System and method for using image data in connection with configuring a universal controlling device

• US 8,094,880 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2010
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Haughawout, Joseph Lee, Hayes, Patrick H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Perungavoor, Sath V
• Application Number:
  US12/979,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20110093814A1
• Time in Patent Office: 378 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• 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: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4117 for generating hard copies of the content, e.g. printer, electronic paper interfaces to printers G06F3/12; printing data G06K15/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• 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

Abstract

A method for configuring a universal controlling device to enable the universal controlling device to communicate commands to one or more target appliances. A system having an associated database of original equipment remote control images that are cross-referenced to configuration information for a respective plurality of appliances receives identification data that specifies at least a brand and type of an appliance. The system uses the received identification data to discern one or more images from the associated database as being a match for the received identification data. The one or more images from the associated database that were discerned as being a match for the received identification data are then displayed to allow for the selection of one or more of the displayed plurality of images. At least a subset of the configuration information that has been cross-referenced to the selected one or more of the displayed plurality of images is used to enable the universal controlling device to communicate commands to the one or more target appliances.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a universal controlling device to enable the universal controlling device to communicate commands to a target appliance, comprising:

receiving identification data that specifies at least a brand and type of at least one appliance at a system having an associated database of original equipment remote control images as captured from the original equipment remote control via use of an imaging device;

using the system to discern one or more images from the associated database as being a match for the received identification data;

displaying the one or more images from the associated database that were discerned as being a match for the received identification data;

receiving a selection of one or more of the displayed plurality of images;

using the selection of one or more of the displayed plurality of images to identify command data appropriate for communicating commands to the target appliance;

causing the identified command data to be provisioned to the universal controlling device to thereby enable the universal controlling device to communicate commands to the target appliance;

using the selection of one or more of the displayed plurality of images to identify one or more graphical user interface elements from a library of graphical user interface elements which identified one or more graphical user interface elements are to be provisioned to the universal controlling device for use in connection with transmitting commands to the target appliance; and

uploading to the system an image of a original equipment control as captured from the original remote control via use of an imaging device and cross-referencing the uploaded image to command data learned from the original equipment remote control corresponding to the uploaded image.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the identified command data is provisioned to the universal controlling device by keying into the universal controlling device data indicative of the identified command data.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the identified command data is provisioned to the universal controlling device by downloading the identified command data into the universal controlling device.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the identified command data is downloaded into the universal controlling device via an intermediate device.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the identified command data is selected from a library of command data.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the library of command data is stored in a memory of the universal controlling device.

7. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the library of command data is stored in a memory remote from the universal controlling device and the identified command data is downloaded to the universal controlling device.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the identified one or more graphical user interface elements are selected from a library of graphical user interface elements stored in a memory of the universal controlling device.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the identified one or more graphical user interface elements are selected from a library of graphical user interface elements stored in a memory remote from the universal controlling device and downloaded to the universal controlling device.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the original equipment remote control images each comprise an image of a remote control body and remote control keys.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the original equipment remote control images each comprise a picture captured via use of a camera device.

12. A universal controlling device configuration system, comprising:

a database of original equipment remote control images as captured from the original remote control via use of an imaging device; and

a server device associated with the database and having a computer-readable media embodied on a physical device having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for configuring a universal controlling device to enable the universal controlling device to communicate commands to a target appliance wherein the computer-executable instructions perform steps comprising;

receiving identification data that specifies at least a brand and type of at least one appliance;

discerning one or more images from the associated database as being a match for the received identification data;

causing the one or more images from the associated database that were discerned as being a match for the received identification data to be displayed;

receiving a selection of one or more of the displayed plurality of images;

using the selection of one or more of the displayed plurality of images to identify command data appropriate for communicating commands to the target appliance;

facilitating a provisioning of the identified command data to the universal controlling device to thereby enable the universal controlling device to communicate commands to the target appliance;

using the selection of one or more of the displayed plurality of images to identify one or more graphical user interface elements from a library of graphical user interface elements which identified one or more graphical user interface elements are to be provisioned to the universal controlling device for use in connection with transmitting commands to the target appliance; and

receiving an uploaded image of an original equipment remote control as captured from the original remote control via use of an imaging device where the uploaded image is stored in the database of images associated with the system with a cross-reference to command data learned from the original equipment remote control corresponding to the uploaded image.

13. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the original equipment remote control images each comprise an image of a remote control body and remote control keys.

14. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the original equipment remote control images each comprise a picture captured via use of a camera device.