User interface for a remote control application

• US 10,311,714 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2010
• Issued: 06/04/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Huang, Steve LanPing, Scott, Cheryl, Scott, Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitaro, Ryan F
• Application Number:
  US12/855,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20100321201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,218 Days
• Field of Search: 715744, 715747
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/21 Programming remote control devices via third means
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/33 Remote control using macros, scripts
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• 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: G10L 17/22 Interactive procedures; Man-machine interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/0025 in a remote control unit remote control tuning in general H03J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 2200/23 Remote control device with display showing data to be transmitted to the controlled apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 2200/25 : Remote control device with display
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 2200/26 : Remote control device with touch screen display
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/20 : for coupling gramophone pick-up, recorder output, or microphone to receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 : by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 : Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/509 : wherein the managed service relates to media content delivery, e.g. audio, video or TV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 : being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; 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 21/41265 : having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• 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 21/42209 : 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 21/4227 : Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 : Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 : for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• 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 21/4622 : Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 : End-user applications
• 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 21/8543 : using a description language, e.g. Multimedia and Hypermedia information coding Expert Group [MHEG], eXtensible Markup Language [XML] information retrieval of semistructured data, the underlying structure being taken into account, e.g. mark-up language structure data G06F16/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 : Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 : Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A hand-held electronic device having a remote control application user interface that functions to displays operational mode information to a user. The graphical user interface may be used, for example, to setup the remote control application to control appliances for one or more users in one or more rooms, to perform activities, and to access favorites. The remote control application is also adapted to be upgradeable. Furthermore, the remote control application provides for the sharing of operational mode information.

Claims

1. A remote control device for controlling one or more consumer devices of various device types, the remote control comprising:

a plurality of user input elements;

an action map having a plurality of action map entries wherein each of the plurality of action map entries is associated with a one of the plurality of user input elements;

a plurality of device command code sets wherein each of the plurality of device command code sets has a plurality of functions for controlling at least one consumer device;

a selector configured to allow a user to select individual functions from the plurality of device command code sets appropriate for controlling the one or more consumer devices;

an activator configured to allow a user to create one or more links between at least one of the selected individual functions of the plurality of device command code sets and action map entries of the action map whereupon an activation of a one of the plurality of user input elements will cause a transmission from the remote control device of the individual functions of the plurality of device command code sets that were selected via use of the selector and linked to the one of the plurality of action map entries assigned to the activated one of the plurality of user input elements via use of the activator; and

a memory device that is configured to store the plurality of device command code sets and the action map.

2. The remote control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the remote control device is a multi-mode remote control.

3. The remote control device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a proposer for proposing one of the plurality of device command code sets prior to the selection by the selector.

4. The remote control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device command code set corresponds to an operating mode of the remote control device.

5. The remote control device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a touch screen.

6. The remote control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the remote control device is configured to store functions from outside the remote control device in the memory device of the remote control device.

7. The remote control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein unlinked user input elements are communicated to a user.

8. A method for programming a remote control device having a plurality of user input elements for controlling one or more consumer devices of various device types, the method comprising acts of:

linking a plurality of device command code sets provided for one or more device types with the plurality of user input elements via use of an action map for one or more consumer devices to be controlled, wherein the action map is stored in a memory of the remote control device, wherein each of the plurality of device command code sets has a plurality of functions for controlling at least one consumer device, wherein the action map has a plurality of action map entries, wherein each of the plurality of action map entries includes at least one function for controlling at least one consumer device, and wherein the plurality of device command codes sets are linked with the plurality of user input elements by;

selecting by a user via one or more interactions with the remote control device an individual function from one of the plurality of device command code sets; and

creating by the user via one or more interactions with the remote control device links between one of the selected individual functions of any one of the plurality of device command code sets provided for a given device type and action map entries of the action map assigned to a one of the plurality of user input elements, whereupon an activation of a one of the plurality of user input elements will cause a transmission from the remote control device of the individual functions of the plurality of device command code sets that were selected by the user and linked by the user to the one of the plurality of action map entries assigned to the activated one of the plurality of user input elements.

9. The method for programming a remote control device as claimed in claim 8, comprising an act of proposing one of the plurality of device command code sets to the user by the remote control device.

10. The method for programming a remote control device as claimed in claim 9, comprising an act of ordering the plurality of device command code sets proposed to the user based on a predetermined criteria.

11. The method for programming a remote control device as claimed in claim 8, comprising an act of transferring the plurality of device command code sets from a device outside the remote control device for storage in the memory device of the remote control device.

12. The method for programming a remote control device as claimed in claim 8, comprising an act of storing the plurality of device command code sets.

13. The method for programming a remote control device as claimed in claim 8, comprising the act of communicating unlinked user input elements to a user.

14. A programmable remote control device comprising user input elements for controlling one or more consumer devices of various device types and a memory, the memory being configured to store a plurality of device command code sets, and comprising a program of instructions for performing the method comprising acts of:

linking a plurality of device command code sets provided for one or more device types with the plurality of user input elements via use of an action map for one or more consumer devices to be controlled, wherein the action map is stored in a memory of the remote control device, wherein each of the plurality of device command code sets has a plurality of functions for controlling at least one consumer device, wherein the action map has a plurality of action map entries, wherein each of the plurality of action map entries includes at least one function for controlling at least one consumer device, and wherein the plurality of device command codes sets are linked with the plurality of user input elements by;

selecting by a user via one or more interactions with the remote control device an individual function from one of the plurality of device command code sets; and

creating by the user via one or more interactions with the remote control device links between one of the selected individual functions of any one of the plurality of device command code sets provided for a given device type and action map entries of the action map assigned to a one of the plurality of user input elements, whereupon an activation of a one of the plurality of user input elements will cause a transmission from the remote control device of the individual functions of the plurality of device command code sets that were selected by the user and linked by the user to the one of the plurality of action map entries assigned to the activated one of the plurality of user input elements.

15. The programmable remote control device as claimed in claim 14, comprising a program for proposing one of the plurality of device command code sets.

16. The programmable remote control device as claimed in claim 14, comprising a program for ordering the plurality of device command code sets based on a predetermined criteria.

17. The programmable remote control device as claimed in claim 14, wherein unlinked user input elements are communicated to a user.

18. The programmable remote control device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the action map corresponds to an operating mode of the remote control device.