Method, device and system for providing a single user interface to a pluralty of devices

• US 20050149639A1
• Filed: 01/27/2003
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Vrielink, Koen Hendrik Johan, Diederiks, Elmo Marcus Attila, Van De Sluis, Bartel Marinus, Verberkt, Mark Henricus
• Application Number:
  US10/504,757
• Publication Number:
  US 20050149639A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/8
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• 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 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

A method (and corresponding system) of providing a single user interface to a plurality of devices (1, 2, 3), where at least a number of the devices comprises at least one user-adjustable parameter (14), the method comprising the steps of transmitting information representing the at least one user-adjustable parameter to a control device (1), obtaining use information regarding a current use of at least a number of the devices, selecting user-adjustable parameters relevant for the current use on the basis of the use information where the parameters are selected from the received parameters, and generating a user interface representation in the control device, where the user interface representation comprises the selected parameters. It is an object of the invention to adapt a single user interface to a plurality of devices and to provide a single remote controller of devices to dynamically adapt to the capabilities of the devices.

Claims

1. A method of providing a single user interface to a plurality of devices, where at least a number of the devices comprise at least one user-adjustable parameter, the method comprising the steps of:

for at least a number of the devices transmitting information representing the at least one user-adjustable parameter to a control device,

obtaining use information regarding a current use of at least a number of the devices,

selecting user-adjustable parameters relevant for the current use on the basis of the use information, where the parameters are selected from the received parameters, and

generating a user interface representation in the control device, the user interface representation comprising the selected parameters.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that said user interface representation is transmitted to a user interface device, selected among said plurality of devices, for interaction with a user.

3. A method according to claim 2, characterized in that a part of said user interface representation is transmitted to a number of devices selected among plurality of devices.

4. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the method further comprises the step of:

displaying said user interface representation in said control device for interaction with a user.

5. A method according to claim 4, characterized in that the method further comprises the steps of:

updating the selection of user-adjustable parameters if said use information changes substantially, and

generating an updated user interface representation.

6. A method according to claim 5, characterized in that the user interface interacts by means of a graphical user interface.

15. A computer program product (11) having instructions for causing one or more processing units (7, 8, 9, 10) to execute the method according to claim 1.

7. A system for providing a single user interface to a plurality of devices, where at least a number of the devices comprises at least one user-adjustable parameter, the system comprising:

means (10) in at least a number of the devices (1, 2, 3) transmitting information representing the at least one user-adjustable parameter (14) to a control device (5, 6),

means (10) for obtaining use information (15) regarding a current use of at least a number of the devices (1, 2, 3),

means (7) for selecting user-adjustable parameters relevant for the current use on the basis of the use information (15), where the parameters are selected from the received parameters (14), and

means (7) for generating a user interface representation in the control device (5), the user interface representation comprising the selected parameters.

8. A system according to claim 7, characterized in that said user interface representation is transmitted to a user interface device (1), selected among said plurality of devices (1, 2, 3), for interaction with a user.

9. A system according to claim 8, characterized in that a part of said user interface representation is transmitted to a number of devices selected among plurality of devices (1, 2, 3).

10. A system according to claim 9, characterized in that the system further comprises:

means (8) for displaying said user interface representation in said control device (5, 6) for interaction with a user.

11. A system according to claim 10, characterized in that the system further comprises:

means (7) for updating the selection of user-adjustable parameters if said use information (15) changes substantially, and

means (7) for generating an updated user interface representation.

12. A system according to claim 11, characterized in that the user interface interacts by means of a graphical user interface (8).

13. A system according to claim 12, characterized in that the user interface is a handheld device (6).

14. A control device for providing a single user interface from a plurality of user interfaces, the control device comprising:

means (7) for receiving a user-adjustable parameter (14) from a user-adjustable device (1, 2, 3)

means (7) for obtaining use information (15) regarding a current use of said device

means (7) for selecting user-adjustable parameters (14) relevant for the current use on the basis of said use information (15), where the parameters are selected from the received parameters, and

means (7) for generating a user interface representation comprising the selected parameter.

16. A storage device (9) comprising the computer program (11) as claimed in 15.