Digital interconnect of entertainment equipment

• US 7,119,710 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2004
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Hayes, Patrick H., Conway, James N. Jr., Johns, Gregory L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Holloway, III, Edwin C.
• Application Number:
  US10/923,916
• Publication Number:
  US 20050024226A1
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.72, 340/825.69, 340/825.22, 340/825.24, 340/825.25, 340/3.44, 340/3.52, 340/3.9, 340/3.7, 340/3.71, 398/106, 398/107, 398/108, 398/112, 341/175, 341/176, 348/734
• US Class Current: 340/12.28
• 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 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/41 Remote control of gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/205 with control bus for exchanging commands between units
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40117 Interconnection of audio or video/imaging devices home automation networks H04L12/2803; bitstream network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• 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 21/43615 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

Abstract

A remote control for communicating commands to a target device having first data that specifies a function supported by the target device. The remote control includes a set of command key indicias, stored within the universal remote control prior to any communications with the target device, each command key indicia being assigned a function identifier. The remote control is adapted to receive the first data from the target device and select a command key indicia from the set of command key indicias that has a function identifier that corresponds to the function specified by the first data. The selected command key indicia is displayable on a display of the universal remote control in association with a command key actuatable to communicate one or more commands to the target device to control the function supported by the target device that is represented by the first data.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a user interface of a universal remote control adapted to communicate commands to a target device, the method comprising:

receiving into the universal remote control first data which specifies a type for a target device to be controlled using the universal remote control;

using at least the first data to select a command set from a library of command sets stored within the universal remote control to be used for controlling functions of the target device;

receiving into the universal remote control second data transmitted from the target device which specifies a function of the target device to be controlled using the universal remote control;

selecting from a set of command key indicia stored within the universal remote control prior to any communications with the target device a command key indicia where the selected command key indicia has been mapped within the universal remote control to the type of the target device specified by the first data and to the function of the target device to be controlled specified by the second data; and

causing the selected command key indicia to be displayed on the universal remote control in association with a command key actuatable to communicate one or more commands selected from the selected command set to the target device to control the function supported by the target device that is represented by the second data.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising displaying an icon on a touch screen display wherein the icon serves as the command key.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising displaying the command key indicia in response to the universal remote control being placed into a mode for commanding operations of the target device.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising receiving third data from the target device and using the third data to alter the appearance of the command key indicia to thereby reflect a state of the target device.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising exchanging communications between the universal remote control and the target device via a wireless IR link.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising exchanging communications between the universal remote control and the target device via a wireless RF link.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising exchanging communications between the universal remote control and the target device via a wired network.

8. A method for configuring a user interface of a universal remote control adapted to communicate commands to a target device, the method comprising:

receiving into the universal remote control first data which specifies a type for a target device to be controlled using the universal remote control;

using at least the first data to select a command set from a library of command sets stored within the universal remote control to be used for controlling functions of the target device;

receiving into the universal remote control second data transmitted from the target device which specifies a plurality of functions of the target device to be controlled using the universal remote control;

selecting from a set of command key indicia stored within the universal remote control prior to any communications with the target device a plurality of command key indicia where the selected plurality of command key indicia have been mapped within the universal remote control to the type of the target device specified by the first data and to the plurality of functions of the target device to be controlled specified by the second data; and

causing the selected plurality of command key indicia to be displayed on the universal remote control in association with a plurality of command keys each actuatable to communicate one or more commands selected from the selected command set to the target device to control at least one of the plurality of functions supported by the target device that is represented by the second data.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, comprising receiving third data from the target device and using the third data to alter the appearance of at least one of the plurality of command key indicia to thereby reflect a state of the target device.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, comprising exchanging communications between the universal remote control and the target device via a wireless IR link.

11. The method as recited in claim 8, comprising exchanging communications between the universal remote control and the target device via a wireless RF link.

12. The method as recited in claim 8, comprising exchanging communications between the universal remote control and the target device via a wired network.