SYSTEM AND METHOD TO FACILITATE CONFIGURATION OF A CONTROLLING DEVICE

• US 20090292375A1
• Filed: 06/24/2009
• Published: 11/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Godwin, Jason L., Gallegos, Jon, Thompson, Brandt J., Hayes, Patrick H.
• Granted Patent: US 10,235,873 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/81
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• 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 2201/30 User interface
• 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: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]

Abstract

A system and method wherein geographic data is used to configure a controlling device to control operations of a target device and/or to configure the controlling device to control tuning operations of a target device. The system additionally provides for the harmonization of controlling device configurations made on the controlling device and/or a remote computer.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a controlling device to control operations of a target device, comprising:

using data indicative of a geographic region in which the controlling device is to be used to identify one or more commands that are to be used to configure the controlling device to control operations of the target device; and

configuring the controlling device by causing the one or more of the identified commands to be assigned to at least one favorites key of a key matrix of the controlling device whereupon activation of the at least one favorites key of the key matrix causes the controlling device to transmit to the target device the one or more identified commands assigned to the activated at least one favorites key of the key matrix and thereby control a tuning operation of the target device.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one favorites key of the key matrix comprises a hard key.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one favorites key of the key matrix comprises a soft key.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one favorites key of the key matrix is representative of a source of media content and the transmitted one or more commands cause the target device to tune to the source of media content.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, comprising causing the at least one favorites key of the key matrix to be associated with a displayed logo representative of the source of media content.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising further using data indicative of a type for the target device to identify the one or more commands that are to be used to configure the controlling device to control operations of the target device.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising further using data indicative of a brand for the target device to identify the one or more commands that are to be used to configure the controlling device to control operations of the target device.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising further using data indicative of a service providing a source of media content to identify the one or more commands that are to be used to configure the controlling device to control operations of the target device.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of configuring the controlling device is performed at a personal computer adapted to communicate with the controlling device.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of configuring the controlling device is automatically performed by the controlling device.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of configuring the controlling device is performed via manual interactions with the controlling device.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data indicative of the geographic region is provided by a GPS device of the controlling device.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data indicative of the geographic region is derived from location data entered into the controlling device.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data indicative of the geographic region is derived from language data entered into the controlling device.

15. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data indicative of the geographic region is manually entered by a user.

16. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data indicative of the geographic region is derived from an IP address of a computer associated with the controlling device.

17. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of configuring the controlling device comprises downloading into the controlling device command codes used to generate the one or more identified commands assigned to the at least one favorites key of the key matrix.

18. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of configuring the controlling device comprises downloading into the controlling device data for identifying command codes used to generate the one or more identified commands assigned to the at least one favorites key of the key matrix.

19. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of configuring the controlling device comprises directly assigning to the at least one favorites key of the key matrix command codes used to generate the one or more identified commands.

20. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of configuring the controlling device comprises assigning to the at least one favorites key of the key matrix data for identifying command codes used to generate the one or more identified commands.

21. A method for configuring a controlling device to control operations of a target device, comprising:

using data indicative of a geographic region in which the controlling device is to be used to identify a plurality of commands code sets within a library of command codes stored in a memory of the controlling device;

testing the identified plurality of command codes sets to determine if one of the plurality of identified command code sets is usable to configure the controlling device to control operations of the target device; and

in response to positive determination being made in the step of testing, configuring the controlling device by assigned to at least one key of a key matrix of the controlling device command codes from the one of the plurality of identified command code sets whereupon activation of the at least one key of the key matrix causes the controlling device to transmit to the target device one or more commands and thereby control one or more operations of the target device.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein, in response to negative determination being made in the step of testing, configuring the controlling device by assigned to at least one key of a key matrix of the controlling device command codes retrieved from a device external to the controlling device whereupon activation of the at least one key of the key matrix causes the controlling device to transmit to the target device one or more commands and thereby control one or more operations of the target device.

23. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the step of testing comprises testing the plurality of command code sets in an order reflective of a probability that a command code set will be determined to be appropriate for use in configuring the controlling device to control operations of the target device.

24. The method as recited in claim 21, comprising using data indicative of a brand of the target device and data indicative of a type for the target device to identify the plurality of command code sets within the library of command codes.

25. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the step of testing is performed using an auto-search remote control configuration application.

26. A system for configuring a controlling device to control operations of a target device, comprising:

a first application resident on the controlling device having programming for allowing a user to create a first configuration for the controlling device;

a second application resident on a computing device remote having programming for allowing a user to create a second configuration for the controlling device; and

a harmonization process having programming for allowing a user to select one of a first configuration or a second configuration to be used by the controlling device to control operations of one or more target devices wherein the harmonization process is caused to be invoked upon the controlling device being placed into communication with the computing device.

27. The system as recited in claim 26, wherein the harmonization process causes the first configuration to be uploaded from the controlling device to the personal computer upon the first configuration being selected to be used by the controlling device to control operations of the one or more target devices.

28. The system as recited in claim 26, wherein the harmonization process causes the second configuration to be downloaded from the personal computer to the controlling device upon the second configuration being selected to be used by the controlling device to control operations of the one or more target devices.

29. The system as recited in claim 26, comprising a third configuration for the controlling device created by the second application resident on the computing device.

30. The system as recited in claim 29, wherein the harmonization process causes the third configuration to be downloaded from the personal computer to the controlling device upon the third configuration being selected to be used by the controlling device to control operations of the one or more target devices.