System and method for optimized appliance control

• US 9,842,492 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2016
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Arling, Paul D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aziz, Adnan
• Application Number:
  US15/259,847
• Publication Number:
  US 20160379483A1
• Time in Patent Office: 460 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 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/70 Device selection
• 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
• 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 21/4363 Adapting the video stream to a specific local network, e.g. a Bluetooth® network

Abstract

In response to a detected presence of an intended target appliance within a logical topography of controllable appliances identity information associated with the intended target appliance is used to automatically add to a graphical user interface of a controlling device an icon representative of the intended target appliance and to create at a Universal Control Engine a listing of communication methods for use in controlling corresponding functional operations of the intended target appliance. When the icon is later activated, the controlling device is placed into an operating state appropriate for controlling functional operations of the intended target appliance while the Universal Control Engine uses at least one of the communication methods to transmit at least one command to place the intended target appliance into a predetermined operating state.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a user interface of a controlling device application resident on a smart device that is to be presented in a display device associated with the smart device, comprising:

receiving by a controlling device application from a controllable appliance data that functions to identify a controllable feature of the controllable appliance;

in response to the controlling device application receiving from a controlling device a first command transmission for causing the controlling device application to display on the display associated with the smart device a user interface of the controlling device application for controlling functional operations of at least the controllable appliance, causing the controlling device application to display on the display associated with the smart device the user interface of the controlling device application for controlling functional operations of at least the controllable appliance wherein the controlling device application further uses the data that functions to identify the controllable feature of the controllable appliance received from the controllable appliance to automatically add to the user interface of the controlling device application for controlling functional operations of at least the controllable appliance that is caused to be displayed in the display device of the smart device an icon that is representative of the controllable feature of the controllable appliance; and

in response to the controlling device application receiving from the controlling device a second command transmission that is indicative of a selection of the icon that is representative of the controllable feature of the controllable appliance as automatically added by the controlling device application to the user interface of the controlling device application for controlling functional operations of at least the controllable appliance that was caused to be displayed in the display device associated with the smart device, causing the controlling device application to use the smart device to issue a command to at least the controllable appliance to control at least the controllable feature of the controllable appliance.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second command transmissions are received from the controlling device via use of an infrared communications protocol.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second command transmissions are received from the controlling device via use of a radio frequency communications protocol.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second command transmissions are received from the controlling device via use of a wired communications protocol.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the display device comprises a television screen.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the smart device comprises a television.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the smart device comprises a set-top box.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the smart device comprises an A/V receiver.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the smart device issues the command to the controllable appliance via use of a wired communications protocol.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the controllable feature of the controllable appliance comprises a controllable media rendering feature that is provided via use of the controllable appliance.