Systems and methods for saving and restoring scenes in a multimedia system

• US 10,021,337 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2017
• Issued: 07/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Cannistraro, Alan C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nwugo, Ojiako
• Application Number:
  US15/705,065
• Publication Number:
  US 20180070044A1
• Time in Patent Office: 299 Days
• Field of Search: 340 1222, 340 1223, 340 1224, 340 1228, 340 1229, 340 132, 340 1321, 348460
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/33 Remote control using macros, scripts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4131 home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4222 Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42226 Reprogrammable remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/60 for the sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/035 : Circuits for the digital non-picture data signal, e.g. for slicing of the data signal, for regeneration of the data-clock signal, for error detection or correction of the data signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/08 : Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band , e.g. by time division H04N7/007 takes precedence

Abstract

Systems and methods for saving and restoring scenes in a multimedia system with minimal configuration are provided. The techniques of the present invention can allow the states of the components in the multimedia system to be captured in a scene. Once the scene has been saved, the scene can be restored at a later time. A remote control system for recommending scenes by comparing states of components in the current scene with states of components in saved scenes is also provided. The remote control system can also recommend scenes based on usage patterns. Moreover, the remote control system can allow users to designate one or more saved scenes as favorite scenes.

Claims

1. A method implemented in one or more electronic devices, the method comprising:

receiving current state information from each of a plurality of components controllable by the one or more electronic devices;

comparing the current state information to saved state information associated with a plurality of saved scenes;

identifying one or more of the saved scenes as a recommended scene based on a result of the comparing;

presenting a user interface having a control element operable to select one of the one or more recommended scenes as a scene to restore; and

in response to user operation of the control element, restoring the selected scene.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein restoring the selected scene comprises sending a control command to at least one of the components to change a current state of the component to correspond to the saved state information associated with the selected scene.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein restoring the selected scene further comprises:

detecting that a first component for which saved state information is associated with the selected scene is not available; and

providing a recommendation to the user for one or more alternative components to substitute for the first component.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of components includes at least two of:

a television;

a speaker;

a light fixture;

a media device;

a window shade;

or

a fireplace.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a usage pattern associated with the saved scenes; and

recommending to the user that one of the plurality of saved scenes be restored based on the usage pattern.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the usage pattern is based at least in part on a frequency of restoring the saved scene as a function of one or more of a particular time of day, a particular day of week, or a particular day of year.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving a user input indicating that the recommended saved scene should be restored; and

restoring the recommended saved scene in response to the user input.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein restoring the recommended saved scene includes sending a control command to at least one of the components to change a current state of the component to correspond to the saved state information associated with the recommended saved scene.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the current state information comprises one or more of:

an on/off state of one or more of the plurality of components;

metadata associated with media content that is playing on one or more of the plurality of components;

or

a volume setting for one or more of the plurality of components.

10. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, configures the one or more processors to perform instructions comprising:

receiving current state information from each of a plurality of components controllable by the one or more electronic devices;

comparing the current state information to saved state information associated with a plurality of saved scenes;

identifying one or more of the saved scenes as a recommended scene based on a result of the comparing;

presenting a user interface having a control element operable to select one of the one or more recommended scenes as a scene to restore; and

in response to user operation of the control element, restoring the selected scene.

11. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein restoring the selected scene comprises sending a control command to at least one of the components to change a current state of the component to correspond to the saved state information associated with the selected scene.

12. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein restoring the selected scene further comprises:

detecting that a first component for which saved state information is associated with the selected scene is not available; and

providing a recommendation to the user for one or more alternative components to substitute for the first component.

13. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions further comprise:

determining a usage pattern associated with the saved scenes; and

recommending to the user that one of the plurality of saved scenes be restored based on the usage pattern, wherein the usage pattern is based at least in part on a frequency of restoring the saved scene as a function of one or more of a particular time of day, a particular day of week, or a particular day of year.

14. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions further comprise:

receiving a user input indicating that the recommended saved scene should be restored; and

restoring the recommended saved scene in response to the user input.

15. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein restoring the recommended saved scene includes sending a control command to at least one of the components to change a current state of the component to correspond to the saved state information associated with the recommended saved scene.

16. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the current state information comprises one or more of:

an on/off state of one or more of the plurality of components;

metadata associated with media content that is playing on one or more of the plurality of components;

or a volume setting for one or more of the plurality of components.

17. A system, comprising:

a user interface;

one or more memory devices; and

one or more processors coupled to the user interface and the one or more memory devices, the one or more processors being configured to;

receive current state information from each of a plurality of components controllable by the one or more electronic devices;

compare the current state information to saved state information associated with a plurality of saved scenes;

identify one or more of the saved scenes as a recommended scene based on a result of the comparing;

present, at the user interface, a control element operable to select one of the one or more recommended scenes as a scene to restore; and

in response to user operation of the control element, restore the selected scene.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein restoring the selected scene comprises sending a control command to at least one of the components to change a current state of the component to correspond to the saved state information associated with the selected scene.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein restoring the selected scene further comprises:

detecting that a first component for which saved state information is associated with the selected scene is not available; and

providing a recommendation to the user for one or more alternative components to substitute for the first component.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

determine a usage pattern associated with the saved scenes; and

recommend to the user that one of the plurality of saved scenes be restored based on the usage pattern, wherein the usage pattern is based at least in part on a frequency of restoring the saved scene as a function of one or more of a particular time of day, a particular day of week, or a particular day of year.