SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING AN UNIVERSAL REMOTE CONTROL TO ACCESS EXTENDED OPERATIONAL FUNCTIONS OF A DEVICE

• US 20140340202A1
• Filed: 04/18/2014
• Published: 11/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Nguyen, Kimthoa Thi
• Granted Patent: US 10,102,739 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/12.24
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• 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: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• 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 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• 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 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children

Abstract

A system and method for using an universal remote control to access extended operational functions of a device. A consumer causes the universal remote control to transmit a code data value selected from the library to a target device while observing the effect of the transmitted code data value on the target device. When the target device responds in a manner desired by the consumer, the consumer may tag the code data value that caused the desired effect and assign the tagged code data value to a programmable key on the universal remote control.

Claims

1. A non-transient, computer readable media having instructions which, when executed by a processing device of a universal controlling device, perform steps for commanding one or more functional operations of one of a plurality of controllable devices, the instructions performing steps comprising:

receiving a signal indicative of an activation of a first input element of the universal controlling device;

receiving user identity data into the universal controlling device; and

using by the universal controlling device the received user identity data and the received signal indicative of an activation of the first input element of the universal controlling device to select a one or more command codes for use by the universal controlling device when transmitting a one or more commands to control a one or more functional operations of a one or more of the plurality of controllable devices;

wherein the universal controlling device is caused to select a first set of the one or more command codes that have been directly mapped to the first input element in response to the received user identity data being representative of a first user of the universal controlling device, wherein the universal controlling device is caused to select a second set of the one or more command codes that have been directly mapped to the first input element in response to the received user identity data being representative of a second user of the universal controlling device, and wherein the first set of the one or more command codes is different than the second set of the one or more command codes.

2. The non-transient, computer readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the first input element comprises a user programmable input element.

3. The non-transient, computer readable media as recited in claim 2, wherein the first and second set of the one or more command codes comprises a one or more command codes for use in controlling a one or more different extended functional operations of the one or more of the plurality of controllable device.

4. The non-transient, computer readable media as recited in claim 3, wherein the instructions receive a signal indicative of an activation of a mode input element of the universal controlling device and use the signal indicative of an activation of a mode input element of the universal controlling device with the received user identity data and the received signal indicative of an activation of the first input element of the universal controlling device to select the one or more command codes for use by the universal controlling device when transmitting the one or more commands to control the one or more functional operations of a one or more of the plurality of controllable devices.

5. The non-transient, computer readable media as recited in claim 4, wherein the mode input element corresponds to a one of a plurality of operating modes of the universal controlling device and the plurality of operating modes of the universal controlling device comprises at least a first mode for transmitting commands to a television and a second mode for transmitting commands to a set top box.

6. The non-transient, computer readable media as recited in claim 4, wherein the instructions select the one or more command codes by using the received user identity data to access a user specific mapping table in which individual ones of input elements of the universal controlling device are directly mapped to one or more command codes for use by the universal controlling device when transmitting a one or more commands to control a one or more functional operations of a one or more of the plurality of controllable devices.

7. The non-transient, computer readable media as recited in claim 4, wherein the first input element comprises a hard key of the universal controlling device.

8. The non-transient, computer readable media as recited in claim 4, wherein the first input element comprises a soft key of the universal controlling device.