System and method for defining a controlled device command set

• US 20070225828A1
• Filed: 03/24/2006
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Huang, Steve LanPing, Black, Jeremy, Hayes, Patrick, Conway, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,548,246 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/11
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/21 Programming remote control devices via third means
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control

Abstract

A system and method for configuring a controlling device to allow the controlling device to generate commands for commanding operations of a new appliance which new appliance was previously unable to be supported by the controlling device. The system and method uses a definition input into the controlling device to create a new device data set for use in generating commands to command operations of the new appliance. The new device data set is a new combination of elements selected from device data sets already stored within a memory of the controlling device.

Claims

1. A computer-readable media having computer executable instructions for use in connection with a process for defining within a controlling device a controlled device data set for use in generating commands for commanding operations of an intended target appliance, the instructions performing steps comprising:

receiving input used to identify the controlling device;

receiving input used to identify the intended target appliance;

using the identity of the controlling device and the identity of the intended target appliance to discern matches between elements within a library of device data sets known to be stored in the controlling device and elements within a device data set appropriate for use in generating commands for commanding operations of the intended target appliance; and

creating a definition which, when provided to the controlling device, will allow the controlling device to command operations of the intended target appliance through use of those elements within the library of device data sets known to be stored in the controlling device which have been discerned to match elements within the device data set for use in generating commands for commanding operations of the intended target appliance.

2. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein creating the definition comprises defining a sequence of key presses to be entered via keys of a key matrix of the controlling device, the sequence of key presses functioning to identify to the controlling device the elements within the library of device data sets stored within the controlling device which are to be used when generating commands for commanding operations of the intended target appliance.

3. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 2, wherein the defined sequence of key presses functions to identify to the controlling device function data values which are to be used when generating commands for commanding operations of the intended target appliance.

4. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 3, wherein the defined sequence of key presses functions to identify function data values within a virtual table having a defined set of function data values.

5. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the instructions discern a match between a protocol definition know to be stored within the controlling device and a protocol definition appropriate for use in generating commands for commanding operations of the intended target appliance.

6. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the instructions discern a match between a system address known to be stored within the controlling device and a system address appropriate for use in generating commands for commanding operations of the intended target appliance.

7. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the instructions discern a match between function data known to be stored within the controlling device and function data appropriate for use in generating commands for commanding operations of the intended target appliance.

8. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the input used to identify the controlling device is received via a wide area network.

9. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the input used to identify the intended target appliance is received via a wide area network.

10. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the instructions perform the step of providing the created definition in a form that allows for manually entry of the definition into the controlling device.

11. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the instructions perform the step of providing the created definition in a form that allows for the downloading of the definition into the controlling device.

12. A system for configuring a controlling device to allow the controlling device to command operations of an intended target appliance, comprising:

a server having programming for receiving input used to identify the controlling device;

receiving input used to identify the intended target appliance;

using the identity of the controlling device and the identity of the intended target appliance to discern matches between elements within a library of device data sets known to be stored in the controlling device and elements within a device data set appropriate for use in generating commands for commanding operations of the intended target appliance; and

creating a definition which, when provided to the controlling device, will allow the controlling device to command operations of the intended target appliance through use of those elements within the library of device data sets known to be stored in the controlling device which have been discerned to match elements within the device data set for use in generating commands for commanding operations of the intended target appliance; and

programming resident on the controlling device for accepting the definition and using the definition to identify the elements within the library of device data sets stored with the controlling device which are to be used when generating commands for commanding operations of the intended target appliance.

13. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the definition comprises a sequence of key presses to be entered via keys of a key matrix of the controlling device.

14. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the sequence of key presses functions to identify to the controlling device function data values which are to be used when generating commands for commanding operations of the intended target appliance.

15. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the sequence of key presses functions to identify function data values within a virtual table having a defined set of function data values.

16. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the programming of the server discerns a match between a protocol definition know to be stored within the controlling device and a protocol definition appropriate for use in generating commands for commanding operations of the intended target appliance.

17. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the programming of the server discerns a match between a system address known to be stored within the controlling device and a system address appropriate for use in generating commands for commanding operations of the intended target appliance.

18. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the programming of the server discerns a match between function data known to be stored within the controlling device and function data appropriate for use in generating commands for commanding operations of the intended target appliance.

19. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the input used to identify the controlling device is received at the server via a wide area network.

20. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the input used to identify the intended target appliance is received at the server via a wide area network.

21. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the programming of the server functions to provide the created definition in a form that allows for manually entry of the definition into the controlling device.

22. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the programming of the server functions to provide the created definition in a form that allows for the downloading of the definition into the controlling device.

46. The system as recited in claim 13, comprising a device having an associated display in communication with the server which receives from the server data where the device uses the data received by the server to present on the display the sequence of key presses to be entered via keys of the key matrix of the controlling device.

47. The system as recited in claim 46, wherein the device is adapted to receive signals transmitted from the controlling device and the controlling device is adapted to transmit a signal which includes data from which the device may discern which key of the key matrix of the controlling device was activated to cause transmission of the signal and wherein the device determines from signals received from the controlling device if keys of the key matrix of the controlling device are being activated in keeping with the sequence of key presses.

48. The system as recited in claim 47, wherein the device generates a signal to signify to a user that a key of the key matrix of the controlling device was not activated in keeping with the sequence of key presses.

49. The system as recited in claim 48, wherein the controlling device has programming which includes a setup mode for accepting the definition, for temporarily storing a key press entered during the setup mode, and for allowing the user to either replace the temporarily stored key press with a further temporarily stored key press entered during the setup mode or to accept the temporarily stored key press as being a part of the definition.

50. The system as recited in claim 47, wherein the device generates a signal to signify to a user that a key of the key matrix of the controlling device was activated in keeping with the sequence of key presses.

51. The system as recited in claim 50, wherein the controlling device has programming which includes a setup mode for accepting the definition, for temporarily storing a key press entered during the setup mode, and for allowing the user to either replace the temporarily stored key press with a further temporarily stored key press entered during the setup mode or to accept the temporarily stored key press as being a part of the definition.

52. The system as recited in claim 47, wherein the device displays a next key press in the sequence of key presses in response to the device receiving a signal which indicates that a key of the key matrix which corresponds to a key press in the sequence of key presses which precedes the next key press in the sequence of key presses was activated.

23. A computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for defining within a controlling device a new device data set for use in generating commands for commanding operations of an intended target appliance, the instructions performing steps comprising:

accepting input of a definition; and

using the definition to combine previously uncombined elements selected from device data sets within a library of device data sets stored within a memory of the controlling device to form the new device data set which new device data set is to be used when generating commands for commanding operations of the intended target appliance.

24. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 23, wherein the instructions store at least a portion of the new device data set in the memory of the controlling device.

25. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 23, wherein the instructions use the definition in response to activation of a key of a key matrix of the controlling device when activation of the key is intended to control an operation of the intended target appliance.

26. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 23, wherein the input comprises a sequence of key presses to be entered via keys of a key matrix of the controlling device.

27. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 26, wherein the instructions use at least a portion of the sequence of key presses to identify specific function data values within the library of device data sets which are to be used when generating commands for commanding operations of the intended target appliance.

28. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 27, wherein the instructions use at least a portion of the sequence of key presses to identify a protocol definition within the library of device data sets for use in generating commands for commanding operations of the intended target appliance.

29. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 27, wherein the instructions use at least a portion of the sequence of key presses to identify a system address for use in generating commands for commanding operations of the intended target appliance.

30. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 23, wherein the input is manually provided to the controlling device.

31. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 23, wherein the input is downloaded via downloading hardware into the controlling device.

32. A controlling device for generating commands for commanding operations of an intended target appliance, comprising:

a memory in which is stored a library of device data sets; and

programming for using a definition input into the controlling device to combine previously uncombined elements selected from device data sets within the library of device data sets stored within the memory of the controlling device to form a new device data set which new device data set is to be used when generating commands for commanding operations of the intended target appliance.

39. The controlling device as recited in claim 32, comprising hardware for accepting the definition for download into the controlling device.

33. The controlling device as recited in claim 33, wherein the programming stores at least a portion of the new device data set in the memory of the controlling device.

34. The controlling device as recited in claim 33, wherein the programming uses the definition in response to activation of a key of a key matrix of the controlling device when activation of the key is intended to control an operation of the intended target appliance.

35. The controlling device as recited in claim 33, wherein the definition comprises a sequence of key presses entered via keys of a key matrix of the controlling device.

36. The controlling device as recited in claim 35, wherein the programming uses at least a portion of the sequence of key presses to identify specific function data values within the library of device data sets which are to be used when generating commands for commanding operations of the intended target appliance.

37. The controlling device as recited in claim 35, wherein the programming uses at least a portion of the sequence of key presses to identify a protocol definition within the library of device data sets for use in generating commands for commanding operations of the intended target appliance.

38. The controlling device as recited in claim 35, wherein the programming uses at least a portion of the sequence of key presses to identify a system address for use in generating commands for commanding operations of the intended target appliance.

40. A method for defining a device data set for use by a controlling device to generate commands for commanding operations of an intended target appliance, comprising:

receiving input into the controlling device which functions to select from a reference device data set a command function data value;

storing the selected command function data value in a new device data set stored within the memory of the controlling device, wherein the selected command function data value is mapped to a key within a key matrix of the controlling device; and

causing the controlling device in response to actuation of the key to use the selected command function data value when generating a command for commanding operations of the intended target appliance.

41. The method as recited in claim 40, wherein the reference device data set comprises a data set preprogrammed into the controlling device.

42. The method as recited in claim 40, wherein the reference device data set comprises a virtual reference device data set having a predetermined universe of values.

43. The method as recited in claim 42, wherein the input comprises a first activation of a key of the key matrix of the controlling device and a second activation of a key of the key matrix of the controlling device and the method comprises using the first activation of a key of the key matrix to position a window relative to the reference device data set and using the second activation of a key of the key matrix and the position of the window relative to the reference device data set to select from the reference device data set the command function data value.

44. The method as recited in claim 43, comprising using the second activation of a key of the key matrix to reposition the window relative to the reference device data set for use in selecting a further command function data value from the reference device data set for storage in the new device data set in response to a third activation of a key of the key matrix.

45. A controlling device for generating commands for commanding operations of an intended target appliance, comprising:

a memory in which is stored a library of device data sets each device data set comprising a combination of a protocol definition, a system code, and a plurality of command function data values which are used by the controlling device to transmit commands to command operations of appliances; and

programming for accepting input that is used by the controlling device to select one of the device data sets from the library of device data sets as a device data set to be used to command operations of the intended target appliance and which is further used by the controlling device to modify the system code of the selected device data set when the controlling device is used to transmit commands to command operations of the intended target appliance.