the controller comprises receiving information relating to the direction of orientation from an orientation element.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the orientation element is integrated with the controller.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the orientation element comprises one or more of a gyroscope or a compass.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the direction of orientation not satisfying the activation orientation of the user device comprises determining that the direction of orientation does not match the activation orientation of the user device.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of devices comprises the user device.

Assignees

• Comcast Cable Comm Llc

Inventors

• Yurasits Bryan
• Mays David
• Moore Jonathan

Classifications

• H04N21/42222

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