Virtual universal remote control

• US 8,749,428 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2012
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Belz, Steven M., Pratt, James, Sullivan, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): BAUER, SCOTT ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US13/691,314
• Publication Number:
  US 20130099954A1
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 341/176, 348/734
• US Class Current: 341/176
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/00 Electric signal transmission systems G08C17/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/21 Programming remote control devices via third means
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control
• 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 21/42225 characterized by types of remote control, e.g. universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42228 the reprogrammable keys being displayed on a display screen in order to reduce the number of keys on the remote control device itself

Abstract

A method for providing a virtual, universal remote control feature includes displaying a virtual remote interface for an electronic device. A user interaction with an element of the virtual remote interface is detected. The virtual remote interface element is mapped to a device-function code. The device-function code is provided to a code transmitter. The device-function code corresponds to a control command associated with the electronic device.

Claims

1. A computer readable storage medium including processor executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

accessing a device profile corresponding to an electronic device, wherein the device profile indicates location information and label information for a set of control elements;

providing an interface, wherein the interface depicts the control elements corresponding to the electronic device positioned on a display based on the location information; and

responsive to receiving one of a limited set of remote control signals from a limited function remote control device;

identifying one of the control elements displayed in the interface;

identifying a device-function code associated with the control element identified; and

transmitting the device-function code;

wherein the limited set of remote control signals includes a set of directional signals and a single additional signal for selecting.

2. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the operations include displaying the interface, and further wherein the interface includes a set of selectable objects and wherein each selectable object corresponds to a different electronic device.

3. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the device profile indicates the device-function code.

4. A customer premises equipment, comprising:

a processor; and

a computer readable storage medium accessible to the processor and including processor executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

accessing a device profile corresponding to an electronic device, wherein the device profile indicates location information and label information for a set of control elements;

providing an interface, wherein the interface depicts the control elements corresponding to the electronic device positioned on a display based on the location information; and

responsive to receiving one of a limited set of remote control signals from a limited function remote control device;

identifying one of the control elements displayed in the interface;

identifying a device-function code associated with the control element identified; and

transmitting the device-function code;

wherein the limited set of remote control signals includes a set of directional signals and a single additional signal for selecting.

5. The customer premises equipment of claim 4, wherein the customer premises equipment is a set top box configured to process content received via an Internet protocol television network.

6. The customer premises equipment of claim 4, wherein the device profile includes information indicative of the plurality of device-function codes.

7. The customer premises equipment of claim 4, wherein the operations include operations for initiating wireless transmission of a signal indicative of the device-function code.

8. The customer premises equipment of claim 7, wherein initiating the wireless transmission comprises accessing a device table and initiating the wireless transmission according to a wireless transmission technology indicated in the device table.

9. The customer premises equipment of claim 4, wherein the operations include operations for receiving device profile updates via an Internet protocol network and for updating the device profile.

10. A method comprising:

accessing a device profile corresponding to an electronic device, wherein the device profile indicates location information and label information for a set of control elements;

providing an interface, wherein the interface depicts the control elements corresponding to the electronic device positioned on a display based on the location information; and

responsive to receiving one of a limited set of remote control signals from a limited function remote control device;

identifying one of the control elements displayed in the interface;

identifying a device-function code associated with the control element identified; and

transmitting the device-function code;

wherein the limited set of remote control signals includes a set of directional signals and a single additional signal for selecting.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing the device-function code to a remote control code transmitter.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the providing includes wirelessly transmitting the device-function code to the remote control code transmitter.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the transmitting includes wirelessly transmitting the device-function code.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the virtual remote interface highlights a pre-designated control element in response to a directional signal from a remote control device operated by the user.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the transmitting includes transmitting the device-function code to a set-top box.