Systems and methods for programming a remote control device

• US 8,550,337 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2012
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pratt, James
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAIL, ALLYSON NEEL
• Application Number:
  US13/662,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20130070100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 344 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 348/569, 348/734, 340/12.28, 340/825.69, 315/152
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2814 Exchanging control software or macros for controlling appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving configuration of the network and network elements H04L41/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• 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 21/42227 the keys being reprogrammable, e.g. soft keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application

Abstract

Methods and systems related to codes that are usable by a remote control device to remotely control a function of the electronic device are described. The methods and systems may also include transmitting the codes to the remote control device via a remote control device interface.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a remote control device interface;

a network interface configured to receive codes from a network element, wherein the codes are received in response to data associated with an image captured by an image capture device; and

a memory storing the codes, wherein the codes are usable by a remote control device to remotely control at least one function of the electronic device.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the remote control device interface includes a wireless transceiver.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the remote control device interface communicates the codes to the remote control device in response to physical contact with the remote control device.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the image capture device is a camera.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a video output, an audio output, an audio signal input, a video signal input, and a playback module.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a universal plug and play compatible device.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the data associated with the image includes a device image of the electronic device, a product code for the electronic device, a barcode of the electronic device, or a combination thereof.

8. A remote control device comprising:

a processor;

a light emitting diode;

a memory accessible to the processor;

an image capture device configured to capture an image of an electronic device; and

a network interface configured to send data associated with the image to a network element,

wherein the remote control device receives codes to control the electronic device from the network element via the network interface.

9. The remote control device of claim 8, wherein the image capture device includes a camera.

10. The remote control device of claim 8, wherein the image capture device includes a camera and an optical character recognition module, wherein the data associated with the image includes a product code for the electronic device determined by the optical character recognition module.

11. The remote control device of claim 8, further comprising a touchscreen display.

12. The remote control device of claim 11, wherein the touchscreen display presents a user interface that emulates a layout of another remote control device.

13. The remote control device of claim 8, further comprising a radio transmitter.

14. The remote control device of claim 8, further comprising a wireless network interface.

15. The remote control device of claim 8, further comprising:

an accelerometer,

wherein the remote control device requests the codes in response to determining via the accelerometer that the remote control device is being moved in a predetermined pattern.

16. The remote control device of claim 8, wherein the memory includes a plurality of codes to control a plurality of functions at each of a plurality of electronic devices.

17. A method, comprising:

retrieving, from a memory of an electronic device, codes that are usable by a remote control device to remotely control a function of the electronic device, wherein the codes are received from a network element via a network interface of the electronic device, wherein the codes are selected based at least in part on data associated with an image captured by an image capture device; and

transmitting the codes to the remote control device.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving a command at the electronic device to perform a particular function; and

performing the particular function at the electronic device.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the data associated with the image includes a device image of the electronic device, a product code for the electronic device, a barcode of the electronic device, or a combination thereof.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the image comprises a barcode.