We disclose a concierge device that can be configured to register, control and support a consumer device. It can alternatively or redundantly connect to a home management bridge and/or cloud-based management servers. It can accept menus that allow a single concierge device to provide a wide range of functions for various consumer devices. The concierge device allows the user in a single action to initiate a support session, automatically identifying the consumer device. The concierge device can be configured for voice or video support calls. The concierge device in conjunction with a home management bridge or gateway can manage on boarding of components of an automated home, such as switches and lamps. Implementations of the concierge device that include a display can show supplemental information, such as advertising, optionally in coordination with media being played on a consumer device coupled in communication with the concierge device.

Claims

29 · 2 independent · depth 4

29 granted claims

›1.independentA method of initiating a support session for a consumer device using a concierge device, the method including:nassociating the concierge device with a…+14

›2.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the associating further includes wirelessly pairing the concierge device with the selected consumer device and identify…d2

›3.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the associating further includes selecting the consumer device from a menu of candidate consumer devices known to the h…d2+1

›5.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the menu is displayed visually.d2

›6.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the home gateway is a physical device separate and distinct from the concierge device, to which the concierge device se…d2

›7.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the home gateway is part of the same physical device as the concierge device.d2

›8.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the home gateway is a cloud-based device to which the concierge device sends messages via a network that extends outsid…d2

›9.↳ 1The method of claim 1, further including the concierge device receiving status information from the selected consumer device and forwarding the status…d2

›10.↳ 1The method of claim 1, further including the home gateway connecting with and receiving status information from the selected consumer device and using…d2

›11.↳ 1The method of claim 1, further including the home gateway relaying messages to and from the selected consumer device during the support session.d2

›12.↳ 1The method of claim 1, further including displaying information received during the automated support protocol on a display of the concierge device.d2

›13.↳ 1The method of claim 1, further including enabling a user of the concierge device to bypass interactive response systems and begin the support session …d2

›14.↳ 1The method of claim 1, further including causing the home gateway to determine which of several support centers to initiate contact with to support th…d2

›15.↳ 1The method of claim 1, further including displaying on a display of the concierge device a targeted or interactive advertisement.d2

›16.independentA concierge device comprising:nat least one wireless data communication adapter, one or more input sensors, one or more outputs, and memory; andat lea…+13

›17.↳ 16The concierge device of claim 16, wherein the associating further includes wirelessly pairing the concierge device with the selected consumer device a…d2

›18.↳ 16The concierge device of claim 16, wherein the menu is an audio menu.d2

›19.↳ 16The concierge device of claim 16, wherein the menu is displayed visually.d2

›20.↳ 16The concierge device of claim 16, wherein the home gateway is a physical device separate and distinct from the concierge device and having its own pro…d2

›21.↳ 16A system including the concierge device of claim 16, wherein the home gateway is part of the same physical device as the concierge device.d2

›22.↳ 16The concierge device of claim 16, wherein the home gateway is a cloud-based device to which the concierge device sends messages via a network that ext…d2

›23.↳ 16The concierge device of claim 16, further comprising the processor configured to perform operations including receiving status information from the se…d2

›24.↳ 16A system including the concierge device of claim 16, further comprising the home gateway including a processor configured to perform operations includ…d2

›25.↳ 16A system including the concierge device of claim 16, further comprising the home gateway including a processor configured to perform operations includ…d2

›26.↳ 16The concierge device of claim 16, further comprising the processor configured to perform operations including displaying information received during t…d2+2

›27.↳ 16The concierge device of claim 16, further including enabling a user of the concierge device to bypass interactive response systems and begin the suppo…d2

Classifications

3 codes

IPC · International Patent Classification

Section H — Electricity

H04M1/24

USPC · US Patent Classification

379/1.1348/14.4

Claim changes

Soon

Coming soonHow the claims changed between publication and grant

See which claims were amended, added or cancelled during examination, with every added and removed word marked.

AmendedAddedCancelledUnchanged

The published claims of this patent are not paired with the granted ones in what we hold.

File wrapper

⤢ drag to zoom

USPTOApplicanthover for detail · click to open

Pendency

0.6 y

221 days filing → grant

Office actions

non-final + final

Responses

no RCE

Interviews

examiner interview summaries

Examiner

Olisa Anwah

art unit 2614 · TC 2600

Law firm

Law firm · Log in to unlock

Citations: 11 back · 0 forward

See the full prosecution history — every USPTO and applicant action on this file, in order.

Term & fees

See the term timeline — pendency span, in-force span, the maintenance fees paid and both computed expiry dates.

Priority chain

2 priority documents

Priority

18 Nov 2011

earliest claimed

›Priority documents — 2

Type	Document	Date
provisional	US 61561732	18 Nov 2011
related publication	US 20120108230 A1	3 May 2012

Validity challenges

See the validity challenges on record — reexaminations, IPRs and PGRs, with their institution decisions and outcomes.

Citations

See every patent this one cites and every patent that cites it back — publication, assignee, and how each one was found.