Controlling device using visual cues to indicate appliance and function key relationships
First Claim
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1. A method for using color to indicate a relationship between a controlling device and a plurality of appliances, comprising:
- in response to an activation of a device mode key of the controlling device, causing a processor of the controlling device to select from a plurality of colors a first color representative of a first target one of the plurality of appliances to illuminate a first group of function keys comprised of a plurality of function keys wherein each of the plurality of functions keys in the first group of function keys is activatable to cause a transmission of a command to the first target one of the plurality of appliances to control a different operation of the first target one of the plurality of appliance and to concurrently select from the plurality of colors a second color representative of a second target one of the plurality of appliances to illuminate a second group of function keys comprised of a plurality of function keys wherein each of the plurality of functions keys in the second group of function keys is activatable to cause a transmission of a command to the second target one of the plurality of appliances to control a different operation of the second target one of the plurality of appliance.
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Abstract
A controlling device, such as a universal remote control, that uses visual and/or audio cues, such as sounds, color, patterns, shapes, etc., to indicate a relationship between a function key and an intended target appliance for a command transmitted in response to activation of the function key.
34 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for using color to indicate a relationship between a controlling device and a plurality of appliances, comprising:
in response to an activation of a device mode key of the controlling device, causing a processor of the controlling device to select from a plurality of colors a first color representative of a first target one of the plurality of appliances to illuminate a first group of function keys comprised of a plurality of function keys wherein each of the plurality of functions keys in the first group of function keys is activatable to cause a transmission of a command to the first target one of the plurality of appliances to control a different operation of the first target one of the plurality of appliance and to concurrently select from the plurality of colors a second color representative of a second target one of the plurality of appliances to illuminate a second group of function keys comprised of a plurality of function keys wherein each of the plurality of functions keys in the second group of function keys is activatable to cause a transmission of a command to the second target one of the plurality of appliances to control a different operation of the second target one of the plurality of appliance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for using color to indicate a relationship between a controlling device and a plurality of appliances, comprising:
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in response to an activation of a first device mode key of the controlling device, causing a processor of the controlling device to select from a plurality of colors a first color representative of a first target one of the plurality of appliances to illuminate a group of function keys each having an associated function indicating label wherein each one of the function keys in the group of function keys is activatable to cause a transmission of a command to control an operation of the first target one of the plurality of appliance wherein the operation controlled in the first target one of the plurality of appliances is consistent with the function indicating label associated with the one of the function keys of the group of function keys activated; and in response to an activation of a second device mode key of the controlling device subsequent to the activation of the first device mode key, causing the processor of the controlling device to select from the plurality of colors a second color representative of a second target one of the plurality of appliances to illuminate the group of function keys wherein each one of the function keys in the group of function keys is activatable to cause a transmission of a command to control an operation of the second target one of the plurality of appliance wherein the operation controlled in the second target one of the plurality of appliances remains consistent with the function indicating label associated with the one of the function keys of the group of function keys activated; wherein the first color representative of the first target one of the plurality of appliances is different than the second color representative of the second target one of the plurality of appliances and wherein the function indicating labels associated with each of the function keys in the group of function keys remain unchanged in response to the activation of the second device mode key of the controlling device subsequent to the activation of the first device mode key. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification