Remote control signal learning and processing by a host device and accessory
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving, at an accessory, a first wireless signal from a remote control device;
transmitting, from the accessory, a representation of the first wireless signal to a host device operable to execute a plurality of functions;
receiving, at the accessory in response to transmitting the representation of the first wireless signal to the host device, an identifier from the host device, the identifier being associated with the representation of the first wireless signal and one of the plurality of functions of the host device, the one of the plurality of functions having been selected by a user of the host device;
storing, at the accessory, the identifier received from the host device; and
storing, at the accessory, the representation of the first wireless signal transmitted to the host device by the accessory in association with the stored identifier.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques that facilitate the learning and processing of remote control signals by a host device and an accessory. In one set of embodiments, the host device and the accessory can operate in a first mode in which the host device can learn signals from (and thus be remotely operated by) a variety of different remote controls. For example, in some embodiments the host device can learn signals from a remote control that was not specifically designed to interoperate with the host device or the accessory. In another set of embodiments, the host device and the accessory can operate in a second mode in which the host device and the accessory can process learned remote control signals while minimizing the amount of data transferred between the host device and the accessory.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving, at an accessory, a first wireless signal from a remote control device; transmitting, from the accessory, a representation of the first wireless signal to a host device operable to execute a plurality of functions; receiving, at the accessory in response to transmitting the representation of the first wireless signal to the host device, an identifier from the host device, the identifier being associated with the representation of the first wireless signal and one of the plurality of functions of the host device, the one of the plurality of functions having been selected by a user of the host device; storing, at the accessory, the identifier received from the host device; and storing, at the accessory, the representation of the first wireless signal transmitted to the host device by the accessory in association with the stored identifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method comprising:
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receiving, at a host device operable to execute a plurality of functions, a representation of a wireless signal from an accessory, the wireless signal having been transmitted to the accessory from a remote control device; receiving a selection of one of the plurality of functions of the host device; associating, by the host device, the representation of the wireless signal with the selected function of the host device; generating, by the host device, an identifier associated with both the representation of the wireless signal and the selected function of the host device; and transmitting, by the host device, the identifier to the accessory. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An accessory comprising:
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a wireless receiver configured to receive wireless signals from a remote control device; an interface configured to communicate with a host device; and a control component coupled to the wireless receiver and the interface and configured to; receive, using the wireless receiver, a wireless signal from the remote control device; transmit, to the host device, a characteristic of the wireless signal received by the wireless receiver; receive, from the host device, an identifier associated with both the characteristic of the wireless signal and a function of the host device; store the identifier in association with the characteristic of the wireless signal; and transmit the identifier to the host device when a subsequent wireless signal is received having the characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A host device operable to execute a plurality of functions, the host device comprising:
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an interface configured to communicate with an accessory; and a processor coupled to the interface and configured to; receive, from the accessory via the interface, a characteristic of a wireless signal; receive a selection of one of the plurality of functions of the host device; transmit, to the accessory, an identifier associated with both the characteristic of the wireless signal and the selected function of the host device; subsequently to transmitting the identifier, receive the identifier from the accessory; and execute the selected function in response to receiving the identifier. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A method comprising:
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entering, by a host device, a first mode of operation; transmitting, by the host device, a command to an accessory instructing the accessory to enter the first mode of operation; and while in the first mode of operation; prompting, by the host device via a user interface of the host device, a user to select a function of the host device from a list of selectable functions; receiving, by the host device, a selection of a function from the user; prompting, by the host device via the user interface of the host device, the user to activate a button on a remote control device to be associated with the selected function; receiving, by the host device, a representation of a wireless signal from the accessory, wherein the wireless signal was transmitted from the remote control device to the accessory in response to activation of the button; generating, by the host device, an identifier associated with both the representation and the selected function; and transmitting, by the host device, the identifier to the accessory. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification