	US 12,231,991 B2
	Mobile communication device and non-transitory computer readable storage medium for home automation
John W. Howard, Cedar Park, TX (US); Richard Cutler, Round Rock, TX (US); and Robert M. Kennard, Dallas, TX (US)
Assigned to THL Holding Company, LLC, Austin, TX (US)
Filed by THL Holding Company, LLC, Austin, TX (US)
Filed on Mar. 25, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/615,158.
Application 18/615,158 is a continuation of application No. 18/335,324, filed on Jun. 15, 2023, granted, now 11,979,797.
Application 18/335,324 is a continuation of application No. 18/167,256, filed on Feb. 10, 2023, granted, now 11,722,853, issued on Aug. 8, 2023.
Application 18/167,256 is a continuation of application No. 17/660,246, filed on Apr. 22, 2022, granted, now 11,706,589, issued on Jul. 18, 2023.
Application 17/660,246 is a continuation of application No. 17/578,676, filed on Jan. 19, 2022, granted, now 11,350,246, issued on May 31, 2022.
Application 17/578,676 is a continuation of application No. 17/036,535, filed on Sep. 29, 2020, granted, now 11,265,680, issued on Mar. 1, 2022.
Application 17/036,535 is a continuation of application No. 16/837,481, filed on Apr. 1, 2020, granted, now 10,834,539, issued on Nov. 10, 2020.
Application 16/837,481 is a continuation of application No. 16/540,665, filed on Aug. 14, 2019, granted, now 10,645,537, issued on May 5, 2020.
Application 16/540,665 is a continuation of application No. 16/150,498, filed on Oct. 3, 2018, granted, now 10,440,501, issued on Oct. 8, 2019.
Application 16/150,498 is a continuation of application No. 15/910,654, filed on Mar. 2, 2018, granted, now 10,123,161, issued on Nov. 6, 2018.
Application 15/910,654 is a continuation of application No. 15/000,903, filed on Jan. 19, 2016, granted, now 9,942,700, issued on Apr. 10, 2018.
Application 15/000,903 is a continuation of application No. 14/281,077, filed on May 19, 2014, granted, now 9,295,024, issued on Mar. 22, 2016.
Application 14/281,077 is a continuation of application No. 14/044,202, filed on Oct. 2, 2013, granted, now 8,768,381, issued on Jul. 1, 2014.
Application 14/044,202 is a continuation of application No. 12/713,346, filed on Feb. 26, 2010, granted, now 8,588,806, issued on Nov. 19, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2024/0276179 A1, Aug. 15, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04W 4/20 (2018.01); G08B 13/14 (2006.01); G08B 21/02 (2006.01); G08B 25/01 (2006.01); H04L 41/0604 (2022.01); H04W 4/02 (2018.01); H04W 4/024 (2018.01); H04W 4/029 (2018.01); H04W 4/80 (2018.01); H04W 64/00 (2009.01)

CPC H04W 4/029 (2018.02) [G08B 13/1427 (2013.01); G08B 21/0244 (2013.01); G08B 21/0247 (2013.01); G08B 21/0269 (2013.01); G08B 21/0272 (2013.01); G08B 21/0277 (2013.01); G08B 25/016 (2013.01); H04L 41/0618 (2013.01); H04W 4/02 (2013.01); H04W 4/024 (2018.02); H04W 4/20 (2013.01); H04W 4/80 (2018.02); H04W 64/00 (2013.01)]

20 Claims

1. A mobile communication device comprising:

a plurality of wireless transceivers coupled to two or more antennas, the plurality of wireless transceivers including a Bluetooth transceiver, a long-range transceiver configured to send and receive telephone calls, and a Wi-Fi transceiver configured to communicate via Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11, wherein the plurality of wireless transceivers are configured to communicate via a plurality of wireless protocols;

a memory that stores operational instructions;

a touch screen;

a camera configured to generate still and video images; and

a processor coupled to the memory, the camera and to the touch screen, wherein the processor is configured to execute the operational instructions, which upon execution, cause the processor to:

present a graphical user interface via the touch screen; and

generate pairing signals in response to interactions of a user via the graphical user interface to pair the mobile communication device to each of a plurality of home automation devices, wherein at least one of the plurality of wireless transceivers responds to the pairing signals by pairing the mobile communication device with each of the plurality of home automation devices, wherein a device identifier associated with each of the plurality of home automation devices is shared with the mobile communication device during pairing, and wherein the plurality of home automation devices are each configured to control one of a plurality of auxiliary devices via at least one of the plurality of wireless protocols;

generate pairing signals in response to interactions of the user via the graphical user interface to pair the mobile communication device to a remote device, wherein at least one of the plurality of wireless transceivers responds to the pairing signals by pairing the mobile communication device with the remote device, wherein a device identifier associated the remote device is shared with the mobile communication device during pairing, wherein the remote device is also configured to communicate via at least one of the plurality of wireless protocols and wherein the remote device responds to user interaction with a push button to generate a command sent by the remote device via the at least one of the wireless protocols;

select, in response to interactions of the user via the graphical user interface, names associated with corresponding ones of the plurality of auxiliary devices;

display, via the graphical user interface, a menu that includes the names associated with the corresponding ones of the plurality of auxiliary devices;

determine a selected home automation device of the plurality of home automation devices in response to selection from the menu via the graphical user interface, of one of the names associated with the corresponding ones of the plurality of auxiliary devices;

generate first control data associated with the selected home automation device in response to interactions of the user via the graphical user interface, wherein at least one of the plurality of wireless transceivers transmits the first control data to the selected home automation device, wherein, responsive to the first control data, the selected home automation device controls one of the plurality of auxiliary devices coupled thereto; and

establish, in response to interactions of the user via the graphical user interface, a group of the plurality of home automation devices;

generate second control data corresponding to the group in response to interactions of the user via the graphical user interface, wherein at least one of the plurality of wireless transceivers transmits the second control data to control the plurality of auxiliary devices associated with the group of the plurality of home automation devices;

establish tasks, in response to interactions of the user via the graphical user interface, the tasks each having an associated action to be performed by one or more of the plurality of home automation devices;

display a menu of the tasks;

receive selection of a selected task in response to interactions of the user via the graphical user interface; and

generate third control data in response to selection of the selected task, wherein at least one of the plurality of wireless transceivers transmits the third control data to the one or more of the plurality of home automation devices associated with the selected task to perform the associated action corresponding to the selected task.