System and method for simplified setup of a universal remote control

• US 7,907,222 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2006
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Huang, Steve LanPing, Haughawout, Joseph Lee, Hayes, Patrick H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harold; Jefferey F
• Assistant Examiner(s): DESIR, JEAN WICEL
• Application Number:
  US11/515,962
• Publication Number:
  US 20070052547A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,652 Days
• Field of Search: 348/734, 348/552, 348/14.05, 348/14.04, 340/815.6, 340/825.75, 340/426.13, 340/426.14, 340/825.22, 725/80, 725/81
• US Class Current: 348/734
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/00 Electric signal transmission systems G08C17/00 takes precedence
• 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 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26291 for providing content or additional data updates, e.g. updating software modules, stored at the client deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• 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 21/4221 Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42225 characterized by types of remote control, e.g. universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42226 Reprogrammable remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42227 the keys being reprogrammable, e.g. soft keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/433 Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request, caching operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence

Abstract

A system and method for enabling set up of a controlling device capable of controlling a plurality of appliances, via an interactive instruction set and associated programming. The programming is accessible by a STB or other controllable appliance and is configured to appropriately display interactive instructions and prompts to a user during a user initiated set up procedure for configuration of another controllable device (e.g., DVD, VCR, DVR, etc) available to the user. Appropriate set up data, generally in the form of command library codes, is displayed to the user by the interactive instruction set and associated programming for entry and trial by the user in set up of the desired appliance(s).

Claims

1. A method for configuring a controlling device having a plurality of function keys, comprising:

receiving input into the controlling device which functions to place the controlling device into a setup mode whereupon one or more keys of the plurality of function keys are activatable to enter a single code used to cause the controlling device to both;

     1) automatically assign commands stored within the controlling device and associated with a first device type mapped within the controlling device to the single code entered to a first predetermined group of the plurality of function keys and;

     2) automatically assign commands stored within the controlling device and associated with a second device type mapped within the controlling device to the single code entered to a second predetermined group of the plurality of function keys,

wherein the first device type is different than the second device type and the first predetermined group of the plurality of function keys is different than the second predetermined group of the plurality of function keys.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising creating a configuration table which functions to map different codes enterable in the setup mode to corresponding permutations of types of devices to be controlled upon activation of the first predetermined group of the plurality of function keys and the second predetermined group of the plurality of function keys, the configuration table to be used as a guide to instruct a user as to which of the plurality of function keys to activate within the setup mode to achieve a desired configuration result.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first predetermined group of the plurality of function keys comprise volume control function keys and the second predetermined group of the plurality of function keys comprise channel tuning control function keys.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first predetermined group of the plurality of function keys comprise volume control function keys and the second predetermined group of the plurality of function keys comprise playback control function keys.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first predetermined group of the plurality of function keys comprise playback control function keys and the second predetermined group of the plurality of function keys comprise channel tuning control function keys.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more keys of the plurality of function keys activatable to enter the single code comprises at least one key having a numerical label.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first device type comprises a television and the second device type comprises a set-top box.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first device type comprises a television and the second device type comprises a video disc player.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first device type comprises an audio receiver and the second device type comprises a video disc player.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first device type comprises a television and the second device type comprises an audio receiver.