Remote control framework
A remote control framework enables a plurality of target devices to be controlled by a plurality of remote control devices irrespective of bearer types. In a preferred embodiment any target device may also act as a control device and any control device may also act as a target device. The framework also enables any application running on any target device to be controlled by any controller device.
1. An apparatus providing multiple applications, configured to:
run multiple applications concurrently, wherein the multiple applications are configured to be remotely controlled by a same controller device;
receive a command from the controller device over a remote control bearer, the command as received over the bearer being applicable to more than one of the multiple applications;
select at least one of the multiple applications based on a predetermined policy comprising an operation state of the at least one of the multiple applications, the operation state being one or both of a recent history of user operations, and whether the at least one of multiple applications is in an active state; and
deliver the command to the selected at least one of the multiple applications.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to receive the command from the controller device using a bearer plug-in corresponding to the remote control bearer.
3. An apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the bearer plug-in comprises one of Bluetooth audio video remote control profile (AVRCP) plug-in, wired headset plug-in and infrared remote control plug-in.
4. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to receive the command from the controller device using a protocol set corresponding to the remote control bearer.
5. An apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the remote control bearer comprises one of Bluetooth, WLAN, Infrared and wired bearers.
6. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to select at least one of the multiple applications to receive the command using a target selector plug-in.
7. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to deliver the command to the selected one of the multiple applications through an application programming interface (API).
8. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined policy further comprises at least one of application order in the Read Only Memory (ROM) of the apparatus, relative deemed importance of applications, and user preference determined based on user behaviors.
9. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one of multiple applications comprises a media player application, and the active state for the media player application comprises a playing state.
10. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one of multiple applications comprises a media player application and a phone application, the active state for the media player application comprises a running state, and the active state for the phone application comprises an active phone call;
wherein, responsive to both an active phone call and the media player application in a running state, the apparatus is configured to select the phone application for delivery of the command.
11. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a mobile phone.
12. An apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the apparatus is further configured to:
provide a first volume control user interface associated with the phone application for display;
provide a second volume control user interface associated with the media player application for display; and
upon selection of the phone application for delivery of a command related to volume control changes, update the first user interface responsive to the received command.
13. An apparatus providing multiple applications, configured to:
run multiple applications concurrently, wherein the multiple applications are configured to be remotely controlled by a controller device and comprise one or more audio applications;
receive a command from the controller device over a remote control bearer, the command as received over the bearer being applicable to more than one of the multiple applications;
select at least one audio application that is playing audio based on a predetermined policy comprising an operation state of the at least one of the multiple applications, the operation state being one or both of a recent history of user operations, and whether the at least one of multiple applications is in an active state; and
deliver the command to the selected at least one audio application.
14. An apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the apparatus is configured to receive the command from the controller device using a bearer plug-in corresponding to the remote control bearer.
15. An apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the bearer plug-in comprises one of Bluetooth audio video remote control profile (AVRCP) plug-in, wired headset plug-in and infrared remote control plug-in.
16. An apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the apparatus is configured to receive the command from the controller device using a protocol set corresponding to the remote control bearer.
17. An apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the remote control bearer comprises one of Bluetooth, WLAN, Infrared and wired bearers.
18. An apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the apparatus is configured to select at least one audio application to receive the command using a target selector plug-in.
19. An apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the apparatus is configured to deliver the command to the selected at least one audio application through an application programming interface (API).
20. An apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the apparatus comprises a mobile phone;
wherein the one or more audio applications comprise a media player application and a phone application;
wherein the active state of the media player application is a playing state, and the active state of the phone application is a phone call being active;
and wherein responsive to both a phone call being active and the media player application in its playing state, the apparatus is configured to select the phone application for delivery of the command.
21. An apparatus according to claim 20 , wherein the apparatus is further configured to:
provide a first volume control user interface associated with the phone application for display;
provide a second volume control user interface associated with the media player application for display; and
upon selection of the phone application for delivery of a command related to volume control changes, update the first user interface responsive to the received command.