Systems and methods for remotely controlling a computer

Abstract

A computer system is configured to be powered up by a hand-held controller. The hand-held controller is in wireless communication with a computer. One or more buttons on the hand-held controller may be used to automatically launch a particular application program which has been pre-selected by a computer user after completing the power up process.

1 . A remote control system for controlling a computer device, the remote control system comprising: 
 a wireless receiver configured to couple to a computer device; and    a handheld controller comprising: 
 a wireless transmitter configured to send a plurality of wireless signals to the wireless receiver; and  
 at least three buttons for actuating said plurality of signals, wherein a first button generates a first signal for initiating a power on sequence of the computer device and a launching by the computer device of a first user-defined application program, wherein a second button generates a second signal for initiating the power on sequence of the computer device and a launching by the computer device of a second user-defined application program, and wherein a third button generates a third signal for initiating the power on sequence of the computer device without launching an application program.  
   
     
     
         2 . The remote control system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless receiver comprises a printed circuit board configured to couple with an expansion slot of the computer device.  
     
     
         3 . The remote control system of  claim 2 , wherein the wireless receiver further comprises a battery for powering the wireless receiver.  
     
     
         4 . The remote control system of  claim 1 , wherein the handheld controller further comprises an attachment device configured to attach the handheld controller to a portable personal item.  
     
     
         5 . The remote control system of  claim 1 , further comprising the computer device.  
     
     
         6 . The remote control system of  claim 5 , wherein the computer device includes a separate power supply than the wireless receiver.  
     
     
         7 . The remote control system of  claim 5 , wherein the computer device is a personal computer.  
     
     
         8 . The remote control system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless signals are radio frequency signals.  
     
     
         9 . The remote control system of  claim 8 , wherein the wireless receiver and the wireless transmitter have a communication range of approximately 200 to 500 feet.  
     
     
         10 . A method of remotely controlling a computer, the method comprising: 
 transmitting at least one of a plurality of command signals from a handheld controller to a computer, wherein the handheld controller comprises at least three user-actuatable inputs for generating the plurality of command signals, and wherein a first of the user-actuatable inputs initiates a power on sequence of the computer and a launching by the computer of a first user-defined application, wherein a second of the user-actuatable inputs initiates the power on sequence of the computer and a launching of a second user-defined application, and wherein a third of the user-actuatable inputs initiates the power on sequence of the computer without a launching of an application.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , additionally comprising receiving the at least one of the plurality of command signals with a wireless receiver.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said transmitting comprises radio frequency transmission.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said transmitting occurs over a distance between approximately 200 and 500 feet.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , additionally comprising analyzing the command signal to select an application for launch from a plurality of application programs.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first and second user-defined applications is a word processing application.  
     
     
         16 . A remote control device for a computer, the remote control device comprising: 
 means for wirelessly communicating at least one of a plurality of command signals to a computer;    means for housing said means for wirelessly communicating in a handheld casing; and    means for receiving user input for initiating the wireless communication of the at least one of the plurality of command signals, said means for receiving further comprising: 
 means for generating a first command signal to initiate a power on sequence of the computer and a launching by the computer of a first application;  
 means for generating a second command signal to initiate the power on sequence of the computer and a launching by the computer of a second application different than the first application; and  
 means for generating a third command signal to initiate the power on sequence of the computer without launching an application.  
   
     
     
         17 . The remote control device of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second applications are user-defined applications.  
     
     
         18 . The remote control device of  claim 16 , wherein the wireless communication is radio frequency communication.  
     
     
         19 . The remote control device of  claim 18 , wherein said means for wirelessly communicating has a communication range of approximately 200 to 500 feet.  
     
     
         20 . The remote control device of  claim 16 , further comprising means for attaching the means for housing to a portable personal item.