Controlling device using visual cues to indicate appliance and function key relationships

• US 8,049,655 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2010
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Conway, James N. Jr., Villani, Adam N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong; Albert
• Application Number:
  US12/961,923
• Publication Number:
  US 20110187512A1
• Time in Patent Office: 329 Days
• Field of Search: 341/173, 341/176, 341/21, 341/22, 3404071-4072
• US Class Current: 341/176
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/33 Remote control using macros, scripts
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/61 Password, biometric
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/91 Remote control based on location and proximity
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control

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.

Claims

1. A method for using sound to indicate a relationship between a controlling device and a mode of operation of the controlling device, comprising:

in response to the controlling device being placed into a first mode of operation, causing a processor of the controlling device to select from a plurality of sounds a first sound representative of a first target one of a plurality of appliances whereupon the controlling device is caused to emit the first sound upon user interaction with a function key in 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.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising, in response to the controlling device being placed into the first mode of operation, additionally selecting from the plurality of sounds a second sound representative of a second target one of the plurality of appliances whereupon the controlling device is caused to emit the second sound upon a user interaction with a function key in 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.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first group of function keys comprises at least one of a volume control function key group, a channel control function key group, and a transport control function key group.

4. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the first group of function keys and the second group of functions keys comprise different ones of a volume control function key group, a channel control function key group, and a transport control function key group.

5. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the first sound and the second sound are user selectable via interaction with the controlling device after manufacture of the controlling device.

6. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the first sound and the second sound are predefined during manufacture of the controlling device.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising, in response to the controlling device being placed into a second mode of operation subsequent to the controlling device being placed into the first mode of operation, causing a processor of the controlling device to select from the plurality of sounds a second sound representative of a second target one of a plurality of appliances whereupon the controlling device is caused to emit the second sound upon user interaction with a function key in the first group of function keys.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the first group of function keys comprises at least one of a volume control function key group, a channel control function key group, and a transport control function key group.

9. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the first sound and the second sound are user selectable via interaction with the controlling device after manufacture of the controlling device.

10. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the first sound and the second sound are predefined during manufacture of the controlling device.

11. A controlling device for commanding operating functions of a plurality of different appliances, comprising:

a function key activatable to cause a transmission of a command to an intended target appliance selected from the plurality of different appliances;

wherein a one of a plurality of different audio cues is associated with the function key as a function of which one of the plurality of different appliances is selected as the intended target appliance.

12. The controlling device as recited in claim 11, wherein the different audio cues comprise audio signals having different frequencies.

13. The controlling device as recited in claim 11, wherein the different audio cues comprise audio signals with an emitted tone that repeats in different numbers.

14. The controlling device as recited in claim 11, wherein the different audio cues comprise audio signals which have different sequences of tones.

15. The controlling device as recited in claim 11, wherein a one of the plurality of different appliances is selected as the intended target appliance via interaction with a mode selector of the controlling device.

16. The controlling device as recited in claim 11, wherein the one of the plurality of different audio cues is caused to be emitted by the controlling device in response to a user touching the function key.

17. The controlling device as recited in claim 11, wherein the one of the plurality of different audio cues is caused to be emitted by the controlling device in response to a user activating the function key.