Automatically configuring a remote control for a device

• US 9,773,409 B1
• Filed: 09/08/2015
• Issued: 09/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Sanders, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Vernal
• Application Number:
  US14/848,205
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 340 1223
• 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:

receiving indication of first input at a remote control in communication with the first electronic device, wherein the first input is for controlling a first audio output destination via infrared signals that are transmitted by the remote control to the first audio output destination;

receiving indication of a change from the first audio output destination to a second audio output destination; and

in response to receiving the indication of the change from the first audio output destination to the second audio output destination, instructing the remote control to cease controlling the first audio output destination, wherein the remote control was controlling the first audio output destination via infrared signals that were transmitted by the remote control to the first audio output destination.

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

after receiving the indication of the change from the first audio output destination to the second audio output destination;

receiving indication of second input at the remote control; and

in response to the received indication of the second input, sending to the second output destination one or more commands corresponding to the second input.

3. The method of claim 2, the method further comprising:

receiving indication of a change from the second audio output destination to a third audio output destination;

after receiving the indication of the change from the second audio output destination to the third audio output destination;

receiving indication of third input at the remote control; and

in response to the received indication of the third input, sending to the third audio output destination one or more commands corresponding to the third input.

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

receiving indication of a change from the second audio output destination to the first audio output destination;

in response to receiving the indication of the change from the second audio output destination to the first audio output destination, instructing the remote control to resume controlling the first audio output destination using infrared signals that are transmitted by the remote control to the first audio output destination.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the change from the first audio output destination to the second audio output destination is received from the remote control after input is detected at the remote control for changing from the first audio output destination to the second audio output destination.

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

detecting availability of the second audio output destination; and

changing from the first audio output destination to the second audio output destination in accordance with detecting availability of the second audio output destination.

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

detecting unavailability of the first audio output destination; and

changing from the first audio output destination to the second audio output destination in accordance with detecting unavailability of the first audio output destination.

8. 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:

receiving indication of first input at a remote control in communication with the first electronic device, wherein the first input is for controlling a first audio output destination via infrared signals that are transmitted by the remote control to the first audio output destination;

receiving indication of a change from the first audio output destination to a second audio output destination; and

in response to receiving the indication of the change from the first audio output destination to the second audio output destination, instructing the remote control to cease controlling the first audio output destination, wherein the remote control was controlling the first audio output destination via infrared signals that were transmitted by the remote control to the first audio output destination.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, the method further comprising:

after receiving the indication of the change from the first audio output destination to the second audio output destination;

receiving indication of second input at the remote control; and

in response to the received indication of the second input, sending to the second output destination one or more commands corresponding to the second input.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, the method further comprising:

receiving indication of a change from the second audio output destination to a third audio output destination;

after receiving the indication of the change from the second audio output destination to the third audio output destination;

receiving indication of third input at the remote control; and

in response to the received indication of the third input, sending to the third audio output destination one or more commands corresponding to the third input.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, the method further comprising:

receiving indication of a change from the second audio output destination to the first audio output destination;

in response to receiving the indication of the change from the second audio output destination to the first audio output destination, instructing the remote control to resume controlling the first audio output destination using infrared signals that are transmitted by the remote control to the first audio output destination.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the indication of the change from the first audio output destination to the second audio output destination is received from the remote control after input is detected at the remote control for changing from the first audio output destination to the second audio output destination.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, the method further comprising:

detecting availability of the second audio output destination; and

changing from the first audio output destination to the second audio output destination in accordance with detecting availability of the second audio output destination.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, the method further comprising:

detecting unavailability of the first audio output destination; and

changing from the first audio output destination to the second audio output destination in accordance with detecting unavailability of the first audio output destination.

15. 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;

receiving indication of first input at a remote control in communication with the first electronic device, wherein the first input is for controlling a first audio output destination via infrared signals that are transmitted by the remote control to the first audio output destination;

receiving indication of a change from the first audio output destination to a second audio output destination; and

in response to receiving the indication of the change from the first audio output destination to the second audio output destination, instructing the remote control to cease controlling the first audio output destination, wherein the remote control was controlling the first audio output destination via infrared signals that were transmitted by the remote control to the first audio output destination.

16. The first electronic device of claim 15, the method further comprising:

after receiving the indication of the change from the first audio output destination to the second audio output destination;

receiving indication of second input at the remote control; and

in response to the received indication of the second input, sending to the second output destination one or more commands corresponding to the second input.

17. The first electronic device of claim 16, the method further comprising:

receiving indication of a change from the second audio output destination to a third audio output destination;

after receiving the indication of the change from the second audio output destination to the third audio output destination;

receiving indication of third input at the remote control; and

in response to the received indication of the third input, sending to the third audio output destination one or more commands corresponding to the third input.

18. The first electronic device of claim 15, the method further comprising:

receiving indication of a change from the second audio output destination to the first audio output destination;

in response to receiving the indication of the change from the second audio output destination to the first audio output destination, instructing the remote control to resume controlling the first audio output destination using infrared signals that are transmitted by the remote control to the first audio output destination.

19. The first electronic device of claim 15, wherein the indication of the change from the first audio output destination to the second audio output destination is received from the remote control after input is detected at the remote control for changing from the first audio output destination to the second audio output destination.

20. The first electronic device of claim 15, the method further comprising:

detecting availability of the second audio output destination; and

changing from the first audio output destination to the second audio output destination in accordance with detecting availability of the second audio output destination.

21. The first electronic device of claim 15, the method further comprising:

detecting unavailability of the first audio output destination; and

changing from the first audio output destination to the second audio output destination in accordance with detecting unavailability of the first audio output destination.

22. A method comprising:

sending, from a remote control device, an instruction to control a respective output device, wherein the respective output device includes a first output device, the first output device receives instructions in a first format, and sending the instruction from the remote control device to the respective output device comprises sending the instruction in the first format;

receiving, from an electronic device that is controlled by the remote control device, an indication that the respective output device has changed from the first output device to a second output device, wherein the second output device receives instructions in a second format, and the first format and the second format are different; and

based on the received indication, sending, from the remote control device, an instruction to control the second output device, wherein sending the instruction to control the second output device comprises sending the instruction in the second format.

23. A non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer readable medium containing instructions, that, when executed, perform a method, the method comprising:

sending, from a remote control device, an instruction to control a respective output device, wherein the respective output device includes a first output device, the first output device receives instructions in a first format, and sending the instruction from the remote control device to the respective output device comprises sending the instruction in the first format;

receiving, from an electronic device that is controlled by the remote control device, an indication that the respective output device has changed from the first output device to a second output device, wherein the second output device receives instructions in a second format, and the first format and the second format are different; and

based on the received indication, sending, from the remote control device, an instruction to control the second output device, wherein sending the instruction to control the second output device comprises sending the instruction in the second format.

24. A remote control 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 remote control device to perform a method comprising;

sending, from a remote control device, an instruction to control a respective output device, wherein the respective output device includes a first output device, the first output device receives instructions in a first format, and sending the instruction from the remote control device to the respective output device comprises sending the instruction in the first format;

receiving, from an electronic device that is controlled by the remote control device, an indication that the respective output device has changed from the first output device to a second output device, wherein the second output device receives instructions in a second format, and the first format and the second format are different; and

based on the received indication, sending, from the remote control device, an instruction to control the second output device, wherein sending the instruction to control the second output device comprises sending the instruction in the second format.