Portable controller
First Claim
1. A system for configuring the functionality of anyone of a plurality of devices by transferring control information from a portable controller thereto to change at least one function which is available to a user of any one of the plurality of devices during use thereof in accordance with the user'"'"'s preference, wherein the portable controller comprises:
- an input for receiving control information for configuring each device to change the function which is available to the user of any one of said plurality of devices during use in accordance with the user'"'"'s preference;
memory circuitry arranged to store and retrieve control information for configuring each one of said plurality of devices; and
an output for transferring to a device retrieved control information for that devices and wherein each of said devices comprises a user interface through which the user controls the device, means for coupling wirelessly with the output of the portable controller to transfer retrieved control information therefrom and control means arranged to configure the device in dependence upon the transferred control information by changing at least one of the functions provided by the device during use in accordance with the user'"'"'s preference.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is described a system for configuring the functionality of anyone of a plurality of devices by transferring control information from a portable controller thereto. The portable controller comprises: an input for receiving control information for configuring each device; memory circuitry arranged to store and retrieve control information for configuring each one of said plurality of devices; and an output for transferring to a device retrieved control information for that device. Each of the devices comprises: a user interface through which the user controls the device, means for coupling wirelessly with the output of the portable controller to transfer retrieved control information therefrom and control means arranged to configure the device in dependence upon the transferred control information by changing at least one of the functions provided by the device.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A system for configuring the functionality of anyone of a plurality of devices by transferring control information from a portable controller thereto to change at least one function which is available to a user of any one of the plurality of devices during use thereof in accordance with the user'"'"'s preference, wherein the portable controller comprises:
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an input for receiving control information for configuring each device to change the function which is available to the user of any one of said plurality of devices during use in accordance with the user'"'"'s preference;
memory circuitry arranged to store and retrieve control information for configuring each one of said plurality of devices; and
an output for transferring to a device retrieved control information for that devices and wherein each of said devices comprises a user interface through which the user controls the device, means for coupling wirelessly with the output of the portable controller to transfer retrieved control information therefrom and control means arranged to configure the device in dependence upon the transferred control information by changing at least one of the functions provided by the device during use in accordance with the user'"'"'s preference. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
input means arranged to couple wirelessly with anyone of said plurality of devices to receive control information therefrom for configuring another of said plurality of devices;
memory circuitry arranged to store control information for configuring a particular device in association with the identity of at least the particular device and to retrieve control information associated with a particular device; and
output means arranged to couple wirelessly with anyone of said plurality of devices and transfer thereto retrieved control information associated with the device.
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18. A portable controller for storing control information for a plurality of devices and for configuring the functionality of anyone of said plurality of devices by transferring control information thereto to change at least one function which is available to a user of any one of said plurality of devices during use thereof in accordance with the user'"'"'s preference, comprising:
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input means arranged to couple wirelessly with anyone of said plurality of devices to receive control information therefrom for configuring another of said plurality of devices to change the at least one function which is available to the user of any one of said plurality of devices during use thereof in accordance with the user'"'"'s preference;
memory circuitry arranged to store control information for configuring a particular device in association with the identity of at least the particular device and to retrieve control information associated with a particular device; and
output means arranged to couple wirelessly with anyone of said plurality of devices and transfer thereto retrieved control information associated with the device. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. An electronic device comprising:
- processor means;
user interface means, controllable by the processor means, through which the user interacts with the device;
input means for receiving control information to change at least one function which is available to a user of the electronic device during use thereof in accordance with the user'"'"'s preference; and
a memory for storing the received control information, wherein the processor means is arranged to read the control information stored in the memory and in dependence thereon configure the device by changing at least one of the functions provided by the device to the user during use. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
- processor means;
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44. A method of changing the functionality of a device comprising the steps of:
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storing in a portable controller control information arranged to automatically control the functionality of a device when transferred thereto to change at least one function which is available to a user in accordance with the user'"'"'s preference;
physically transporting the portable controller to the device;
establishing a wireless communication link between the portable controller and the device;
transferring via the wireless communication link stored control information from the portable controller to the device to change at least one function which is available to the user of the device in accordance with the user'"'"'s preference; and
changing the functionality of the device in response to the transferred control information by changing the at least one of the functions provided by the device to the user thereof.
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45. A method of changing the functionality of any one of a plurality of devices comprising the steps of:
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in a portable controller, storing distinct control information for each of said plurality of devices, the control information for a device being associated with at least that device in the portable controller and arranged to automatically control the functionality of that device when transferred thereto to change at least one function which is available to a user in accordance with the user'"'"'s preference;
physically transporting the portable controller to a first one of said plurality of devices;
establishing a wireless communication link between the portable controller and the first device;
identifying the first device;
transferring via the wireless communication link stored control information associated with the first identified device from the portable controller to the first device to change at least one function which is available to the user of the device in accordance with the user'"'"'s preference; and
changing the functionality of the first device in response to the transferred control information by changing at least one of the functions provided by the device.
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Specification