System and method for automatically setting up a universal remote control

• US 7,218,243 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2002
• Issued: 05/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Arling, Paul D., Hayes, Patrick H., Conway, James N. Jr., Lilleness, Robert P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik; Michael
• Application Number:
  US10/151,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20030189509A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,821 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.72, 340/825.22, 348/173, 348/176
• US Class Current: 340/12.25
• 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 2201/21 Programming remote control devices via third means
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/41 Remote control of gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled 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: H04B 1/202 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/205 with control bus for exchanging commands between units
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/281 indicating a format for calling an appliance service function in a home automation network for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2814 Exchanging control software or macros for controlling appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving configuration of the network and network elements H04L41/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40117 Interconnection of audio or video/imaging devices home automation networks H04L12/2803; bitstream network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/007 with remote control systems remote control in general G08C

Abstract

A system and method for configuring a remote control to command the operation of appliances, to capture demographic data, and to provide services, such as automated warranty registration, instructions, viewing guides, etc., relevant to the appliances is provided. The system includes a database and associated server that are located remotely from the remote control and accessible via a network connection. Command codes, graphical user interface elements, and services are accessed and downloaded to the remote control, as appropriate, using data supplied to the server that identifies the appliances and/or functional capabilities of the appliances. This data can be supplied by the appliances directly or can be obtained from other sources such as barcode labels, network devices, etc.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a controlling device to command the operation of an appliance, comprising:

receiving into the controlling device data that functions to identify the appliance;

causing the data that functions to identify the appliance to be uploaded from the controlling device to a device having Internet connectivity;

causing the data that functions to identify the appliance to be uploaded from the device having Internet connectivity via a wide area communication link to an Internet server having access to a database of control codes for commanding the operation of a plurality of appliances of different types and different manufacturers;

using at the Internet server the data that functions to identify the appliance to retrieve from the database control codes to which the appliance is adapted to respond;

receiving the control codes retrieved from the database at the device having Internet connectivity;

causing the control codes retrieved from the database to be downloaded from the device having Internet connectivity into the controlling device; and

storing the control codes retrieved from the database in the controlling device whereby the control codes are available for use in commanding the operation of the appliance.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the device having Internet connectivity comprises a personal computer and causing the data to be uploaded from the controlling device to a device having Internet connectivity comprises placing the controlling device into communication with the personal computer.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein causing the data to be uploaded from the controlling device to a device having Internet connectivity comprises causing the controlling device to be synchronized with the personal computer.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the device having Internet connectivity comprises a personal computer and causing the control codes retrieved from the database to be downloaded from the device having Internet connectivity into the controlling device comprises placing the controlling device into communication with the personal computer.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein causing the control codes retrieved from the database to be downloaded from the device having Internet connectivity into the controlling device comprises causing the remote control to be synchronized with the controlling device.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising using at the Internet server the data that functions to identify the appliance to retrieve from the database graphical user interface elements corresponding to the control codes, causing the graphical user interface elements retrieved from the database to be downloaded from the device having Internet connectivity into the controlling device, and storing the graphical user interface elements retrieved from the database in the controlling device whereby the graphical user interface elements are available for use in commanding the operation of the appliance.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data that functions to identify the appliance is received into the controlling device via a transmission originating from the appliance.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data that functions to identify the appliance is manually entered into the controlling device.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data the functions to identify the appliance is entered into the controlling device by reading a bar code label.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data that functions to identify the appliance is received into the controlling device via a transmission originating from a personal computer.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data that functions to identify the appliance is received into the controlling device via a transmission originating from a cable converter box.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising using at the Internet server the data that functions to identify the appliance to automatically complete at least a portion of a warranty registration form for the appliance.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, comprising using user information maintained within the controlling device to automatically complete at least a portion of the warranty registration form for the appliance.

14. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the data that identifies the appliance comprises a serial number for that appliance.

15. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising using at the Internet server the data that functions to identify the appliance to update demographic data.

16. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising using at the Internet server the data that functions to identify the appliance to identify additional items available for purchase that are related to the appliance.

17. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising using at the Internet server the data that functions to identify the appliance to select a macro for downloading into the controlling device to thereby allow the controlling device to command at least one operation of the appliance in conjunction with at least one operation of another appliance previously identified to the Internet server for which the controlling device received control codes for commanding operations thereof.

18. A method for configuring a controlling device to command the operation of a first appliance and a second appliances, comprising:

receiving into the controlling device first data that functions to identify the first appliance;

receiving into the controlling device second data that functions to identify the second appliance;

causing the first data and the second data to be uploaded from the controlling device to a device having Internet connectivity;

causing the first data and the second data to be uploaded from the device having Internet connectivity via a wide area communication link to an Internet server having access to a database of control codes for commanding the operation of a plurality of appliances of different types and different manufacturers;

using at the Internet server the first data and the second data to retrieve from the database a first set of control codes to which the first appliance is adapted to respond and a second set of control codes to which the second appliance is adapted to respond;

using at the Internet server the first data and the second data to select a macro sequence for commanding at least one operation of the first appliance in conjunction with at least one operation of the second appliance;

receiving the first set of control codes, the second set of control codes, and the macro sequence at the device having Internet connectivity;

causing the first set of control codes, the second set of control codes, and the macro sequence to be downloaded from the device having Internet connectivity into the controlling device; and

storing the first set of control codes, the second set of control codes, and the macro sequence in the controlling device whereby the first set of control codes, the second set of control codes, and the macro sequence are available for use in commanding the operation of the first appliance and the second appliance.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the first data and the second data is received into the controlling device via a transmission originating from the first appliance and the second appliance, respectively.

20. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the first data and the second data manually entered into the controlling device.