User interface for entertainment system setup

• US 20040216172A1
• Filed: 05/25/2004
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Perlman, Stephen G.
• Application Number:
  US10/853,653
• Publication Number:
  US 20040216172A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/136
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/205 with control bus for exchanging commands between units
• 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 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing interactive instructions directing a user how to establish interactivity between multiple consumer electronics devices. A first consumer electronics device is connected to the television set. The user is requested to identify another consumer electronics device to be connected to the first consumer electronics device or to the television set. The first consumer electronics device identifies the cables needed to establish the connection and then determines whether the user has the cables. If the user does not have the cables, they may be purchased online by the first consumer electronics device. Connection instructions describing how to establish the connection are displayed on the television set. After the user attempts to establish the connection, the first consumer electronics device optionally tests the connection to determine whether it is reliable and fully operable. If not, further instructions are displayed. In addition, establishing the connection may include coupling a cable to one of several identical, interchangeable connectors at the first consumer electronics device. Furthermore, establishing connectivity can involve configuring a remote control system to control multiple consumer electronics devices.

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. In a system that includes a display device, a first consumer electronics device that is electrically coupled with the display device and that is associated with a remote control device that is configured to remotely control one or more other consumer electronics devices, a method for finding one or more operable remote control signals that can be used by the remote control device to control the one or more other consumer electronics devices, the method comprising:

receiving, at a first consumer electronics device that is electrically coupled with a display device, user input identifying one or more other consumer electronics devices for which the remote control device is to be configured to control;

retrieving remote control information from the first consumer electronics device corresponding to the one or more other consumer electronics devices;

displaying the remote control information retrieved from the first consumer electronics device at the display device;

receiving, at the first consumer electronics device, user input selected from the displayed remote control information;

in response to receiving the user input that is selected from displayed remote control information, the first consumer electronics transmitting remote control signals associated with a first signal speed to the second consumer electronics device; and

upon detecting that the second consumer electronics device fails to respond to the sent remote control signals, transmitting new remote control signals associated with a different signal speed to the second consumer electronics device.

17. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein said data relating to said second consumer electronics device is an alphanumeric code identifying said second consumer electronics device.

18. A method as defined in claim 16, further comprising wherein:

if said second consumer electronics device responds to said signals, then selecting the format of the signals as the format compatible with the second consumer electronics device.

28. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the user input only partially identifies the one or more consumer electronics devices.

29. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein upon finding one or more operable remote control signals for remotely controlling the second consumer electronics device, the method further includes finding an optimal signal configuration for remotely controlling the second consumer electronics device by transmitting one or more new remote control signals having at lest one of a different format and a different signal speed to the second consumer electronics device.

30. A computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 16.

31. A computer program product as recited in claim 30, wherein receiving data relating to said second consumer electronics device comprises receiving an alphanumeric code identifying said second consumer electronics device.

32. A computer program product as recited in claim 30, wherein if said second consumer electronics device responds to said signals, then selecting the format of the signals as the format compatible with the second consumer electronics device.

33. A computer program product as recited in claim 30, wherein the step of transmitting signals from said first consumer electronics device to said second electronics comprises transmitting infrared signals from said first consumer electronics device to said second electronics device.

34. A computer program product as recited in claim 30, wherein the user input only partially identifies the one or more other consumer electronics devices.

35. A computer program product as recited in claim 30, wherein upon finding one or more operable remote control signals for remotely controlling the second consumer electronics device, the method further includes finding an optimal signal configuration for remotely controlling the second consumer electronics device by transmitting one or more new remote control signals having at least one of a different format and a different signal speed to the second consumer electronics device.

36. A method as defined in claim 18, wherein the step of transmitting signals from said first consumer electronics device to said electronics comprises transmitting infrared signals from said first consumer electronics device to said second electronics device.

19-26. -26. (canceled)

27. In a system including a display screen, a plurality of consumer electronics devices, at least one of which is to be connected to the display screen, and a remote control device, a method for configuring said remote control device such that said remote control device controls at least two of said plurality of consumer electronics devices, said method comprising the steps of:

displaying, on said display screen, information instructing said user to provide data identifying said second consumer electronics device sufficiently to permit said remote control device to control said second consumer electronics device;

receiving, at said first consumer electronics device, said data relating to said second consumer electronics device, said first consumer electronics device being connected to said display screen and being controllable by said remote control device; and

configuring said first consumer electronics device by performing the steps of;

transmitting infrared signals from said first consumer electronics device to said second electronics device, said infrared signals having a selected speed;

determining if said second consumer electronics device responds to said infrared signals;

if said second consumer electronics device responds to said infrared signals, then selecting the format of the infrared signals as the format compatible with the second consumer electronics device; and

if said second consumer electronics device does not respond to said infrared signals, then performing, until the second consumer electronics device responds to said infrared signals, the steps of;

reducing the selected speed; and

retransmitting the infrared signals from said first consumer electronics device to said second electronics device.

37. A computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 27.