Method and apparatus for controlling an animatronic device using a web enabled cellular phone

Abstract

Methods and apparatus which enable remote control of animatronic devices over a network using a web enabled cell phone. For clients having limited programming capabilities such as a cell phone, signals created by pressing a key on a keypad are sent to an intermediate server which would have a mapping of a key to a desired animatronic control command and would convert the received signals to an animatronic control command and send the animatronic control command to a server for sending to an addressed animatronic device. A determination may be made if the animatronic control command is serviceable by the animatronic device. The animatronic control command is sent unaltered to a receiving client if the animatronic control command is serviceable by the animatronic device connected to the receiving client. The animatronic control command may be modified to a valid animatronic control command if the animatronic control command is not serviceable by the animatronic device.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for remotely controlling an animatronic device using a web enabled phone comprising the step of: 
 operating a first server to communicate with a web enabled phone, said first server operating to convert signals received from said web enabled phone to animatronic control signals and sending said animatronic control signals to a second server for sending to a computer having a connected animatronic device.    
     
     
         2 . The method defined by    claim 1    wherein if said animatronic control signals correspond to a movement which said animatronic device is incapable of performing, said commands are altered to correspond to a movement which said animatronic device is capable of performing.