METHODS AND APPARATUS TO LEARN AND SHARE REMOTE COMMANDS

• US 20140104033A1
• Filed: 10/16/2012
• Published: 04/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
• Inventors: Griffiths, Neil, Jarvis, Simon, Lehnert, Hilmar, Ramos, Aurelio Rafael
• Granted Patent: US 9,952,576 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/4.3
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/04 Programme control other than numerical control, i.e. in sequence controllers or logic controllers G05B19/418 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23051 Remote control, enter program remote, detachable programmer
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2615 Audio, video, tv, consumer electronics device
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4387 by the use of playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/635 Filtering based on additional data, e.g. user or group profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/005 Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F

Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to learn and share remote commands are disclosed. An example method to configure a playback device to be controlled by a remote control includes receiving by the playback device a first code for a first command from the remote control. The example method includes identifying by the playback device a second code for a second command based on the received first code. The example method includes receiving by the playback device the second code from the remote control. The example method includes executing the second command by the playback device.

Claims

1. A method to configure a playback device to be controlled by a remote control, the method comprising:

receiving by the playback device a first code for a first command from the remote control;

identifying by the playback device a second code for a second command based on the received first code;

receiving by the playback device the second code from the remote control; and

executing the second command by the playback device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a database stored in memory of the playback device to identify the second code for the second command based on the received first code.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a database stored in memory of a server that is remote to the playback device to identify the second code for the second command based on the received first code.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising updating a database stored in the memory of the playback device with the second code and second command.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an update to a database stored in the memory of the playback device from a server that is remote to the playback device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an update to a database stored in memory of a server that is remote to the playback device with the first and second codes and the first and second commands.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying the remote control.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the playback device comprises a sound bar for a video device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein executing the second command by the playback device comprises sending a signal to a network coupled device to implement the second command.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising a second playback device learning the first and second codes and first and second commands from the playback device.

11. A tangible computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a computing device to at least:

receive by the playback device a first code for a first command from the remote control;

identify by the playback device a second code for a second command based on the received first code;

receive by the playback device the second code from the remote control; and

execute the second command by the playback device.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a computing device to at least use a database stored in memory of the playback device to identify the second code for the second command based on the received first code.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a computing device to at least use a database stored in memory of a server that is remote to the playback device to identify the second code for the second command based on the received first code comprises.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a computing device to at least update a database stored in the memory of the playback device with the second code and second command.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a computing device to at least receive an update to a database stored in the memory of the playback device from a server that is remote to the playback device.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a computing device to at least provide an update to a database stored in memory of a server that is remote to the playback device with the first and second codes and the first and second commands.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a computing device to at least identify the remote control.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the playback device comprises a sound bar for a video device.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein executing the second command by the playback device comprises sending a signal to a network coupled device to implement the second command.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising a second playback device learning the first and second codes and first and second commands from the playback device.