Configurable controlling device and associated configuration distribution system and method

• US 20060143572A1
• Filed: 02/16/2006
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Scott, Wayne, Yuh, Han-Sheng, Chambers, Christopher A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,941,786 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/765
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• 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 2201/21 Programming remote control devices via third means
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• 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 21/42204 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 21/42226 Reprogrammable remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42227 the keys being reprogrammable, e.g. soft keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A configurable controlling device and associated program that allows a consumer to modify on a personal computer for downloading to the controlling device configuration data which is used to cause the controlling device to perform a function, such as to transmit a command to an appliance, to change the user interface page being displayed, etc. The editor program provides for managed uploading of modified configuration data to a central server facility from which the uploaded, modified configuration data may be made available for managed download to one or more remotely-located controlling devices.

Claims

1. A method for managing distribution of controlling device configuration data, comprising:

modifying the controlling device configuration data using a program resident on a first computing device;

uploading data associated with the modified controlling device configuration data from the first computing device to a server device via a wide area network;

storing the uploaded data associated with the modified controlling device configuration data in a database associated with the server device; and

identifying an origin of and target for the data associated with the modified controlling device configuration data stored within the database.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising receiving at the server device a request to update a current controlling device configuration data wherein the request includes data which functions to identify at least an origin of data to be used to update the current controlling device configuration data and wherein the server device compares the origin specified in the request to the origin of the modified controlling device configuration data stored within the database to determine if the data associated with the modified controlling device configuration data is for use in updating the current controlling device configuration data.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the request to update the current controlling device configuration data includes data which functions to identify a controlling device which utilizes the current controlling device configuration data and wherein the server device compares the data which functions to identify the controlling device specified in the request to the target for the data associated with the modified controlling device configuration data stored in the database to determine if the data associated with the modified controlling device configuration data is for use in updating the current controlling device configuration data.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, comprising comparing data indicative of a version of the current device configuration data with data indicative of a version of the data associated with the modified controlling device configuration data and updating the current controlling device configuration data with the data associated with the modified controlling device configuration data when the comparison indicates that the data associated with the modified controlling device configuration data is newer than the current controlling device configuration data.

5. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the data which functions to identify the controlling device comprises a MAC address of the controlling device.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data associated with the modified controlling device configuration data functions to define user interface pages having icons which icons, when activated on a controlling device, cause the controlling device to perform one or more functions including transmitting a command to an appliance and changing a configuration data page being displayed.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising storing the uploaded data associated 5 with the modified controlling device configuration data in an area of the database designated for use by an originator of the modified controlling device configuration data and wherein the area of the database functions to identify the origin of data associated with the modified controlling device configuration data.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising uploading data associated with the modified controlling device configuration data from the first computing device to a server device via an Internet enabled device.

24. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein modifying the controlling device configuration data comprises modifying data associated with a controlling device user interface comprised of a plurality of user interface pages.

27. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the program resident on the first computing device automatically modifies at least a portion of the controlling device configuration data.

9. A system for managing distribution of a controlling device configuration data, comprising:

a program for use on a first computing device to enable modification of the controlling device configuration data; and

a Web server having an associated database for storing data associated with modified controlling device configuration data uploaded from the first computing device via a wide area network wherein the Web server further has programming which functions to allow for identification of an origin of and target for the data associated with the modified controlling device configuration data stored within the database.

10. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the programming receives a request to update a current controlling device configuration data wherein the request includes data which functions to identify at least an origin of data to be used to update the current controlling device configuration data and wherein the programming compares the origin specified in the request to the origin of the modified controlling device configuration data stored in the database to determine if the data associated with the modified controlling device configuration data is for use in updating the current controlling device configuration data.

11. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the request to update the current controlling device configuration data includes data which functions to identify a controlling device which utilizes the current controlling device configuration data and wherein the programming compares the data which functions to identify the controlling device specified in the request to the target for the data associated with the modified controlling device configuration data stored in the database to determine if the data associated with the modified controlling device configuration data is for use in updating the current controlling device configuration data.

12. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the data which functions to identify the controlling device comprises a MAC address of the controlling device.

13. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the data associated with the modified controlling device configuration data functions to define configuration data pages having icons which icons, when activated on a controlling device, cause the controlling device to perform one or more functions including transmitting a command to an appliance and changing a configuration data page being displayed.

14. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein uploaded data associated with the modified controlling device configuration data is stored in an area of the database designated for use by an originator of the modified controlling device configuration data and wherein the area of the database functions to identify the origin of data associated with the modified controlling device configuration data.

15. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the programming provides for allowing an originator of the data associated with the modified controlling device configuration data to track downloads of the data associated with the modified controlling device configuration data from the database.

16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the database maintains data which functions to identify at least a MAC address for an intended device for which the data associated with the modified controlling device configuration data has been requested.

17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the database maintains data which functions to identify at least a date the data associated with the modified controlling device configuration data was downloaded.

18. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein programming provides for allowing an originator of the data associated with the modified controlling device configuration data to track uploads of the data associated with the modified controlling device configuration data to the database.

25. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the configuration data comprises data associated with a controlling device user interface comprised of a plurality of user interface pages.

28. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the program functions to automatically modify at least a portion of the controlling device configuration data.

19. A method for managing distribution of a controlling device configuration data, comprising:

storing data associated with a modified controlling device configuration data uploaded from the first computing device via a wide area network to a database;

maintaining via the database an origin of and target for the data associated with the modified controlling device configuration data stored within the database; and

storing within the database data used to track downloads of the data associated with the modified controlling device configuration data from the database.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, comprising providing an area of the database as designated for use by an originator of the modified controlling device configuration data whereby the area of the database functions to identify the origin of the data associated with the modified controlling device configuration data.

21. The method as recited in claim 19, comprising maintaining within the database data which functions to identify at least a MAC address for an intended device into which the data associated with the modified controlling device configuration data is to be installed.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the database maintains data which functions to identify at least a date the data associated with the modified controlling device configuration data was downloaded.

23. The method as recited in claim 19, comprising storing with the database data which allows an originator of the data associated with the modified controlling device configuration data to track uploads of the data associated with the modified controlling device configuration data to the database.

26. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein storing data associated with a modified controlling device configuration data comprising storing data associated with a controlling device user interface comprised of a plurality of user interface pages.