System and method for optimizing memory usage in a universal controlling device

• US 9,544,635 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2014
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Das Busek, Naimisaranya, Henley, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): RUSHING, MARK S
• Application Number:
  US14/209,114
• Publication Number:
  US 20140266640A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/21 Programming remote control devices via third means
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• 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

Abstract

A method for optimizing memory usage in a device having a universal controlling application includes receiving into the device data for use in configuring the universal controlling application wherein the data is used to identify from within a library of command code sets stored in a memory of the device a command code set that is appropriate for use in commanding functional operations of the appliance and causing a non-identified one or more of the command code sets of the library of command code sets stored in the memory of the device to be discarded to thereby create freed space in the memory of the device.

Claims

1. A method for upgrading a device having a universal controlling application, comprising:

storing in a memory of a master, universal remote controlling device a library of command code sets wherein the library of command code sets includes data that is used by the master, universal remote controlling device to transmit commands directly to various types of appliances of various different manufacturers;

storing in a memory of an appliance a library of command code sets wherein the library of command code sets includes data that is used by the appliance to transmit commands directly to various types of appliances of various different manufacturers;

determining if a time stamp provided to the library of command code sets stored in the memory of a master, universal remote controlling device has a time stamp that is later than a timestamp provided to the library of command code sets stored in the memory of the appliance to be commanded using the device having the universal controlling application;

when the time stamp provided to the library of command code sets stored in the memory of the master, universal remote controlling device is later than the timestamp provided to the library of command code sets stored in the memory of the appliance determining which command code sets in the library of command code sets stored in the memory of the master controlling device are omitted from the library of command code sets stored in the memory of the appliance; and

transferring from the master, universal remote controlling device to the device having the universal controlling application for storage in the memory of the device having the universal controlling application as a library of command code sets those command code sets in the library of command code sets stored in a memory of the master controlling device that were determined to have been omitted from the library of command code sets stored in the memory of the appliance.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein an identifier indicative of the time stamp provided to the library of command code sets stored in the memory of the appliance is received into the master, universal remote controlling device.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, where the identifier is received by reading a barcode associated with the appliance.

4. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the identifier is received from a RFID tag associated with the appliance.

5. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the identifier is included in a communication received from the appliance.

6. The method as recited in claim 2, comprising transferring from the device having the universal controlling application to the appliance those command code sets in the library of command code sets stored in a memory of the master, universal remote controlling device that were transferred to the device having the universal controlling application from the master controlling device.