SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPTIMIZED APPLIANCE CONTROL

• US 20180040237A1
• Filed: 10/20/2017
• Published: 02/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: ARLING, Paul D.
• Granted Patent: US 10,325,486 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 that is caused to be presented by a smart device in a display device associated with the smart device, comprising:

receiving at the smart device from a controllable appliance data that functions to identify a controllable feature of the controllable appliance;

automatically adding by the smart device to the user interface an icon representative of the controllable feature of the controllable appliance as identified by the data;

in response to the smart device receiving from a controlling device a first command transmission that is indicative of a selection of the added icon from the user interface when the user interface is displayed in the display device associated with the smart device, causing the smart device to modify the user interface as displayed in the display device associated with the smart device whereby at least one user interface element for use in controlling at least one controllable function of the controllable appliance is caused to be newly displayed in the display device associated with the smart device, wherein the at least one user interface element that is caused to be newly displayed in the display device of the smart device in response to the added icon being selected is predetermined as a function of the controllable feature of the controllable appliance; and

in response to the smart device receiving from a controlling device a second command transmission that is indicative of a selection of the at least one user interface element that was caused to be newly displayed in the display device associated with the smart device, causing the smart device to issue a command to at least the controllable appliance to control the at least one controllable function of 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 transmission 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 transmission 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 smart device receives the controllable function support capability data for the controllable appliance from the controllable device.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the controllable function support capability data for the controllable appliance is retrieved from a memory device of the smart device.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the smart device receives the controllable function support capability data for the controllable appliance from a remotely located server device in communication with the smart device.

13. 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.