SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RAPID CONFIGURATION OF A UNIVERSAL CONTROLLING DEVICE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A universal controlling device, comprising:
- a memory in which is stored a plurality of command code data sets for a plurality of devices;
a transmission circuit;
a processing unit in communication with the memory and the transmission circuit which uses one or more of the command code data sets stored in the memory to cause the transmission circuit to transmit commands to control functional operations of one or more of the plurality of devices;
a key matrix in communication with the processing unit comprising a setup input element used to specify to the universal controlling device that the universal controlling device is to be configured to control functional operations of one or more devices, a plurality of command input elements each of which is used to cause the universal controlling device to transmit commands to control functional operations of one or more of the plurality of devices, and a plurality of quick setup input elements each of which has been mapped prior to deployment of the universal controlling device to one of the plurality of command data sets stored in the memory; and
programming executable by the processing unit which performs a function whereupon, following simultaneous activation of the setup input element and a one of the plurality of the quick setup input elements the universal controlling device is configured to use the one of the plurality of command data sets stored in the memory that was mapped to the activated one of the plurality of quick setup input elements prior to deployment of the universal controlling device when the transmission circuit is caused to transmit commands to control functional operations of a one of the plurality of devices in response to activation of one or more of the plurality of command input elements.
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Abstract
A universal controlling device is provided with one or more buttons which, when activated in a set up mode, serves to initiate a rapid configuration of the controlling device to utilize one of a group of pre-selected command data sets.
44 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A universal controlling device, comprising:
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a memory in which is stored a plurality of command code data sets for a plurality of devices; a transmission circuit; a processing unit in communication with the memory and the transmission circuit which uses one or more of the command code data sets stored in the memory to cause the transmission circuit to transmit commands to control functional operations of one or more of the plurality of devices; a key matrix in communication with the processing unit comprising a setup input element used to specify to the universal controlling device that the universal controlling device is to be configured to control functional operations of one or more devices, a plurality of command input elements each of which is used to cause the universal controlling device to transmit commands to control functional operations of one or more of the plurality of devices, and a plurality of quick setup input elements each of which has been mapped prior to deployment of the universal controlling device to one of the plurality of command data sets stored in the memory; and programming executable by the processing unit which performs a function whereupon, following simultaneous activation of the setup input element and a one of the plurality of the quick setup input elements the universal controlling device is configured to use the one of the plurality of command data sets stored in the memory that was mapped to the activated one of the plurality of quick setup input elements prior to deployment of the universal controlling device when the transmission circuit is caused to transmit commands to control functional operations of a one of the plurality of devices in response to activation of one or more of the plurality of command input elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A universal controlling device, comprising:
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a memory in which is stored a plurality of command code data sets for a plurality of devices of a plurality of device types; a transmission circuit; a processing unit in communication with the memory and the transmission circuit which uses one or more of the command code data sets stored in the memory to cause the transmission circuit to transmit commands to control functional operations of one or more of the plurality of devices; a key matrix in communication with the processing unit comprising a setup input element used to specify to the universal controlling device that the universal controlling device is to be configured to control functional operations of one or more devices, a plurality of command input elements each of which is used to cause the universal controlling device to transmit commands to control functional operations of one or more of the plurality of devices, and a plurality of quick setup input elements each of which has been mapped prior to deployment of the universal controlling device to one of the plurality of command data sets stored in the memory; and programming executable by the processing unit which performs a function whereupon, following activation of the setup input element it is determined if one of the plurality of the quick setup input elements or one of the plurality of command input elements has been activated and, if it is determined that one of the plurality of quick setup input elements has been activated, the programming causes the universal controlling device to be configured to use the one of the plurality of command data sets stored in the memory that was mapped to the activated one of the plurality of quick setup input elements prior to deployment of the universal controlling device when the transmission circuit is caused to transmit commands to control functional operations of a one of the plurality of devices in response to activation of one or more of the plurality of command input elements and, if it is determined that one of the command input elements has been activated, the programming causes the universal controlling device to be configured to use a one of the plurality of command data sets stored in the memory that was mapped to at least the activated one of the plurality of command input elements when the transmission circuit is caused to transmit commands to control functional operations of a one of the plurality of devices in response to activation of one or more of the plurality of command input elements. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A universal controlling device, comprising:
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a memory in which is stored a plurality of command code data sets for a plurality of devices of a plurality of device types; a bi-directional communication circuit; a processing unit in communication with the memory and the bi-directional communication circuit which uses one or more of the command code data sets stored in the memory to cause the bi-directional communication circuit to transmit commands to control functional operations of one or more of the plurality of devices; a key matrix in communication with the processing unit comprising a setup input element used to specify to the universal controlling device that the universal controlling device is to be configured to control functional operations of one or more devices, a plurality of command input elements each of which is used to cause the universal controlling device to transmit commands to control functional operations of one or more of the plurality of devices, and a plurality of quick setup input elements each of which has been mapped prior to deployment of the universal controlling device to one of the plurality of command data sets stored in the memory; and programming executable by the processing unit which performs a function whereupon, following activation of the setup input element and a one of the plurality of the quick setup input elements the processor uses the one of the plurality of command data sets stored in the memory that was mapped to the activated one of the plurality of quick setup input elements at the time of manufacture of the universal controlling device to cause the bi-directional communication circuit to transmit a response-eliciting command to a one of the plurality of devices and, upon receiving via the bi-directional communication circuit a response from the one of the plurality of devices to the response-eliciting command, causes the universal controlling device to be configured to use the one of the plurality of command data sets stored in the memory that was mapped to the activated one of the plurality of quick setup input elements at the time of manufacture of the universal controlling device when the transmission circuit is caused to transmit commands to control functional operations of the one of the plurality of devices in response to activation of one or more of the plurality of command input elements. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A universal controlling device, comprising:
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a memory in which is stored a plurality of command code data sets for a plurality of devices; a transmission circuit; a processing unit in communication with the memory and the transmission circuit which uses one or more of the command code data sets stored in the memory to cause the transmission circuit to transmit commands to control functional operations of one or more of the plurality of devices; a key matrix in communication with the processing unit comprising a setup input element used to specify to the universal controlling device that the universal controlling device is to be configured to control functional operations of one or more devices, a plurality of command input elements each of which is used to cause the universal controlling device to transmit commands to control functional operations of one or more of the plurality of devices, and a plurality of quick setup input elements each of which has been mapped prior to deployment of the universal controlling device to a subgroup of the plurality of command data sets stored in the memory; and programming executable by the processing unit which performs a function whereupon, following simultaneous activation of the setup input element and a one of the plurality of the quick setup input elements and, thereafter, selection of a command data set within the subgroup of the plurality of command data sets mapped to the activated one of the plurality of quick setup input elements, the universal controlling device is configured to use the command data set within the subgroup of the plurality of command data sets stored in the memory that was mapped to the activated one of the plurality of quick setup input elements prior to deployment of the universal controlling device when the transmission circuit is caused to transmit commands to control functional operations of a one of the plurality of devices in response to activation of one or more of the plurality of command input elements. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification