EP0986213A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Communications device with user proximity detection
Assignee: NCR International Inc
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Filing: 1999-09-03
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2019-09-03
Abstract
Abstract A domestic appliance (1) such as a microwave oven is adapted for interaction with a communications network (75) such as the Internet by the addition of a substantially self-contained discrete communications module (12) connectable to the communications network (75), the communications module (12) including display means (20) and command entry means that optionally interact with the appliance (1). The appliance (1) is provided with mounting hardware (6) and an adaptor (7) including means for attachment to the mounting hardware (6) and means (10, 13-16) for mounting the communications module (12) to the appliance (1) via the adaptor (7). The communications module (12) is adapted for connection to broadband cable or xDSL networks. Thus equipped, the appliance (1) becomes an element of a communications system (1, 72, 73) providing multiple functionality including television and Internet browsing functions within the home. Other elements of the communications system are a broadband online connection (72) and a broadband portal (73).
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew Calder
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:11
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/10; G06Q10/107; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/06; G06Q99/00; G10; G10L; G10L15/00; G10L15/26; H; H05; H05B; H05B6/00; H05B6/64; H05B6/6435; H05B6/6441; H05B6/66; H05B6/668; F; F25; F25B; F25B2600/00; F25B2600/07; F25D; F25D29/00; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/2803; H04L12/2816; H04L12/2818; H04L12/282; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B40/00; Y10; Y10S; Y10S345/00; Y10S345/905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
54 words
A communications means (12) adapted for interaction with a communications
network (75), the communications means (12) including display means (20) and
command entry means, wherein the display means (20) is switchable between modes
in accordance with input from a proximity sensor adapted to sense the presence of a
user near the communications means (12).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
35 words
The communications means (12) of Claim 1, wherein the display means (20)
switches from a 'standby' mode (65) to an 'on' mode (66) when the presence of a user
is detected by the proximity means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The communications means (12) of Claim 2, wherein the display means (20) enters
the 'standby' mode (65) upon a user entering a standby command via the command
entry means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The communications means (12) of Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein a timeout means
takes activity input from the proximity sensor and the command entry means and puts
the display means (20) into the 'standby' mode (65) when a predetermined period of
inactivity elapses.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The communications means (12) of any of Claims 2 to 4 wherein, when in the
'standby' mode (65), the display means (20) displays images downloaded from the
communications network (75).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The communications means (12) of Claim 5, wherein the images are
advertisements or information.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The communications means (12) of Claim 6, wherein the advertisements or
information are varied in accordance with the time of day, the weather, or user
characteristics stored in the communications network (75).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The communications means (12) of Claim 7, wherein the stored user characteristics
include predetermined preferences and interests, demographic standing, and recent
buying or browsing patterns.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The communications means (12) of any preceding claim, further comprising user-switchable
on-off switch means for switching the display means (20) into and out of
an 'off' mode (67).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The communications means (12) of any preceding Claim, wherein the proximity
sensor is a passive infra red sensor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
A domestic appliance including a communications means (12) as defined in any
preceding Claim.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
22 words
A method of switching a communications means (12) between modes, comprising
sensing the presence of a user near the communications means (12).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of Claim 12, wherein a display means (20) of the communications
means (12) switches from a 'standby' mode (65) to an 'on' mode (66) when the
presence of a user is detected.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of Claim 13, wherein the display means (20) enters the 'standby'
mode (65) upon a user entering a standby command via a command entry means of
the communications means (12).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of Claim 13 or Claim 14, wherein a timeout means takes activity
input from a proximity sensor associated with the communications means (12) and the
command entry means and puts the display means (20) into the 'standby' mode (65)
when a predetermined period of inactivity elapses.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
28 words
The method of any of Claims 13 to 15 wherein, when in the 'standby' mode (65),
the display means (20) displays images downloaded from a communications network
(75).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of Claim 16, wherein the images are advertisements or information.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of Claim 17, wherein the advertisements or information are varied in
accordance with the time of day, the weather, or user characteristics stored in the
communications network (75) including predetermined preferences and interests,
demographic standing, and recent buying or browsing patterns.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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