System and method for simplified setup of a universal remote control

• US 9,978,263 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2016
• Issued: 05/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Haughawout, Joseph Lee, Hayes, Patrick H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yenke, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): DESIR, JEAN WICEL
• Application Number:
  US15/226,742
• Publication Number:
  US 20160343246A1
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 348734, 348552, 348 1405, 348 1404, 348114, 3408156, 340 1222, 34042613, 34042614, 725 80, 725 81
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/00 Electric signal transmission systems G08C17/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• 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 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26291 for providing content or additional data updates, e.g. updating software modules, stored at the client deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• 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 21/4221 Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• 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 21/42227 the keys being reprogrammable, e.g. soft keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/433 Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request, caching operations
• 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 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence

Abstract

A system and method for enabling set up of a controlling device capable of controlling a plurality of appliances, via an interactive instruction set and associated programming. The programming is accessible by a STB or other controllable appliance and is configured to appropriately display interactive instructions and prompts to a user during a user initiated set up procedure for configuration of another controllable device (e.g., DVD, VCR, DVR, etc) available to the user. Appropriate set up data, generally in the form of command library codes, is displayed to the user by the interactive instruction set and associated programming for entry and trial by the user in set up of the desired appliance(s).

Claims

1. A controlling device, comprising:

a plurality of input elements;

a memory; and

a processing device in communication with the plurality of input elements and the memory;

wherein a first subset of the plurality of input element and a second subset of the plurality of input elements are mapped to commands of a first command code set stored in the memory; and

wherein the memory further stores instructions, executable by the processing device, for causing the controlling device to be entered into a setup mode of operation whereupon the first subset of the plurality of input elements are activable to cause the controlling device to transmit commands from the first command code set to a first device and the second subset of the plurality of input elements are activable only to receive input where the received input is used to map at least one command from a second command code set stored in the memory to at least one input element of a third subset of the plurality of input elements such that an activation of the at least one input element of the third subset of the plurality of input elements causes the controlling device to transmit the at least one command from the second command code set for intended receipt by a second device and for causing the controlling device to be exited from the setup mode of operation whereupon the first subset of the plurality of input elements are activable to cause the controlling device to transmit commands from the first command code set to the first device, the second subset of the plurality of input elements are activable to cause the controlling device to transmit commands from the first command code set to the first device, and the third subset of the plurality of input elements are activable to cause the controlling device to transmit commands from the second command code set to the second device.

2. The controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first subset of the plurality of input elements comprise navigation control input elements, the second subset of the plurality of input elements comprise channel control input elements, and the third subset of the plurality of input element comprise volume control input elements.

3. The controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first subset of the plurality of input elements comprise navigation control input elements, the second subset of the plurality of input elements comprise channel control input elements, and the third subset of the plurality of input element comprise transport control input elements.

4. The controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of input elements comprises a plurality of hard key input elements.

5. The controlling device as recited in claim 1, comprising an IR transmitter in communication with the processing device for use in transmitting commands to at least one of the first device and the second device.

6. The controlling device as recited in claim 1, comprising an RF transmitter in communication with the processing device for use in transmitting commands to at least one of the first device and the second device.

7. The controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first command code set comprises a command code set for controlling functional operations of a set-top box device.

8. The controlling device as recited in claim 7, wherein the second command code set comprises a command code set for controlling functional operations of a display device.

9. The controlling device as recited in claim 8, wherein the display device comprises a television.

10. The controlling device as recited in claim 7, wherein the second command code set comprises a command code set for controlling functional operations of a media playback device.

11. The controlling device as recited in claim 10, wherein the media playback device comprises a DVD player.