State-based remote control system

• US 8,531,276 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2006
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Original Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Inventors: Harris, Glen McLean, Henry, Justin M.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOLLOWAY III, EDWIN C
• Application Number:
  US11/411,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20060192855A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,695 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/825.22, 340/3.2, 340/3.1, 340/3.7, 340/3.71, 340/12.22, 340/12.23, 340/12.24, 340/12.28, 340/12.52, 340/12.53, 340/12.54, 340/13.21, 340/13.24, 340/4.3, 340/4.31, 398/106, 398/111, 398/112, 398/115, 398/126, 398/127, 455/352, 341/176, 348/734
• US Class Current: 340/12.22
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4131 home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• 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 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18

Abstract

A state-based remote control system for providing efficient and simple operation of a plurality of electronic devices as a coordinated system based upon an overall task. The state-based remote control system includes a housing, a keypad in communication with an electronic system contained within the housing, and a communication device in communication with the electronic system for communicating with external electronic devices. The electronic system monitors the buttons selected by a user to determine the state of all external electronic devices that are to be controlled. When the user selects a task (e.g. watch television), the electronic system automatically determines the actions required to achieve the desired task based upon the current state of the external electronic devices. After the task has been fulfilled, the electronic system updates the data to reflect the modified state of the external electronic devices.

Claims

1. A remote control comprising:

an electronic circuit configured to;

store a simulated current state data for a set of home entertainment appliances,

receive a request to transmit a set of command codes to a set of home entertainment appliances to place the set of home entertainment appliances in an end state, and

calculate and update the simulated current state data to match the end state,

a transmitter coupled to the electronic circuit, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the set of command codes to the set of home entertainment appliances based on the request; and

a display coupled to the electronic circuit, wherein;

the electronic circuit is configured to control the display to display a set of questions subsequent to transmitting the set of command codes to the set of home entertainment appliances based on the request,

the set of questions is for a state of the set of home entertainment appliances,

the electronic circuit is configured to receive a set of answers to the set of questions,

the electronic circuit is configured to use the set of answers to determine if an actual state of the set of entertainment appliances matches the end state, and to change the simulated current state data to match the actual state if the actual state does not match the end state.

2. The remote control system of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to calculate and update the simulated current state data to match the actual state of the set of home entertainment appliances based on the set of answers.

3. The remote control system of claim 1, wherein the set of home entertainment appliances includes one or more home entertainment appliances.

4. The remote control system of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to control the display to display a user selectable option for displaying the set of questions.

5. The remote control of system of claim 4, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to receive an affirmative answer to the user selectable option to display the set of questions, and to receive a negative answer to the user selectable option to not display the set of questions.

6. The remote control system of claim 5, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to control the display to display a user selectable option for displaying the set of questions subsequent to transmitting the set of command codes to the set of home entertainment appliances.

7. The remote control system of claim 3, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to calculate and update the simulated current state data to match the end state based on the receipt of the request to transmit the set of command codes.

8. The remote control system of claim 3, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to control the display to present the set of questions as a series of questions, and wherein the electronic circuit is configured to display at least one of the questions based on an answer to another one of the questions.

9. The remote control system of claim 3, wherein the set of questions include at least one question for the state of at least one of the home entertainment appliances in the set of home entertainment appliances.

10. The remote control system of claim 3, wherein the set of questions are for a state of a subset of the home entertainment appliances, which is included in the set of home entertainment appliances.

11. The remote control system of claim 3, wherein the set of questions includes a question for whether the power is on for one of the home entertainment devices.

12. The remote control system of claim 3, wherein the set of questions includes a question for whether a picture is viewable on a television.

13. The remote control system of claim 1, further comprising a set of control buttons coupled to the electronic circuit, wherein an activation of one of the control buttons is configured to be detected by the electronic circuit to control the display to display a user selectable option for displaying the set of questions.

14. A remote control system operation method comprising:

receiving a request to transmit a set of command codes to a set of home entertainment appliances to place the set of home entertainment appliances in an end state;

transmitting the set of command codes to the set of home entertainment appliances based on the request;

displaying a set of questions subsequent to transmitting the set of command codes based on the request, wherein the set of questions is for a state of the set of home entertainment appliances;

receiving a set of answers to the set of questions;

based on the set of answers, determining if an actual state of the set of home entertainment appliances matches the end state;

if the actual state matches the end state, then storing a simulated current state data for the actual state; and

if the actual state does not match the end state, then;

changing the simulated current state data to match actual state, and

storing the changed simulated current state data.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the set of home entertainment appliances includes one or more home entertainment appliances.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising displaying a user selectable option for displaying the set of questions.

17. The method of claim 14, displaying the set of questions as a series of questions.

18. The method of claim 14, displaying at least one of the questions based on an answer to another one of the questions.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the set of questions include at least one question for the state of at least one of the home entertainment appliances in the set of home entertainment appliances.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the set of questions are for a state of a subset of the home entertainment appliances, which is included in the set of home entertainment appliances.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the set of questions includes a question for whether the power is on for one of the home entertainment devices.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the set of questions includes a question for whether a picture is viewable on a television.

23. The method of claim 14, further comprising a set of control buttons coupled to the electronic circuit, wherein an activation of one of the control buttons is configured to be detected by the electronic circuit to control the display to display a user selectable option for displaying the set of questions.