IP Library Granted Patent US 9,639,613
Granted Patent B2
US 9,639,613 · App. 14/934,178 · Granted May 2, 2017

Methods, systems, and products for discovering electronic devices

Inventors: Arnold Chester McQuaide, Jr. (Berkeley Lake, GA); Maria Adamczyk (Atlanta, GA)
Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
G06F17/30864G06F17/30551G06F17/30598G06K7/10029G08C19/28H04L61/1552H04L67/025G08C2201/20G08C2201/50
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,639,613
App. No.
14/934,178
Granted
May 2, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, systems, and products self-identify an electronic device to a remote control. The remote control queries the electronic device, and the electronic device sends a response. A collision avoidance mechanism allows difference devices to respond to the remote control.

Claims (40)

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by an electronic device, a query specifying a network address associated with a remote control;

retrieving, by the electronic device, a category associated with the electronic device;

querying, by the electronic device, an electronic database for the category associated with the electronic device, the electronic database electronically associating response intervals of time and categories of electronic devices including the category associated with the electronic device;

identifying, by the electronic device, a response interval of time of the response intervals of time in the electronic database that is electronically associated with the category associated with the electronic device;

determining, by the electronic device, a response to the query; and

sending, by the electronic device, the response within the response interval of time that is electronically associated with the category.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the response based on the category.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a random response interval of time.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising comparing the response interval of time to the random response interval of time.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising determining the random response interval of time exceeds the response interval of time.

6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising recalculating the random response interval of time in response to the random response interval of time exceeding the response interval of time.

7. The method of claim 4 , further comprising prohibiting the random response interval of time from exceeding the response interval of time.

8. An electronic device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory device, the memory device storing code, the code when executed causing the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving a query specifying a network address associated with a remote control;

retrieving a category associated with the electronic device;

querying an electronic database for the category associated with the electronic device, the electronic database electronically associating response intervals of time and categories of electronic devices including the category associated with the electronic device;

identifying a response interval of time of the response intervals of time in the electronic database that is electronically associated with the category associated with the electronic device;

determining a response to the query; and

sending the response within the response interval of time that is electronically associated with the category.

9. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise determining the response based on the category.

10. The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise determining a random response interval of time.

11. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise comparing the response interval of time to the random response interval of time.

12. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise determining the random response interval of time exceeds the response interval of time.

13. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise recalculating the random response interval of time in response to the random response interval of time exceeding the response interval of time.

14. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise prohibiting the random response interval of time from exceeding the response interval of time.

15. A memory device storing instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving a query specifying a network address associated with a remote control;

retrieving a category associated with the electronic device;

querying an electronic database for the category associated with the electronic device, the electronic database electronically associating response intervals of time and categories of electronic devices including the category associated with the electronic device;

identifying a response interval of time of the response intervals of time in the electronic database that is electronically associated with the category associated with the electronic device;

determining a response to the query; and

sending the response within the response interval of time that is electronically associated with the category.

16. The memory device of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise determining the response based on the category.

17. The memory device of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise determining a random response interval of time.

18. The memory device of claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise comparing the response interval of time to the random response interval of time.

19. The memory device of claim 18 , wherein the operations further comprise determining the random response interval of time exceeds the response interval of time.

20. The memory device of claim 19 , wherein the operations further comprise recalculating the random response interval of time in response to the random response interval of time exceeding the response interval of time.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 11, 2016
From: AT&T DELAWARE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
To: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
Reel/Frame 039404/0902 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 11, 2016
From: AT&T BLS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
To: AT&T DELAWARE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
Reel/Frame 039646/0691 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 6, 2015
From: MCQUAIDE, ARNOLD CHESTER, JR.; ADAMCZYK, MARIA
To: AT&T BLS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
Reel/Frame 036975/0892 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 14053627 · Oct 15, 2013
Continuation 13359549 · Jan 27, 2012
Continuation 11893318 · Aug 15, 2007
Related Publication 20160063113A1 · Mar 3, 2016