Systems and Methods for Programming a Remote Control Device

• US 20110114716A1
• Filed: 11/14/2009
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pratt, James
• Granted Patent: US 8,348,145 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2814 Exchanging control software or macros for controlling appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving configuration of the network and network elements H04L41/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• 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 21/42227 the keys being reprogrammable, e.g. soft keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed that include retrieving codes that are usable by a remote control device to remotely control a function of the electronic device. The methods and systems may also include transmitting the codes to the remote control device via a remote control device interface controllable by a processor of the electronic device.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a remote control device interface;

a processor; and

a memory accessible to the processor, the memory including codes transmittable to a remote control device, wherein the codes are usable by the remote control device to remotely control at least one function of the electronic device;

wherein the remote control device interface is controllable by the processor to communicate at least one of the codes to the remote control device.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the remote control device interface includes a wireless transceiver.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the remote control device interface is operable to communicate the codes to the remote control device in response to physical contact with the remote control device.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a network interface configured to receive the codes from a network element.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the remote control device interface is further configured to receive the codes from the remote control device.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a video output, an audio output, an audio signal input, a video signal input, and a playback module configured to transmit video data stored in the memory to the video output and configured to transmit audio data stored in the memory to the audio output.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a universal plug and play (UPnP) compatible device configured to dynamically join a network, obtain an IP address, broadcast a name for the electronic device, convey capabilities of the electronic device, and discover the presence and capabilities of other devices.

8. A remote control device comprising:

an electronic device interface;

a processor;

a light emitting diode (LED) configured to emit a series of infrared light pulses representing an instruction to perform a particular function at an electronic device; and

a memory accessible to the processor, the memory including codes transmittable to control a function of the electronic device;

wherein the electronic device interface is controllable by the processor to receive the codes from the electronic device.

9. The remote control device of claim 8, further comprising:

a camera; and

a network interface;

wherein the remote control device is configured to;

capture an image of the electronic device via the camera;

transmit the image to a network element via the network interface; and

receive the codes from the network element via the network interface.

10. The remote control device of claim 8, further comprising:

a camera;

a network interface; and

an optical character recognition (OCR) module;

wherein the remote control device is configured to;

capture an image of a product code for a particular electronic device via the camera;

determine, via the OCR module, the product code for the electronic device;

transmit the product code to a network element via the network interface; and

receive codes corresponding to the particular electronic device from the network element via the network interface.

11. The remote control device of claim 8, further comprising:

a barcode reader; and

a network interface;

wherein the remote control device is configured to;

capture a barcode of a particular electronic device via the barcode reader;

transmit the barcode to a network element via the network interface; and

receive codes corresponding to the particular electronic device from the network element via the network interface.

12. The remote control device of claim 8, further comprising a touchscreen display configured to display a user interface for controlling one or more functions of one or more electronic devices.

13. The remote control device of claim 12, wherein the user interface emulates a layout of another remote control device.

14. The remote control device of claim 8, further comprising a radio transmitter configured to transmit radio signals representing an instruction to perform a particular function at the electronic device.

15. The remote control device of claim 8, further comprising a wireless network interface configured to wirelessly transmit packet-based data representing an instruction to perform a particular function at the electronic device.

16. The remote control device of claim 8, further comprising:

an accelerometer;

wherein the remote control device is configured to issue a request for the codes in response to determining via the accelerometer that the remote control device is being moved in a predetermined pattern.

17. The remote control device of claim 8, wherein the memory includes a plurality of codes transmittable to control a plurality of functions at each of a plurality of electronic devices.

18. A method, comprising:

retrieving, from a memory of an electronic device, codes that are usable by a remote control device to remotely control a function of the electronic device; and

transmitting the codes to the remote control device via a remote control device interface controllable by a processor of the electronic device.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising receiving a learning sequence initiation request.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving a command at the electronic device to perform a particular function; and

performing the particular function at the electronic device.