Automatically configuring a remote control for a device

• US 9,691,270 B1
• Filed: 03/03/2015
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Sanders, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): McCormack, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US14/637,179
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• 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 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• 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: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

Intuitive methods of automatically configuring a remote control for multiple electronic devices are disclosed. The remote control can be automatically configured with the help of a first electronic device that is connected to one or more additional electronic devices. The first electronic device aids in the configuration of the remote control by gathering information about the one or more additional electronic devices and configuring the remote control in accordance. The information about the one or more additional electronic devices may be gathered from the devices themselves, from additional remote controls associated with the devices, and/or from a user, among other possibilities.

Claims

1. A method of a first electronic device, the method comprising:

searching one or more devices connected to the first electronic device for a device that can be controlled by the first electronic device through the connection; and

in accordance with a determination that a second electronic device, connected to the first electronic device, cannot be controlled by the first electronic device through the connection;

obtaining an identifier of the second electronic device;

determining a command code based on the identifier; and

instructing a remote control to control the second electronic device, wherein instructing the remote control to control the second electronic device includes sending the determined command code to the remote control.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein instructing the remote control to control the second electronic device includes instructing the remote control to store the command code associated with the second electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the identifier of the second electronic device includes:

generating for presentation on a display a user interface for identifying the second electronic device; and

while the user interface is presented on the display, receiving input identifying the second electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

in accordance with a determination, based on the identifier, that the second electronic device can be controlled if enabled, generating for presentation on a display a message requesting that control be enabled on the second electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

further in accordance with the determination that the second electronic device cannot be controlled by the first electronic device;

generating for presentation on a display a message requesting input on an additional remote control associated with the second electronic device; and

while the message is presented on the display, receiving input from the additional remote control, wherein the remote control is instructed to control the second electronic device based on the input received from the additional remote control.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving indication of input at the remote control in communication with the first electronic device; and

in response to receiving the indication of input at the remote control, instructing the remote control to send a command to the second electronic device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the input at the remote control is input requesting playback of a content item, the method further comprising:

selecting the command to send to the second electronic device based on an attribute of the content item.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the remote control is instructed to send the command to the second electronic device in accordance with a determination that the first electronic device cannot control the second electronic device.

9. The method of claim 6, the method further comprising:

determining a state of the second electronic device, wherein the remote control is instructed to send the command to the second electronic device based on the state of the second electronic device.

10. The method of claim 6, the method further comprising:

determining a state of a third electronic device, wherein the remote control is instructed to send the command to the second electronic device based on the state of the third electronic device.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer readable medium containing instructions, that, when executed, perform a method of a first electronic device, the method comprising:

searching one or more devices connected to the first electronic device for a device that can be controlled by the first electronic device through the connection; and

in accordance with a determination that a second electronic device, connected to the first electronic device, cannot be controlled by the first electronic device through the connection;

obtaining an identifier of the second electronic device;

determining a command code based on the identifier; and

instructing a remote control to control the second electronic device, wherein instructing the remote control to control the second electronic device includes sending the determined command code to the remote control.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein instructing the remote control to control the second electronic device includes instructing the remote control to store the command code associated with the second electronic device.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein obtaining the identifier of the second electronic device includes:

generating for presentation on a display a user interface for identifying the second electronic device; and

while the user interface is presented on the display, receiving input identifying the second electronic device.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, the method further comprising:

in accordance with a determination, based on the identifier, that the second electronic device can be controlled if enabled, generating for presentation on a display a message requesting that control be enabled on the second electronic device.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, the method further comprising:

further in accordance with the determination that the second electronic device cannot be controlled by the first electronic device;

generating for presentation on a display a message requesting input on an additional remote control associated with the second electronic device; and

while the message is presented on the display, receiving input from the additional remote control, wherein the remote control is instructed to control the second electronic device based on the input received from the additional remote control.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, the method further comprising:

receiving indication of input at the remote control in communication with the first electronic device; and

in response to receiving the indication of input at the remote control, instructing the remote control to send a command to the second electronic device.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the input at the remote control is input requesting playback of a content item, the method further comprising:

selecting the command to send to the second electronic device based on an attribute of the content item.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the remote control is instructed to send the command to the second electronic device in accordance with a determination that the first electronic device cannot control the second electronic device.

19. A first electronic device comprising:

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and are configured to be executed by the one or more processors, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the first electronic device to perform a method comprising;

searching one or more devices connected to the first electronic device for a device that can be controlled by the first electronic device through the connection; and

in accordance with a determination that a second electronic device, connected to the first electronic device, cannot be controlled by the first electronic device through the connection;

obtaining an identifier of the second electronic device;

determining a command code based on the identifier; and

instructing a remote control to control the second electronic device, wherein instructing the remote control to control the second electronic device includes sending the determined command code to the remote control.

20. The first electronic device of claim 19,

the method further comprising:

receiving indication of input at the remote control in communication with the first electronic device; and

in response to receiving the indication of input at the remote control, instructing the remote control to send a command to the second electronic device.