System and method for simplified setup of a universal remote control

• US 10,600,317 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2019
• Issued: 03/24/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: N/A
• Original Assignee: N/A
• Inventors: Haughawout, Joseph Lee, Hayes, Patrick H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harold, Jefferey F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Desir, Jean W
• Application Number:
  US16/393,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20190318615A1
• Time in Patent Office: 335 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 controlled device, comprising:

a receiver for receiving communications from a remotely located controlling device;

a transmitter for transmitting communications to a display device coupled to the controlled device;

a processing device coupled to the receiver and the transmitter; and

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

automatically progress through a plurality of setup procedure steps in response to each of a plurality of communications received via use of the receiver from the controlling device;

transmit to the display device via use of the transmitter communications to cause the display device to display instructional information to a user while progressing through the plurality of setup procedure steps; and

in response to at least a type and brand of a target device to be controlled via use of the controlling device being identified via use of the plurality of setup procedure steps, select at least one command code set which has been predetermined to be likely to be usable by the controlling device to control operational functions of the target device when subsequently provisioned to the controlling device.

2. The controlled device as recited in claim 1, wherein controlled device comprises a set-top box and the display device comprises a television.

3. The controlled device as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one command code set comprises an infrared command code set.

4. The controlled device as recited in claim 1, wherein the instructions cause the controlled device to commence automatic progression of the plurality of setup procedure steps in response to a predetermined communication being received via use of the receiver from the controlling device.

5. The controlled device as recited in claim 1, wherein the instructions cause the controlled device to transmit to the display device via use of the transmitter a communication to cause the display device to display a key input activation sequence corresponding to the selected at least one command code set in response to at least the type and brand of the target device being identified via use of the plurality of setup procedure steps.

6. The controlled device as recited in claim 1, wherein the instructions cause the controlled device to exit the plurality of setup procedure steps in response to a predetermined communication being received via use of the receiver from the controlling device.

7. The controlled device as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of communications received via use of the receiver from the controlling device comprise menu navigational commands received from the controlling device.

8. The controlled device as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of communications received via use of the receiver from the controlling device comprises prompt response data received from the controlling device and wherein the prompt response data corresponds to the instructional information being displayed by the display device.

9. The controlled device as recited in claim 1, wherein the instructional information being displayed by the display device comprises a series of displayed navigable menus.

10. The controlled device as recited in claim 1, wherein the controlled device comprises a media accessing device.

11. The controlled device as recited in claim 1, wherein the controlled device comprises a transceiver coupled to the processing device for receiving the executable instructions from a remote server for storage in the memory.