Activity based remote control unit

• US 6,597,374 B1
• Filed: 11/12/1998
• Issued: 07/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Sanchez, Russell I., Baker, Karen L., Tobey, Chris E.
• Primary Examiner(s): dela Torre, Crescelle N.
• Application Number:
  US09/191,288
• Time in Patent Office: 1,713 Days
• Field of Search: 348/563, 348/569, 348/734, 700/83
• US Class Current: 715/717
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/33 Remote control using macros, scripts
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/0025 in a remote control unit remote control tuning in general H03J9/00

Abstract

A remote control for controlling a plurality of controllable devices includes a processor, a display screen coupled to the processor, and memory coupled to the processor. The memory includes a program module to solicit information from a user regarding operation of the plurality of controllable devices to perform an activity.

Claims

1. A remote control for controlling a plurality of controllable devices, the remote control comprising:

a processor;

a display screen coupled to the processor; and

memory coupled to the processor, the memory including a program module to solicit information from a user regarding operation of the plurality of controllable devices and which controllable device performs a selected function during operation of an activity in order to provide a set of user programmed outputs to control the plurality of controllable devices to perform the activity.

2. The remote control of claim 1 wherein the program module generates a screen displayable on the display screen for the activity, the screen including indicators for controlling at least one of the plurality of controllable devices.

3. The remote control of claim 2 wherein the indicators include a first indicator associated with a first controllable device and a second indicator associated with a second controllable device.

4. The remote control of claim 3 wherein display screen includes a touch sensitive panel with portions associated with the indicators.

5. The remote control of claim 2 and further comprising a housing and buttons mounted on the housing and operatively coupled to the processor, and wherein the program module associates the buttons for controlling at least one of the plurality of controllable devices.

6. The remote control of claim 5 wherein the buttons include a first button associated with a first controllable device and a second button associated with a second controllable device.

7. The remote control of claim 1 wherein the information includes information about the connection of the controllable devices.

8. A computer-readable medium on which is stored a program module for operation on a remote control, the remote control controlling a plurality of controllable devices and having a processor coupled to a display screen, the program module comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, perform the steps comprising:

soliciting information regarding operation of the plurality of controllable devices and which controllable device performs a selected function during operation of an activity in order to provide a set of user programmed outputs to control the plurality of controllable devices to perform the activity; and

generating a screen displayable on the display screen for the activity, the screen including indicators for controlling at least one of the plurality of controllable devices.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8 wherein the instructions, the step of generating includes associating a first indicator with a first controllable device and associating a second indicator with a second controllable device.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 wherein the instructions, which when executed by the processor, perform a step comprising:

associating portions of a touch sensitive panel with the indicators.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 8 wherein the instructions, which when executed by the processor, perform a step comprising:

associating buttons mounted on a housing and operatively coupled to the processor with controlling at least one of the plurality of controllable devices.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 wherein the step of associating includes a first button with a first controllable device and associating a second button with a second controllable device.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 8 wherein the step of soliciting includes soliciting information about the connection of the controllable devices.