Control device with easy lock feature

• US 7,129,995 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2005
• Issued: 10/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Arling, Paul D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Natnael, Paulos M.
• Application Number:
  US11/150,030
• Publication Number:
  US 20050231649A1
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 348/734, 348/460, 348/461, 348/462, 348/467, 348/468, 345/172, 345/169, 345/3, 340/825.69, 340/825.72
• US Class Current: 348/734
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• 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 21/42208 Display device provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4221 Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42215 by measuring the time interval during which a key is pressed, e.g. for inputting sequences of digits when selecting a television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42227 the keys being reprogrammable, e.g. soft keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications

Abstract

Methods for identifying control keys with particular devices are disclosed along with methods of assigning control keys to particular devices. In particular, a remote control comprises a set of hard keys comprising channel group keys and volume group keys and a set of soft keys activated via a touch screen display. The display identifies the device the volume group keys are set to control and the device the channel group keys are set to control. Selecting the device currently controlled by the channel group keys by, for example, depressing the device indicator on the display screen, initiates a set up mode that displays numerous devices that may be controlled by the channel group keys. Selecting one of the numerous devices assigns the channel group keys to that device.

Claims

1. A method of configuring a controlling device comprising a display screen, the method comprising:

displaying a first device type indicator to indicate a specific one of a first plurality of device types a first generic control group of keys used to command operations of devices within the first plurality of device types is set to control and displaying a second device type indicator contemporaneously with the first device type indicator, wherein the second device type indicator indicates a specific one of a second plurality of device types a second generic control group of keys used to command operations of devices within the second plurality of device types is set to control and wherein the first and second generic control groups of keys are contemporaneously available for actuation;

in response to a user initiating a set up mode for the first generic control group of keys, displaying the first plurality of device types; and

in response to a user selecting one of the displayed first plurality of device types, setting the first generic control group of keys to control a device corresponding to the selected one of the displayed first plurality of device types, replacing the first device type indicator with a device type indicator corresponding to the selected one of the displayed first plurality of device types, and exiting the set up mode.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the display screen comprises a touch screen and the method comprises:

sensing a user selecting the first device type indicator via the touch screen; and

in response to sensing the user selecting the first device type indicator, initiating the set up mode for the first generic control group of keys.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the display screen comprises a touch screen and the method comprises:

sensing a user selecting the one of the displayed first plurality of device types via the touch screen; and

in response to sensing the user selecting the one of the displayed first plurality of device types, setting the first generic control group of keys to control the device corresponding to the selected one of the displayed first plurality of device types.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising displaying a third device type indicator, wherein the third device type indicator indicates to which master control mode the controlling device is set.

5. A computer readable medium for use in a controlling device comprising a display, the computer readable medium comprising instructions for:

displaying a first device type indicator, wherein the first device type indicator indicates a device type a first control group of keys is set to control;

setting the first control group of keys to control a device type selected by a user from a plurality of device types;

displaying the plurality of device types the first control group of keys may be set to control;

displaying a second device type indicator contemporaneously with the first device type indicator, wherein the second device type indicator indicates a device type a second control group of keys is set to control; and

displaying a master mode indicator contemporaneously with the first and second device type indicators

wherein the instructions display a plurality of soft keys associated with a master mode corresponding to the master mode indicator displayed.

6. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 5, wherein the instructions display the soft keys associated with the indicated master mode as a default.

7. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 6, wherein the instructions replace the displayed master mode soft keys with the plurality of device types the first control group of keys may be set to control during a set up mode for the first control group of keys.