IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,248,893
Granted Patent B2
US 7,248,893 · App. 10/773,126 · Granted Jul 24, 2007

Multi-functional residential communication approach

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,248,893
App. No.
10/773,126
Granted
Jul 24, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A signal-repeating device control arrangement facilitates user control of various types of media equipment in a facility. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, the different types of user-controllable media equipment are located with respective user-interface units in various zones of the facility to provide user-selectable interaction for the user. The signal-repeating device control arrangement includes a transceiver for wirelessly communicating with a user's remote control, a data-routing circuit for communication with packet-communicating devices such as over an Ethernet, and an emulation circuit for providing an interface to manufacturer-specific equipment for control of other devices types and/or user input devices. Another aspect of the invention is directed to a related arrangement in which the base station includes a data port adapted to download information for configuring both the signal-repeating base-station and, via the base-station transceiver, for configuring the user-interface control device.

Claims (23)

1. A signal-repeating device control arrangement for use in a facility having different types of user-controllable devices that are co-located with respective user-interface units in various zones of the facility and that provide user-selectable information to the user, the respective user-interface units providing input selectors for controlling operation of the user-controllable devices, the signal-repeating device control arrangement comprising:

a user-interface control device having a user interface for receiving inputs from a user and having a transceiver for sending data wirelessly in response to the user inputs and for receiving data;

for use in communicating with the zone-located user-controllable devices and the zone-located user-interface units, a signal-repeating base-station including

a base-station transceiver adapted to communicate data with the user-interface control device and the zone-located user-interface units, and

a data-routing circuit adapted to respond to the user inputs received via the base-station transceiver by sending designated groups of digital data sets to manipulate operation of at least one of the different types of user-controllable devices.

2. The signal-repeating device control arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the user-interface control device further includes a display for communicating user data in response to data received from the signal-repeating base-station.

3. The signal-repeating device control arrangement of claim 2 , wherein the display of the user-interface control device is a touch-panel display.

4. The signal-repeating device control arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the user-interface control device includes a touch-panel display.

5. The signal-repeating device control arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the transceiver of the user-interface control device is further adapted to communicate bi-directionally and wirelessly with the base-station transceiver.

6. The signal-repeating device control arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the data-routing circuit includes a data processor that is programmable for controlling operation of the signal-repeating base-station and further includes a data-input circuit for downloading certain programming data.

7. The signal-repeating device control arrangement of claim 6 , wherein the certain programming data is configuration data.

8. The signal-repeating device control arrangement of claim 6 , wherein the certain programming data is program-execution code for execution by the data processor.

9. The signal-repeating device control arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the data-routing circuit includes a programmable data processor that is adapted and programmed to emulate communication with the user-controllable devices, the communication being otherwise provided by at least one of the zone-located user-interface units.

10. The signal-repeating device control arrangement of claim 9 , wherein the data-routing circuit communicates with at least one of the user-controllable devices via infrared signaling.

11. The signal-repeating device control arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the data-routing circuit communicates with at least one of the user-controllable devices via infrared signaling.

12. The signal-repeating device control arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the data-routing circuit includes a programmable data processor that is adapted and programmed to emulate communication with the user-controllable devices, the communication being otherwise provided by at least one of the zone-located user-interface units, and further including a data-routing switch that is adapted to communicatively and selectively couple data between selected ones of the different types of user-controllable devices and the programmable data processor.

13. The signal-repeating device control arrangement of claim 12 , wherein the data is communicatively coupled between the data-routing switch and the programmable data processor via infrared circuits located and arranged with the data-routing switch and the signal-repeating base-station, respectively.

14. A signal-repeating device control arrangement for use in a facility having different types of user-controllable devices that are co-located with respective user-interface units in various zones of the facility and that provide user-selectable information to the user, the respective user-interface units providing input selectors for controlling operation of the user-controllable devices, the signal-repeating device control arrangement comprising:

a user-interface control device having a user interface for receiving inputs from a user, having a transceiver for sending data wirelessly in response to the user inputs and for receiving data, and having a programmable configuration for providing user control over the different types of user-controllable devices;

for use in communicating with the zone-located user-controllable devices, a signal-repeating base-station including

a base-station transceiver adapted to communicate data with the user-interface control device,

a data-routing circuit adapted to respond to the user inputs received via the base-station transceiver by sending designated groups of digital data sets to various zones of the facility to manipulate operation of at least one of the different types of user-controllable devices, and

a data port adapted to download information for configuring both the signal-repeating base-station and, via the base-station transceiver, for configuring the user-interface control device.

Assignments (12)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 17, 2021
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: BROAN-NUTONE LLC; NORTEK AIR SOLUTIONS, LLC; NORTEK GLOBAL HVAC LLC; NORTEK, INC.; ADVANCED BRIDGING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; AIGIS MECHTRONICS, INC.; ALLSTAR PRO, LLC; ELAN HOME SYSTEMS, L.L.C.; GEFEN, INC.; GTO, INC.; HOMELOGIC LLC; INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS, INC.; JENSEN INDUSTRIES, INC.; LINEAR LLC; LITE TOUCH, INC.; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; NILES AUDIO CORPORATION; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.; OPERATOR SPECIALTY COMPANY, INC.; PANAMAX INC.; SECURE WIRELESS, INC.; SPEAKERCRAFT; XANTECH CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 056614/0709 →
NOTICE OF RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 10, 2017
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: TEMTROL, INC.; WDS LLC; WEBCO, INC.; NORTEK, INC.; ADVANCED BRIDGING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; AIGIS MECHTRONICS, INC.; ALLSTAR PRO, LLC; AUBREY MANUFACTURING, INC.; BROAN-NUTONE LLC; CES GROUP, INC.; CLEANPAK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ELAN HOME SYSTEMS, L.L.C.; GEFEN, INC.; GOVERNAIR CORPORATION; GTO, INC.; HC INSTALLATIONS, INC.; HOMELOGIC LLC; HUNTAIR, INC.; INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS, INC.; J.A.R. INDUSTRIES, INC.; JENSEN INDUSTRIES, INC.; LINEAR H.K. LLC; LINEAR LLC; LITETOUCH, INC.; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; MAMMOTH, INC.; NILES AUDIO CORPORATION; NORDYNE CHINA LLC; NORDYNE INC.; NORDYNE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NORTEK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NUTONE INC.; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.; OPERATOR SPECIALTY COMPANY, INC.; PACIFIC ZEPHYR RANGE HOOD, INC.; PANAMAX INC.; RANGAIRE GP, INC.; RANGAIRE LP; RANGAIRE LP, INC.; SECURE WIRELESS, INC.; SPEAKERCRAFT, INC.; XANTECH CORPORATION; ZEPHYR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 041326/0071 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY IN PATENTS Recorded Jan 10, 2017
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: NORTEK, INC.; AIGIS MECHTRONICS, INC.; BROAN-MEXICO HOLDINGS, INC.; BROAN-NUTONE LLC; BROAN-NUTONE STORAGE SOLUTIONS LP; CES GROUP, INC.; CES INTERNATIONAL LTD.; CLEANPAK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ELAN HOME SYSTEMS, L.L.C.; GATES THAT OPEN, LLC; GEFEN, LLC; GOVERNAIR CORPORATION; HC INSTALLATIONS, INC.; HUNTAIR, INC.; INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS, LLC; LINEAR LLC; LITE TOUCH, INC.; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; MAMMOTH-WEBCO, INC.; NILES AUDIO CORPORATION; NORDYNE LLC; NORDYNE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NORTEK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NUTONE LLC; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.; OPERATOR SPECIALTY COMPANY, INC.; PACIFIC ZEPHYR RANGE HOOD, INC.; PANAMAX LLC; RANGAIRE GP, INC.; RANGAIRE LP, INC.; SECURE WIRELESS, INC.; SPEAKERCRAFT, LLC; TEMTROL, INC.; XANTECH LLC; ZEPHYR VENTILATION, LLC
Reel/Frame 041327/0089 →
NOTICE OF RELEASE OF SECURITY INTERESTS IN PATENTS RECORDED AT REEL 026276, FRAME 0073 Recorded Jun 3, 2014
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: BROAN-NUTONE LLC; BROAN-NUTONE STORAGE SOLUTIONS LP; ERGOTRON, INC.; GTO ACCESS SYSTEMS, LLC (F/K/A GATES THAT OPEN, LLC); CES GROUP, LLC (SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO HUNTAIR, INC.); LINEAR LLC; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; NORDYNE LLC; ERGOTRON, INC. (SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.; CORE BRANDS, LLC (SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO SPEAKERCRAFT, LLC); CORE BRANDS, LLC (SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO THE AVC GROUP, LLC); CORE BRANDS, LLC (F/K/A PANAMAX LLC); LINEAR LLC (SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO SECURE WIRELESS, INC.)
Reel/Frame 033083/0001 →
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 14, 2013
From: AVC GROUP, LLC, THE
To: CORE BRANDS, LLC
Reel/Frame 029708/0262 →
PATENT RELEASE Recorded May 3, 2011
From: U.S BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: BROAN-NUTONE LLC, A DELAWARE LLC; BROAN-NUTONE STORAGE SOLUTIONS LP, A DELAWARE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; GATES THAT OPEN, LLC, A FLORIDA LLC; HUNTAIR, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; LINEAR LLC, A CALIFORNIA LLC; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD., A CONNECTICUT CORPORATION; NORDYNE LLC, A DELAWARE LLC; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC., A ARIZONA CORPORATION; PANAMAX LLC, A CALIFORNIA LLC; SECURE WIRELESS, INC., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION; SPEAKERCRAFT, LLC, A DELAWARE LLC; AVC GROUP, LLC, THE, A DELAWARE LLC; VENMAR CES, INC., A CANADIAN CORPORATION; VENMAR VENTILATION INC., CANADIAN CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026275/0964 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 3, 2011
From: BROAN-NUTONE LLC, A DELAWARE LLC; BROAN-NUTONE STORAGE SOLUTIONS LP, A DELAWARE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; ERGOTRON, INC., A MINNESOTA CORPORATION; GATES THAT OPEN, LLC, A FLORIDA LLC; HUNTAIR, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; LINEAR LLC, A CALIFORNIA LLC; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD., A CONNECTICUT CORPORATION; NORDYNE LLC, A DELAWARE LLC; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC., A ARIZONA CORPORATION; PANAMAX, LLC, A CALIFORNIA LLC; SECURE WIRELESS, INC., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION; SPEAKERCRAFT, LLC, A DELAWARE LLC; AVC GROUP, LLC, THE, A DELAWARE LLC
To: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 026276/0073 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2011
From: XANTECH LLC
To: AVC GROUP, LLC, THE
Reel/Frame 025940/0279 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 8, 2010
From: NORTEK, INC.; AIGIS MECHTRONICS, INC.; BROAN-MEXICO HOLDINGS, INC.; BROAN-NUTONE LLC; BROAN-NUTONE STORAGE SOLUTIONS LP; CES GROUP, INC.; CES INTERNATIONAL LTD.; CLEANPAK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ELAN HOME SYSTEMS, L.L.C.; GATES THAT OPEN, LLC; GEFEN, LLC; GOVERNAIR CORPORATION; HC INSTALLATIONS, INC.; HUNTAIR, INC.; INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS, LLC; LINEAR LLC; LITE TOUCH, INC.; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; MAMMOTH-WEBCO, INC.; NILES AUDIO CORPORATION; NORDYNE LLC; NORDYNE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NORTEK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NUTONE LLC; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.; OPERATOR SPECIALTY COMPANY, INC.; PACIFIC ZEPHYR RANGE HOOD INC.; PANAMAX LLC; RANGAIRE GP, INC.; RANGAIRE LP, INC.; SECURE WIRELESS, INC.; SPEAKERCRAFT, LLC; TEMTROL, INC.; XANTECH LLC; ZEPHYR VENTILATION, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 023750/0040 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 31, 2008
From: NORTEK, INC.; ADVANCED BRIDGING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; AIGIS MECHTRONICS, INC.; ALLSTAR PRO, LLC; BROAN-NUTONE LLC; CLEANPAK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ELAN HOME SYSTEMS, L.L.C.; GEFEN, INC.; GTO, INC.; HOMELOGIC LLC; HUNTAIR, INC.; INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS, INC.; JENSEN INDUSTRIES, INC.; LINEAR LLC; LITE TOUCH, INC.; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; MAMMOTH, INC.; NILES AUDIO CORPORATION; NORDYNE INC.; NUTONE INC.; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.; OPERATOR SPECIALTY COMPANY, INC.; PANAMAX INC.; RANGAIRE LP; SECURE WIRELESS, INC.; SPEAKERCRAFT, INC.; TEMTROL, INC.; WEBCO, INC.; XANTECH CORPORATION; ZEPHYR CORPORATION
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 021316/0764 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 29, 2008
From: NORTEK, INC.; ADVANCED BRIDGING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; AIGIS MECHTRONICS, INC.; ALLSTAR PRO, LLC; AUBREY MANUFACTURING, INC.; BROAN-NUTONE LLC; CES GROUP, INC.; CLEANPAK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; ELAN HOME SYSTEMS, L.L.C.; GEFEN, INC.; GOVERNAIR CORPORATION; GTO, INC.; HC INSTALLATIONS, INC.; HOMELOGIC LLC; HUNTAIR, INC.; INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS, INC.; J.A.R. INDUSTRIES, INC.; JENSEN INDUSTRIES, INC.; LINEAR H.K. LLC; LINEAR LLC; LITETOUCH, INC.; MAGENTA RESEARCH LTD.; MAMMOTH, INC.; NILES AUDIO CORPORATION; NORDYNE CHINA LLC; NORDYNE INC.; NORDYNE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NORTEK INTERNATIONAL, INC.; NUTONE INC.; OMNIMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.; OPERATOR SPECIALTY COMPANY, INC.; PACIFIC ZEPHYR RANGE HOOD, INC.; PANAMAX INC.; RANGAIRE GP, INC.; RANGAIRE LP; RANGAIRE LP, INC.; SECURE WIRELESS, INC.; SEAKERCRAFT, INC.; TEMTROL, INC.; WDS LLC; WEBCO, INC.; XANTECH CORPORATION; ZEPHYR CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 021301/0927 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 20, 2004
From: CHRISTENSEN, STEVE; AGUIRRE, HECTOR; FARINELLI, JR., ROBERT P.
To: ELAN HOME SYSTEMS, L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 015345/0876 →