Controlling device having a device mode state toggle feature

• US 20050088315A1
• Filed: 10/27/2003
• Published: 04/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Hayes, Patrick H., Klein, Sandro David
• Granted Patent: US 8,253,532 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.690
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control

Abstract

A controlling device having a feature for toggling between various device mode states. The device mode state toggle feature may be implemented as a key which is preferably located with the function keys thus being spaced from the top of the controlling device. The device mode state toggle feature may be used to sequentially toggle between all device mode states of the controlling device, to toggle between a currently selected device mode state and a previously selected device mode state of the controlling device, to toggle between device mode states that have been designated by a user of the controlling device, etc. An indicia, such as a LED, key illumination, color, sound, or the like, may be utilized to provide an indication to the user as to which device mode state the controlling device is placed into when the device mode state toggle feature is activated.

Claims

1. A controlling device having a plurality of device mode states each of which is selectable to configure the controlling device to command operating functions of one or more of a plurality of different appliances defined for that device mode state, the controlling device comprising:

programming for allowing one of the plurality of device mode states to be selected to thereby configure the controlling device; and

programming for allowing one of a subset of the plurality of device mode states to be selected to thereby configure the controlling device.

2. The controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein the programming for allowing one of a subset of the plurality of device mode states to be selected is responsive to actuation of a device mode state toggle key.

3. The controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein the subset of the plurality of device mode states is maintained in table stored in a memory of the controlling device.

4. The controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein the subset of the plurality of device mode states comprises one or more device mode states selected from the plurality of device mode states by a user.

5. The controlling device as recited in claim 4, wherein the subset of the plurality of device mode states is selected by a user interacting with the programming for allowing one of the plurality of device mode states to be selected.

6. The controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein the programming for allowing one of the plurality of device mode states to be selected is responsive to actuation of one of a plurality of device mode keys each of which corresponds to one of the plurality of device mode states.

7. The controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein the programming for allowing one of the plurality of device mode states to be selected is responsive to a selection of a device mode state from a menu having entries corresponding to each of the plurality of device mode states.

8. The controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein the programming for allowing one of a subset of the plurality of device mode states to be selected causes each of the device mode states within the subset to be selected in a predefined order.

9. The controlling device as recited in claim 8, wherein the predefined order is user selectable.

10. The controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of device mode states comprises only those device mode states of the controlling device that have been setup to cause the controlling device to be configured to command the operation of one or more appliances.

11. The controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of device mode states has an indicia that is presented when that device mode state is selected.

12. The controlling device as recited in claim 11, wherein the indicia comprises a color.

13. The controlling device as recited in claim 11, wherein the indicia comprises an illuminated LED.

14. The controlling device as recited in claim 11, wherein the indicia comprises an graphical representation.

15. The controlling device as recited in claim 11, wherein the indicia comprises a sound.

16. The controlling device as recited in claim 11, wherein the indicia comprises a vibration.

17. The controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein the programming for allowing one of the plurality of device mode states to be selected is responsive to actuation of one of a plurality of device mode keys each of which corresponds to one of the plurality of device mode states and wherein the indicia is associated with the plurality of device mode keys.

18. The controlling device as recited in claim 17, wherein the indicia comprises a means for presenting a device mode key with an appearance that is distinguishable from the remaining plurality of device mode keys.

19. The controlling device as recited in claim 18, wherein the indicia comprises a device mode key being illuminated.

20. The controlling device as recited in claim 2, wherein the device mode state toggle key is spaced from the top of the controlling device.

21. The controlling device as recited in claim 20, wherein the device mode state toggle key is located in a position adjacent to volume function command keys and channel function command keys.

22. The controlling device as recited in claim 20, wherein the device mode state toggle key is located in a position adjacent to menu navigation command keys.

23. The controlling device as recited in claim 2, wherein actuation of the device mode state toggle key causes the controlling device to be placed into one of two alternating device mode states.

24. The controlling device as recited in claim 23, wherein the alternating device mode states comprise a current device mode state and a device mode state exited to enter the current device mode state.

25. A readable media for use in a controlling device having a plurality of device mode states each of which may be selected to configure the controlling device to transmit command codes to one or more of a plurality of different appliances, the readable media having instructions for performing steps comprising:

accepting input that functions to select one of the plurality of device mode states to thereby configure the controlling device; and

accepting input that functions to select one of a subset of the plurality of device mode states to thereby configure the controlling device.

26. The readable media as recited in claim 25, wherein the input for selecting one of the subset of the plurality of device mode states to be selected is entered via actuation of a device mode state toggle key.

27. The readable media as recited in claim 25, wherein the instructions store the subset of the plurality of device mode states in a table stored in a memory of the controlling device.

28. The readable media as recited in claim 25, wherein the instructions accept input whereby a user selects which of the plurality of device mode states to include within the subset of the plurality of device mode states.

29. The readable media as recited in claim 28, wherein the input comprises the user interacting with the programming for allowing one of the plurality of device mode states to be selected.

30. The readable media as recited in claim 25, wherein the input for selecting one of the plurality of device mode states to be selected is entered via actuation of a corresponding one of a plurality of device mode keys each of which corresponds to one of the plurality of device mode states.

31. The readable media as recited in claim 25, wherein the input for selecting one of the plurality of device modes states is entered via a graphical user interface menu selection having entries corresponding to each of the plurality of device mode states.

32. The readable media as recited in claim 25, wherein the instructions cause one of the subset of the plurality of device mode states to be selected in a predefined order.

33. The readable media as recited in claim 32, wherein the predefined order is user selectable.

34. The readable media as recited in claim 25, wherein the plurality of device mode states comprises only those device mode states of the controlling device that have been setup to cause the controlling device to be configured to command the operation of one or more appliances.

35. The readable media as recited in claim 25, wherein the instructions present an indicia representative of a device mode state when that device mode state is selected.

36. The readable media as recited in claim 35, wherein the indicia comprises a color.

37. The readable media as recited in claim 35, wherein the indicia comprises an illuminated LED.

38. The readable media as recited in claim 35, wherein the indicia comprises a graphical representation.

39. The readable media as recited in claim 35, wherein the indicia comprises a sound.

40. The readable media as recited in claim 35, wherein the indicia comprises a vibration.

41. The readable media as recited in claim 35, wherein the input for selecting one of the plurality of device mode states to be selected is actuation of one of a plurality of device mode keys each of which corresponds to one of the plurality of device mode states and wherein the indicia is associated with the plurality of device mode keys.

42. The readable media as recited in claim 41, wherein the indicia comprises a means for presenting a device mode key with an appearance that is distinguishable from the remaining plurality of device mode keys.

43. The readable media as recited in claim 42, wherein the indicia comprises a device mode key being illuminated.

44. The readable media as recited in claim 26, wherein actuation of the device mode state toggle key causes the instructions to place the controlling device into one of two alternating device mode states.

45. The readable media as recited in claim 44, wherein the alternating device mode states comprise a current device mode state and a device mode state exited to enter a current device mode state.

46. For use in a controlling device having a plurality of device mode states each of which may be selected to configure the controlling device to transmit command codes to one or more of a plurality of different appliances, a method comprising:

receiving input for causing the controlling device to change from a first device mode state selected from the plurality of device mode states to a second device mode state selected from the plurality of device mode states;

placing the controlling device into the second device mode state; and

storing data indicative of the first device mode state in the controlling device to thereby allow an actuation of a device mode state toggle key to be used to return the controlling device to the first device mode state.

47. The method as recited in claim 46, wherein the input comprises actuation of the state toggle key.

48. The method as recited in claim 46, wherein the input comprises actuation of one of a plurality of device mode keys each representing one of the plurality of device mode states.

49. The method as recited in claim 48, comprising illuminating the device mode key representing the second device mode state.

50. For use in a controlling device having a plurality of device mode states each of which may be selected to configure the controlling device to transmit command codes to one or more of a plurality of different appliances, a method comprising:

receiving input for selecting a subset of the plurality of device mode states to create a circular list of device mode states such that input received from a device mode state toggle key will cause the controlling device to change from a current device mode state selected from the subset of the plurality of device mode states into another device mode state selected from the subset of the plurality of device mode states where the another device mode state follows the current device mode state within the circular list of device mode states and wherein, in response to the change, the another device mode state becomes the current device mode state.