System and method for retrieving information while commanding operation of an appliance

• US 20070136693A1
• Filed: 12/21/2006
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Scott, Wayne, Yuh, Han-Sheng, Lilleness, Robert, Wang, Weidong
• Granted Patent: US 9,727,213 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/835
• 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

When a command key of a controlling platform is activated, the platform performs an operation to initiate a playing of media content and also initiates the retrieval of information from an information source. The information retrieved is related to the media content and is displayed in a display of the controlling platform.

Claims

1. In a platform configured to initiate operation of an appliance, a readable media having processor executable instructions for retrieving information, the instructions performing steps comprising:

in response to a sensed activation of a command key of the platform, transmitting a command to cause the appliance to initiate a rendering of a media content having an associated address for an information source that has information related to the media content and initiating a retrieval of information related to the media content using the address for the information source that is associated to the media content; and

displaying the retrieved information in a display of the platform.

2. The readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the address for the information source that is associated to the media content is stored within the platform.

3. The readable media as recited in claim 2, wherein the address for the information source that is associated to the media content is provided to the platform by a user of the platform.

4. The readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the address for the information source that is associated to the media content is automatically provided to the platform from a device external to the platform.

5. The readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the command initiates a media content selection process of the appliance.

6. The readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the command key is included as part of an electronic program guide displayed within the display of the platform.

7. The readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the instructions provide for a user to define both the media content which is to be played in response to activation of the command key and the address for the information source that is associated to the media content.

8. The readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the media content comprises a video signal.

9. The readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the media content comprises an audio signal.

10. The readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the addresses for the information source that is associated to the media content comprise a URL.

11. The readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the display comprises a touch screen and the command key depicts an image representative of the media content and is displayed within the touch screen.

12. The readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the retrieved information includes addresses to further information.

13. The readable media as recited in claim 12, wherein the addresses to further information comprise URLs.

14. A method for retrieving information in connection with using a platform configured to initiate operation of an appliance, comprising:

in response to a sensed activation of a command key of the platform, transmitting a command to cause the appliance to initiate a rendering of a media content having an associated address for an information source that has information related to the media content and initiating a retrieval of information related to the media content using the address for the information source that is associated to the media content; and

displaying the retrieved information in a display of the platform.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the address for the information source that is associated to the media content is stored within the platform.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the address for the information source that is associated to the media content is provided to the platform by a user of the platform.

17. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the address for the information source that is associated to the media content is automatically provided to the platform from a device external to the platform.

18. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the command initiates a media content selection process of the appliance.

19. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the command key is included as part of an electronic program guide displayed within the display of the platform.

20. The method as recited in claim 14, comprising providing for a user to define both the media content which is to be played in response to activation of the command key and the address for the information source that is associated to the media content.

21. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the media content comprises a video signal.

22. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the media content comprises an audio signal.

23. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the addresses for the information source that is associated to the media content comprise a URL.

24. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the display comprises a touch screen and the command key depicts an image representative of the media content and is displayed within the touch screen.

25. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the retrieved information includes addresses to further information.

26. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein the addresses to further information comprise URLs.