Universal remote control with automated setup

• US 8,683,086 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2010
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Z124 LLC (Flexis)
• Original Assignee: Flextronics America LLC (Flextronics International Limited)
• Inventors: Reeves, Brian, Pocklington, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Sun, Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/948,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20120124245A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,224 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 710/8
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23039 Remote programmer
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23077 Reconfigurable remote programmer, learn control signals for different devices
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25082 Display name of configuration, to recognise how device has been set, programmed
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25099 Detect configuration I-O and select needed program
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2615 Audio, video, tv, consumer electronics device
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/21 Programming remote control devices via third means

Abstract

A remote control of the present invention automatically identifies one or more peripheral devices which need to be programmed with the remote control. In some embodiments, the remote control is able to visually identify a peripheral device from an image, obtain the configuration information for the peripheral device, and program itself in the background according to the configuration information. These tasks are advantageously performed by the remote control, without user input. The remote control can be programmed to support a plurality of peripheral devices. When the remote control is used to control a peripheral device, the remote control will first present a selection list on the display screen. The selection list includes all the peripheral devices that the remote is communicatively coupled with. Upon the user selecting the desired peripheral device to be controlled, the remote control dynamically outputs a customized user interface associated with the selected peripheral device.

Claims

1. A controller comprising:

a. means for automatically configuring the controller based on configuration information of an electronic device such that the controller is configured for communicating with the electronic device, wherein the means for automatically configuring the controller includes means for automatically identifying the electronic device from an image, and means for accessing the configuration information of the electronic device identified from the image;

b. means for displaying functional elements for communicating with the electronic device; and

c. means for rearranging the functional elements in a plurality of ways comprising resizing the functional elements, wherein the means for rearranging the functional elements is configured for controlling the electronic device.

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to set up in the background without user input.

3. The controller of claim 1, wherein the functional elements include touch screen icons.

4. A handheld device configured to communicatively couple to at least one peripheral device, the handheld device comprising:

a. a processor; and

b. at least one application executed by the processor, the at least one application for;

using configuration information of a peripheral device, wherein using the configuration information includes automatically identifying the peripheral device from an image and assessing the configuration information of the peripheral device identified from the image;

generating a user interface for operating the peripheral device, the user interface being specific to the peripheral device and comprising functional elements configured for operating the peripheral device; and

rearranging the functional elements in a plurality of ways comprising resizing the functional elements.

5. The handheld device of claim 4, wherein the handheld device comprises an IR transmitter and the at least one peripheral device comprises an IR receiver, and wherein the handheld device is communicatively coupled with the at least one peripheral device using IR.

6. The handheld device of claim 4, wherein the handheld device comprises a RF transmitter and the at least one peripheral device comprises a RF receiver, and wherein the handheld device is communicatively coupled with the at least one peripheral device using RF.

7. The handheld device of claim 4, wherein the handheld device and the at least one peripheral device are Ethernet-enabled, and wherein the handheld device is communicatively coupled with the at least one peripheral device over WiFi or LAN.

8. The handheld device of claim 4, further comprising a camera configured to obtain the image.

9. The handheld device of claim 4, wherein the user interface includes a dial, navigation buttons, a number pad, a volume control, a power button, or a combination thereof.

10. The handheld device of claim 4, wherein the configuration information is internally stored within the handheld device.

11. The handheld device of claim 10, wherein the configuration information is updated periodically or on-demand.

12. The handheld device of claim 4, wherein the configuration information is remotely stored outside the handheld device.

13. The handheld device of claim 4, wherein the generating a user interface comprises presenting a selection list from which the peripheral device is selected, and detecting the peripheral device as a selected device to be controlled.

14. A method of using a remote control comprising:

a. determining a peripheral device to be controlled, wherein the determining a peripheral device comprises;

receiving an image over a network or at a point of sale, wherein the image is a document containing human-readable identification data regarding the peripheral device, and

identifying the peripheral device from the identification data to automatically determine configuration information of the peripheral device and assessing the configuration information of the peripheral device identified from the image; and

b. using the configuration information of the peripheral device to;

automatically configure the remote control; and

dynamically display an operative menu to control the peripheral device upon detecting the peripheral device as a selected device to be controlled.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the document is a receipt, a credit card statement, a loyalty card statement, or a rewards card statement.