System and method for simplified setup of a universal remote control

• US 8,854,556 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2012
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Haughawout, Joseph Lee, Hayes, Patrick H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harold, Jefferey
• Assistant Examiner(s): DESIR, JEAN WICEL
• Application Number:
  US13/443,435
• Publication Number:
  US 20120194325A1
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• Field of Search: 348/734, 348/552, 348/14.05, 348/14.04, 348/114, 340/815.6, 340/825.75, 340/426.13, 340/426.14, 725/80, 725/81
• US Class Current: 348/734
• 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 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26291 for providing content or additional data updates, e.g. updating software modules, stored at the client deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• 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 21/4221 Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42225 characterized by types of remote control, e.g. universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42226 Reprogrammable remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42227 the keys being reprogrammable, e.g. soft keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/433 Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request, caching operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence

Abstract

A system and method for enabling set up of a controlling device capable of controlling a plurality of appliances, via an interactive instruction set and associated programming. The programming is accessible by a STB or other controllable appliance and is configured to appropriately display interactive instructions and prompts to a user during a user initiated set up procedure for configuration of another controllable device (e.g., DVD, VCR, DVR, etc) available to the user. Appropriate set up data, generally in the form of command library codes, is displayed to the user by the interactive instruction set and associated programming for entry and trial by the user in set up of the desired appliance(s).

Claims

1. A system for use in setting up a controlling device used to command a plurality of controllable appliances, the system comprising:

a remote server having an associated data repository in which is stored instruction data for use in connection with setting up the controlling device; and

a first controllable appliance in communication with the remote server, the first controllable appliance having a processing device and a computer readable media on which is stored executable instructions which, when executed by the processing device, cause the first controllable appliance to respond to a signal received from the controlling device indicative of the controlling device being placed into a state in which the controlling device is to be setup to command a second controllable appliance by initiating a display of instructions for setting up the controlling device to command the second controllable appliance;

wherein the displayed instructions are based at least in part on instruction data received from the remote server.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the displayed instructions comprise an input element activation sequence to be used on input elements of the controlling device to thereby setup the controlling device to command the second controllable appliance.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the instruction data is provided automatically to the first controllable device by the remote server.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the executable instructions are provided to the first controllable appliance from the remote server.

5. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the at least a portion of the executable instructions are provided automatically to the first controllable appliance by the remote server.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the remote server and the first controllable appliance are in communication via a wide area network.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first controllable appliance responds to the signal received from the controlling device indicative of the controlling device being placed into a state in which the controlling device is to be setup to command a second controllable appliance by initiating a display of a series of navigable menus wherein the navigable menus are provided to lead to the display of the instructions for setting up the controlling device to command the second controllable appliance.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the series of navigable menus provide for a user to select a device type and brand of the second controllable appliance.