System and method of establishing communication between an appliance and an external device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An appliance comprising:
- an infra red (IR) port;
a display means;
a search animation module executed by a processor residing in the appliance that generates a search animation for displaying on the display means, the search animation further comprising;
a first metaphoric icon; and
a plurality of images resembling waves aligned in a single axial direction, each wave image moving progressively away from the first metaphoric icon to indicate that the appliance is attempting to establish communication between the IR port and an external device having an IR port; and
a search completion code segment which indicates that the appliance and the external device are communicating by stopping movement of each one of the waves.
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Abstract
An appliance indicates that it is transferring information over a wireless communication path to an external device by displaying an animation. In one embodiment, an animation indicates that the appliance is attempting to establish communication over an infra red (IR) port with the external device by displaying an animation having an light emitting diode (LED) with emanating waves propagating away from the LED. Movement of the waves stop when communication is established. The wave edges indicate a maximum cone angle indicating the direction that the IR port must be pointed to establish and maintain communication with the external device.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An appliance comprising:
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an infra red (IR) port;
a display means;
a search animation module executed by a processor residing in the appliance that generates a search animation for displaying on the display means, the search animation further comprising;
a first metaphoric icon; and
a plurality of images resembling waves aligned in a single axial direction, each wave image moving progressively away from the first metaphoric icon to indicate that the appliance is attempting to establish communication between the IR port and an external device having an IR port; and
a search completion code segment which indicates that the appliance and the external device are communicating by stopping movement of each one of the waves. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for establishing communication between an appliance and an external device, comprising the steps of:
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establishing communication between an infra red (IR) port and the external device having an IR port;
displaying a search animation having a first metaphoric icon and a plurality of images resembling waves aligned in a single axial direction;
moving each wave image progressively away from the first metaphoric icon to indicate that the appliance is attempting to establish communication with the external device; and
ending display of the search animation upon establishment of communication between the appliance and the external device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer readable medium having a program for establishing communication between an appliance and an external device, the program comprising:
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logic configured for displaying a search animation having a first metaphoric icon and a plurality of images resembling waves aligned in a single axial direction;
logic configured for moving each wave image progressively away from the first metaphoric icon to indicate that the appliance is attempting to establish communication between an appliance communication port and the external device;
logic configured for ending display of the search animation upon establishment of communication between the appliance and the external device; and
logic configured for increasing the length of each wave image as each wave image moves progressively away from the first metaphoric icon, and logic configured for positioning ends of each wave image such that a maximum allowable cone angle is apparent, the maximum allowable cone angle defining a range of direction that the appliance communication port is pointed so as to be aligned with the external device such that communication is established with the external device.
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Specification