System and method for retrieving information while commanding operation of an appliance

• US 9,727,213 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2006
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Scott, Wayne, Yuh, Han-Sheng, Lilleness, Robert P., Wang, Weidong William
• Primary Examiner(s): PITARO, RYAN F
• Application Number:
  US11/643,883
• Publication Number:
  US 20070136693A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,883 Days
• Field of Search: 715835
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating 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 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• 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 2201/33 Remote control using macros, scripts
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/91 Remote control based on location and proximity
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/22 Interactive procedures; Man-machine interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/0025 in a remote control unit remote control tuning in general H03J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 2200/23 Remote control device with display showing data to be transmitted to the controlled apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 2200/25 : Remote control device with display
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 2200/26 : Remote control device with touch screen display
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/20 : for coupling gramophone pick-up, recorder output, or microphone to receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 : by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 : Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/509 : wherein the managed service relates to media content delivery, e.g. audio, video or TV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 : being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• 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 21/4131 : home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• 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 21/42209 : for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• 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 21/4227 : Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 : Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 : for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• 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 21/4622 : Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 : End-user applications
• 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 21/8543 : using a description language, e.g. Multimedia and Hypermedia information coding Expert Group [MHEG], eXtensible Markup Language [XML] information retrieval of semistructured data, the underlying structure being taken into account, e.g. mark-up language structure data G06F16/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 : Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 : Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

When a command key of a controlling platform is activated, the platform performs an operation to initiate a playing of media content and also initiates the retrieval of information from an information source. The information retrieved is related to the media content and is displayed in a display of the controlling platform.

Claims

1. A non-transitory memory device having stored thereon processor executable instructions wherein the instructions, when executed by a processing device of a platform configured to initiate operation of an appliance, perform steps comprising:

in response to a sensed activation of a single command key of the platform causing the platform to transmit a command to cause the appliance to initiate a rendering of a media content having an associated address for a platform external information source that has information related to the media content, transmit a request to retrieve information related to the media content from the platform external information source via use of the address for the platform external information source that is associated to the media content, and display the retrieved information in a display of the platform,

wherein the address for the platform external information source which is to be used to retrieve information related to the media content from the platform external information source is selected from a plurality of addresses that are concurrently provided to the platform as a function of a broadcast station identifier that is associated with the single command key that was activated.

2. The non-transitory memory device as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of addresses are concurrently provided to the platform from a device external to the platform.

3. The non-transitory memory device as recited in claim 1, wherein the command initiates a media content selection process of the appliance.

4. The non-transitory memory device as recited in claim 1, wherein the single command key is included as part of an electronic program guide displayed within the display of the platform and wherein the plurality of addresses are concurrently provided to the platform with data provided to the platform for use in connection with populating the electronic program guide.

5. The non-transitory memory device as recited in claim 1, wherein the media content comprises at least one of a video signal and an audio signal.

6. The non-transitory memory device as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of addresses concurrently provided to the platform comprise a URL.

7. The non-transitory memory device as recited in claim 1, wherein the display comprises a touch screen and the single command key depicts an image representative of the media content and is displayed within the touch screen.

8. The non-transitory memory device as recited in claim 1, wherein the retrieved information includes addresses to further information.

9. The non-transitory memory device as recited in claim 8, wherein the addresses to further information comprise URLs.

10. A method for retrieving information in connection with using a platform configured to initiate operation of an appliance, comprising:

in response to a sensed activation of a single command key of the platform causing the platform to transmit a command to cause the appliance to initiate a rendering of a media content having an associated address for a platform external information source that has information related to the media content, transmit a request to retrieve information related to the media content from the platform external information source via use of the address for the platform external information source that is associated to the media content, and display the retrieved information in a display of the platform;

wherein the address for the platform external information source which is to be used to retrieve information related to the media content from the platform external information source is selected from a plurality of addresses that are concurrently provided to the platform as a function of a broadcast station identifier that is associated with the single command key that was activated.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the plurality of addresses are concurrently provided to the platform from a device external to the platform.

12. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the command initiates a media content selection process of the appliance.

13. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the single command key is included as part of an electronic program guide displayed within the display of the platform and wherein the plurality of addresses are concurrently provided to the platform with data provided to the platform for use in connection with populating the electronic program guide.

14. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the media content comprises at least one of a video signal and an audio signal.

15. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of addresses comprise a URL.

16. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the display comprises a touch screen and the single command key depicts an image representative of the media content and is displayed within the touch screen.

17. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the retrieved information includes addresses to further information.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the addresses to further information comprise URLs.