SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RAPID CONFIGURATION OF A UNIVERSAL CONTROLLING DEVICE

• US 20130249677A1
• Filed: 05/16/2013
• Published: 09/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Kohanek, Jeffrey, Black, Jeremy K.
• Granted Patent: US 9,953,519 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/12.5
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4367 Establishing a secure communication between the client and a peripheral device or smart card

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 universal controlling device to adapt the universal controlling device to communicate with an intended target appliance.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a universal controlling device to exchange communications with an intended target device via an RF communications channel, comprising:

receiving into the universal controlling device while in a setup mode a selection of a one of a plurality of quick setup input elements of the universal controlling device wherein each of the plurality of quick setup input elements is linked to a one of a plurality of RF communication protocols usable by the universal controlling device to exchange communications with a device type of the intended target device;

using the one of the plurality of RF communication protocols linked to the selected of the one of the plurality of quick setup input elements by the universal controlling device to issue a query message to the intended target device; and

in response to a message being successfully received by the universal controlling device from the intended target device as transmitted in response to the query message causing the universal controlling device to be paired with the intended target device whereupon the universal controlling device will use the selected one of the plurality of RF communication protocols when the universal controlling device is subsequently placed into an operating mode in which the universal controlling device is intended to exchange communications with the intended target device.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the device type of the intended target device comprises a set top box type.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, causing the universal controlling device to use an IR protocol when the universal controlling device is placed into an operating mode in which the universal controlling device is intended to transmit communications to a device of a device type other than the device type of the intended target device.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising receiving into the universal controlling device while in the setup mode data indicative of the device type of the intended target device.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, comprising using the data indicative of the device type to link the plurality of quick setup input elements to a one of a plurality of RF communication protocols usable to exchange communications with the device type of the intended target device.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of quick setup input elements is linked to a one of a plurality of RF communication protocols usable to exchange communications with a device type of the intended target device at a time of manufacture of the universal controlling device.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of quick setup input elements is linked to a one of a plurality of RF communication protocols usable to exchange communications with a device type of the intended target device at time prior to deployment of the universal controlling device.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising causing the universal controlling device to enter into the setup mode in response to an activation of a setup input element of the universal controlling device.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising causing the universal controlling device to enter into the setup mode in response to an activation of a setup input element of the universal controlling device for a predetermined period of time.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising causing the universal controlling device to enter into the setup mode in response to a simultaneous activation of a setup input element of the universal controlling device and a one of the quick setup input elements.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising causing the universal controlling device to enter into the setup mode in response to a simultaneous activation of a setup input element of the universal controlling device and a one of the quick setup input elements for a predetermined period of time.

12. A universal controlling, comprising:

a RF communications circuit;

a processing unit in communication with the RF communications circuit for causing the RF communications circuit to exchange RF communications with an intended target device using a selected one of a plurality of RF communications protocols; and

a key matrix having a plurality of quick setup input elements wherein each of the plurality of quick setup input elements is linked to a one of a plurality of RF communication protocols usable by the processing circuit in communication with the RF communications circuit to exchange communications with a device type of the intended target device;

wherein the universal controlling device is caused to select the one of the plurality of RF communication protocols to be used by the processing device in communication with the RF communications circuit to exchange RF communications with the intended target device in response to a selection of a one of the plurality of quick setup input elements while the universal controlling device is in a setup mode of operation.

13. The universal controlling device as recited in claim 12, wherein the processing circuit in communication with the RF communications circuit is caused to transmit a query message to the intended target device using the selected one of the plurality of RF communication protocols and wherein a response successfully received from the intended target appliance in response to the query message causes the universal controlling device to be paired with the intended target device such that the processing circuit in communication with the RF communications circuit will use the selected one of the plurality of RF communication protocols when the universal controlling device is subsequently placed into an operating mode in which the universal controlling device is intended to exchange communications with the intended target device.

14. The universal controlling device as recited in claim 13, wherein the device type of the intended target device comprises a set top box type.

15. The universal controlling device as recited in claim 13, wherein the universal controlling device comprises a plurality of device mode input elements and wherein an activation of a device mode input element indicates to the universal controlling device the device type of the intended target device.

16. The universal controlling device as recited in claim 15, comprising the activation of the device mode input element to select one of a plurality of predetermined linkages between the plurality of quick setup input elements and a one of a plurality of RF communication protocols.

17. The universal controlling device as recited in claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of quick setup input elements is linked to a one of a plurality of RF communication protocols usable to exchange communications with a device type of the intended target device at a time of manufacture of the universal controlling device.

18. The universal controlling device as recited in claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of quick setup input elements is linked to a one of a plurality of RF communication protocols usable to exchange communications with a device type of the intended target device at time prior to deployment of the universal controlling device.

19. The universal controlling device as recited in claim 13, wherein the universal controlling device comprises a setup input element and the universal controlling device is caused to enter into the setup mode in response to an activation of the setup input element.

20. The universal controlling device as recited in claim 13, wherein the universal controlling device comprises a setup input element and the universal controlling device is caused to enter into the setup mode in response to an activation of the setup input element for a predetermined period of time.

21. The universal controlling device as recited in claim 13, wherein the universal controlling device comprises a setup input element and the universal controlling device is caused to enter into the setup mode in response to a simultaneous activation of the setup input element and a one of the quick setup input elements.

22. The universal controlling device as recited in claim 13, wherein the universal controlling device comprises a setup input element and the universal controlling device is caused to enter into the setup mode in response to a simultaneous activation of the setup input element and a one of the quick setup input elements for a predetermined period of time.