System and method for configuring the remote control functionality of a portable device

• US 9,208,679 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2014
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Arling, Paul D., Hayes, Patrick H., Hatambeiki, Arsham
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Foxx, Chico A
• Application Number:
  US14/245,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20140222862A1
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 340/12.29, 340/12.5, 700/11, 348/553, 348/554
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2455 Query execution
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• 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 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4108 characterised by an identification number or address, e.g. local network address protecting specific internal or external computer components using identification number G06F21/73; network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• 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 21/4222 Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415
• 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 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8186 specially adapted to be executed by a peripheral of the client device, e.g. by a reprogrammable remote control

Abstract

A system and method used to configure a smart device to command functional operations of a target appliance. The smart device retrieves from a controllable appliance, such as a settop box, data indicative of a codeset identity of the target appliance wherein the codeset identity was determined during a process used to configure a conventional universal remote control to command functional operations of the target appliance and wherein the process used to configure the conventional universal remote control is performed in cooperation with the controllable appliance. A remote control application resident on the smart device then uses the data indicative of the codeset identity retrieved from the controllable appliance to also configure the smart device to command functional operations of the target appliance.

Claims

1. A method for using an intermediate device to facilitate configuring a controlling device to command functional operations of a target appliance, comprising:

retrieving from a plurality of appliances through use of a physical and logical interconnection with each of the plurality of appliances data indicative of at least a type for each of the plurality of appliances;

using the data indicative of at least a type for each of the plurality appliances to determine a remaining possible type for the target appliance;

using further data received from the target appliance and the remaining possible type for the target appliance to locate within a database, having a plurality of appliance records wherein each of the plurality of appliance records within the database is cross-referenced to an appliance of an appliance type and a codeset for use in configuring a controlling device to command functional operations of an appliance, a one of the plurality of records corresponding to the target appliance; and

using a codeset cross-referenced to the located one of the plurality of records to configure the controlling device to command functional operations of the target appliance;

wherein the remaining possible type for the target appliance is exclusive of the type for each of the plurality of appliances.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data indicative of at least a type for each of the plurality of appliances comprises a Consumer Electronic Control (“

CEC”

) identifier assigned to each of the plurality of appliances.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data indicative of at least a type for each of the plurality of appliances comprises a Source Product Description (“

SPD”

) assigned to each of the plurality of appliances.

4. The method as recited in claim 1,

wherein the controlling device selects a codeset from a library of codesets stored locally in the controlling device whereupon the selected codeset is used by the controlling device to issue command communications to the target appliance.

5. The method as recited in claim 1,

wherein the controlling device initiates a retrieval of a codeset from a library of codesets stored in a device located remotely with respect to the controlling device whereupon the retrieved codeset is used by the controlling device to issue command communications to the target appliance.