Serial programming of a universal remote control

• US 8,890,664 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2009
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2009
• 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: Edwards, Gregory, Van Vleck, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHERWIN, RYAN W
• Application Number:
  US12/617,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20110109444A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,832 Days
• Field of Search: 340 1222- 1229, 340/12.5, 340/12.52, 340/12.53, 341/176
• US Class Current: 340/12.23
• 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 2201/21 Programming remote control devices via third means
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control

Abstract

A method and system for programming a universal remote control (URC) to operate with a remote-controlled device is disclosed. After initiating a serial programming mode on the URC, a user may be instructed to operate a plurality of control elements of an original remote control (ORC) of the remote-controlled device in a predetermined sequence. As a result of operating the ORC control elements, a plurality of programming codes for the remote-controlled device may be received by the URC. Alternatively, the ORC may be requested to transmit a plurality of programming codes for the remote-controlled device. The URC may be configured to use at least one of the programming codes to remotely control the remote-controlled device.

Claims

1. A remote control configuration method, comprising:

receiving user input to initiate serial programming of a universal remote control;

receiving a plurality of programming codes in an ordered sequence from an original remote control for a remote-controlled device, wherein the programming codes correspond to respective original remote control control elements and wherein each control element is selected from;

a button, a soft key, and a slide bar; and

submitting a query based on the programming codes to a database;

responsive to the query uniquely identifying either the remote-controlled device or the original remote control, performing operations including;

assigning a universal remote control control element to each programming code stored in the database associated with the universal remote control; and

responsive to the query not uniquely identifying either the remote-controlled device or the original remote control, repetitively performing operations including;

receiving an additional programming code from the original remote control; and

submitting an additional query based on the programming codes including the additional programming code.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying an ordered sequence of prompts to a user, the prompts indicating respective original remote control control elements to operate.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving the plurality of programming codes includes:

receiving a programming code corresponding to each of the ordered sequences of prompts.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving one of the programming codes includes:

sending requests to the original remote control to transmit the plurality of programming codes.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending the identity of the remote-controlled device to a display device; and

receiving a confirmation acknowledging the identity.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a confirmation indicating that the universal remote control has been successfully configured with the programming codes; and

receiving user input to terminate the serial programming of the universal remote control.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the universal remote control is programmed using a wireless communication link.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising operating with customer premises equipment associated with a multimedia content distribution network.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a command to control the remote-controlled device, wherein the command is associated with at least one of the programming codes received.

10. A universal remote control for use within a client configuration of a multimedia content distribution network, comprising:

a processor;

a remote control interface; and

memory media, accessible to the processor, including processor executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving user input to initiate serial programming of a universal remote control;

receiving a plurality of programming codes in an ordered sequence from an original remote control for a remote-controlled device, wherein the programming codes correspond to respective original remote control control elements and wherein each control element is selected from;

a button, a soft key, and a slide bar; and

submitting a query based on the programming codes to a database;

responsive to the query uniquely identifying either the remote-controlled device or the original remote control, performing operations including;

assigning a universal remote control control element to each programming code stored in the database associated with the universal remote control; and

responsive to the query not uniquely identifying either the remote-controlled device or the original remote control, repetitively performing operations including;

receiving an additional programming code from the original remote control; and

submitting an additional query based on the programming codes including the additional programming code.

11. The universal remote control of claim 10, wherein the operations include:

prompting a user to operate an original remote control control element.

12. The universal remote control of claim 10, wherein receiving the plurality of programming codes includes:

receiving a programming code from the original remote control corresponding to the original remote control control element.

13. The universal remote control of claim 10, wherein receiving the plurality of programming codes includes:

sending a message to the original remote control instructing the original remote control to transmit at least one of the programming codes.

14. The universal remote control of claim 10, wherein the operations include:

sending, via the remote control interface, a command to control the remote-controlled device, wherein the command is associated with at least one of the programming codes.

15. The universal remote control of claim 10, further comprising:

a plurality of universal remote control control elements, wherein the user input to initiate programming is received from one of the plurality of universal remote control control elements.

16. Non-transitory computer-readable memory media, including processor executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations including:

receiving user input to initiate serial programming of a universal remote control;

receiving a plurality of programming codes in an ordered sequence from an original remote control for a remote-controlled device, wherein the programming codes correspond to respective original remote control control elements and wherein each control element is selected from;

a button, a soft key, and a slide bar; and

submitting a query based on the programming codes to a database;

responsive to the query uniquely identifying either the remote-controlled device or the original remote control, performing operations including;

assigning a universal remote control control element to each programming code stored in the database associated with the universal remote control; and

responsive to the query not uniquely identifying either the remote-controlled device or the original remote control, repetitively performing operations including;

receiving an additional programming code from the original remote control; and

submitting an additional query based on the programming codes including the additional programming code.

17. The memory media of claim 16, wherein the operations include:

sending, from the universal remote control, a command to control the remote-controlled device, wherein the command is associated with at least one of the plurality of programming codes.