A bridge device, in communication with a smart device, functions to command one or more controllable appliances in response to communications received from the smart device. The bridge device also includes input elements by which the bridge device can be used to directly command common functional operations of the one or more controllable appliances. In this manner, common functional operations, such as volume control, playback pause/resume control, etc., may be made readily available without necessitating the use of the smart device, whilst the more sophisticated GUI provided by the smart device remote control app may be advantageously utilized when more complex or less frequently used command functions are to be performed.

A wireless communication device includes: a wired communication circuit which receives, through a wired connection, an operation signal for controlling each of luminaires from a management device which controls an operation of each of the luminaires; a radio communication circuit which converts the operation signal received by the wired communication circuit and transmits the converted operation signal to each of the luminaires over a radio wave; an infrared ray receiver which receives an infrared ray signal transmitted from outside; and a controller. When the wired communication circuit receives a signal having a predetermined pattern from the management device, the controller transitions to a state for receiving the infrared ray signal, and, based on the infrared ray signal transmitted from outside, transmits a signal relating to communication setting between the radio communication circuit and each of the luminaires to each of the plurality of luminaires via the radio communication circuit.

An accessory includes a main body including a communication module that is configured to communicate with a predetermined network, and a container including a main body-coupling portion that is configured to separably couple to the main body. The main body includes at least one of (i) a remote control module that is configured to transmit an optical signal for controlling a predetermined apparatus within a predetermined range or (ii) a sensor module that is configured to sense information about a surrounding environment. The container includes an external coupling portion that is configured to couple the container to an external object.

An accessory includes a main body that includes a communication module that is configured to communicate with a predetermined network, and a container including a main body-coupling portion that is located at an upper portion of the container and configured to separably couple to the main body, the container being made of a material that is able to be injection-molded. The container includes an outer portion that is exposed to an outside of the container based on the main body being coupled to the container, and an inner portion that is recessed downward to thereby define the main body-coupling portion, the inner portion including a bottom portion that defines a bottom surface of the inner portion, and an inclined portion that extends upward from a circumference of the bottom surface and outward with respect to a central axis passing through the container in a vertical direction.

A communication interface and a device control, management and monitoring system are provided to enable the networking of and communication between multiple devices operating under different protocols. The communication interface may act as a translator or protocol converter that reformats transmissions from one protocol to another based on protocol compatibility between the recipient and transmitting devices. The device control and monitoring system may store predefined rules that are triggered when specified conditions associated with the networked devices are detected. The rules may specify an action to take such as transmitting a discount offer to a user or turning off a light. According to one or more arrangements, the communication interface may act as an intermediary between the networked devices and the device control system so that the device control system is not required to understand or be compatible with the various other protocols used by the networked devices.

A system for integrating infrared remote controls of home appliances includes a smart electronic device, a transmission device and multiple conversion devices. The smart electronic device is collaborated with the transmission device to transmit a wireless control signal. The multiple conversion devices are respectively mounted on multiple home appliances. After receiving the wireless control signal, a selected conversion device converts the wireless control signal into an infrared remote control code that is further transmitted to a corresponding home appliance for remote control. Because of transmission using radio signals between the transmission device and the multiple conversion devices, there is no concern for communication failure arising from obstruction, limited distance and high directivity demanding to be within a receiving angle upon remote control. As only one remote control is used, operational convenience increases. Additionally, some home appliances can be jointly controlled according to a configured situation.

Apparatus, system and method for using a controlling device for receiving voice input to control the operation of voice controlled smart appliances and, more particularly, to a controlling device for recognizing voice commands and for use in routing a signal, based on voice commands from the user, to two or more voice controlled smart appliances from different consumer brand names.

Disclosed are a gateway system for controlling at least one electronic appliance and a method of driving the same. The gateway system includes a gateway module to transmit a control signal to the electronic appliance by using a first wireless network; and at least one communication module detachably coupled to the gateway module to provide a second wireless network different from the first wireless network to the gateway module.

The technology disclosed can be implemented to construct devices with an array of optical elements to provide power to stimulate a biological process in a nerve system in living objects, and to provide patterned light outputs from the array of optical elements to indicate a corresponding electrical pattern monitored from the biological process in the nerve system. In one aspect a nerve stimulator apparatus is disclosed including a plurality of optical to electrical transducers arranged in a two-dimensional array, wherein each of the plurality of optical to electrical transducers is configured to convert light to an electrical signal; a plurality of electrodes, each electrode associated with one or more associated optical to electrical transducers; and a plurality of electrical interconnects to connect each of the plurality of electrodes to the one or more associated optical transducers. In another aspect nerve sensor apparatus is disclosed including a plurality of optical to electrical transducers; a plurality of optical sources; a plurality of electrodes, each electrode associated with one or more optical to electrical transducers, each optical source configured to modulate light output according to a voltage at one of the plurality of electrodes; and a plurality of electrical interconnects.

A heating cooking system includes a cooking device (100), servers (400, 500) for communicating with the cooking device (100) via a communication network and an information terminal (300) for communicating with the servers (400, 500) via the communication network. The servers (400, 500) have a communication tool manager (400) for managing communication tools of the information terminal (300) for users. The cooking device (100) has posting sections for posting information relating to executed cooking menus to the communication tool manager (400) of the servers (400, 500) via the communication network (N).