System and method for retrieving information while commanding operation of an appliance

• US 6,917,302 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2004
• Issued: 07/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Lilleness, Robert P., Yuh, Han-Sheng, Wang, Weidong William, Scott, Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): DANG, HUNG Q
• Application Number:
  US10/785,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20040189509A1
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.69, 340/825.22, 340/825.24, 348/734, 348/552, 348/120, 341/176
• US Class Current: 340/12.52
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/0025 in a remote control unit remote control tuning in general H03J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 2200/23 Remote control device with display showing data to be transmitted to the controlled apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 2200/26 Remote control device with touch screen display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control

Abstract

When a command key of a controlling platform is activated, the platform performs an operation associated with the command key and also initiates the retrieval of information from an information source. The information retrieved is related to the operation being performed.

Claims

1. In a platform configured to command the operation of an appliance, a readable media having instructions for retrieving information, the instructions performing steps comprising:

in response to a sensed activation of a command key of the platform, transmitting a command to the appliance to cause the appliance to select one of a plurality of content streams each of the plurality of content streams having within the platform an associated address for an information source that has information related to its corresponding content stream and initiating a retrieval of information related to the selected one of the plurality of content streams using the address for the information source that has been associated within the platform to the selected one of the plurality of content streams; and

displaying the retrieved information in a display of the platform.

2. The readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein one or more of the addresses are entered by a user of the platform.

3. The readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein one or more of the addresses are automatically provided to the platform from a device external to the platform.

4. The readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the command causes the appliance to select a channel.

5. The readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the command key is included as part of an electronic program guide displayed within the display of the platform.

6. The readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the instructions provide for a user to designate both the content stream which the appliance is commanded to select and the address to be associated with the content stream.

7. The readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the content stream comprises a video broadcast signal.

8. The readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the content stream comprises an audio broadcast signal.

9. The readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein one or more of the addresses comprise a URL.

10. The readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the display comprises a touch screen and the command key depicts a logo of a provider of the content stream and is displayed within the touch screen.

11. The readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the retrieved information includes addresses to further information.

12. The readable media as recited in claim 11, wherein the addresses to further information comprise URLs.

13. In a platform configured to command the operation of an appliance, a readable media having instructions for retrieving information, the instructions performing steps comprising:

in response to a sensed activation of a command key of the platform, placing the platform into one of plural modes to transmit commands to at least one of a plurality of appliances each of the plurality of appliances having within the platform an associated address for an information source that has information related to its corresponding appliance and initiating a retrieval of information related to the at least one of the plurality of appliances using the address for the information source that has been associated within the platform to the at least one of the plurality of appliances; and

displaying the retrieved information in a display of the platform.

14. The readable media as recited in claim 13, wherein one or more of the addresses are entered by a user of the platform.

15. The readable media as recited in claim 13, wherein one or more of the addresses are automatically provided to the platform from a device external to the platform.

16. The readable media as recited in claim 13, wherein one or more of the addresses comprise a URL.

17. The readable media as recited in claim 13, wherein the information source comprises a Web site of a manufacturer of the appliance.

18. The readable media as recited in claim 13, wherein the command key comprises an appliance mode selection key.

19. The readable media as recited in claim 13, wherein the display comprises a touch screen display and the command key comprises an icon displayed in the touch screen display.