Universal remote control with automatic state synchronization

• US 9,601,006 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2015
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roku, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Roku, Inc.
• Inventors: Evans, Don P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bocure, Tesfaldet
• Application Number:
  US14/814,217
• Publication Number:
  US 20170032665A1
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 340/12.22
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2201/50 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

Abstract

Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for synchronizing a state change at a universal remote control. An embodiment operates by sending a state change of the universal remote control to a remote-controlled device. The universal remote control then receives a confirmation message from the remote-controlled device. The universal remote control then updates a state configuration for the remote-controlled device in the universal remote control based on the sent state change. Because the universal remote control exchanges state change information with the remote-controlled device, the universal remote control does not become out of synchronization with the remote-controlled device which minimizes synchronization time and reduces user experience frustration.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for maintaining state synchronization for a universal remote control, comprising:

generating a first device command at the universal remote control to control a remote-controlled device based at least in part on a user input;

sending, via a first communications link, the first device command to the remote-controlled device for performance by the remote-controlled device;

sending, via a second communications link, a state change to the remote-controlled device based at least in part on the sending the first device command, wherein the state change represents a resulting state of the remote-controlled device after performance of the first device command;

receiving, via the second communications link, a confirmation message at the universal remote control from the remote-controlled device in response to the sending the state change;

programming the universal remote control based at least in part on the received confirmation message; and

sending, via the first communications link, a second device command for controlling the remote-controlled device based at least in part on the programming.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second communications link is a bidirectional communication link that uses a radio frequency signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communications link is a unidirectional communication link that uses an infrared signal.

4. The method of claim 1, the programming further comprising:

updating, at the universal remote, a state configuration for the remote-controlled device based at least in part on the sent state change.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the universal remote control is programmed to send the second device command via the first communications link based at least in part on a command set for the remote-controlled device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote-controlled device is a television or set top box.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising outputting a confirmation based at least in part on the programing.

8. A system, comprising:

a transceiver configured to;

send, via a first communications link, a state change to the remote-controlled device based at least in part on a first device command sent to the remote-controlled device, wherein the state change represents a resulting state of the remote-controlled device after performance of the first device command;

receive, via the first communications link, a confirmation message from the remote-controlled device in response to the sending the state change;

a memory configured to store a command set for the remote-controlled device and a state configuration for the remote-controlled device;

at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to;

generate the first device command to control the remote-controlled device based at least in part on a user input; and

program the state configuration for the remote-controlled device based at least in part on the received confirmation message; and

a transmitter configured to;

send, via a second communications link, the first device command to the remote-controlled device for performance by the remote-controlled device; and

send, via the second communications link, a second device command for controlling the remote-controlled device based at least in part on the programming.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first communications link is a bidirectional communication link that uses a radio frequency signal.

10. The system of claim 8, the at least one processor further configured to:

update the state configuration for the remote-controlled device based at least in part on the sent state change.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the transmitter is configured to send the second device command via the second communications link based at least in part on the stored command set for the remote-controlled device.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the remote-controlled device is a television or set top box.

13. The system of claim 8, the at least one processor further configured to:

output a confirmation based at least in part on the programing.

14. A tangible computer-readable device having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one computing device, causes the at least one computing device to perform operations comprising:

performing a first device command at a remote-controlled device based at least in part on a user input;

sending, via a first communications link, a state change for the remote-controlled device to a universal remote control based at least in part on the performing the first device command;

receiving, via the first communications link, a confirmation message at the remote-controlled device in response to the sending the state change;

determining the universal remote control updated a stored state configuration for the remote-controlled device based at least in part on the received confirmation message; and

enabling receiving, via a second communications link, a second device command for controlling the remote-controlled device from the universal remote control based at least in part on the determining.

15. The tangible computer-readable device of claim 14, wherein the first communications link is a bidirectional communication link that uses a radio frequency signal.

16. The tangible computer-readable device of claim 14, wherein the second communications link is a unidirectional communication link that uses an infrared signal.

17. The tangible computer-readable device of claim 14, the sending further comprising:

sending, via the first communications link, the state change for the remote-controlled device to the universal remote control based at least in part on pairing information stored at the remote-controlled device.

18. The tangible computer-readable device of claim 14, wherein the universal remote control is programmed to send the second device command via the second communications link based at least in part on a command set for the remote-controlled device.

19. The tangible computer-readable device of claim 14, wherein the remote-controlled device is a television or set top box.

20. The tangible computer-readable device of claim 14, the operations further comprising:

outputting a confirmation based at least in part on the determining.