System and method for simplified setup of a universal remote control

• US 10,297,144 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2018
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Haughawout, Joseph Lee, Hayes, Patrick H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harold, Jefferey F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Desir, Jean W
• Application Number:
  US15/891,100
• Publication Number:
  US 20180165949A1
• Time in Patent Office: 468 Days
• Field of Search: 348734, 348552, 348 1405, 348 1404, 348114, 3408156, 340 1222, 34042613, 34042614, 340 1228, 725 80, 725 81
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/00 Electric signal transmission systems G08C17/00 takes precedence
• 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 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26291 for providing content or additional data updates, e.g. updating software modules, stored at the client deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• 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 21/4221 Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42225 characterized by types of remote control, e.g. universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42226 Reprogrammable remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42227 the keys being reprogrammable, e.g. soft keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/433 Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request, caching operations
• 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 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence

Abstract

A system and method for enabling set up of a controlling device capable of controlling a plurality of appliances, via an interactive instruction set and associated programming. The programming is accessible by a STB or other controllable appliance and is configured to appropriately display interactive instructions and prompts to a user during a user initiated set up procedure for configuration of another controllable device (e.g., DVD, VCR, DVR, etc) available to the user. Appropriate set up data, generally in the form of command library codes, is displayed to the user by the interactive instruction set and associated programming for entry and trial by the user in set up of the desired appliance(s).

Claims

1. A method for configuring a controlling device adapted to communicate with a first controllable appliance, comprising:

causing the first controllable appliance to operate in a first controllable appliance setup mode; and

while the first controllable appliance is operating in the first controllable appliance setup mode;

(a) using information obtained from the first controllable appliance to configure the controlling device to transmit a command from a command codeset for the purpose of determining if a second controllable appliance performs a functional operation;

(b) causing the controlling device as configured in step (a) to transmit the command;

(c) causing the controlling device to transmit to the first controllable appliance a communication to thereby indicate to the first controllable device whether or not the second controllable appliance performs the functional operation in response to the command being transmitted in step (b); and

(d) when the communication indicates to the first controllable device that the second controllable appliance did not perform the functional operation, repeating steps (a) through (c) and, when the communication indicates to the first controllable device that the second controllable appliance did perform the functional operation, configuring the controlling device to transmit one or more commands from the command codeset of step (a) in response to a subsequent activation of one or more input elements of the controlling device.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein first controllable appliance displays in a display of the second controllable appliance a first prompt that is selectable to indicate to the first controllable appliance that the second appliance did perform the functional operation and a second prompt that is selectable to indicate to the first controllable appliance that the second appliance did not perform the functional operation and wherein the communication comprises a selection of one of the first prompt and the second prompt.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the functional operation comprises a volume control operation associated with the second controllable device.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the communication is caused to be transmitted to the first controllable appliance in response to an activation of an input element of the controlling device.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the input element of the controlling device usable to cause a transmission of the communication comprises a navigation input element of the controlling device.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first controllable device is caused to operate in the first controllable device setup mode in response to further communication received from the controlling device.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the controlling device comprises a smart device having a controlling device application resident thereon.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first controllable appliance comprises a set-top box.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second controllable appliance comprises a television.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first controllable appliance is caused to automatically provide the information for use in configuring the controlling device to transmit a command from a command codeset for the purpose of determining if a second controllable appliance performs a functional operation in step (a) when the communication indicates to the first controllable device that the second controllable appliance did not perform the functional operation in step (d).

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the information obtained from the first controllable appliance to configure the controlling device to transmit a command from a command codeset for the purpose of determining if a second controllable appliance performs a functional operation comprises a controlling device input element activation sequence.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the information obtained from the first controllable appliance to configure the controlling device to transmit a command from a command codeset for the purpose of determining if a second controllable appliance performs a functional operation is obtained from the first controllable appliance after indicating to the first controllable appliance at least a brand for the second controllable appliance.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the first controllable appliance causes a user interface to be displayed on the second controllable appliance and wherein the user interface is navigable via use of the controlling device for indicating to the first controllable appliance at least the brand for the second controllable appliance.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein, while the controlling device is being configured in step (a), the controlling device also remains configured to transmit the communication to the first controllable appliance.

15. A controlling device, comprising:

a processing device;

a plurality of input elements coupled to the processing device; and

a memory storing processing device executable instructions, wherein the instruction, when executed by the processing device, cause the controlling device to;

(a) use information obtained from a first controllable appliance to configure the controlling device to transmit a command from a command codeset for the purpose of determining if a second controllable appliance performs a functional operation;

(b) cause the controlling device as configured in step (a) to transmit the command;

(c) cause the controlling device to transmit to the first controllable appliance a communication to thereby indicate to the first controllable device whether or not the second controllable appliance performs the functional operation in response to the command being transmitted in step (b); and

(d) when the communication indicates to the first controllable device that the second controllable appliance did not perform the functional operation, repeat steps (a) through (c) and, when the communication indicates to the first controllable device that the second controllable appliance did perform the functional operation, configure the controlling device to transmit one or more commands from the command codeset of step (a) in response to a subsequent activation of one or more of the plurality of input elements of the controlling device.

16. The controlling device as recited in claim 15, wherein the functional operation comprises a volume control operation associated with the second controllable device.

17. The controlling device as recited in claim 15, wherein the communication is caused to be transmitted to the first controllable appliance in response to an activation of at least one of the plurality of input elements of the controlling device.

18. The controlling device as recited in claim 15, wherein the controlling device comprises a smart device having a controlling device application resident thereon.

19. The controlling device as recited in claim 15, wherein the second controllable appliance comprises a television.

20. The controlling device as recited in claim 15, wherein the information obtained from the first controllable appliance to configure the controlling device to transmit a command from a command codeset for the purpose of determining if a second controllable appliance performs a functional operation comprises a controlling device input element activation sequence.

21. The controlling device as recited in claim 15, wherein, while the controlling device is being configured in step (a), the controlling device also remains configured to transmit the communication to the first controllable appliance.