System and method for using image data in connection with configuring a universal controlling device

• US 20070271267A1
• Filed: 06/28/2007
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Lim, Jonathan, Haughawout, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 7,783,676 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• 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 2201/21 Programming remote control devices via third means
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4117 for generating hard copies of the content, e.g. printer, electronic paper interfaces to printers G06F3/12; printing data G06K15/02
• 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 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• 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

Abstract

Data indicative of physical characteristics of an object of interest is received at a recognition system having an associated database in which is stored physical characteristic data for a plurality of reference objects each of which is cross-referenced to configuration information for a universal controlling device. The reference system uses the received data and the physical characteristic data for the plurality of reference objects to discern one or more reference objects as being a match for the object of interest. At least a subset of the configuration information that has been cross-referenced to the one or more reference objects discerned by the recognition system as being a match for the object of interest is then used to configure the universal controlling device to enable the universal controlling device to communicate commands to one or more target appliances.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a universal controlling device to enable the universal controlling device to communicate commands to one or more target appliances, comprising:

receiving data indicative of physical characteristics of an object of interest at a recognition system having an associated database in which is stored physical characteristic data for a plurality of reference objects each of which is cross-referenced to configuration information;

using at the reference system the received data indicative of physical characteristics of the object of interest and the physical characteristic data for the plurality of reference objects stored within the database to discern one or more reference objects as being a match for the object of interest; and

using at least a subset of the configuration information that has been cross-referenced to the one or more reference objects discerned by the recognition system as being a match for the object of interest to configure the universal controlling device to enable the universal controlling device to communicate commands to the one or more target appliances.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising keying into the universal controlling device the at least a subset of the configuration information.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising downloading into the universal controlling device the at least a subset of the configuration information.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, comprising downloading the at least a subset of the configuration information into the universal controlling device via an intermediate device.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising providing the at least a subset of the configuration information to a computing device having a configuration editor and using the at least a subset of the configuration information and the configuration editor to create a configuration for provision to the universal controlling device to thereby enable the universal controlling device to communicate commands to the one or more target appliances.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising using the at least a subset of the configuration information to select one or more command sets from a library of command sets which selected one or more command sets are to be used in connection with transmitting commands to the one or more target appliances.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, comprising selecting the one or more command sets from a library of command sets stored in a memory of the universal controlling device.

8. The method as recited in claim 6, comprising selecting the one or more command sets from a library of command sets stored in a memory remote from the universal controlling device and downloading the selected one or more command sets to the universal controlling device.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising using the at least a subset of the configuration information to select one or more graphical user interface elements from a library of graphical user interface elements which selected one or more graphical user interface elements are to be used in connection with transmitting commands to the one or more target appliances.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, comprising selecting the one or more graphical user interface elements from a library of graphical user interface elements stored in a memory of the universal controlling device.

11. The method as recited in claim 9, comprising selecting the one or more graphical user interface elements from a library of graphical user interface elements stored in a memory remote from the universal controlling device and downloading the selected graphical user interface elements to the universal controlling device.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising using a 3D imaging device to capture the data indicative of physical characteristics of the object of interest.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the 3D imaging device comprises a digital camera.

14. The method as recited in claim 12, comprising uploading the data indicative of physical characteristics of the object of interest from the digital camera to the recognition system.

15. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the universal controlling device comprises the digital camera.

16. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the object of interest comprises a remote control.

17. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the object of interest comprises an appliance to be controlled using the universal remote control device.

18. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data indicative of physical characteristics of the object of interest comprises at least one of a height, width, and length of the object of interest.

19. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data indicative of physical characteristics of the object of interest comprises information descriptive of a topography of at least a portion of a surface of the object of interest.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the at least a portion of the surface of the object of interest comprises at least a portion of a face of a remote control and the information descriptive of a topography of the at least a portion of the surface of the object of interest comprises information descriptive of physical characteristics of one or more keys positioned on the at least a portion of the face of the remote control device.

21. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data indicative of physical characteristics of the object of interest is discernable from a 2D photographic image of the object of interest.