Synchronous transmission of data with network remote control

Abstract

A novel method and apparatus is disclosed for synchronously delivering complementary data to two devices. Complementary data is used herein to designate at least two streams of related data that, when combined, form an organic whole. In one embodiment of the disclosed invention, a command is received through a network for the synchronous transmission of complementary data. Subsequently, first data is transmitted through the network to a first device synchronized with transmission of second data to a second device, wherein the first and second data are complementary data. In one embodiment of the invention, a mobile and/or hand-held device such as a PDA is used to control another device remotely through one or more networks, such that complementary, synchronous streams of data that are intended for observation in combination by users and/or entities, can be transmitted to each of the PDA and the device. The flexibility of such an arrangement, wherein the PDA can be carried to different locations to control different devices for synchronous transmission of complementary data, allows the provision of a multitude of services not heretofore available.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for synchronously delivering complementary data to a first device and a second device, the method comprising: 
 receiving a command through a network for synchronous transmission of complementary data; and    transmitting first data through the network to the first device, the transmission of the first data synchronized with transmission of second data transmitted to a second device, the first and second data forming complementary data.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the network is a telephone network  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the network is an Internet.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the network is a wireless network.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the network is a first network and second data is transmitted to the second device through a second network.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the second network is a telephone network  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the second network is an Internet.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the second network is a wireless network.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5  wherein each of the first data and the second data is one from the group consisting of audio data and video data.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first device is a PDA.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first device is a telephone.  
     
     
         12 . A system for synchronously delivering complementary data through a network, the system comprising: 
 a control unit;    a first device connected to the control unit through the network; and    a second device connected to the control unit through the network, wherein the control unit synchronously delivers complementary data to the first device and the second device.    
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the first device is a vehicle navigation system and wherein the complementary data includes navigational video data delivered to the first device and supplementary data delivered to the second device.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the supplementary data is audio data.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the first device is a video monitor and wherein the complementary data includes video data delivered to the first device and subtitles delivered to the second device.  
     
     
         16 . A method for remotely controlling a telephone using a device connected to a network, the network being connected to a telephone network through a gateway server, the method comprising: 
 receiving a command to control a telephone from a device; and    controlling the telephone in accordance with the command, wherein the receiving and controlling steps are executed at a location that is remote from the location of the device and the location of the telephone.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the functionality of the telephone is controlled after a communication channel between the telephone and another device has been established.  
     
     
         18 . A method for remotely controlling an appliance connected to a first network using a device connected to a second network, the first network connected to the second network through a gateway server, the method comprising: 
 receiving a command to control an appliance from a device; and    controlling the appliance in accordance with the command, wherein the receiving and controlling steps are executed at a location that is remote from the location of the device and the location of the appliance.    
     
     
         19 . A method for delivering first data through a network for playback or display on a first device in synchronicity with playback or display of second data on a second device, the first data and the second data forming complementary data, the method comprising: 
 receiving a command through a network for transmission of complementary data; and    transmitting first data through the network to a first device for playback or display on the first device in synchronicity with playback or display of second data on a second device, wherein the first and second data form complementary data.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the network is a telephone network  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the network is an Internet.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the network is a wireless network.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the network is a first network and second data is transmitted to the second device through a second network.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the second network is a telephone network  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the second network is an Internet.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the second network is a wireless network.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24  wherein each of the first data and the second data is one from the group consisting of audio data and video data.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the first device is a PDA.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the first device is a telephone.  
     
     
         30 . A method for synchronously delivering complementary data to a device and a PDA, the method comprising: 
 receiving a command from the PDA through a first network, the first network including a wireless network;    transmitting first data to through the first network; and    transmitting second data through a second network, the transmission of the second data synchronized with the transmission of the first data, the first and second data forming complementary data.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the first data is transmitted to the PDA and the second data is transmitted to a device.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30  wherein at least one of the first data and the second data is either unicast or multicast to a predetermined collection of users or devices.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the first data and second data are intended for observation by the same entity or person.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the first network is the Internet.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the second network is the Internet.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the first data is transmitted to the PDA.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the first data is played on the PDA.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the first data is textual data that is displayed on the PDA.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the first data is audio data.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the first data is transmitted to a device, the device being one from the collection of a telephone, a computer and a navigational device.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the second data is supplementary data.