| Method of enabling a device to be controlled via a printed control interface -> Monitor Keywords |
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Method of enabling a device to be controlled via a printed control interfaceRelated Patent Categories: Data Processing: Presentation Processing Of Document, Operator Interface Processing, And Screen Saver Display Processing, Presentation Processing Of Document, HypermediaMethod of enabling a device to be controlled via a printed control interface description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060242555, Method of enabling a device to be controlled via a printed control interface. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/693,647 filed Oct. 20, 2000, all of which is herein incorporated by reference. FIELD OF INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to device control and, more particularly, to a method and system for enabling electrical or electronic devices to be controlled through distributed computing systems. It has specific application to the operation of a device involving a printed form-based user interface. CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS [0003] Various methods, systems and apparatus relating to the present invention are disclosed in the following co-pending applications/granted patents filed by the applicant or assignee of the present invention on Oct. 20, 2000: TABLE-US-00001 09/693,415, 09/693,219, 6,813,558, 6,965,454, 6,847,883, 09/693,647, 09/693,690, 6,474,888, 6,627,870, 6,724,374, 09/693,514, 6,982,798, 6,454,482, 6,808,330, 6,527,365, 6,474,773, 6,550,997 The disclosures of these co-pending applications are incorporated herein by reference. [0004] Various methods, systems and apparatus relating to the present invention are disclosed in the following co-pending applications/granted patents filed by the applicant or assignee of the present invention on Sep. 15, 2000: TABLE-US-00002 6,679,420, 6,963,845, 6,995,859, 6,720,985 The disclosures of these co-pending applications are incorporated herein by reference. [0005] Various methods, systems and apparatus relating to the present invention are disclosed in the following co-pending applications/granted patents filed by the applicant or assignee of the present invention on Jun. 30, 2000: TABLE-US-00003 6,824,044, 6,678,499, 6,976,220, 6,976,035, 6,766,942, 09/609,303, 6,922,779, 6,978,019, 09/607,843, 6,959,298, 6,973,450, 09/609,553, 09/609,233, 6,965,882, 09/608,022, 09/609,232, 6,957,921, 6,457,883, 6,831,682, 6,977,751, 6,398,332, 6,394,573, 6,622,923 The disclosures of these co-pending applications are incorporated herein by reference. [0006] Various methods, systems and apparatus relating to the present invention are disclosed in the following co-pending applications/granted patents filed by the applicant or assignee of the present invention on 23 May 2000: TABLE-US-00004 09/575,197, 09/575,195, 09/575,159, 09/575,123, 6,825,945, 09/575,165, 6,813,039, 6,987,506, 09/575,131, 6,980,318, 6,816,274, 09/575,139, 09/575,186, 6,681,045, 6,728,000, 09/575,145, 09/575,192, 09/575,181, 09/575,193, 09/575,183, 6,789,194, 6,789,191, 6,644,642, 6,502,614, 6,622,999, 6,669,385, 6,549,935, 6,987,573, 6,727,996, 6,591,884, 6,439,706, 6,760,119, 09/575,198, 6,290,349, 6,428,155, 6,785,016, 6,870,966, 6,822,639, 6,737,591, 09/575,154, 09/575,129, 6,830,196, 6,832,717, 6,957,768, 09/575,162, 09/575,172, 09/575,170, 09/575,171, 09/575,161, 6,428,133, 6,526,658 6,315,399, 6,338,548, 6,540,319, 6,328,431, 6,328,425, 6,991,320, 6,383,833, 6,464,332, 6,390,591, 7,018,016, 6,328,417, 6,409,323, 6,281,912 6,604,810, 6,318,920, 6,488,422, 6,795,215, 09/575,109 6,859,289 The disclosures of these co-pending applications are incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND [0007] There are many electrical and electronic devices in the home and office which have some kind of user interface for controlling their operation. These include office equipment, audio and video equipment, kitchen appliances, heating and cooling systems, etc. Even light sockets have on/off switches and sometimes dimmers, and in many countries power outlets have on/off switches. [0008] Office equipment and entertainment equipment is increasingly networkable--i.e. devices come with interfaces to standard local-area networks, allowing their operation to be controlled over a network. The advent of standard wireless networking technologies such as Bluetooth may see an increase in networking support in such devices and appliances. [0009] Some networking futurists predict that even light sockets will one day be networked, allowing their status to be queried and their function to be controlled remotely. [0010] Even today, an increasing number of devices can be controlled via infrared remote control interfaces. Such interfaces are particularly prevalent on audio and video equipment and heating and cooling systems. SUMMARY OF INVENTION [0011] It is an objective of the present invention to provide a new method and system for enabling devices to be controlled through a computer system. [0012] In a first aspect, the present invention provides for a method of enabling a device to be controlled in which the device is operative to perform at least one function in response to control instructions from a computer system, the method including the steps of [0013] providing a control interface containing information relating to the device function, the control interface including coded data indicative of an identity of the control interface and of at least one reference point of the control interface; [0014] receiving, in the computer system, indicating data from a sensing device regarding the identity of the control interface and a position of the sensing device relative to the control interface, the sensing device, when placed in an operative position relative to the control interface, sensing the indicating data using at least some of the coded data; and [0015] effecting, in the computer system and from the indicating data, an operation relating to at least one parameter of the control instructions. 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