System and method to facilitate configuration of a controlling device

• US 10,235,873 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2009
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Thompson, Brandt J., Gallegos, Jon, Godwin, Jason L., Hayes, Patrick H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dragoescu, Claudia
• Application Number:
  US12/490,978
• Publication Number:
  US 20090292375A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,555 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/91 Remote control based on location and proximity
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]

Abstract

A system and method wherein geographic data is used to configure a controlling device to control operations of a target device and/or to configure the controlling device to control tuning operations of a target device. The system additionally provides for the harmonization of controlling device configurations made on the controlling device and/or a remote computer.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a controlling device having a favorites input element that is pre-associated with a one of a plurality of media content to control operations of a target device which receives the plurality of media content from a media content provider, comprising:

receiving into the controlling device a media content lineup for the media content provider; and

automatically configuring the controlling device by using the one of the plurality of media content that was associated with the favorites input element at a time prior to the receipt of the media content lineup and channel tuning information contained within the media content lineup to automatically assign one or more commands from a command code set stored in a memory of the controlling device to the favorites input element whereupon activation of the favorites input element causes the controlling device to transmit to the target device the one or more commands to thereby cause the target device to access the one of the plurality of media content.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising using data indicative of a brand of the target device and data indicative of a type for the target device to identify the command code set for use in connection with the step of automatically configuring the controlling device.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the target device comprises a cable system set top box.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the target device comprises a satellite system set top box.

5. A method for configuring a controlling device having a favorites input element that is pre-associated with a one of a plurality of media content to control operations of a target device which receives the plurality of media content from a media content provider, comprising:

receiving into the controlling device a media content lineup for the media content provider; and

in response to an activation of the favorites input element of the controlling device, causing the controlling device to automatically use the one of the plurality of media content that was associated with the favorites input element at a time prior to the receipt of the media content lineup with the favorites input element and channel tuning information contained within the media content lineup to select one or more commands from a command code set stored in a memory of the controlling device and to transmit to the target device the one or more selected commands to thereby cause the target device to access the one of the plurality of media content.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the target device comprises a cable system set top box.

7. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the target device comprises a satellite system set top box.