Description:RELATED ART

[0001] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to an internet of things (IOT) device. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a system and method for converting an existing non-IOT device having a remote control unit into an IOT device.
[0002] Generally, devices such as air conditioners and televisions are sold in the market with dedicated remote control units. Most of these devices presently out in the market are not IOT devices and hence they cannot be operated from remote locations. In other words, consumers who purchased such non-IOT devices can use the devices only when they are at home. If the consumers intend to upgrade their existing non-IOT devices into IOT devices, the consumers cannot do so as such an upgrade option is not typically offered to the consumers by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of those non-IOT devices. Accordingly, the consumers are forced to purchase new devices that include IOT features, which leads to unnecessary expenditure for the consumers.
[0003] In order to address the previously mentioned issues, certain existing systems have been explored to convert an existing non-IOT device into an IOT device. For example, a US patent application US20190182329A1 describes a cloud-based system that includes a non-IOT sensor device that detects whether a door at a home has been opened and/or closed. The non-IOT sensor device is not a connected device and cannot transmit a door opened or closed status to a data-gathering engine placed remotely. Instead, the non-IOT sensor device transmits the door opened or closed status to another IOT device at home such that the IOT device forwards the status to the data-gathering engine via an internet connection. The cloud-based system thus indirectly converts the non-IOT sensor device into a connected IOT device by communicatively coupling the non-IOT sensor device to another IOT device at home.
[0004] Though the cloud-based system converts the non-IOT sensor device into the connected IOT device, remote operations of the device such as remotely turning ON and turning OFF of the non-IOT sensor device cannot be accomplished as such a non-IOT device typically cannot receive control commands from a remotely located device and execute control actions based on the received control commands.
[0005] Accordingly, there is a need for an improved system for converting existing non-IOT devices into IOT devices such that the converted IOT devices can be controlled both remotely as well as locally.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0006] It is an objective of the present disclosure to provide a system for remotely operating a non-IOT device. The system includes a remote device that is located at a remote location from the non-IOT device. The remote device includes a remote control application that includes a virtual remote control unit. The virtual remote control unit includes a plurality of virtual keys from which a user selects a virtual key for remotely controlling an operation of the non-IOT device. Further, the system includes an actual remote control unit that is located at a customer premises and is communicatively coupled to the non-IOT device. The actual remote control unit includes a plurality of physical keys that include a physical key corresponding to the virtual key selected by the user. Furthermore, the system includes a remote-key press controller including a plurality of input-output pins.
[0007] The remote-key press controller receives a unique identifier of the virtual key from the remote device and identifies an input-output pin from the plurality of input-output pins that is mapped to the unique identifier in an associated control database. The remote-key press controller sets the identified input-output pin to a high state that causes the input-output pin to output a first electrical signal. In addition, the system includes a key press inducing circuitry that electrically connects a set of electrical lines that are disposed underneath the physical key based on the first electrical signal output by the input-output pin, which electronically induces the physical key and mimics a user action of manually pressing the physical key. The actual remote control unit subsequently transmits an operation control message to the non-IOT device based on the physical key being electronically induced for controlling the operation of the non-IOT device.
[0008] The non-IOT device includes one of an air conditioner, a television, an electric light, a fan, a refrigerator, a washing machine, a kitchen appliance, and a device that is controlled using the actual remote control unit. The actual remote control unit includes one of an infrared remote control unit, a Bluetooth remote control unit, an Internet protocol remote control unit, and a Zigbee remote control unit. The remote-key press controller includes one of a single-board computer including a Raspberry Pi and a microcontroller board including an Arduino. The key press inducing circuitry includes one of an optocoupler and a solid-state relay. The remote device includes a remote database that stores a first reference table including mappings between a plurality of non-IOT devices and a plurality of remote-key press controllers that are deployed at the customer premises.
[0009] The remote device identifies that the non-IOT device that is to be remotely controlled is mapped to the remote-key press controller from the first reference table. The remote-key press controller receives the unique identifier of the virtual key selected by the user from the remote device via a communications link, and determines that the unique identifier of the virtual key is mapped to a unique identifier of the input-output pin in a second reference table that is stored in the associated control database. The second reference table includes mappings between unique identifiers of the plurality of virtual keys on the virtual remote control unit and unique identifiers of the plurality of input-output pins in the remote-key press controller.
[0010] The key press inducing circuitry includes a light emitting diode that is disposed at an associated input side. The light emitting diode emits light signals based on the first electrical signal output by the input-output pin, which causes the key press inducing circuitry to electrically connect a plurality of electrical lines that are disposed at an output side of the key press inducing circuitry and to electrically connect the set of electrical lines that are disposed underneath the physical key. Electrically connecting the set of electrical lines electronically induces the physical key. The system includes a light sensing circuit that is placed in front of the non-IOT device and is operatively coupled to a particular input-output pin selected from the plurality of input-output pins in the remote-keys press controller.
[0011] The light sensing circuit includes an associated resistance value that varies when the non-IOT device is turned to an activated state based on the physical key that is electronically induced and when an operational indicator light in the non-IOT device emits light towards the light sensing circuit. A variation in the associated resistance value triggers the particular input-output pin and enables the remote-keys press controller to realize that the non-IOT device is turned to the activated state. The remote-keys press controller subsequently transmits an operational status message to the remote device to indicate the user of the remote device that the non-IOT device is turned to the activated state.
[0012] The virtual key selected by the user corresponds to a virtual voice recognition key on the virtual remote control unit. The remote device recognizes a voice command provided by the user after manually pressing the virtual voice recognition key on the virtual remote control unit. The voice command includes a control instruction to control the operation of the non-IOT device. Further, the remote device converts the voice command into an audio file and transmits the audio file to the remote-key press controller via a communications link. The remote-key press controller sets the input-output pin to the high state that mimics a first user action of pressing and holding a voice recognition key on the actual remote control unit, and playbacks the audio file that is received from the remote device to generate an audio signal from the audio file. Further, the remote-key press controller sets the input-output pin to a low state after playing the audio file. Setting the input-output pin to the low state mimics a second user action of releasing the voice recognition key on the actual remote control unit. In addition, the remote-key press controller converts the audio signal including the voice command into an acoustic-electrical signal.
[0013] The actual remote control unit includes a speaker that is disposed at an exterior surface of the actual remote control unit. The speaker receives the acoustic-electrical signal from the remote-key press controller via an electrical cable and converts the acoustic-electrical signal back into the audio signal including the voice command. Further, the actual remote control unit includes a microphone that is disposed within the actual remote control unit. The microphone receives the audio signal including the voice command from the speaker and recognizes the voice command from the received audio signal. The actual remote control unit subsequently transmits the operation control message to the non-IOT device based on the control instruction included in the voice command for controlling the operation of the non-IOT device.
[0014] The system includes an impedance matching circuit that is operatively coupled to the remote-key press controller via an electrical cable. The impedance matching circuit includes one or more resistors that match an impedance of an audio output of the remote-key press controller with an impedance of a circuitry associated with a microphone in the actual remote control unit. The impedance matching circuit transmits the acoustic-electrical signal to the circuitry associated with the microphone via the electrical cable such that the circuitry associated with the microphone recognizes the voice command from the acoustic-electrical signal. The actual remote control unit subsequently transmits the operation control message to the non-IOT device based on the control instruction included in the voice command for controlling the operation of the non-IOT device.
[0015] It is another objective of the present disclosure to provide a method for remotely operating a non-IOT device. The method includes processing a user input including a selection of a virtual key on a virtual remote control unit by a remote device. The remote device includes a remote control application and is located at a remote location from the non-IOT device. The remote control application includes the virtual remote control unit. Further, the method includes transmitting a unique identifier of the virtual key from the remote device to a remote-key press controller via a communications link. The remote-key press controller includes a plurality of input-output pins. Furthermore, the method includes identifying an input-output pin from the plurality of input-output pins that is mapped to the unique identifier of the virtual key in a reference table that is stored in a control database of the remote-key press controller.
[0016] In addition, the method includes setting the identified input-output pin to a high state that causes the identified input-output pin to output a first electrical signal. Moreover, the method includes electrically connecting a set of electrical lines that are disposed underneath a physical key on an actual remote control unit using a key press inducing circuitry based on the first electrical signal output by the input-output pin. The physical key corresponds to the virtual key selected by a user on the virtual remote control unit. Electrically connecting the set of electrical lines electronically induces the physical key and mimics a user action of manually pressing the physical key. Further, the method includes transmitting an operation control message to the non-IOT device based on the physical key being electronically induced for controlling the operation of the non-IOT device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the claimed subject matter will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:
[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram depicting an exemplary IOT system including a remote device that is configured to remotely control operations of a plurality of non-IOT devices deployed at a customer premises, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;
[0019] FIGS. 2A-B illustrate exemplary graphical user interfaces of a remote control application that is residing in the remote device of FIG. 1, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;
[0020] FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram depicting an exemplary remote-key press controller that enables a user of the remote device of FIG. 1 to remotely control an operation of a non-IOT device, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;
[0021] FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram depicting the remote-key press controller of FIG. 3 that enables the user of the remote device to remotely control the operation of the non-IOT device over a voice command, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; and
[0022] FIGS. 5A-B illustrate a flow diagram depicting an exemplary method for controlling operations of a non-IOT device deployed at the customer premises using the IOT system of FIG. 1, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The following description presents an exemplary system and associated method for converting an existing non-IOT device including an associated remote control unit (RCU) into an IOT device. Particularly, embodiments described herein disclose a system that converts the non-IOT device into the IOT device by electronically inducing keys on the RCU associated with the non-IOT device.
[0024] An IOT device is a connected device that can be remotely operated using a remote device such as a smartphone or a tablet. Generally, the remote device transmits operational instructions to the IOT device from a remote location such that the IOT device receives those operational instructions and performs remotely initiated actions. For example, the remote device transmits an operational instruction to turn ON the IOT device such that the IOT device receives the operational instruction and turns itself ON using integrated hardware and software components.
[0025] Conventionally, a device that lacks such IOT specific hardware and software components cannot be remotely operated. In order to convert such an existing non-IOT device into a remotely controllable IOT device, the present disclosure provides an IOT system that includes the remote device that is communicatively coupled to a remote-key press controller.
[0026] In certain embodiments, the remote-key press controller receives an operational instruction from the remote device, and controls operations of a non-IOT device by electronically inducing keys on a RCU associated with the non-IOT device. For example, the remote-key press controller receives an operational instruction from the remote device including an instruction to turn ON a non-IOT device. In this example, the remote-key press controller electronically induces a ‘power’ key on a RCU associated with the non-IOT device such that the RCU transmits a turn ON message to the non-IOT device and turns ON the non-IOT device.
[0027] Thus, the IOT system including the remote device remotely turns ON the non-IOT device that lacks IOT specific hardware and software components by instructing the remote-key press controller to electronically induce the ‘power’ key on the RCU associated with the non-IOT device. An exemplary IOT system that enables the remote device to remotely control operations of a plurality of non-IOT devices is described subsequently in detail with reference to FIG. 1.
[0028] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram depicting an exemplary IOT system (100) including a remote device (102) that is located at a remote location and is configured to remotely control operations of a plurality of non-IOT devices (104A-N) deployed at a customer premises (106). Examples of the remote device (102) that remotely controls operations of the non-IOT devices (104A-N) include a smartphone, a tablet-computing device, a laptop, and a desktop computer. Examples of the non-IOT devices (104A-N) that are disposed at the customer premises (106) and that are remotely controlled by the remote device (102) include air conditioners, televisions, unmanned aerial vehicles, electric lights, fans, refrigerators, washing machines, kitchen appliances, or any other devices that can be controlled using RCUs.
[0029] For remotely controlling operations of the non-IOT devices (104A-N), the remote device (102) is communicatively coupled to a plurality of remote-key press controllers (108A-N) via a communications link (110), as depicted in FIG. 1. Examples of the communications link (110) include a Wi-Fi network, an Ethernet, and a cellular data network. Examples of the remote-key press controllers (108A-N) include single-board computers such as Raspberry Pi and microcontroller boards such as Arduino.
[0030] Specifically, the remote device (102) is communicatively coupled to a remote-key press controller (108A), which in turn is operatively coupled to an actual RCU (112A) via a key press inducing circuitry (114A) for electronically inducing keys on the RCU (112A) during remote operations of the non-IOT device (104A). Similarly, the remote device (102) is communicatively coupled to a remote-key press controller (108B), which in turn is operatively coupled to an actual RCU (112B) via a key press inducing circuitry (114B) for electronically inducing keys on the RCU (112B) during remote operations of the non-IOT device (104B).
[0031] Likewise, the remote device (102) is communicatively coupled to a remote-key press controller (108N), which in turn is operatively coupled to an actual RCU (112N) via a key press inducing circuitry (114N) for electronically inducing keys on the RCU (112N) during remote operations of the non-IOT device (104N). In one embodiment, the RCUs (112A-N) are located at the customer premises (106) and are wirelessly coupled to the non-IOT devices (104A-N), respectively. Examples of the RCUs (112A-N) that are wirelessly coupled to the non-IOT devices (104A-N) include infrared RCUs, Bluetooth RCUs, Internet protocol RCUs, and Zigbee RF4CE (radio frequency for consumer electronics) RCUs.
[0032] In certain embodiments, for remotely operating the non-IOT devices (104A-N), the remote device (102) includes a remote control application (116) that is installed in an associated memory unit. In one embodiment, the remote control application (116) includes one or more graphical user interfaces from which a user can select one or more desired non-IOT devices from the plurality of non-IOT devices (104A-N) and remotely control operations of the selected non-IOT devices.
[0033] For example, FIG. 2A depicts an exemplary graphical user interface (GUI) (200) of the remote control application (116) displayed via a display unit of the remote device (102). In one embodiment, the GUI (200) of the remote control application (116) lists all non-IOT devices (104A-N) added to the remote control application (116). From the GUI (200), the user may select a particular non-IOT device to remotely control operations of the particular non-IOT device.
[0034] For instance, the user selects a particular non-IOT device (104A) from the list of non-IOT devices (104A-N) displayed on the GUI (200). Subsequently, the remote control application (116) renders another GUI (202) that includes a virtual RCU (204) associated with the non-IOT device (104A), as depicted in FIG. 2B. In one embodiment, the virtual RCU (204) includes a plurality of virtual keys or buttons that are all present on a physical RCU of the non-IOT device (104A). From the keys present on the virtual RCU (204), the user may select a desired virtual key for controlling an operation of the non-IOT device (104A). For example, the user may select a virtual power key (206) on the virtual RCU (204) if the user intends to remotely turn ON the non-IOT device (104A). Upon selecting the virtual power key (206), the remote device (102) transmits an operational instruction to the remote-key press controller (108A). Based on the operational instruction, the remote-key press controller (108A) electronically induces a power key on the actual or physical RCU (112A), which causes the RCU (112A) to turn ON the non-IOT device (104A).
[0035] Similarly, in another example, the user selects another non-IOT device (104B) from the list of non-IOT devices (104A-N) displayed on the GUI (200). Subsequently, the remote control application (116) renders the GUI (202) that includes a virtual RCU (not shown in FIGS) associated with the non-IOT device (104B). An example of the non-IOT device (104B) includes a conventional television (104B) that lacks internet connectivity. From keys presented on the virtual RCU, the user may select a ‘channel+’ key if the user intends to remotely change a channel currently rendered by the television (104B). Upon selecting the ‘channel+’ key, the remote device (102) transmits an operational instruction to the remote-key press controller (108B). Based on the operational instruction, the remote-key press controller (108B) electronically induces a channel+ key on the actual RCU (112B), which causes the RCU (112B) to change the channel currently rendered by the television (104B).
[0036] Though the remote device (102) is capable of remotely controlling operations of the plurality of non-IOT devices (104A-N), a specific example of the remote device (102) that is used to remotely turn ON the non-IOT device (104A) is described in detail subsequently. Hereinafter, the non-IOT device (104A) is referred as an air conditioner (AC) (104A) for the sake of simplicity.
[0037] For remotely turning ON the AC (104A), the user opens the remote control application (116) in the remote device (102) and selects an icon representing the AC (104A) from the GUI (200). Upon selecting the icon representing the AC (104A), the remote control application (116) renders another GUI (202) that includes the virtual RCU (204) of the AC (104A). From the virtual RCU (204), the user selects the virtual power key (206) for remotely turning ON the AC (104A) at the customer premises (106).
[0038] Upon selecting the virtual power key (206), the remote device (102) transmits a unique identifier (ID) of the virtual power key (206) to a particular remote-key press controller selected from the plurality of remote-key press controllers (108A-N). In one embodiment, the remote device (102) identifies the particular remote-key press controller to which the unique ID of the virtual power key (206) to be transmitted based on a reference table stored in a remote database (118) of the remote device (102). In certain embodiments, the reference table includes mappings between the non-IOT devices (104A-N) and the remote-key press controllers (108A-N), as tabulated subsequently in a reference table 1.

Reference Table 1 that maps non-IOT devices to remote-key press controllers

Non-IOT Devices (104A-N) Remote-key Press Controllers (108A-N)
Non-IOT Device (AC) (104A) Remote-key Press Controller (108A)
Non-IOT Device (104B) Remote-key Press Controller (108B)
Non-IOT Device (104N) Remote-key Press Controller (108N)

[0039] When the user selects the icon representing the AC (104A) from the GUI (200), the remote device (102) identifies that the AC (104A) is mapped to the remote-key press controller (108A) from the reference table. Accordingly, the remote device (102) transmits the unique ID associated with the virtual power key (206) to the remote-key press controller (108A) via the communications link (110). The unique ID associated with the virtual power key (206) may be a name of the key (206) itself, an alphanumerical code, or a numerical value.
[0040] In certain embodiments, the remote-key press controller (108A) identifies that the user has selected the virtual power key (206) on the virtual RCU (204) based on the unique ID received from the remote device (102). Subsequently, the remote-key press controller (108A) electronically induces the same power key on an actual or physical RCU (112A) associated with the AC (104A) such that the actual RCU (112A) turns ON the AC (104A) as described subsequently with reference to FIG. 3.
[0041] In certain embodiments, the remote-key press controller (108A) includes a plurality of input-output pins (302A-N), as depicted in FIG. 3. Each of the plurality of input-output pins (302A-N) is coupled to a corresponding physical key selected from a plurality of physical keys on the actual RCU (112A).
[0042] For example, an input-output pin (302A) is coupled to a physical key (304) that corresponds to the power key (304) on the actual RCU (112A) via a first set of electrical lines (306A-B), a second set of electrical lines (308A-B), and a key press inducing circuitry (114A) as depicted in FIG. 3. Specifically, the input-output pin (302A) is electrically coupled to the key press inducing circuitry (114A) via the first set of electrical lines (306A-B) and the key press inducing circuitry (114A) is in turn electrically coupled to the power key (304) on the actual RCU (112A) via the second set of electrical lines (308A-B). Though it is not depicted in FIG. 3, it is to be understood that each of the other input-output pins (302B-N) in the remote-key press controller (108A) is similarly coupled to a particular key on the actual RCU (112A) via a corresponding first set of electrical lines, second set of electrical lines, and key press inducing circuitry.
[0043] In certain embodiments, the remote-key press controller (108A) electronically induces the power key (304) on the actual RCU (112A) upon identifying that the user has selected the virtual power key (206) on the virtual RCU (204), as noted previously. For electronically inducing the power key (304), the remote-key press controller (108A) determines a designated input-output pin that is coupled to the power key (304) on the actual RCU (112A) based on the unique ID of the virtual power key (206) received from the remote device (102) and a reference table stored in a control database (310). In one embodiment, the reference table includes mappings between unique IDs associated with keys on the virtual RCU (204) and unique IDs associated with the input-output pins (302A-N) in the remote-key press controller (108A).

Reference table 2 that maps keys of virtual RCU (204) to input-output pins (302A-N)

Unique IDs of keys on the virtual RCU (204) Unique IDs of input-output pins (302A-N) in the remote-key press controller (108A)
Power 5
Voice Recognition 7
Temperature+ 8
Temperature- 11
Swing 12
Timer 13
Fan Speed 14
Sleep 15

[0044] For example, from the previously noted reference table, the remote-key press controller (108A) identifies that the virtual power key (206) on the virtual RCU (204) is mapped to the fifth input-output pin (302A) in the remote-key press controller (108A). In this example, the remote-key press controller (108A) identifies the fifth input-output pin (302A) as the designated input-output pin (302A) that is coupled to the power key (304) on the actual RCU (112A).
[0045] Upon identifying the designated input-output pin (302A), the remote-key press controller (108A) selectively sets the designated input-output pin (302A) to a high state for electronically inducing the power key (304) on the actual RCU (112A). In certain embodiments, setting the designated input-output pin (302A) to the high state causes the designated input-output pin (302A) to output a specific voltage of, for example, 3.3 volts.
[0046] The specific voltage thus output by the designated input-output pin (302A) causes a first electrical signal, for example, a designated current to flow through the first set of electrical lines (306A-B) that are coupled to the designated input-output pin (302A). The first set of electrical lines (306A-B) then carry the first electrical signal to an input side (312) of the key press inducing circuitry (114A). In one embodiment, the key press inducing circuitry (114A) is an optocoupler or a solid-state relay, which includes a light emitting diode (LED) (314) at the associated input side (312) and a phototransistor (316) at an associated output side (318).
[0047] Specifically, the first electrical signal, carried by the first set of electrical lines (306A-B), powers the LED (314) at the input side (312) of the key press inducing circuitry (114A) and causes the LED (314) to emit light towards the phototransistor (316). Subsequently, the phototransistor (316) collects the light emitted by the LED (314) and the key press inducing circuitry (114A) electrically connects the second set of electrical lines (308A-B), which in turn, electrically connects a third set of electrical lines (320A-B) that are positioned underneath the ‘power’ key (304). Electrically connecting the third set of electrical lines (320A-B) that are positioned underneath the ‘power’ key (304) simulates a physically pressed state of the ‘power’ key (304).
[0048] Generally, when a user manually presses the power key (304) on the RCU (112A), a set of conductors placed at a bottom surface of the power key (304) physically touch the third set of electrical lines (320A-B) and energize the third set of electrical lines (320A-B). In the present disclosure, the key press inducing circuitry (114A) electronically induces the power key (304) and mimics this manual pressing of power key (304) by electrically connecting the third set of electrical lines (320A-B) that is achieved by electrically connecting the second set of electrical lines (308A-B).
[0049] In certain embodiments, electrically connecting the third set of electrical lines (320A-B) causes a microcontroller (322) in the actual RCU (112A) to determine that the power key (304) is manually pressed although the power key (304) is not actually manually pressed. As a result, the actual RCU (112A) transmits an operation control message, for example, a turn ON message to the AC (104A), where the message includes one or more codes that indicate the AC (104A) that the AC (104A) needs to be turned ON. Subsequently, the AC (104A) turns itself ON based on the turn ON message received from the microcontroller (322).
[0050] Once the AC (104A) is turned to an activated state, an operational status of the AC (104A) is transmitted to the remote device (102) to notify the user of the remote device (102) that the AC (104A) is turned to the activated state. To that end, the IOT system (100) includes a light sensing circuit (324) that is operatively coupled to a particular input-outpin (302C) selected from the plurality of input-output pins (302A-N) in the remote-keys press controller (108A). An example of the light sensing circuit (324) includes a light dependent resistor. In one embodiment, the light sensing circuit (324) is placed in front of the AC (104A). When the AC (104A) is turned to the activated state, an operational indicator light (326) in the AC (104A) emits light. The light, thus emitted by the operational indicator light (326), falls on the light sensing circuit (324), which causes a variation in a resistance value associated with the light sensing circuit (324). The variation in the resistance value triggers the particular input-output pin (302C) in the remote-keys press controller (108A) and thereby enables the remote-keys press controller (108A) to realize that the AC (104A) is turned to the activated state. Subsequently, the remote-keys press controller (108A) transmits an operational status message to the remote device (102) that indicates the user of the remote device (102) that the AC (104A) is turned to the activated state.
[0051] In certain embodiments, the remote device (102) allows the user to control operations of the AC (104A) over voice commands. For example, the remote device (102) allows the user to remotely turn ON the AC (104A) over a voice command. To that end, the user presses a virtual voice recognition (VR) key (208) displayed on the GUI (202) of the remote control application (116) and subsequently provides a voice command including a control instruction, for example, ‘Turn on the AC (104A)’ while keeping the virtual VR key (208) pressed. In one embodiment, the remote control application (116) recognizes the voice command provided by the user using a microphone associated with the remote device (102) and converts the voice command into an audio file.
[0052] In certain embodiments, the remote device (102) transmits the audio file along with a unique ID of the virtual VR key (208) selected by the user to the remote-key press controller (108A) via the communications link (110). Upon receiving the unique ID of the virtual VR key (208), the remote-key press controller (108A) identifies a designated input-output pin in the remote-key press controller (108A) that is coupled to a voice recognition key on the actual or physical RCU (112A). For example, from the previously noted reference table 2, the remote-key press controller (108A) identifies that the designated input-output pin that is coupled to the voice recognition key on the RCU (112A) corresponds to the seventh input-output pin (302B) in the remote-key press controller (108A). Subsequently, the remote-key press controller (108A) sets the designated input-output pin (302B) to a high state for inducing the voice recognition key on the RCU (112A), as described subsequently with reference to FIG. 4.
[0053] As noted previously with reference to FIG. 2, setting the designated input-output pin (302B) to the high state causes a LED (402) to switch ON and emit light towards a phototransistor (404) in a key press inducing circuitry (406). The phototransistor (404) then collects the light emitted by the LED (402) and the key press inducing circuitry (406) electrically connects a first set of electrical lines (408A-B), which in turn, electrically connects a second set of electrical lines (410A-B) that are placed underneath a voice recognition key (412) on the RCU (112A). Electrically connecting the second set of electrical lines (410A-B) that are positioned underneath the ‘voice recognition’ key (412) simulates a physically pressed and hold state of the ‘voice recognition’ key (412) on the RCU (112A).
[0054] Upon simulating the physically pressed and hold state of the voice recognition key (412), the remote-key press controller (108A) playbacks the audio file (414) received from the remote device (102). The playback of the audio file (414) generates an audio signal that includes the voice command provided by the user. After playing the audio file (414), the remote-key press controller (108A) sets the designated input-output pin (302B) to a low state, which causes the key press inducing circuitry (406) to electrically disconnect the first set of electrical lines (408A-B), which in turn, electrically disconnects the second set of electrical lines (410A-B). Electrically disconnecting the second set of electrical lines (410A-B) that are positioned underneath the ‘voice recognition’ key (412) simulates a physical release of the ‘voice recognition’ key (412) from the physically pressed and hold state to a physically released or non-pressed state.
[0055] Subsequently, the remote-key press controller (108A) converts the audio signal into an acoustic-electrical signal. Further, the remote-keys press controller (108A) transmits the acoustic-electrical signal to a small form factor speaker (416) disposed at an exterior surface of the RCU (112A) via an electrical cable (418).
[0056] In certain embodiments, the speaker (416) converts the acoustic-electrical signal back into the audio signal, and provides the audio signal as an input to the microphone (420) that is disposed inside the RCU (112A). From the audio signal received as the input from the speaker (416), the microphone (420) recognizes that the voice command provided by the user corresponds to, for example, “Turn ON the AC (104A).” Subsequently, the RCU (112A) transmits an operation control message to the AC (104A), where the operation control message includes one or more codes that indicate the AC (104A) that the AC (104A) needs to be turned ON. The AC (104A) then turns itself ON based on the operation control message received from the RCU (112A).
[0057] In certain embodiments, the remote-key press controller (108A) transmits the audio signal including the voice command directly to the RCU (112A) in lieu of transmitting the audio signal to the RCU (112A) via the speaker (416). In this implementation, the remote-key press controller (108A) is operatively coupled to the microphone (420) circuitry via an impedance matching circuit (422), as depicted using dotted lines in FIG. 4.
[0058] Generally, an audio output of the remote-key press controller (108A) includes an associated impedance that is lesser than an impedance associated with the microphone (420) circuitry. Before transmitting the voice command as an acoustic-electrical signal from the remote-key press controller (108A) to the microphone (420) circuitry, the impedance associated with the audio output of the remote-key press controller (108A) needs to be matched with the impedance associated with the microphone (420) circuitry. Otherwise, the acoustic-electrical signal, transmitted to the microphone (420) circuitry, damages the microphone (420) circuitry. In order to avoid occurrence of such damages to the microphone (420) circuitry, the remote-key press controller (108A) is operatively coupled to the impedance matching circuit (422) that includes one or more resistors for matching the impedance associated with the audio output of the remote-key press controller (108A) with the impedance associated with the microphone (420) circuitry.
[0059] As noted previously, for directly transmitting the audio signal including the voice command to the RCU (112A), the remote-key press controller (108A) converts the audio signal into the acoustic-electrical signal. Subsequently, the remote-key press controller (108A) transmits the acoustic-electrical signal to the impedance matching circuit (422) via the electrical cable (418). The impedance matching circuit (422) then matches the impedance associated with the audio output of the remote-key press controller (108A) with the impedance associated with the microphone (420) circuitry using the associated resistors, and provides the acoustic-electrical signal as an input to the microphone (420) circuitry.
[0060] From the acoustic-electrical signal received as the input from the impedance matching circuit (422), the microphone (420) circuitry recognizes that the voice command provided by the remote-key press controller (108A) corresponds to, for example, “Turn ON the AC (104A).” Subsequently, the RCU (112A) transmits a turn ON message to the AC (104A) such that the AC (104A) turns itself ON, as noted previously.
[0061] An exemplary method for remotely controlling operations of the non-IOT device (104A) using the IOT system (100) of FIG. 1 is described subsequently in detail with reference to FIGS. 5A-B. FIGS. 5A-B illustrate a flow diagram depicting an exemplary method for remotely controlling operations of the non-IOT device (104A) using the IOT system (100). The order in which the exemplary method (500) is described is not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number of the described blocks may be combined in any order to implement the exemplary method disclosed herein, or an equivalent alternative method. Additionally, certain blocks may be deleted from the method or augmented by additional blocks with added functionality without departing from the claimed scope of the subject matter described herein.
[0062] At step (502), the remote device (102) receives and processes a user input including a selection of the virtual key (206) on the virtual RCU (204) to remotely control an operation of the non-IOT device (104A). At step (504), the remote device (102) identifies a particular remote-keys press controller (108A) that is pre-configured to electronically induce keys on the actual RCU (112A) corresponding to the virtual RCU (204) based on mappings between the non-IOT devices (104A-N) and the remote-key press controllers (108A-N) stored in the remote database (118).
[0063] At step (506), the remote device (102) transmits the unique identifier of the virtual key (206) to the identified remote-key press controller (108A) via the communications link (110). At step (508), the remote-key press controller (108A) identifies an input-output pin (302A) from the plurality of input-output pins (302A-N) that is mapped to the unique identifier of the virtual key (206) in a reference table that is stored in the associated control database (310). At step (510), the remote-key press controller (108A) sets the identified input-output pin (302A) to a high state that causes the identified input-output pin (302A) to output a first electrical signal.
[0064] At step (512), the key press inducing circuitry (114A) electrically connects the set of electrical lines (320A-B) that are disposed underneath the physical key (304) on the actual RCU (112A) based on the first electrical signal output by the input-output pin (302A) to electronically induce the physical key (304). In certain embodiments, electrically connecting the set of electrical lines (320A-B) electronically induces the physical key (304) and mimics a user action of manually pressing the physical key (304) though the user is not actually pressed the physical key (304). At step (514), the actual RCU (112A) transmits an operation control message to the non-IOT device (104A) based on the physical key (304) being electronically induced to control the operation of the non-IOT device (104A).
[0065] The IOT system (100) described in the present disclosure converts the non-IOT devices (104A-N) at a home into IOT devices. The non-IOT devices (104A-N) typically cannot be operated from a remote location. Conventional systems convert the non-IOT devices (104A-N) into IOT devices by communicatively coupling the non-IOT devices (104A-N) to other IOT devices at the home. However, such conventional systems can still only receive data from the non-IOT devices (104A-N), and cannot remotely control operations of the non-IOT devices (104A-N) as such non-IOT devices (104A-N) typically lack IOT specific hardware and software components.
[0066] In contrast, the present IOT system (100) remotely operates even such non-IOT devices (104A-N) that lack IOT specific hardware and software components. Specifically, the IOT system (100) remotely operates the non-IOT devices (104A-N) using the remote-key press controllers (108A-N) that receive operational instructions from the remote device (102) and control operations of the non-IOT devices (104A-N) by electronically inducing keys on the actual or physical RCUs (112A-N) associated with the non-IOT devices (104A-N). Thus, the IOT system (100) enables a user to operate non-IOT devices at his or her home from a remote location, and does not require the user to purchase new devices that include IOT features.
[0067] Although specific features of various embodiments of the present systems and methods may be shown in and/or described with respect to some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only. It is to be understood that the described features, structures, and/or characteristics may be combined and/or used interchangeably in any suitable manner in the various embodiments shown in the different figures.
[0068] While only certain features of the present systems and methods have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes.

LIST OF NUMERAL REFERENCES:

100 IOT system
102 Remote device
104A-N Non-IOT devices
106 Customer premises
108A-N Remote-key press controllers
110 Communications Link
112A-N Remote control units
114A-N Key press inducing circuitry
116 Remote control application
118 Remote database
200, 202 Graphical user interfaces
204 Virtual remote control unit
206 Virtual power key
208 Virtual voice recognition key
302A-N Input-output pins
304 Power key
306A-B First set of electrical lines
308A-B, 408A-B Second set of electrical lines
310 Control database
312 Key press inducing circuitry input side
314, 402 Light emitting diode
316, 404 Phototransistor
318 Key press inducing circuitry output side
320A-B, 410A-B Third set of electrical lines
322 Microcontroller
324 Light sensing circuit
326 Operational indicator light
406 Key press inducing circuitry
412 Voice recognition key
414 Audio file
416 Speaker
418 Electrical cable
420 Microphone
422 Impedance matching circuit
500-514 Steps of a method for remotely controlling operations of a non-IOT device , Claims:
We claim:

1. A system (100) for remotely operating a non-IOT device (104A), comprising:
a remote device (102) that is located at a remote location from the non-IOT device (104A), wherein the remote device (102) comprises a remote control application (116) that comprises a virtual remote control unit (204), wherein the virtual remote control unit (204) comprises a plurality of virtual keys from which a user selects a virtual key (206) for remotely controlling an operation of the non-IOT device (104A);
an actual remote control unit (112A) that is located at a customer premises (106) and is communicatively coupled to the non-IOT device (104A), wherein the actual remote control unit (112A) comprises a plurality of physical keys that comprise a physical key (304) corresponding to the virtual key (206) selected by the user;
a remote-key press controller (108A) comprising a plurality of input-output pins (302A-N), wherein the remote-key press controller (108A) receives a unique identifier of the virtual key (206) from the remote device (102) and identifies an input-output pin (302A) from the plurality of input-output pins (302A-N) that is mapped to the unique identifier in an associated control database (310), wherein the remote-key press controller (108A) sets the identified input-output pin (302A) to a high state that causes the input-output pin (302A) to output a first electrical signal; and
a key press inducing circuitry (114A) that electrically connects a set of electrical lines (320A-B) that are disposed underneath the physical key (304) based on the first electrical signal output by the input-output pin (302A), which electronically induces the physical key (304) and mimics a user action of manually pressing the physical key (304), wherein the actual remote control unit (112A) subsequently transmits an operation control message to the non-IOT device (104A) based on the physical key (304) being electronically induced for controlling the operation of the non-IOT device (104A).

2. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the non-IOT device (104A) comprises one of an air conditioner, a television, an electric light, a fan, a refrigerator, a washing machine, a kitchen appliance, and a device that is controlled using the actual remote control unit (112A), wherein the actual remote control unit (112A) comprises one of an infrared remote control unit, a Bluetooth remote control unit, an Internet protocol remote control unit, and a Zigbee remote control unit.

3. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the remote-key press controller (108A) comprises one of a single-board computer comprising a Raspberry Pi and a microcontroller board comprising an Arduino, wherein the key press inducing circuitry (114A) comprises one of an optocoupler and a solid-state relay.

4. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the remote device (102) comprises a remote database (118) that stores a first reference table comprising mappings between a plurality of non-IOT devices (104A-N) and a plurality of remote-key press controllers (108A-N) that are deployed at the customer premises (106), and wherein the remote device (102) identifies that the non-IOT device (104A) that is to be remotely controlled is mapped to the remote-key press controller (108A) from the first reference table.

5. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the remote-key press controller (108A):
receives the unique identifier of the virtual key (206) selected by the user from the remote device (102) via a communications link (110); and
determines that the unique identifier of the virtual key (206) is mapped to a unique identifier of the input-output pin (302A) in a second reference table that is stored in the associated control database (310), wherein the second reference table comprises mappings between unique identifiers of the plurality of virtual keys on the virtual remote control unit (204) and unique identifiers of the plurality of input-output pins (302A-N) in the remote-key press controller (108A).

6. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the key press inducing circuitry (114A) comprises a light emitting diode (314) that is disposed at an associated input side (312), wherein the light emitting diode (314) emits light signals based on the first electrical signal output by the input-output pin (302A), which causes the key press inducing circuitry (114A) to electrically connect a plurality of electrical lines (308A-B) that are disposed at an output side (318) of the key press inducing circuitry (114A) and to electrically connect the set of electrical lines (320A-B) that are disposed underneath the physical key (304), and wherein electrically connecting the set of electrical lines (320A-B) electronically induces the physical key (304).

7. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system (100) comprises a light sensing circuit (324) that is placed in front of the non-IOT device (104A) and is operatively coupled to a particular input-output pin (302C) selected from the plurality of input-output pins (302A-N) in the remote-keys press controller (108A).

8. The system (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the light sensing circuit (324) comprises an associated resistance value that varies when the non-IOT device (104A) is turned to an activated state based on the physical key (304) that is electronically induced and when an operational indicator light (326) in the non-IOT device (104A) emits light towards the light sensing circuit (324).

9. The system (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein a variation in the associated resistance value triggers the particular input-output pin (302C) and enables the remote-keys press controller (108A) to realize that the non-IOT device (104A) is turned to the activated state, and wherein the remote-keys press controller (108A) subsequently transmits an operational status message to the remote device (102) to indicate the user of the remote device (102) that the non-IOT device (104A) is turned to the activated state.

10. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the virtual key (206) selected by the user corresponds to a virtual voice recognition key (208) on the virtual remote control unit (204), wherein the remote device (102):
recognizes a voice command provided by the user after manually pressing the virtual voice recognition key (208) on the virtual remote control unit (206), wherein the voice command comprises a control instruction to control the operation of the non-IOT device (104A); and
converts the voice command into an audio file (414) and transmits the audio file (414) to the remote-key press controller (108A) via a communications link (110).

11. The system (100) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the remote-key press controller (108A):
sets the input-output pin (302A) to the high state that mimics a first user action of pressing and holding a voice recognition key (304) on the actual remote control unit (112A);
playbacks the audio file (414) that is received from the remote device (102) to generate an audio signal from the audio file (414);
sets the input-output pin (302A) to a low state after playing the audio file (414), wherein setting the input-output pin (302A) to the low state mimics a second user action of releasing the voice recognition key (304) on the actual remote control unit (112A); and
converts the audio signal comprising the voice command into an acoustic-electrical signal.

12. The system (100) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the actual remote control unit (112A) comprises:
a speaker (416) that is disposed at an exterior surface of the actual remote control unit (112A), wherein the speaker (416) receives the acoustic-electrical signal from the remote-key press controller (108A) via an electrical cable (418) and converts the acoustic-electrical signal back into the audio signal comprising the voice command; and
a microphone (420) that is disposed within the actual remote control unit (112A), wherein the microphone (420) receives the audio signal comprising the voice command from the speaker (416) and recognizes the voice command from the received audio signal; and
wherein the actual remote control unit (112A) subsequently transmits the operation control message to the non-IOT device (104A) based on the control instruction included in the voice command for controlling the operation of the non-IOT device (104A).

13. The system (100) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the system (100) comprises an impedance matching circuit (422) that is operatively coupled to the remote-key press controller (108A) via an electrical cable (418),
wherein the impedance matching circuit (422) comprises one or more resistors that match an impedance of an audio output of the remote-key press controller (108A) with an impedance of a circuitry associated with a microphone (420) in the actual remote control unit (112A).

14. The system (100) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the impedance matching circuit (422) transmits the acoustic-electrical signal to the circuitry associated with the microphone (420) via the electrical cable (418) such that the circuitry associated with the microphone (420) recognizes the voice command from the acoustic-electrical signal,
wherein the actual remote control unit (112A) subsequently transmits the operation control message to the non-IOT device (104A) based on the control instruction included in the voice command for controlling the operation of the non-IOT device (104A).

15. A method for remotely operating a non-IOT device (104A), comprising:
processing a user input comprising a selection of a virtual key (206) on a virtual remote control unit (204) by a remote device (102), wherein the remote device (102) comprises a remote control application (116) and is located at a remote location from the non-IOT device (104A), wherein the remote control application (116) comprises the virtual remote control unit (204);
transmitting a unique identifier of the virtual key (206) from the remote device (102) to a remote-key press controller (108A) via a communications link (110), wherein the remote-key press controller (108A) comprises a plurality of input-output pins (302A-N);
identifying an input-output pin (302A) from the plurality of input-output pins (302A-N) that is mapped to the unique identifier of the virtual key (206) in a reference table that is stored in a control database (310) of the remote-key press controller (108A);
setting the identified input-output pin (302A) to a high state that causes the identified input-output pin (302A) to output a first electrical signal;
electrically connecting a set of electrical lines (320A-B) that are disposed underneath a physical key (304) on an actual remote control unit (112A) using a key press inducing circuitry (114A) based on the first electrical signal output by the input-output pin (302A), wherein the physical key (304) corresponds to the virtual key (206) selected by a user on the virtual remote control unit (204), wherein electrically connecting the set of electrical lines (320A-B) electronically induces the physical key (304) and mimics a user action of manually pressing the physical key (304); and
transmitting an operation control message to the non-IOT device (104A) based on the physical key (304) being electronically induced for controlling the operation of the non-IOT device (104A).