System and method for setting up a universal remote control

• US 7,586,398 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2003
• Issued: 09/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Huang, Steve LanPing, Hayes, Patrick H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Holloway, III; Edwin C
• Application Number:
  US10/665,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20040070491A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,181 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.5, 340/825.22, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 341/175, 341/176, 348/734, 398/106, 398/107, 398/108, 398/111, 398/112
• US Class Current: 340/10.5
• 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 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: 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

Abstract

A system and method for using an RFID tag to automatically setup and configure a universal remote control to command appliances of various types and various manufacturers.

Claims

1. A method for setting up a universal remote control having command keys, a transmission circuit for transmitting commands in response to activation of one or more command keys, and a receiver circuit for receiving RF transmissions, the method comprising:

receiving data through RF transmissions from a plurality of RFID tags via the receiver of the universal remote control, each RFID tag being associated with a different individual;

determining relative signal strength of the RF transmissions; and

using data received from the RFID tag corresponding to the RF transmissions having the greatest relative signal strength to cause select commands to be mapped to select command keys whereby the universal remote control is set up such that activation of one or more of the select command keys causes the universal remote control to issue via the transmission circuit one or more of the select commands to command operation of one or more appliances as established by one or more preferences that have been mapped to the individual represented by the used data.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising displaying command keys according to one or more preferences established for the individual represented by the used data.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising limiting access to command keys by the individual represented by the used data.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising making a favorite channels list accessible for the individual represented by the used data.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the preferences are stored locally on the universal remote control.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the preferences are stored remotely from the universal remote control.

7. The method as recited in claim 2, comprising establishing a connection with a server having the remotely stored preferences.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, comprising establishing the connection by means of an intermediate device.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the intermediate device comprises a cable set top box.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the intermediate device comprises a personal computer.