APPARATUS AND METHOD TO FACILITATE UNIVERSAL REMOTE CONTROL
First Claim
1. An appliance comprising:
- a communication module configured to communicate with a remote control device; and
a processor configured to send a specification for an appliance-specific user interface to the remote control device via the communication module,wherein the specification is usable by the remote control device to provide a user interface and transmit commands to the appliance, and the specification is customized for a current state of the appliance.
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Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention provides a universal remote control, which includes a display screen and a user input mechanism. The universal remote control also includes a processing unit that is configured to display information on the display screen and to accept selection data from the user input mechanism. The universal remote control additionally includes a wireless communication mechanism that is configured to provide communications between the processing unit and an appliance or computer program running on a computer system. The appliance provides information to be displayed on the display screen, and information entered through the user input mechanism is communicated to the appliance. Since the appliance provides the information to be displayed on the display screen and also interprets the entries on the input mechanism, the universal remote control needs no special knowledge about the appliance.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An appliance comprising:
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a communication module configured to communicate with a remote control device; and a processor configured to send a specification for an appliance-specific user interface to the remote control device via the communication module, wherein the specification is usable by the remote control device to provide a user interface and transmit commands to the appliance, and the specification is customized for a current state of the appliance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An appliance comprising:
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a communication module configured to communicate with a remote control device; and a processor configured to send a specification for an appliance-specific user interface to the remote control device via the communication module, wherein the specification is usable by the remote control device to provide a user interface and transmit commands to the appliance, the specification is one of a plurality of specifications stored by the appliance, the specification is customized for a current state of the appliance, and the specification defines one or more graphical input elements to accept user input. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of operating an appliance, the method comprising:
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receiving, by the appliance from a remote control device, a request for a specification; and in response to receiving the request for a specification, sending, by the appliance, a specification for an appliance-specific user interface to the remote control device, wherein the specification is usable by the remote control device to provide a user interface and transmit commands to the appliance, and the specification is customized for a current state of the appliance. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of operating an appliance, the method comprising:
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receiving, by the appliance from a remote control device, a request for a specification; and in response to receiving the request for a specification, sending, by the appliance, a specification for an appliance-specific user interface to the remote control device, wherein the specification is usable by the remote control device to provide a user interface and transmit commands to the appliance, the specification is one of a plurality of specifications stored by the appliance, the specification is customized for a current state of the appliance, and the specification defines one or more graphical input elements to accept user input. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification