A device for remote control of a computer by radio

A DEVICE FOR REMOTE CONTROL OF A COMPUTER BY RADIO

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

0003The present invention relates to a non-network device for direct remote control of a main computer, and in particular, to a system in which the non-network device features a remote monitor and speakers which directly display the visual and audio display of the main computer, and in which the device features a remote input platform for sending instructions directly to the main computer.

0004Computers are becoming more popular as home entertainment devices and for the organization and display of information for the consumer. In addition to the functions of earlier computers, computers today can play music stored in a variety of formats, including files stored in the MP3 format on a CD. on magnetic storage medium or on the DVD storage medium, as well as displaying video streams and enabling "chats" to take place through the Internet. In addition, consumers can now perform a variety of tasks "on-line" through the computer, such as order groceries from the local supermarket, which are then delivered to the house of the consumer. These applications have the advantage of being more efficient and of saving the consumer time.

0005The computer itself has been sufficiently adapted for the household environment and for the new multi-media tasks, except for portability. The typical household computer is a ''desktop'^' computer which is not very portable. However, certain applications such as playing and managing a musical database or otherwise interacting with the computer from a remote location would be more efficient if the computer could easily be moved from room to room. Thus, desktop computers are not sufficiently portable for such tasks.

0006A more useful solution would enable the consumer to view the display of the monitor of the computer and to interact with the computer anywhere in the house, as a remote application. The entire computer would not need to be moved about from room to room, but only those portions which are required for controlling the computer and for displaying information on the monitor. Unfortunately, those remote computing solutions which are available only enable partial control, and do not permit portions of the computer to be operated in a fully remote and independent fashion, while still remaining tied to the CPU of the computer but without an additional network connection.

0007Therefore, there is an unmet need for. and it would be highly useful to have, a device for remote display of information on a monitor and for remotely controlling a computer, as though the user was in physical proximity to the computer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0009The present invention is of a device for remotely displaying the audiovisual information of a main computer and for remotely and fully controlling the functions of the main computer. The device of the present invention includes a remote A/V (audiovisual) display device and a remote input platform. The remote input platfoπn has a radio transmitter and the remote A/V display device has a radio receiver for communicating with the main computer, which is in communication with the corresponding radio transmitter and radio receiver. The main computer sends audiovideo signals through the radio transmitter for displaying information, preferably in the form of a GUI (graphical user interface), on the remote A/V display device. Preferably, the information also includes streaming video and/or graphics. Similarly the main computer receives input instructions by the radio receiver from the user through the remote input platform. Only the main computer has a CPU. although either or both of the remote A/V display device and the remote input platform may have a microprocessor or other processor. Thus, the portions of the computer with which the user directly interacts, the display device and the input platform, can be remote devices, potentially physically separated from the main portion of the main computer (including the CPU).

0010According to the present invention, there is provided a remote display device for remote interaction by a user with a main computer, the main computer being in communication with a main transmitter and a main receiver, the main computer featuring a local video card and the main computer featuring a local input port for receiving input instructions, the device comprising: (a) a remote display device for receiving display signals directly from the local video card through the main transmitter and for displaying a display to the user, the display being at least a visual display, the remote display device featuring a remote receiver for receiving the display signals; and (b) a remote input platform for receiving input data from the user and for transmitting the input data directly to the local input port of the main computer through the main receiver, the remote input platform featuring a remote transmitter for transmitting the input data to the main receiver; such that the device lacks a CPU (central processing unit) and such that only the main computer has the CPU. According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a system for remote interaction with a user, comprising: (a) a main computer, the main computer featuring a CPU, the main computer comprising: (i) a main radio transmitter for transmitting radiowaves and a main receiver for receiving radiowaves; (ii) a plurality of video cards, including at least a first video card being locally connectable; and (iii) an operating system capable of controlling the plurality of video cards substantially simultaneously; (b) a remote display device for receiving display signals from a second of the plurality of video cards through the main transmitter of the main computer and for displaying a visual display to the user, the remote display device featuring a remote radiowave receiver for receiving the display signals, the remote display device lacking a CPU; and (c) a remote input platform for receiving input data from the user and for transmitting the input data to the main computer, the remote input platform featuring a remote radiowave transmitter for transmitting the input data, the remote input platform lacking a CPU.

0011Hereinafter, the term "computing platform" refers to a particular computer hardware system or to a particular software operating system. Examples of such hardware systems include, but are not limited to. personal computers (PC), palmtops, handheld computers. Macintosh ™ computers, mainframes, minicomputers and workstations. Examples of such software operating systems include, but are not limited to. UNIX, VMS. Linux. MacOS™, DOS. one of the Windows™ operating systems by Microsoft Corp. (USA), including Windows NT™, Windows 3.x™ (in which "x" is a version number, such as "Windows 3.1™"). Windows CE™. Windows95™. and Windows98™. as well as any suitable operating system for embedded units or palmtop/handheld type computers.

0012For the present invention, a software application could be written in substantially any suitable programming language, which could easily be selected by one of ordinary skill in the art. The programming language chosen should be compatible with the computing platfoπn according to which the software application is executed. Examples of suitable programming languages include, but are not limited to, C, C++ and Java.

0013In addition, the present invention could be implemented as software, firmware or hardware, or as a combination thereof. For any of these implementations, the functional steps performed by the method could be described as a plurality of instructions performed by a data processor.

0014Hereinafter, the term "CPU" (central processing unit) includes those portions of the computer which control the remainder of the computer, including the peripherals. As defined herein, the CPU includes the control unit and the arithmetic and logic unit (ALU), as well as other components such as memory and temporary buffers which are required for the operation of the control unit and the ALU. Other types of microprocessors or data processors are specifically excluded from the term "CPU" as herein defined. Hereinafter, the term "speaker" is defined to include any type of device for producing an audible sound stream for a user, including an earphone.

0015Hereinafter, a "locally connectable" video card is a video card which is capable of controlling a monitor or other display device which is attached to the computer in which the video card is located, regardless of whether the computer actually has such a monitor or other display device attached.

0016Hereinafter, the term "portable computer" refers to any device which is capable of displaying computer graphics, such as VGA, SVGA or XGA graphics for example, as well as audio data; which has a serial or parallel data input such as a RS232 Firewire port, a USB port , a TCP/IP port, a PCMCIA card, or a BUS-CARD for example; and which has I/O components such as a microphone, and/or a keyboard, and/or a pointing device. Such a device could be a notebook, sub-notebook. Jupiter device, or a palmtop, for example. A Firewire port and a USB port are both examples of serial interfaces.

0017BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

0018FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an exemplary device and system according to the present invention;

0019FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an exemplary wireless multimedia platform monitor according to the present invention;

0020FIGS. 3A-3C are schematic block diagrams which illustrate three different embodiments of a complete wireless system according to the present invention; and

0021FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a preferred implementation of a cordless platform according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

0023The present invention is of a device for remotely displaying information from a monitor of a main computer and for remotely and fully controlling the main computer. The device of the present invention includes a remote A V display device and a remote input platform. The remote input platform has a radio transmitter and the remote A/V display device has a radio receiver for communicating with the main computer, which is in communication with a corresponding radio transmitter and a corresponding radio receiver. The main computer sends audio and video signals through the radio transmitter for displaying information, preferably in the form of a GUI (graphical user interface), on the remote A/V display device.

0024Preferably, the information also includes streaming video and/or graphics, as well as streaming audio. Similarly, the main computer receives input instructions by the radio receiver from the user through the remote input platform. Only the main computer has a CPU. although either or both of the remote A/V display device and the remote input platform may have a microprocessor or other processor. Thus, the portions of the computer with which the user directly interacts, the A/V display device and the input platform, can be remote devices, potentially physically separated from the main portion of the main computer (including the CPU).

0025The principles and operation of the device according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.

0026Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an exemplary device and system according to the present invention. A system 10 includes a remote interaction device 12 for interaction with the user of a main computer 14. Remote interaction device 12 is preferably able to communicate with main computer 14 through radiowave communication. Preferably, remote interaction device 12 receives power through a battery which is optionally chargeable at a charger/base 16.

0027Remote interaction device 12 features a remote A V display device 18 preferably for displaying both audio and visual data, although remote A/V display device 18 could optionally display only audio or only visual data. Hereinafter, the term "display" can include both a visual and an audio display. Remote A/V display device 18 preferably includes an ISM band receiver 20 for receiving radiowave communication from main computer 14. More preferably, all of the radiowave receivers and transmitters of the present invention operate as low-frequency radiowaves, most preferably in the range of from about 2.4 GHz to about 5.8 GHz, as this range does not require a special license in the United States of America. In addition, remote A/V display device 18 preferably also features a video expander 22 for expanding the compressed video signals for display on a screen 24. The type of video expander 22 and the type of screen 24 would depend upon the type of remote A/V display device 18 and could easily be selected by one of ordinary skill in the art. Examples of screen 24 include but are not limited to any type of flat screen including a plasma screen or an LCD (liquid crystal display), a CRT (cathode ray tube) monitor, a computer monitor or any other type of video display monitor. Thus, remote A/V display device 18 enables visual data such as a GUI (graphical user interface), other graphics or images, or a video stream, to be displayed to the user.

0028Optionally and preferably, remote A/V display device 18 includes an audio amplifier 26 and at least one, but preferably two speakers 28 as shown. Also optionally and preferably, remote A/V display device 18 features earphones 30. The audio data is received by ISM band receiver 20 which is also connected to audio amplifier 26. Audio amplifier 26 then renders the audio data into an audio stream for an audio display to the user. Thus, these preferred components enable remote A/V display device 18 to play music or to otherwise render an audio stream audible to the user. In addition, remote interaction device 12 also features a remote input platform 32.

0029Remote input platform 32 enables information and instructions to be entered by the user. Remote input platform 32 includes an ISM band SP (the term "SP^~" refers to spread-spectrum) transmitter 34 for transmitting radiowaves to main computer 14 in order to communicate the information and instructions from the user. As shown, remote input platform 32 optionally and preferably includes a number of different input components for accepting input from the user. For example, remote input platform 32 optionally and preferably includes a keyboard 36 for entering textual or other character-based input.

0030Remote input platform 32 optionally and preferably also includes a pointing device 38 such as a mouse, trackball, touchpad, touch-sensitive screen or other pointing device, in order for the user to be able to select a command or other input from the GUI preferably displayed by remote A/V display device 18. Keyboard 36 and pointing device 38 are particularly preferred because these two input devices are typical of most home computers and as such are familiar to the user. Thus, remote A/V display device 18 and remote input platform 32 could be one physical unit or else two physically separated components. In addition, remote input platform 32 also optionally and preferably includes a joystick port 40. for example for receiving a joystick for playing electronic games. Remote input platform 32 also optionally and preferably includes a microphone 42 for receiving voice-based instructions or for recording the voice of the user on main computer 14. for example.

0031Thus, remote input platform 32 enables the user to input data, such as information and commands, which are then transmitted by radiowaves through ISM band SP² transmitter 34 to main computer 14. Main computer 14 then sends signals for video display to remote A/V display device 18, which receives these signals through ISM band receiver 20. The components of main computer 14 which enable main computer 14 to both control the display on remote A/V display device 18 and to respond to data input through remote input platform 32 are as follows.

0032Main computer 14 preferably includes a video display card 44 which is connected to an A/V compressor 46 for compressing the video data, both of which are preferably located within a main computer box 13. Main computer 14 sends display instructions for displaying video information on remote A/V display device 18 to video display card 44. Video display card 44 then renders the instructions as video display signals suitable for a monitor such as screen 24. The signals are then compressed by A/V compressor 46. After compression, the signals are sent as radiowaves by an ISM band SP² transmitter 48. The transmitted radiowaves are then received by ISM band receiver 20, expanded by video expander 22 and displayed by screen 24 as previously described.

0033Optionally, main computer 14 could include a sound card 50 for receiving display signals for "displaying" (making audible) audio information on remote A/V display device 18. Sound card 50 would then render these display signals into audio signals suitable for audio amplifier 26. The audio signals would then be passed to ISM band SP' transmitter 48 through a "line out" port 52 on sound card 50.

0034Main computer 14 also includes a joystick port 54 for receiving input from a joystick; a keyboard port 56 for receiving input from a keyboard such as remote keyboard 36; and a pointing device port 58 for receiving input from a pointing device such as pointing device 38. In addition, sound card 50 preferably includes a "line-in" or microphone port 59. All of these ports receive input through an ISM band receiver 60 as shown, which could be located in charger/base 16 or alternatively could be located at main computer 14.

0035Optionally and preferably, all of these ports also receive input from peripheral devices directly physically attached to main computer 14. Therefore, main computer 14 preferably also includes a keyboard 62. a monitor 64, a joystick 66. a pointing device 68 and a microphone 70 which are local peripheral devices. Thus, these local peripheral devices enable the user to operate main computer 14 locally. In order for main computer 14 to be able to receive input data from both sets of peripheral devices, those attached locally such as keyboard 62, and those in remote communication such as remote input platform 32, preferably charger/base 16 also features a switching box 72. Preferably, ISM band receiver 60 is also located at charger/base 16. Switching box 72 receives the input data from ISM band receiver 60, and then sends this data to the correct port on main computer 14, such as keyboard port 56, for example. Conversely, when input data is being received from a local peripheral device, such as keyboard 62 for example, switching box 72 then sends this input data to the correct port on main computer 14, in this case keyboard port 56. Thus, switching box 72 enables both local and remote peripherals to sequentially access main computer 14.

0036In addition, in order for two different monitors to be controlled by main computer 14. including both local monitor 64 and remote A/V display device 18, preferably main computer 14 also features a second video display card 74. Second video display card 74 receives instructions from main computer 14 for displaying video information, such as a GUI, on local monitor 64. However, in order to accommodate this preferred embodiment of the present invention, main computer 14 must be operated by an operating system which is capable of controlling two monitors by controlling two video cards. An example of such an operating system is Windows 98™.

0037As its name implies, charger/base 16 also preferably features components for supplying power to remote A V display device 18 and to remote input platform 32. Preferably, power is supplied to both remote A/V display device 18 and remote input platform 32 through a rechargeable battery 76, although each of remote AN display device 18 and remote input platform 32 could have a separate battery power source. Charger/base 16 therefore preferably recharges rechargeable battery 76, through an AC/DC power supply 78 and a remote DC charging socket 80. AC/DC power supply 78 receives power from an AC supply 15. Optionally and preferably, a remote charging plug (not shown) is located at remote interaction device 12 for connecting to remote DC charging socket 80 or to an external DC source (not shown). Thus, when battery-operated, remote A/V display device 18 and remote input platform 32 are preferably completely portable, such that neither requires a direct wire connection to an electrical socket.

0038Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an exemplary wireless monitor according to the present invention, for displaying the multimedia data from the computer (not shown), preferably including at least video data and audio data, and more preferably including video and audio data together. The wireless monitor is optionally and preferably used with the detached computers for decompressing the multimedia data according to the present invention, which include various components for compressing the data before transmission to the wireless monitor.

0039A wireless monitor 82 is connected to a radiofrequency (RF) transceiver 84, which communicates with a main computer (not shown) through radiowave communication. Wireless monitor 82 preferably displays both audio and visual data, although wireless monitor 82 could optionally display only audio or only visual data. Hereinafter, the term "display" can include both a visual display and an audio display.

0040Wireless monitor 82 preferably includes an ISM band transceiver 86 for receiving radiowave communication from the main computer, and for transmitting such radiowave communication to the main computer. More preferably, all of the radiowave receivers and transmitters of the present invention operate as low- frequency radiowaves, most preferably in the range of from about 2.4 GHz to about 5.8 GHz, as this range does not require a special license in the United States of America.

0041ISM band transceiver 86 is preferably connected to a radiofrequency conversion interface 88, for converting the radiowaves to video stream data. Preferably, conversion interface 88 converts the radiowaves to such video data in the MPEG format, although of course a different format could alternatively be used. The data is then decoded by a decoder 90. which provides the video portion of the data to a display screen 92. Optionally and preferably, display screen 92 receives this data through a DFP (digital flat panel display) port 94. Also optionally and preferably, display screen 92 is a flat panel display, although of course other types of display screens could also be used. Examples of display screen 92 include but are not limited to any type of flat screen including a plasma screen or an LCD (liquid crystal display), a CRT (cathode ray tube) monitor, a computer monitor or any other type of video display monitor. Thus, wireless monitor 82 enables visual data such as a GUI (graphical user interface), other graphics or images, or a video stream, to be displayed to the user.

0042Decoder 90 also optionally and preferably provides the audio portion of the decoded data to a sound amplifier 96. Sound amplifier 96 is connected to some type of audio playing device, such as a speaker 98, an earphone socket 100, or a line-out socket 102 as shown.

0043Preferably, wireless monitor 82 receives power through a battery which is optionally chargeable at a charger/base (not shown), thereby enabling wireless monitor 82 to be portably transported for displaying video and/or audio data at various remote locations.

0044Figures 3A-3C are schematic block diagrams of exemplary configurations of wireless monitor 82 and a main computer for communicating with wireless monitor 82 of Figure 2 in order to provide the multimedia data, such as video and/or audio data for display by wireless monitor 82. These configurations preferably compress multimedia data according to a compression method, such as MPEG for example. A particularly preferred compression method is briefly described in greater detail below.

0045The main computer can be described as including a multimedia data unit for preparing the multimedia data. Such a unit could include a video display card, for example, optionally with a software program for actually preparing the multimedia data itself, for example.

0046Figure 3A shows a first exemplary system 104 which is an internal implementation, in which the components of the multimedia compression system are contained within a main computer 106. As shown, main computer 106 is connected to the wireless monitor (not shown) and to a local monitor 108, which is optionally connected to main computer 106 with a cable. Main computer 106 features a video display card 110 with DVI (digital output) or DSP, which is connected to a video switch 112. In the embodiment shown, video switch 112 is contained within main computer 106, and is preferably connected to both local monitor 108 and to an MPEG encoder 114. such that the video signals are either displayed locally, at local monitor 108. or else are encoded for remote transmission by MPEG encoder 114. For local display at local monitor 108. preferably the signals are fed through a D/A converter 115.

0047It should be noted that MPEG encoder 114, which may be embodied as software, firmware or hardware, may encode the video data according to a different data format. MPEG encoder 114 optionally and preferably receives the video signals from an A/V-MPEG interface 134, which is more preferably located on video display card 110, and which converts the video signals from a format which is suitable for video display card 110 to a format which is suitable for MPEG encoder 114.

0048MPEG encoder 114 also optionally and preferably receives audio input from an audio encoder 116. which converts the audio data into a format which is readable by MPEG encoder 114. MPEG encoder 114 then transmits the combined audio and video data to a converter 120. Converter 120 converts the combined data into radiowaves. which are then transmitted by an ' transmitter 122 for transmitting radiowaves to the wireless monitor (not shown). In addition, the audio data is passed as digital audio signals to a USB and/or Firewire output device driver 132, which sends the audio data to a USB and/or Firewire port 118 for combining with the video data to converter 120. A system 124 shown in Figure 3B is similar to that of Figure 3 A, except that the implementation is now external to main computer 106, and a video display card 126 now has an analog RGB output directly to video switch 112. Video switch 112 and the other multimedia compression and transmission components are now located at a separate base 129, which is separate from main computer 106. Video switch 112 passes the analog video data to a video digitizer and converter 128, which passes the data to A/V-MPEG interface 134. MPEG interface 130 passes the data to MPEG encoder 114. and from there to converter 120 and transceiver 122. as previously described.

0049As for Figure 3A, the audio data is passed as digital audio signals to a USB and/or Firewire output device driver 132, which sends the audio data to a USB and/or Firewire port 118 for combining with the video data at A/V-MPEG interface 134.

0050Figure 3C shows a system 136 which is a second external implementation, in which the multimedia compression and transmission components are also located at separate base 129. However, these components are now implemented for digital video signals, as for Figure 3A, rather than for the analog signals of Figure 3B.

0051Figure 4 is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary cordless platform according to the present invention. This implementation of the cordless platform has the advantage of being able to receive data from multiple sources, including from a source of TCP/IP packets, which is a standard type of data format for the transmission of data on networks. In addition, the cordless platform of Figure 4 can be used as an "add-on" extension to existing portable computers, such as laptop and notebook computers, for example, in order to transform these existing portable computers into the portable unit of Figures 1 and 2. for example. For this implementation, the cordless platform of Figure 4 can be described as a sophisticated receiving device, with minimal data processing capabilities limited only to the decoding of the received display data which is received from the main computer, yet with the ability to receive and display video stream data, and optionally audio stream data, in a highly sophisticated and complex manner. The interaction with such a portable computer could optionally be implemented as follows. The input signals from the portable are optionally transferred according to a protocol such as MPEG. The resultant MPEG stream is preferably decoded by the receiving device by software, by an external hardware decoder such as a PCMCIA card, or alternatively by a hardware device which connects to a Firewire or USB-2 input port.

0052As shown in Figure 4, a cordless platform 140 is connected to radiofrequency (RF) transceiver 84, which communicates with a main computer (not shown) through radiowave communication, as for Figure 2, for example. Cordless platform 140 preferably includes ISM band transceiver 86 for receiving radiowave communication from the main computer, and for transmitting such radiowave communication to the main computer, as for Figure 2 above. ISM band transceiver 86 is preferably in communication with a TCP/IP conversion interface 142 for converting the received data signal into data in the TCP/IP format. More preferably, such data includes video data which is compressed according to the MPEG2 compression method, as previously described. Such a conversion interface is preferred since TCP/IP is a standard data transmission protocol and data format for transmitting data in packet switched networks, for example. Alternatively, the conversion interface could be designed for a USB port and/or a Firewire port, as previously described for Figures 3A-3C above. After conversion by TCP/IP conversion interface 142, the data is passed to a microprocessor 144 such as a MediaGX™ processor for example. The MediaGX™ processor is an example of an advanced microprocessor system, which is a "computer on a chip", including the video display circuit, the audio production circuit, and the I/O interfaces in the chip. Next. the encoded data is decoded by a suitable decoder 146, which is preferably an MPEG software decoder for the preferred implementation in which the received video stream data is encoded according to the MPEG compression method. The decoded data is then passed to a video display 148 for displaying the video data, and to a sound amplifier 150 for displaying the audio data. Video display 148 is preferably a flat panel display.

0053The audio data is preferably amplified by sound amplifier 150 for output by an audio data output device, such as speakers 152, a line-out socket 154 and/or an earphone socket 156.

0054An exemplary compression method for operation with the devices of Figures 1-4 is described in a U.S. Patent Application which was filed on November 12, 1999. incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. Briefly, the method of multimedia data compression which is disclosed in that Application adjusts the compression method according to the type of software application which generated the multimedia data, and hence according to the characteristics of the data itself. Preferably, the type of multimedia data compression is selected by a profile manager, which detects the characteristics of the multimedia data to determine the profile of the data, and then which selects the multimedia data compression method according to the profile. With regard to the implementations of Figures 1-4, the data which is to be sent to the portable, remote units is preferably compressed according to a suitable video compression method before transmission decompression and display, for example by the remote A/V display of Figure 1 , or the remote monitor of Figure 2. and by the systems of Figures 3A-3B. Thus, the selection of compression profiles preferably enables the efficient compression of data which is to be transmitted to the portable, remote units for viewing by the user.

0055Therefore, the device of the present invention provides complete interactivity with a main computer at a remote location, without requiring a network card and without a physical wire or cable connection. The interactivity is provided through a remote AN display device and a remote input platform, both of which lack a CPU. Thus, the main computer controls the actions of the remote AN display device according to instructions received from the remote input platform.

0056While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of the invention may be made.