SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RAPID CONFIGURATION OF A UNIVERSAL CONTROLLING DEVICE

• US 20100123613A1
• Filed: 11/17/2008
• Published: 05/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Black, Jeremy K., Kohanek, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 9,398,242 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/176
• 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 2201/92 Universal remote control
• 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 21/42225 characterized by types of remote control, e.g. universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42226 Reprogrammable remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42227 the keys being reprogrammable, e.g. soft keys

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.

Claims

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.

2. The universal controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein the programming requires simultaneous activation of the setup input element and the one of the plurality of quick setup input elements for at least a predetermined period of time before configuring the universal controlling device.

3. The universal controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein the key matrix comprises a plurality of control mode input elements each of which is used to specify to the universal controlling device a control mode in which one or more types of devices are to be controlled via interaction with the command input elements and wherein the one or more of the plurality of control modes in which the one of the plurality of devices corresponding to the activated one of the plurality of quick setup input elements is to be controlled is predetermined prior to deployment of the universal controlling device.

4. The universal controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein the key matrix comprises a plurality of control mode input elements each of which is used to specify to the universal controlling device a control mode in which one or more types of devices are to be controlled via interaction with the command input elements and wherein the programming uses an activation of a one of the plurality of control mode input elements to determine the one or more of the plurality of control modes in which the one of the plurality of devices corresponding to the activated one of the plurality of quick setup input elements is to be controlled.

5. The universal controlling device as recited in claim 4, wherein the activation of the one of the plurality of control mode input elements used by the programming precedes the simultaneous activation of the setup input element and the quick setup input element.

6. The universal controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein the programming performs a function whereupon, following activation of the setup input element without one of the plurality of quick setup input elements and, thereafter, activation of one or more of the plurality of command input elements, the universal controlling device is configured to use a one of the plurality of command data sets stored in the memory that was mapped to the activated one or more of the plurality of command input elements when the transmission circuit is caused to transmit commands to control functional operations of a second one of the plurality of devices in response to activation of one or more of the plurality of command input elements.

7. The universal controlling device as recited in claim 6, wherein the key matrix comprises a plurality of control mode input elements each of which is used to specify to the universal controlling device a control mode in which one or more types of devices are to be controlled via interaction with the command input elements and wherein the programming uses an activation of a one of the plurality of control mode input elements to determine the one or more of the plurality of control modes in which the second one of the plurality of devices corresponding to the activated one or more of the plurality of command input elements is to be controlled.

8. The universal controlling device as recited in claim 7, wherein the activation of the one of the plurality of control mode input elements used by the programming precedes the activation of the setup input element.

9. A universal controlling device, comprising:

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.

10. The universal controlling device as recited in claim 9, the key matrix comprises a plurality of control mode input elements each of which is used to specify to the universal controlling device a control mode in which one or more types of devices are to be controlled via interaction with the command input elements and wherein the one or more of the plurality of control modes in which the one of the plurality of devices corresponding to the activated one of the plurality of quick setup input elements is to be controlled is predetermined prior to deployment of the universal controlling device.

11. The universal controlling device as recited in claim 9, wherein the key matrix comprises a plurality of control mode input elements each of which is used to specify to the universal controlling device a control mode in which one or more types of devices are to be controlled via interaction with the command input elements and wherein the programming uses an activation of a one of the plurality of control mode input elements to determine the one or more of the plurality of control modes in which the one of the plurality of devices corresponding to the activated one of the plurality of quick setup input elements is to be controlled.

12. The universal controlling device as recited in claim 9, wherein the key matrix comprises a plurality of control mode input elements each of which is used to specify to the universal controlling device a control mode in which one or more types of devices are to be controlled via interaction with the command input elements and wherein the programming uses an activation of a one of the plurality of control mode input elements to determine the one or more of the plurality of control modes in which the one of the plurality of devices corresponding to the activated one or more of the plurality of command input elements is to be controlled.

13. The universal controlling device as recited in claim 12, wherein the activation of the one of the plurality of control mode input elements used by the programming precedes the activation of the setup input element.

14. A universal controlling device, comprising:

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.

15. The universal controlling device as recited in claim 14, wherein the key matrix comprises one or more configurable key elements and the response from the one of the plurality of devices to the response-eliciting command comprises data for configuring the one or more configurable key elements.

16. The universal controlling device as recited in claim 15, where the one or more configurable key elements are each configured to cause a transmission of at least one command to cause the one of the plurality of devices to tune to a designated channel.

17. 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 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.

18. The universal controlling device as recited in claim 17, wherein the programming causes an effects observable command from each of the command data sets within the subgroup of command data sets to be assigned to a single command input element whereby a user can test each of the command data sets within the subgroup of command data sets via activation of the single command input element and indicate which one of the command data sets within the subgroup of command data sets is the selection for use 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.

19. The universal controlling device as recited in claim 17, wherein the programming causes an effects observable command from each of the command data sets within the subgroup of command data sets to be assigned to a respective ones of the plurality of command input elements whereby a user can test each of the command data sets within the subgroup of command data sets via activation of the respective ones of the plurality of command input elements and indicate which one of the command data sets within the subgroup of command data sets is the selection for use 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.

20. The universal controlling device as recited in claim 17, wherein the command data sets within each subgroup of the plurality of command data sets stored in the memory mapped to each quick setup input elements correspond to a single brand of device.

21. The universal controlling device as recited in claim 17, wherein the command data sets within each subgroup of the plurality of command data sets stored in the memory mapped to each quick setup input elements correspond to a single type of device.