Controlling device having a device mode state toggle feature
First Claim
1. A controlling device having a plurality of device mode states each of which is selectable to configure the controlling device to command operating functions of one or more of a plurality of different appliances defined for that device mode state, the controlling device comprising:
- programming responsive to receipt of a first input for directly selecting one of the plurality of device mode states to thereby configure the controlling device; and
programming responsive to receipt of a second input for selecting, as a function of at least one of a one of the plurality of device mode states the controlling device is in at a time the second input is received and a one of the plurality of device mode states the controlling device was placed into a last time the second input was received, one of a subset of the plurality of device mode states to thereby configure the controlling device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A controlling device having a feature for toggling between various device mode states. The device mode state toggle feature may be implemented as a key which is preferably located with the function keys thus being spaced from the top of the controlling device. The device mode state toggle feature may be used to sequentially toggle between all device mode states of the controlling device, to toggle between a currently selected device mode state and a previously selected device mode state of the controlling device, to toggle between device mode states that have been designated by a user of the controlling device, etc. An indicia, such as a LED, key illumination, color, sound, or the like, may be utilized to provide an indication to the user as to which device mode state the controlling device is placed into when the device mode state toggle feature is activated.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. A controlling device having a plurality of device mode states each of which is selectable to configure the controlling device to command operating functions of one or more of a plurality of different appliances defined for that device mode state, the controlling device comprising:
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programming responsive to receipt of a first input for directly selecting one of the plurality of device mode states to thereby configure the controlling device; and programming responsive to receipt of a second input for selecting, as a function of at least one of a one of the plurality of device mode states the controlling device is in at a time the second input is received and a one of the plurality of device mode states the controlling device was placed into a last time the second input was received, one of a subset of the plurality of device mode states to thereby configure the controlling device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A machine readable media having embedded processor executable instructions for use in a controlling device having a plurality of device mode states each of which may be selected to configure the controlling device to transmit command codes to one or more of a plurality of different appliances, the readable media having instructions for performing steps comprising:
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accepting first input that functions to directly select one of the plurality of device mode states to thereby configure the controlling device; and accepting second input that functions to select, as a function of at least one of a one of the plurality of device mode states the controlling device is in at a time the second input is accepted and a one of the plurality of device mode states the controlling device was placed into a last time the second input was accepted, one of a subset of the plurality of device mode states to thereby configure the controlling device. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. For use in a controlling device having a plurality of device mode states each of which may be selected to configure the controlling device to transmit command codes to one or more of a plurality of different appliances, a method comprising:
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receiving input for causing the controlling device to change from a first device mode state selected from the plurality of device mode states to a second device mode state selected from the plurality of device mode states; and in response to the input being received placing the controlling device into the second device mode state; and
storing data indicative of the first device mode state in the controlling device whereby the stored data is used by the controlling device in connection with an actuation of a device mode state toggle key of the controlling device to return the controlling device to the first device mode state. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48)
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49. For use in a controlling device having a plurality of device mode states each of which may be selected to configure the controlling device to transmit command codes to one or more of a plurality of different appliances, a method comprising:
receiving input for selecting a subset of the plurality of device mode states to create a circular list of device mode states which is stored in a memory of the controlling device such that input received from a single device mode state toggle key will cause the controlling device to change from a current device mode state selected from the subset of the plurality of device mode states into another device mode state selected from the subset of the plurality of device mode states where the another device mode state follows the current device mode state within the circular list of device mode states stored in the memory and wherein, in response to the change, the another device mode state becomes the current device mode state.
Specification