USRE39059E1 - Computer programmable remote control - Google Patents

Computer programmable remote control Download PDF

Info

Publication number
USRE39059E1
USRE39059E1 US10/403,454 US40345403A USRE39059E US RE39059 E1 USRE39059 E1 US RE39059E1 US 40345403 A US40345403 A US 40345403A US RE39059 E USRE39059 E US RE39059E
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
remote control
screen
programmable
general purpose
purpose computer
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US10/403,454
Inventor
William J. Foster
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Universal Electronics Inc
Original Assignee
Universal Electronics Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Family has litigation
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=26729876&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=USRE39059(E1) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Application filed by Universal Electronics Inc filed Critical Universal Electronics Inc
Priority to US10/403,454 priority Critical patent/USRE39059E1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of USRE39059E1 publication Critical patent/USRE39059E1/en
Assigned to U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT reassignment U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Assignors: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06FELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/01Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
    • G06F3/048Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
    • G06F3/0487Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
    • G06F3/0488Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
    • G06F3/04886Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures 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
    • GPHYSICS
    • G08SIGNALLING
    • G08CTRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS
    • G08C19/00Electric signal transmission systems
    • G08C19/16Electric signal transmission systems in which transmission is by pulses
    • G08C19/28Electric signal transmission systems in which transmission is by pulses using pulse code
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H03ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
    • H03JTUNING RESONANT CIRCUITS; SELECTING RESONANT CIRCUITS
    • H03J1/00Details of adjusting, driving, indicating, or mechanical control arrangements for resonant circuits in general
    • H03J1/0008Details of adjusting, driving, indicating, or mechanical control arrangements for resonant circuits in general using a central processing unit, e.g. a microprocessor
    • H03J1/0025Details of adjusting, driving, indicating, or mechanical control arrangements for resonant circuits in general using a central processing unit, e.g. a microprocessor in a remote control unit
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H03ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
    • H03JTUNING RESONANT CIRCUITS; SELECTING RESONANT CIRCUITS
    • H03J2200/00Indexing scheme relating to tuning resonant circuits and selecting resonant circuits
    • H03J2200/25Remote control device with display
    • H03J2200/26Remote control device with touch screen display
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04BTRANSMISSION
    • H04B1/00Details of transmission systems, not covered by a single one of groups H04B3/00 - H04B13/00; Details of transmission systems not characterised by the medium used for transmission
    • H04B1/06Receivers
    • H04B1/16Circuits
    • H04B1/20Circuits for coupling gramophone pick-up, recorder output, or microphone to receiver
    • H04B1/202Circuits for coupling gramophone pick-up, recorder output, or microphone to receiver by remote control
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47End-user applications

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to remote control devices for electronics products.
  • the modern home may have a wide array of consumer electronics devices. These may include nearly any type of audio or video entertainment product, such as televisions, video cassette recorders, audio cassette recorders, audio/video receivers and preamps, cable boxes, laser disc players and camcorders.
  • audio or video entertainment product such as televisions, video cassette recorders, audio cassette recorders, audio/video receivers and preamps, cable boxes, laser disc players and camcorders.
  • Consumer electronics devices typically utilize hand-held remote control units to permit a user to rapidly and efficiently control selected functions from a distance.
  • Early mechanical/ultrasonic remote control units were fairly limited and generally permitted only one or two functions to be controlled.
  • television remote control units utilizing mechanical/ultrasonic technology generally permitted a user to turn the power on to the television and to cycle through each channel in a preselected rotation.
  • remote control units have been available which transmit control signals by way of infrared or radio frequency transmitters. These wireless remote control units have freed the user to move about a room or even about their home and to control the device from wherever it is most convenient to the user.
  • Remote control units have correspondingly become highly complex.
  • a number of manufacturers sell remote control units which include as many as one hundred small buttons or keys, resulting in a severe decrease in the usability of these devices. This is remarkable, considering the huge number of consumers who cannot set the time on their VCR.
  • the number and complexity of remote control units typically found in a home have reached a level where the convenience provided by the remote control units is often overcome by the difficulty in locating and operating them.
  • a universal remote control unit consolidates multiple remote control units and, it is hoped, improves their usability.
  • Typical universal remote control units can learn the commands of other Remote control units, either through pre-programmed lists of consumer electronics devices or by teaching the universal remote control unit each command which the user might wish to have available on the universal Remote control unit.
  • One of the problems with universal remote control units has been that their generic keypads are often cumbersome and not particularly intuitive in layout or labeling. Furthermore, the designers of these devices must compromise between having separate buttons for each possible command and small button sizes.
  • the remote must not only control the TV, the VCR, the cable box and the stereo, it must be able to control the surround sound quality, turn on multiple devices at the same time, and issue a series of commands to multiple devices to accomplish a single task.
  • the consumer electronics industry has developed products to serve this new need in the marketplace.
  • These more advanced universal remote control units are exemplified by the Home Producer 8 from Universal Electronics, Inc. (Tustin, Calif.), the RC 2000 from Marantz (Roselle, Ill.), the RR990 from Rotel (North Reading, Mass.), and the RC-R0905 from Kenwood.
  • a universal remote control unit simply cannot be factory-programmed with every possible configuration. The user is left with poor choices—do without some functions, spend many hours programming and reprogramming their programmable remote control unit, suffer through a remote control unit which is not programmed in a memorable manner, or paying a professional to program the remote control unit.
  • the best remote control unit for a multimedia processing unit is usually the one which is provided with a multimedia processing unit. It is very difficult to overcome this one-to-one correspondence of remote control units and multimedia processing units.
  • a remote control unit which has the ability to control nearly any device controllable from a remote, yet is easily programmed.
  • These benefits are obtained from a remote control unit which is programmable from a PC using an advanced, object-oriented user interface.
  • the remote control unit's programming is easily modified from the PC.
  • the user may quickly and easily build a full range of capabilities into the remote control unit, including the issuance of multiple commands with a single key press.
  • the remote control unit has a large memory, the user may focus on functionality, rather than the efficiency or compactness of the programs.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a PC, a programmable remote control in accordance with the invention and multimedia processing units.
  • FIG. 2A is a frontal plan view of a prior art programmed remote control unit.
  • FIG. 2B is a frontal plan view of a programmable remote control unit in accordance with the invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a screen shot of a selection screen of a remote control development program in accordance with the invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a screen shot of name entry screen of a remote control development program in accordance with the invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a screen shot of a command learning screen of a remote control development program in accordance with the invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a screen shot of another command learning screen of a remote control development program in accordance with the invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a screen shot of a screen object layout screen of a remote control development program in accordance with the invention.
  • FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of a docked programmable remote control unit in accordance with the invention.
  • FIG. 9 is a screen shot of a screen object layout screen of a remote control development program having commands for multiple multimedia processing units in accordance with the invention.
  • FIG. 10 is a screen shot of a custom screen object creation screen of a remote control development program in accordance with the invention.
  • FIG. 11 is a screen shot of another custom screen object creation screen of a remote control development program in accordance with the invention.
  • FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a method of programming a programmable remote control unit in accordance with the invention.
  • FIG. 1 there is shown a block diagram of a general purpose computer 100 , a programmable remote control unit 200 , a docking station 130 and a multimedia processing unit 300 .
  • multimedia processing unit it is meant a device which provides some functionality which an end user can recognize and appreciate. Most TVs, VCRs, stereo receivers, CD players, laser disk players and cable decoders are self-contained multimedia processing units. Many security systems and home automation systems are dispersed multimedia processing units.
  • remote control unit it is meant a hand-held, portable device which can be used by a user to issue commands to a multimedia processing unit which the multimedia processing unit will recognize and result in a predetermined change of performance by the multimedia processing unit.
  • programmed remote control unit it is meant a remote control unit which has a fixed set of commands which it can issue and which commands are permanently assigned to specific keys on the remote control unit. Most multimedia processing units are provided with a programmed remote control unit which is programmed with all of the commands the multimedia processing unit's engineers believed desirable.
  • programmable remote control unit it is meant a remote control unit which can be programmed with the commands needed to control an multimedia processing unit.
  • command it is meant a message which can be recognized by a multimedia processing unit as an instruction to change a particular setting of the multimedia processing unit.
  • the multimedia processing unit 300 includes a receiver 310 through which the multimedia processing unit may receive commands.
  • the general purpose computer 100 includes a processor 155 which preferably from Intel Corporation (San Jose, Calif.) and runs a Microsoft Corporation (Redmond, Wash.) Windows operating system. In conjunction with the processor 155 , the general purpose computer 100 has a short term memory 150 (preferably RAM) and a long term memory 180 (preferably a hard disk) as known in the art.
  • the general purpose computer 100 further includes a graphics display 105 , a user input device preferably comprising a keyboard 120 a and mouse 120 b, an IO interface 115 , a power supply 125 and a bus 110 as known in the art. From the user's perspective, the docking station 130 once connected to the general purpose computer 100 is a component of the general purpose computer 100 .
  • the programmable remote control unit 200 includes a processor 260 and preferably runs Microsoft Corporation's (Redmond, Wash.) Windows CE operating system. In conjunction with the processor 260 , the programmable remote control unit 200 has a short term memory 270 and a long term memory 250 as known in the art.
  • the processor 260 is preferably a microprocessor, but may be an ASIC, logic processor or other type of processor which can operate in accordance with a program.
  • the long term memory 250 is preferably comprised of EEPROM, but may also be a magnetic disk drive, an optical disk drive, and MO disk drive, NVRAM, SRAM, chemical storage device or other type of rewritable, non-volatile memory.
  • the short term memory 270 is preferably a RAM.
  • the programmable remote control unit 200 further includes a bus 210 , an I/O processor 230 , a power management unit 280 and a battery 285 , all as known in the art.
  • the programmable remote control unit 200 further includes a panel 220 .
  • the panel 220 comprises various user input devices 222 , 223 , 224 and a graphic display 221 .
  • the graphic display 221 may be an LCD panel, an LED panel, a holographic projection, a cathode ray tube or other compact display device which can display graphics.
  • the user input devices preferably include fixed keys 224 , programmable keys 223 and a touch screen overlay 222 .
  • the programmable keys 223 and fixed keys 224 may be comprised of buttons—mechanical, electromechanical or solid state. As shown in FIG. 2B , there are preferably four programmable keys 223 a, 223 b, 223 c, 223 d disposed in a cross-like shape. Though programmable, the programmable keys 223 preferably are programmed with consistent functions, namely, that key 223 a is for increasing speaker volume, key 223 b is for changing channels in an upward direction, key 223 c is for decreasing speaker volume, and key 223 d is for changing channels in a downward direction. As explained further below, programs for controlling multimedia processing units preferably include these assignments.
  • the fixed keys 224 have functions which cannot be changed.
  • the fixed keys 224 preferably include a key 224 a for toggling a back light on the display 221 , keys 224 b, 224 c for scrolling to the next and previous screen, and a power key 224 d.
  • the touch screen overlay 222 in conjunction with the graphic display 221 , allows the programmable remote control unit 200 to be programmed with soft keys.
  • the programmable remote control unit 200 includes a communications transceiver 235 .
  • the communications transceiver 235 may be electro mechanical, but is preferably wireless and conforms to the IrDA specification and consumer IR standards, and also includes an infrared transceiver and an RF transceiver which permit the programmable remote control unit 200 to control a wide range of multimedia processing units.
  • the functions of communicating with the general purpose computer 100 and the multimedia precessing unit may be embodied as separate units.
  • the docking station 130 preferably comprises a cup-like unit into which the programmable remote control unit 200 may be inserted and which has a shape adapted to receive and firmly hold the programmable remote control unit 200 .
  • FIG. 8 shows the programmable remote control unit 200 inserted into the docking station 130 .
  • the programmable remote control unit's communications transceiver 235 is in registration with a corresponding communications transceiver 135 in the docking station 130 .
  • the docking station 130 is coupleable to the I/O interface 115 of the general purpose computer 100 , preferably in conformance with an interface standard which is common, bidirectional and inexpensive, such as serial or USB.
  • the communications transceiver 235 of the programmable remote control unit 200 may include a USB port or similar means which can be connected directly to a USB port in the general purpose computer 100 .
  • the communications transceiver 135 of the docking station preferably includes an infrared receiver and an RF receiver which permit the docking station 130 to recognize the commands which are recognized by a wide range of multimedia processing units.
  • Methods of the invention includes a learning phase, a development phase, a transfer phase and a use phase.
  • the description of these phases is accompanied by an example of how the commands issued from a prior art programmed remote control unit 200 A shown in FIG. 2A maybe programmed and used by the programmable remote control unit 200 of FIG. 2 B.
  • the exemplary programmed remote control unit 200 A is of a common variety for controlling a television, which is the multimedia processing unit of the example. Similar programmed remote control units are provided with other multimedia processing units, such as cable boxes.
  • the programmed remote control unit 200 A includes a number of keys, each resulting in a designated command as shown in Table I below. Typical TVs generate an appropriate display when a key is pressed and the TV recognizes the command.
  • Other multimedia processing units also have similar capabilities, though this is not described further herein.
  • TABLE I Label Reference Command mute 220A toggle the TV's speaker on and off power 230A toggle power to the TV on and off enter 275A after one or more numbers keys has been pressed, cause the TV to recognize the corresponding entered number 1 201A enter the number 1 2 202A enter the number 2 3 203A enter the number 3 4 204A enter the number 4 5 205A enter the number 5 6 206A enter the number 6 7 207A enter the number 7 8 208A enter the number 8 9 209A enter the number 9 0 210A enter the number 0 ch ⁇ 260A change the displayed TV station to the station next lower in a predefined order ch+ 265A change the displayed TV station to the station next higher in the predefined order display 250A toggle an information display of such things as currently tuned station, volume, and the time vol ⁇ 270A decrease the speaker volume by a predetermined amount vol+ 275A increase the speaker volume by a predetermined amount
  • the user first connects the docking station 130 to the general purpose computer 100 .
  • the docking station 130 includes a serial communications cable which may be connected to an open serial port of the I/O interface 115 , or a USB cable which may be connected to an open USB port.
  • the user then installs remote control development software on the hard drive 180 .
  • the remote control development software preferably detects the docking station 130 and determines if the docking station 130 is working correctly.
  • a configuration wizard prompts the user to insert the programmable remote control unit 200 into the docking station 130 and begin the learning phase.
  • the remote control development software preferably uses Active X objects technology.
  • the remote control development software provides the user with the ability to create, edit, delete and download to the programmable remote control unit 200 one or more “screen objects.”
  • a screen object comprises a screen layout definition, soft key objects and programmable key objects, altogether which provide for a single screen which occupies the display 222 and the commands associated therewith.
  • a “soft key object” comprises a graphic or pointer to a graphic representing a soft key which will be displayed on the display 221 , a text label for the graphic, a location on the display 221 for the graphic, and a tagname for command which the programmable remote control unit 200 will issue when the soft key is pressed by the user.
  • a “programmable key object” preferably comprises an identifier of one of the programmable keys 223 and a tagname for a command which the programmable remote control unit 200 will issue when the identified programmable key 223 is pressed by the user.
  • the remote control development software preferably stores screen objects in a database.
  • the remote control development software preferably is provided with a number of preconfigured screen objects, and during installation of the remote control development software, a database of the preconfigured screen objects is preferably created.
  • Preconfigured screen objects provide a short cut to programming the programmable remote control unit 200 , and may be used as templates in the development phase, discussed below.
  • the preconfigured screen objects can come from an image table or dynamically created by software based upon functionality of the remote and its purpose.
  • the database preferably can differentiate preconfigured screen objects from custom screen objects, and deter the user from editing them.
  • the publisher of the remote control development software preferably makes available new preconfigured screen objects as new multimedia processing units are put on the market to further increase the ease-of-programming of the programmable remote control unit of the invention.
  • the preconfigured screen objects may also be obtained in the aftermarket from third parties, such as the vendors of multimedia processing units.
  • the commands for the multimedia processing unit 300 are obtained by the remote control development software and used to prepare a screen object corresponding to the programmed remote control unit 200 A of the multimedia processing unit 300 .
  • the remote control development software can be used to learn commands from multipurpose, universal and programmable remote control units as well as single-purpose programmed remote control units as shown in the example.
  • step 1210 the user starts the remote control development software and activates the wizard for learning the commands for a multimedia processing unit.
  • a screen 300 such as that shown in FIG. 3 is preferably displayed on the display 105 of the general purpose computer 100 . This screen 300 displays the beginning point of the learning wizard.
  • the screen 300 as well as the other screens described herein, conform to the Windows95 (or later) user interface which is well known in the art.
  • a menu bar 310 shows several commands which a user may select.
  • the screen 300 includes a prominent dialog 320 .
  • the dialog 320 includes descriptive text and a list of multimedia processing unit types 325 .
  • the dialog 320 also includes a Cancel button 322 and a Help 323 which will be self-evident to those of skill in the art, as well as a Look Up button 324 and a Learn button 325 .
  • a row of radio buttons 321 is provided to permit the user to select the multimedia processing unit type, and there is preferably a free-form field 326 as well.
  • the user selects one of the displayed multimedia processing unit types or enters a free-form name.
  • the multimedia processing unit type selected here, or the name entered in field 326 will be used by the remote control development software as a prefix name for the screen object and for the tagnames for the commands in the screen object.
  • the commands of the multimedia processing unit 300 are learned. If the user clicks on the Look Up button 324 (step 1290 ), the remote control development software allows the user to select the multimedia programming unit from the database of screen objects (step 1295 ). Accordingly, the remote control development software displays a list of preconfigured screen objects, sorted or limited according to characteristics such as multimedia processing unit type, manufacturer, and date of manufacture. The user may then select one of the preconfigured screen objects, and learning of the commands of the multimedia processing unit 300 is complete (step 1280 ).
  • the remote control development software displays a dialog 420 as shown in FIG. 4 .
  • the dialog 420 includes the buttons 322 , 323 as well as a Back button 424 and a Next button 425 .
  • Dialog 420 includes a prompt 425 and a data entry field 435 where the user enters the name of the multimedia processing unit 300 .
  • the remote control development software preferably provides a default name for the multimedia processing unit 300 in the field 435 . This default name preferably comprises the type of multimedia processing unit selected in step 1210 , plus a sequential number for each multimedia processing unit of the type learned.
  • the remote control development software also preferably utilizes the multimedia processing unit type in the prompt 425 .
  • remote control development software is intelligent enough to save the user from teaching every key of the programmed remote control unit 200 A.
  • the remote control development software attempts to correlate the learned key commands against those in the database, and to select the multimedia processing unit which appears to be that being taught.
  • the remote control development software preferably includes, for each multimedia processing unit type, a list of command types which that type of multimedia processing unit normally will recognize. For example, all typical TVs recognize commands for power control, volume control, and number keys, and all typical VCRs recognize commands for play, stop, pause, rewind and fast forward.
  • the remote control development software preferably asks the user to teach commands of expect command types first, and then, if no match in the database has been found, then non-standard commands.
  • a dialog 520 as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed. From this screen, the remote control development software learns a number of expected command types of the multimedia processing unit. Accordingly, the remote control development software displays a prompt 525 in the dialog 520 for the user to aim the programmed remote control unit 200 A that came with the multimedia processing unit 300 at the communications transceiver 135 of the docking station 130 , and to press the expected keys on the programmed remote control unit 200 A. After the remote control development software recognizes each key press and records the command from the programmed remote control unit 200 A (step 1250 ), the remote control development software displays a next expected key, until all of the expected keys have been learned (step 1255 ). Preferably, after the remote control development software learns each new expected command, it test the learned commands against those of the screen objects in the database. If a match is found, then the user is given the opportunity to accept the match found by the remote control development software or to continue teaching.
  • a dialog 620 as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed.
  • the remote control development software learns a non-standard commands of the multimedia processing unit 300 . Accordingly, the remote control development software displays a prompt 625 in the dialog 620 for the user to enter the name of the non-standard key in an entry field 626 and to aim the programmed remote control unit 200 A at the transceiver 135 of the docking station 130 , and to press the named key on the programmed remote control unit 200 A.
  • the remote control development software recognizes each key press and records the command from the programmed remote control unit 200 A, the remote control development software displays the same dialog 620 until all of the non-standard keys have been learned (step 1265 ).
  • the remote control development software preferably shows a representation of the screen object as exemplified by the screen shot of FIG. 7 .
  • FIG. 7 shows the menu bar 310 mentioned above, plus a left pane 710 and a right pane 720 .
  • the right pane 720 shows a representation 726 of the programmable remote control unit 200 , with a representation 721 of the appearance of the screen object in the programmable remote control unit's display 221 , the programmable keys 723 and the fixed keys 724 .
  • the representation 721 includes the multimedia processing unit's name 766 as entered by the user in step 1240 .
  • the representation 721 also includes soft keys 722 corresponding to the keys 201 A- 275 A of the multimedia processing unit's programmed remote 200 A (FIG. 2 A).
  • the representation 721 preferably precisely mimics the key sizes and locations of the multimedia processing unit's programmed remote control unit 200 A.
  • the left pane 710 is a display of screen object information.
  • the left pane 710 shows the screen object's name 711 , plus a list 712 of tagnames of the commands in the screen object.
  • tagnames 712 of commands the soft keys 722 and commands.
  • programmable key objects for controlling speaker volume and channel rotation are preferably also mapped to the programmable keys 723 / 223 as discussed above.
  • Soft key objects may include these mappings.
  • the left pane 710 preferably is for displaying information about all available screen objects.
  • This display is preferably hierarchical, and a user may toggle the display of the component objects of a screen object by clicking on a ‘+’ (to display) or ‘ ⁇ ’ (to hide) to the tagnames 712 .
  • a scroll bar 715 allows the user to scroll through the list of screen objects and their respective components (if displayed).
  • the right pane 720 preferably is for displaying all available screen object representations.
  • a scroll bar 725 allows the user to scroll through the screen object representations.
  • the user In the case where the user is teaching the remote control development software the commands of a multimedia processing unit for which the remote control development software lacks a preconfigured screen object, the user will need to create the screen object's layout manually. This is performed in the Development Phase.
  • the user may also modify edit screen objects and even create new screen objects by copying layout information, soft key objects and programmable key objects from existing screen objects.
  • a user may add, edit, delete or reorder screen objects.
  • Each of these functions preferably may be activated by the user from a Tools menu 920 as shown in FIG. 9 .
  • Tools menu 920 There are preferably also short-cut keys or tool bar buttons for accessing this feature in the manner known in the art.
  • the remote control development software is displaying in the left pane 710 not only the screen object information of the TV multimedia processing unit described above, but also screen object information of a cable box multimedia processing unit.
  • a representation of the cable box's screen object is also available in the right pane 720 and can be displayed using the scroll bar 725 .
  • the user selects an Add Screen command 941 from the Tools menu 940 .
  • the remote control development software then creates a new screen object with the title Custom 1066 , and a representation 1026 of the programmable remote control unit 200 in the right pane 720 with only a title 1066 .
  • the remote control development software preferably provides drag and drop tools for the user to create and edit the screen object, and displays a tool box 1050 having a number of object creating and editing tools for the user to use. For example, the user could create a new soft key object by dragging a button tool 1052 to the display area 721 of the representation 726 of the programmable remote control unit 200 . A mouse cursor 1260 is shown in FIG. 12 dragging a graphic of a button 1265 for the soft key object.
  • the remote control development software preferably provides other object-oriented editing controls as known in the art. These controls permit the user to modify the shape and location of soft keys, edit the commands associated with soft keys and programmable keys, change text labels, and otherwise edit the appearance of the screen object.
  • the soft key objects and programmable key objects preferably may include more than one command.
  • Tagnames may be dragged from the left pane 710 and dropped onto representations of the desired object in the right pane 720 .
  • the remote control development software displays the commands associated with that representation.
  • an edit window is preferably displayed so that the order of tagnames may be rearranged and sequence controls, such as if-else and for-next structures, may be inserted.
  • a user may assign commands to a screen object directly, so that when the screen object is selected from the programmable remote control unit 200 , the commands assigned to the screen object directly are automatically issued by the programmable remote control unit 200 .
  • FIG. 11 there is shown a screen shot wherein of an exemplary custom screen object.
  • This screen object is entitled “Dad” 1166 and was created for the father of a household.
  • the title 1166 is shown both in the left pane 710 and in the right pane 720 as 1111 .
  • the Dad screen object has two soft key objects and corresponding soft keys 1161 , 1162 .
  • the Dad screen object also has four programmable key objects in the manner previously described whose tagnames 1114 are shown in the left pane 710 . Below the title 1166 , there are no tagnames. This is because all of the commands of the Dad screen object are drawn from other screen objects.
  • the soft key object 1161 has been programmed with a series of commands for turning on the TV and cable box, then tuning the TV to receive from the cable box, then tuning the cable box to Dad's favorite cable channel, ESPN.
  • the soft key object 1162 has been programmed with a series of commands for turning on the stereo receiver, then tuning the stereo receiver to Dad's favorite radio station, KTWY.
  • the first step in this process is for the user to insert the programmable remote control unit 200 into the docking station 130 , as shown in FIG. 8 .
  • software in the programmable remote control unit 200 and general purpose computer 100 logically connect the devices and test the connection.
  • the user uses the general purpose computer 100 to select the screen objects stored in the database to be downloaded, and the user activates a download command from the general purpose computer 100 .
  • the user selects a Download command 741 from a Connect menu 740 on the menu bar 310 .
  • the Connect menu 740 preferably also includes commands for testing the connection between the general purpose computer 100 and the programmable remote control unit 200 , and for checking on the status of the connection.
  • Screen objects preferably may be downloaded individually or in groups.
  • the programmable remote control unit 200 may be removed from the docking station 130 and is ready for use to control the multimedia processing unit 300 .
  • the general purpose computer 100 may be used to create and edit screen objects apart from any remote control units and without having the programmable remote control unit 200 in the docking station 130 .
  • the programmable remote control unit 200 is ready for use. When powered on, the programmable remote control 200 unit preferably automatically loads one of the stored screen objects. The user may scroll through loaded screen objects using the fixed keys 224 b, 224 c. The programmable remote control unit 200 generates displays of soft keys and other features of the screen object on the display 221 , and generates the commands of the soft key objects and programmable key objects when the corresponding soft keys or programmable keys are pressed.

Abstract

A portable hand-held remote control unit device is disclosed which may be utilized for selecting designated functions in a plurality of remotely controllable multimedia processing units. Multiple user selectable screen objects may be created from a general purpose computer and transferred to the remote control unit. The screen objects include screen layout and descriptions of soft keys to be displayed on a graphic display of the remote control unit, as well as commands associated with the screen object, the soft keys and programmable keys on the remote control unit. The user may select any of the loaded screen objects for controlling various multimedia processing units, for performing complex functions of commands to various multimedia processing units.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 60/051,848 filed Jul. 7, 1997, now expired, entitled “Computer Programmable Remote Control System,” which is incorporated herein by reference.
NOTICE OF COPYRIGHTS AND TRADE DRESS
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. This patent document may show and/or describe matter which is or may become trade dress of the owner. The copyright and trade dress owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright and trade dress rights whatsoever.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to remote control devices for electronics products.
2. Description of Related Art
The modern home may have a wide array of consumer electronics devices. These may include nearly any type of audio or video entertainment product, such as televisions, video cassette recorders, audio cassette recorders, audio/video receivers and preamps, cable boxes, laser disc players and camcorders.
Consumer electronics devices typically utilize hand-held remote control units to permit a user to rapidly and efficiently control selected functions from a distance. Early mechanical/ultrasonic remote control units were fairly limited and generally permitted only one or two functions to be controlled. For example, television remote control units utilizing mechanical/ultrasonic technology generally permitted a user to turn the power on to the television and to cycle through each channel in a preselected rotation. For some time, remote control units have been available which transmit control signals by way of infrared or radio frequency transmitters. These wireless remote control units have freed the user to move about a room or even about their home and to control the device from wherever it is most convenient to the user.
Consumer electronics devices and systems have become very complex and loaded with functionality. Particularly, with the expanding use of microprocessor-based devices and the ability to interconnect audio systems, video systems, security system, home automation systems and personal computers, the possible ways to interconnect and operate device has grown significantly. Remote control units have correspondingly become highly complex. A number of manufacturers sell remote control units which include as many as one hundred small buttons or keys, resulting in a severe decrease in the usability of these devices. This is remarkable, considering the huge number of consumers who cannot set the time on their VCR. Furthermore, the number and complexity of remote control units typically found in a home have reached a level where the convenience provided by the remote control units is often overcome by the difficulty in locating and operating them.
Thus, several problems have arisen. First, there is the problem of how to allow the user to control a huge number of features from a remote control unit. Second, there is the problem of how to avoid overwhelming the user with controls on a remote control unit which the user will never use. Third, there is the problem of users having to deal with multiple remote control units with overlapping operability. Fourth, there is the problem of the considerable amount of space which an aggregation of remote control units often occupy.
One solution which has found some acceptance in the market is the universal remote control unit. A universal remote control unit consolidates multiple remote control units and, it is hoped, improves their usability. Typical universal remote control units can learn the commands of other Remote control units, either through pre-programmed lists of consumer electronics devices or by teaching the universal remote control unit each command which the user might wish to have available on the universal Remote control unit. One of the problems with universal remote control units has been that their generic keypads are often cumbersome and not particularly intuitive in layout or labeling. Furthermore, the designers of these devices must compromise between having separate buttons for each possible command and small button sizes.
With the advent of home theater systems, the complexity of controls has advanced to an even greater plateau. Now, the remote must not only control the TV, the VCR, the cable box and the stereo, it must be able to control the surround sound quality, turn on multiple devices at the same time, and issue a series of commands to multiple devices to accomplish a single task. Naturally, the consumer electronics industry has developed products to serve this new need in the marketplace. These more advanced universal remote control units are exemplified by the Home Producer 8 from Universal Electronics, Inc. (Tustin, Calif.), the RC 2000 from Marantz (Roselle, Ill.), the RR990 from Rotel (North Reading, Mass.), and the RC-R0905 from Kenwood.
There has also been an increasing desire to integrate consumer electronics with security systems and to provide some control from a remote control unit of the home environment. For example, it is desirable that, when a user wishes to watch a cable program, not only is the TV set powered on and set to receive the video input, the A/V receiver is powered on and set to play the cable program at a reasonable loudness, the cable decoder is powered on and set to a favorite channel, but also the room's lighting is dimmed, the air conditioner is set to a comfortable level and the home security system is armed against perimeter violations. Some products (not necessarily Remote control units) are available which can be programmed to do these kinds of things. These products include the HAS-1350 Home Vision Intelligent Home Controller available from Home Automation Systems, Inc. (Irvine, Calif.), the ISR TronArch Intelligent Home Automation System, the BrightTouch from Crestron, the TheaterLink from Vantage, and the Landmark System from PHAST, the IntelliControl from Niles, and the 700T from Lexicon.
One of the common problems with universal remote control units, and a problem which is especially severe with the most flexible and programmable remote control units, is programming. A universal remote control unit simply cannot be factory-programmed with every possible configuration. The user is left with poor choices—do without some functions, spend many hours programming and reprogramming their programmable remote control unit, suffer through a remote control unit which is not programmed in a memorable manner, or paying a professional to program the remote control unit. Despite the availability of programmable remote control units, the best remote control unit for a multimedia processing unit is usually the one which is provided with a multimedia processing unit. It is very difficult to overcome this one-to-one correspondence of remote control units and multimedia processing units. These problems have resulted in the marketplace largely rejecting the more advanced universal remote control units.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The previously described problems are solved in a remote control unit which has the ability to control nearly any device controllable from a remote, yet is easily programmed. These benefits are obtained from a remote control unit which is programmable from a PC using an advanced, object-oriented user interface. The remote control unit's programming is easily modified from the PC. The user may quickly and easily build a full range of capabilities into the remote control unit, including the issuance of multiple commands with a single key press. Furthermore, because the remote control unit has a large memory, the user may focus on functionality, rather than the efficiency or compactness of the programs.
The present invention, together with additional features and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further objects of this invention, together with additional features contributing thereto and advantages accruing therefrom, will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention which is shown in the accompanying drawings with like reference numerals indicating corresponding parts throughout and which is to be read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a PC, a programmable remote control in accordance with the invention and multimedia processing units.
FIG. 2A is a frontal plan view of a prior art programmed remote control unit.
FIG. 2B is a frontal plan view of a programmable remote control unit in accordance with the invention.
FIG. 3 is a screen shot of a selection screen of a remote control development program in accordance with the invention.
FIG. 4 is a screen shot of name entry screen of a remote control development program in accordance with the invention.
FIG. 5 is a screen shot of a command learning screen of a remote control development program in accordance with the invention.
FIG. 6 is a screen shot of another command learning screen of a remote control development program in accordance with the invention.
FIG. 7 is a screen shot of a screen object layout screen of a remote control development program in accordance with the invention.
FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of a docked programmable remote control unit in accordance with the invention.
FIG. 9 is a screen shot of a screen object layout screen of a remote control development program having commands for multiple multimedia processing units in accordance with the invention.
FIG. 10 is a screen shot of a custom screen object creation screen of a remote control development program in accordance with the invention.
FIG. 11 is a screen shot of another custom screen object creation screen of a remote control development program in accordance with the invention.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a method of programming a programmable remote control unit in accordance with the invention.
These and additional embodiments of the invention may now be better understood by turning to the following detailed description wherein an illustrated embodiment is described.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Throughout this description, the preferred embodiment and examples shown should be considered as exemplars, rather than limitations on the apparatus and methods of the present invention.
The Components of the System
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a block diagram of a general purpose computer 100, a programmable remote control unit 200, a docking station 130 and a multimedia processing unit 300. By “multimedia processing unit” it is meant a device which provides some functionality which an end user can recognize and appreciate. Most TVs, VCRs, stereo receivers, CD players, laser disk players and cable decoders are self-contained multimedia processing units. Many security systems and home automation systems are dispersed multimedia processing units. By “remote control unit” it is meant a hand-held, portable device which can be used by a user to issue commands to a multimedia processing unit which the multimedia processing unit will recognize and result in a predetermined change of performance by the multimedia processing unit. By “programmed remote control unit” it is meant a remote control unit which has a fixed set of commands which it can issue and which commands are permanently assigned to specific keys on the remote control unit. Most multimedia processing units are provided with a programmed remote control unit which is programmed with all of the commands the multimedia processing unit's engineers believed desirable. By “programmable remote control unit” it is meant a remote control unit which can be programmed with the commands needed to control an multimedia processing unit. By “command” it is meant a message which can be recognized by a multimedia processing unit as an instruction to change a particular setting of the multimedia processing unit.
The multimedia processing unit 300 includes a receiver 310 through which the multimedia processing unit may receive commands.
The general purpose computer 100 includes a processor 155 which preferably from Intel Corporation (San Jose, Calif.) and runs a Microsoft Corporation (Redmond, Wash.) Windows operating system. In conjunction with the processor 155, the general purpose computer 100 has a short term memory 150 (preferably RAM) and a long term memory 180 (preferably a hard disk) as known in the art. The general purpose computer 100 further includes a graphics display 105, a user input device preferably comprising a keyboard 120a and mouse 120b, an IO interface 115, a power supply 125 and a bus 110 as known in the art. From the user's perspective, the docking station 130 once connected to the general purpose computer 100 is a component of the general purpose computer 100.
The programmable remote control unit 200 includes a processor 260 and preferably runs Microsoft Corporation's (Redmond, Wash.) Windows CE operating system. In conjunction with the processor 260, the programmable remote control unit 200 has a short term memory 270 and a long term memory 250 as known in the art. The processor 260 is preferably a microprocessor, but may be an ASIC, logic processor or other type of processor which can operate in accordance with a program. The long term memory 250 is preferably comprised of EEPROM, but may also be a magnetic disk drive, an optical disk drive, and MO disk drive, NVRAM, SRAM, chemical storage device or other type of rewritable, non-volatile memory. The short term memory 270 is preferably a RAM. The programmable remote control unit 200 further includes a bus 210, an I/O processor 230, a power management unit 280 and a battery 285, all as known in the art.
For interfacing with a user, the programmable remote control unit 200 further includes a panel 220. The panel 220 comprises various user input devices 222, 223, 224 and a graphic display 221. The graphic display 221 may be an LCD panel, an LED panel, a holographic projection, a cathode ray tube or other compact display device which can display graphics. The user input devices preferably include fixed keys 224, programmable keys 223 and a touch screen overlay 222.
The programmable keys 223 and fixed keys 224 may be comprised of buttons—mechanical, electromechanical or solid state. As shown in FIG. 2B, there are preferably four programmable keys 223a, 223b, 223c, 223d disposed in a cross-like shape. Though programmable, the programmable keys 223 preferably are programmed with consistent functions, namely, that key 223a is for increasing speaker volume, key 223b is for changing channels in an upward direction, key 223c is for decreasing speaker volume, and key 223d is for changing channels in a downward direction. As explained further below, programs for controlling multimedia processing units preferably include these assignments.
The fixed keys 224 have functions which cannot be changed. The fixed keys 224 preferably include a key 224a for toggling a back light on the display 221, keys 224b, 224c for scrolling to the next and previous screen, and a power key 224d.
The touch screen overlay 222, in conjunction with the graphic display 221, allows the programmable remote control unit 200 to be programmed with soft keys.
For interfacing with the multimedia processing unit 300 and the general purpose computer 100, the programmable remote control unit 200 includes a communications transceiver 235. The communications transceiver 235 may be electro mechanical, but is preferably wireless and conforms to the IrDA specification and consumer IR standards, and also includes an infrared transceiver and an RF transceiver which permit the programmable remote control unit 200 to control a wide range of multimedia processing units. Alternatively, the functions of communicating with the general purpose computer 100 and the multimedia precessing unit may be embodied as separate units.
The docking station 130 preferably comprises a cup-like unit into which the programmable remote control unit 200 may be inserted and which has a shape adapted to receive and firmly hold the programmable remote control unit 200. FIG. 8 shows the programmable remote control unit 200 inserted into the docking station 130. When the programmable remote control unit 200 is inserted into the docking station 130, the programmable remote control unit's communications transceiver 235 is in registration with a corresponding communications transceiver 135 in the docking station 130. The docking station 130 is coupleable to the I/O interface 115 of the general purpose computer 100, preferably in conformance with an interface standard which is common, bidirectional and inexpensive, such as serial or USB.
As an alternative to the docking station 350, the communications transceiver 235 of the programmable remote control unit 200 may include a USB port or similar means which can be connected directly to a USB port in the general purpose computer 100.
The communications transceiver 135 of the docking station preferably includes an infrared receiver and an RF receiver which permit the docking station 130 to recognize the commands which are recognized by a wide range of multimedia processing units.
The Method of the Invention
Methods of the invention includes a learning phase, a development phase, a transfer phase and a use phase. The description of these phases is accompanied by an example of how the commands issued from a prior art programmed remote control unit 200A shown in FIG. 2A maybe programmed and used by the programmable remote control unit 200 of FIG. 2B.
The exemplary programmed remote control unit 200A is of a common variety for controlling a television, which is the multimedia processing unit of the example. Similar programmed remote control units are provided with other multimedia processing units, such as cable boxes. The programmed remote control unit 200A includes a number of keys, each resulting in a designated command as shown in Table I below. Typical TVs generate an appropriate display when a key is pressed and the TV recognizes the command. Other multimedia processing units also have similar capabilities, though this is not described further herein.
TABLE I
Label Reference Command
mute 220A toggle the TV's speaker on and off
power 230A toggle power to the TV on and off
enter 275A after one or more numbers keys has been
pressed, cause the TV to recognize the
corresponding entered number
1 201A enter the number 1
2 202A enter the number 2
3 203A enter the number 3
4 204A enter the number 4
5 205A enter the number 5
6 206A enter the number 6
7 207A enter the number 7
8 208A enter the number 8
9 209A enter the number 9
0 210A enter the number 0
ch− 260A change the displayed TV station to the
station next lower in a predefined order
ch+
265A change the displayed TV station to the
station next higher in the predefined
order
display
250A toggle an information display of such
things as currently tuned station, volume,
and the time
vol− 270A decrease the speaker volume by a
predetermined amount
vol+
275A increase the speaker volume by a
predetermined amount
In setting up the system of the invention, the user first connects the docking station 130 to the general purpose computer 100. Preferably, the docking station 130 includes a serial communications cable which may be connected to an open serial port of the I/O interface 115, or a USB cable which may be connected to an open USB port. The user then installs remote control development software on the hard drive 180. The remote control development software preferably detects the docking station 130 and determines if the docking station 130 is working correctly. Next, a configuration wizard prompts the user to insert the programmable remote control unit 200 into the docking station 130 and begin the learning phase.
Learning Phase
Referring now to FIG. 12, a method of programming the programmable remote control unit 200 is described and is accompanied with a description of an exemplary embodiment. The remote control development software preferably uses Active X objects technology.
The remote control development software provides the user with the ability to create, edit, delete and download to the programmable remote control unit 200 one or more “screen objects.” A screen object comprises a screen layout definition, soft key objects and programmable key objects, altogether which provide for a single screen which occupies the display 222 and the commands associated therewith. A “soft key object” comprises a graphic or pointer to a graphic representing a soft key which will be displayed on the display 221, a text label for the graphic, a location on the display 221 for the graphic, and a tagname for command which the programmable remote control unit 200 will issue when the soft key is pressed by the user. A “programmable key object” preferably comprises an identifier of one of the programmable keys 223 and a tagname for a command which the programmable remote control unit 200 will issue when the identified programmable key 223 is pressed by the user.
The remote control development software preferably stores screen objects in a database. The remote control development software preferably is provided with a number of preconfigured screen objects, and during installation of the remote control development software, a database of the preconfigured screen objects is preferably created. Preconfigured screen objects provide a short cut to programming the programmable remote control unit 200, and may be used as templates in the development phase, discussed below. The preconfigured screen objects can come from an image table or dynamically created by software based upon functionality of the remote and its purpose. The database preferably can differentiate preconfigured screen objects from custom screen objects, and deter the user from editing them.
The publisher of the remote control development software preferably makes available new preconfigured screen objects as new multimedia processing units are put on the market to further increase the ease-of-programming of the programmable remote control unit of the invention. The preconfigured screen objects may also be obtained in the aftermarket from third parties, such as the vendors of multimedia processing units.
In the learning phase, the commands for the multimedia processing unit 300 are obtained by the remote control development software and used to prepare a screen object corresponding to the programmed remote control unit 200A of the multimedia processing unit 300. It should be appreciated, however, that the remote control development software can be used to learn commands from multipurpose, universal and programmable remote control units as well as single-purpose programmed remote control units as shown in the example.
In step 1210, the user starts the remote control development software and activates the wizard for learning the commands for a multimedia processing unit. A screen 300 such as that shown in FIG. 3 is preferably displayed on the display 105 of the general purpose computer 100. This screen 300 displays the beginning point of the learning wizard. The screen 300, as well as the other screens described herein, conform to the Windows95 (or later) user interface which is well known in the art. A menu bar 310 shows several commands which a user may select.
The screen 300 includes a prominent dialog 320. The dialog 320 includes descriptive text and a list of multimedia processing unit types 325. The dialog 320 also includes a Cancel button 322 and a Help 323 which will be self-evident to those of skill in the art, as well as a Look Up button 324 and a Learn button 325. A row of radio buttons 321 is provided to permit the user to select the multimedia processing unit type, and there is preferably a free-form field 326 as well. In step 1230, the user selects one of the displayed multimedia processing unit types or enters a free-form name. As shown further below, the multimedia processing unit type selected here, or the name entered in field 326, will be used by the remote control development software as a prefix name for the screen object and for the tagnames for the commands in the screen object.
After the user has selected the multimedia processing unit type, the commands of the multimedia processing unit 300 are learned. If the user clicks on the Look Up button 324 (step 1290), the remote control development software allows the user to select the multimedia programming unit from the database of screen objects (step 1295). Accordingly, the remote control development software displays a list of preconfigured screen objects, sorted or limited according to characteristics such as multimedia processing unit type, manufacturer, and date of manufacture. The user may then select one of the preconfigured screen objects, and learning of the commands of the multimedia processing unit 300 is complete (step 1280).
If the user clicks on the Learn button, the individual keys of the programmed remote control 200A will be learned (steps 1240-1265). In this regard for example, the remote control development software displays a dialog 420 as shown in FIG. 4. The dialog 420 includes the buttons 322, 323 as well as a Back button 424 and a Next button 425.
The user now enters the name of the multimedia processing unit 300 whose commands are to be learned (step 1240). Dialog 420 includes a prompt 425 and a data entry field 435 where the user enters the name of the multimedia processing unit 300. The remote control development software preferably provides a default name for the multimedia processing unit 300 in the field 435. This default name preferably comprises the type of multimedia processing unit selected in step 1210, plus a sequential number for each multimedia processing unit of the type learned. The remote control development software also preferably utilizes the multimedia processing unit type in the prompt 425.
Preferably, remote control development software is intelligent enough to save the user from teaching every key of the programmed remote control unit 200A. In this regard, after the user teaches the remote control development software each new key, the remote control development software attempts to correlate the learned key commands against those in the database, and to select the multimedia processing unit which appears to be that being taught.
In another convenient aspect, the remote control development software preferably includes, for each multimedia processing unit type, a list of command types which that type of multimedia processing unit normally will recognize. For example, all typical TVs recognize commands for power control, volume control, and number keys, and all typical VCRs recognize commands for play, stop, pause, rewind and fast forward. When learning keys of the programmed remote control 200A, the remote control development software preferably asks the user to teach commands of expect command types first, and then, if no match in the database has been found, then non-standard commands.
After the user clicks on the Next button 425, a dialog 520 as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed. From this screen, the remote control development software learns a number of expected command types of the multimedia processing unit. Accordingly, the remote control development software displays a prompt 525 in the dialog 520 for the user to aim the programmed remote control unit 200A that came with the multimedia processing unit 300 at the communications transceiver 135 of the docking station 130, and to press the expected keys on the programmed remote control unit 200A. After the remote control development software recognizes each key press and records the command from the programmed remote control unit 200A (step 1250), the remote control development software displays a next expected key, until all of the expected keys have been learned (step 1255). Preferably, after the remote control development software learns each new expected command, it test the learned commands against those of the screen objects in the database. If a match is found, then the user is given the opportunity to accept the match found by the remote control development software or to continue teaching.
After the user clicks on the Next button 425, a dialog 620 as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed. In this step 1260, the remote control development software learns a non-standard commands of the multimedia processing unit 300. Accordingly, the remote control development software displays a prompt 625 in the dialog 620 for the user to enter the name of the non-standard key in an entry field 626 and to aim the programmed remote control unit 200A at the transceiver 135 of the docking station 130, and to press the named key on the programmed remote control unit 200A. After the remote control development software recognizes each key press and records the command from the programmed remote control unit 200A, the remote control development software displays the same dialog 620 until all of the non-standard keys have been learned (step 1265).
If the remote control development software has identified the user's multimedia processing unit and selected the corresponding preconfigured screen object, the remote control development software preferably shows a representation of the screen object as exemplified by the screen shot of FIG. 7. FIG. 7 shows the menu bar 310 mentioned above, plus a left pane 710 and a right pane 720.
The right pane 720 shows a representation 726 of the programmable remote control unit 200, with a representation 721 of the appearance of the screen object in the programmable remote control unit's display 221, the programmable keys 723 and the fixed keys 724. The representation 721 includes the multimedia processing unit's name 766 as entered by the user in step 1240. The representation 721 also includes soft keys 722 corresponding to the keys 201A-275A of the multimedia processing unit's programmed remote 200A (FIG. 2A). The representation 721 preferably precisely mimics the key sizes and locations of the multimedia processing unit's programmed remote control unit 200A.
The left pane 710 is a display of screen object information. The left pane 710 shows the screen object's name 711, plus a list 712 of tagnames of the commands in the screen object. Those of skill in the art will appreciate the correspondence between the tagnames 712 of commands, the soft keys 722 and commands. For preconfigured screen objects, programmable key objects for controlling speaker volume and channel rotation are preferably also mapped to the programmable keys 723/223 as discussed above. Soft key objects may include these mappings.
The left pane 710 preferably is for displaying information about all available screen objects. This display is preferably hierarchical, and a user may toggle the display of the component objects of a screen object by clicking on a ‘+’ (to display) or ‘−’ (to hide) to the tagnames 712. A scroll bar 715 allows the user to scroll through the list of screen objects and their respective components (if displayed).
The right pane 720 preferably is for displaying all available screen object representations. A scroll bar 725 allows the user to scroll through the screen object representations.
In the case where the user is teaching the remote control development software the commands of a multimedia processing unit for which the remote control development software lacks a preconfigured screen object, the user will need to create the screen object's layout manually. This is performed in the Development Phase. The user may also modify edit screen objects and even create new screen objects by copying layout information, soft key objects and programmable key objects from existing screen objects.
Development Phase
In the development phase, a user may add, edit, delete or reorder screen objects. Each of these functions preferably may be activated by the user from a Tools menu 920 as shown in FIG. 9. There are preferably also short-cut keys or tool bar buttons for accessing this feature in the manner known in the art.
As shown in FIG. 9, the remote control development software is displaying in the left pane 710 not only the screen object information of the TV multimedia processing unit described above, but also screen object information of a cable box multimedia processing unit. Although not shown in FIG. 9, a representation of the cable box's screen object is also available in the right pane 720 and can be displayed using the scroll bar 725.
If a new screen object is to be created, the user selects an Add Screen command 941 from the Tools menu 940. As shown in FIG. 10, the remote control development software then creates a new screen object with the title Custom 1066, and a representation 1026 of the programmable remote control unit 200 in the right pane 720 with only a title 1066.
The remote control development software preferably provides drag and drop tools for the user to create and edit the screen object, and displays a tool box 1050 having a number of object creating and editing tools for the user to use. For example, the user could create a new soft key object by dragging a button tool 1052 to the display area 721 of the representation 726 of the programmable remote control unit 200. A mouse cursor 1260 is shown in FIG. 12 dragging a graphic of a button 1265 for the soft key object. The remote control development software preferably provides other object-oriented editing controls as known in the art. These controls permit the user to modify the shape and location of soft keys, edit the commands associated with soft keys and programmable keys, change text labels, and otherwise edit the appearance of the screen object.
The soft key objects and programmable key objects preferably may include more than one command. Tagnames may be dragged from the left pane 710 and dropped onto representations of the desired object in the right pane 720. Preferably, if the user moves the mouse cursor 1060 over the representation of an object in the right pane 720, the remote control development software displays the commands associated with that representation. By double-clicking on the representation of the object, an edit window is preferably displayed so that the order of tagnames may be rearranged and sequence controls, such as if-else and for-next structures, may be inserted. Preferably, a user may assign commands to a screen object directly, so that when the screen object is selected from the programmable remote control unit 200, the commands assigned to the screen object directly are automatically issued by the programmable remote control unit 200.
Referring now to FIG. 11, there is shown a screen shot wherein of an exemplary custom screen object. This screen object is entitled “Dad” 1166 and was created for the father of a household. The title 1166 is shown both in the left pane 710 and in the right pane 720 as 1111. The Dad screen object has two soft key objects and corresponding soft keys 1161, 1162. The Dad screen object also has four programmable key objects in the manner previously described whose tagnames 1114 are shown in the left pane 710. Below the title 1166, there are no tagnames. This is because all of the commands of the Dad screen object are drawn from other screen objects.
This screen object demonstrates one of the significant benefits of the system and method of the invention. The soft key object 1161 has been programmed with a series of commands for turning on the TV and cable box, then tuning the TV to receive from the cable box, then tuning the cable box to Dad's favorite cable channel, ESPN. The soft key object 1162 has been programmed with a series of commands for turning on the stereo receiver, then tuning the stereo receiver to Dad's favorite radio station, KTWY.
Transfer Phase
After the user is satisfied with his screen objects, he then downloads them from the general purpose computer 100 to the programmable remote control unit 200. The first step in this process is for the user to insert the programmable remote control unit 200 into the docking station 130, as shown in FIG. 8. Once docked, software in the programmable remote control unit 200 and general purpose computer 100 logically connect the devices and test the connection.
Next, the user uses the general purpose computer 100 to select the screen objects stored in the database to be downloaded, and the user activates a download command from the general purpose computer 100. As shown by example in FIG. 7, the user selects a Download command 741 from a Connect menu 740 on the menu bar 310. The Connect menu 740 preferably also includes commands for testing the connection between the general purpose computer 100 and the programmable remote control unit 200, and for checking on the status of the connection. There are preferably also short-cut keys or tool bar buttons for accessing these features in the manner known in the art. Screen objects preferably may be downloaded individually or in groups.
Once the programmable remote control unit 200 is loaded with screen objects, the programmable remote control unit 200 may be removed from the docking station 130 and is ready for use to control the multimedia processing unit 300.
It should be appreciated that the general purpose computer 100 may be used to create and edit screen objects apart from any remote control units and without having the programmable remote control unit 200 in the docking station 130.
Use Phase
Once loaded with screen objects, the programmable remote control unit 200 is ready for use. When powered on, the programmable remote control 200 unit preferably automatically loads one of the stored screen objects. The user may scroll through loaded screen objects using the fixed keys 224b, 224c. The programmable remote control unit 200 generates displays of soft keys and other features of the screen object on the display 221, and generates the commands of the soft key objects and programmable key objects when the corresponding soft keys or programmable keys are pressed.
Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art that a number of changes, modifications, or alterations to the invention as described herein may be made, none of which depart from the spirit of the present invention. All such changes, modifications and alterations should therefore be seen as within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (30)

1. A remote control development program comprising a set of instructions on a computer-readable medium, the instructions configured to cause a general purpose computer to provide a user with the ability to edit a first screen object;
the general purpose computer comprising a processor, an operating system, a short term memory, a long term memory, a graphics display and a user input device,
the screen objects each comprising a screen layout definition and at least one key object which is a soft key object or a programmable key object, the screen object providing for a screen display and commands associated therewith, wherein
each soft key object comprises a representation of a soft key, a text label for the representation, a location for displaying the graphic soft key object, and a tagname for a command which is to be issued when the soft key is pressed,
each programmable key object comprises an identifier of one of plural programmable keys of a programmable remote control unit and a tagname for a command which is to be issued when the identified programmable key is pressed,
each command comprises a message which, when received by a given multimedia processing unit, causes the multimedia processing unit to alter a defined setting of the multimedia processing unit in a predictable manner;
the remote control development program further comprising instructions for causing a computer to facilitate editing of the first screen object by performing the following steps:
(a) displaying a representation of the appearance of the first screen object;
(b) simultaneously displaying information regarding the first screen object and the key objects of the first screen object;
(c) providing objected object oriented tools for creating and editing soft key objects;
(d) providing objected object oriented tools for creating and editing labels;
(e) displaying tagnames for commands which may be assigned to soft key objects in the first screen object, programmable key objects in the first screen object, and directly to the first screen object;
(f) receiving the user's selections of commands to assign to soft key objects in the first screen object, programmable key objects in the first screen object, and directly to the first screen object.
2. The remote control development program embodied on a computer readable medium of claim 1, the remote control development program further comprising instructions for causing the general purpose computer to:
download the first screen object to a programmable remote control unit that is communicatively connected to the general purpose computer.
3. The remote control development program of claim 1, additionally comprising, the instructions further configured to cause a general purpose computer to provide a user with the ability to transfer the first screen object to programmable remote control unit.
4. The remote control development program of claim 3, wherein the instructions further configured to cause a general purpose computer to provide a user with the ability to transfer the first screen object to programmable remote control unit via a docking station that couples to the programmable remote control unit.
5. The remote control development program of claim 3, wherein each soft key comprises a representation of a soft key that will be displayed on the programmable remote control unit.
6. The remote control development program of claim 1, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the general purpose computer to access one or more preconfigured screen objects.
7. The remote control development program of claim 6, wherein the preconfigured screen objects are stored in a database of the general purpose computer.
8. The remote control development program of claim 1, wherein the instructions further cause a computer to facilitate editing of the first screen object by allowing the user to edit the tagnames for commands that are assigned to the soft key objects.
9. A method of editing one or more screen objects for downloading to a programmable remote control unit using a general purpose computer,
the general purpose computer comprising a processor, an operating system, a short term memory, a long term memory, a graphics display and a user input device,
the screen objects each comprising a screen layout definition and at least one key object which is a soft key object or a programmable key object, the screen object providing for a screen display and commands associated therewith, wherein
each soft key object comprises a representation of a soft key, a text label for the representation, a location for displaying the graphic soft key object, and a tagname for a command which is to be issued when the soft key is pressed,
each programmable key object comprises an identifier of one of plural programmable keys of a programmable remote control unit and a tagname for a command which is to be issued when the identified programmable key is pressed,
each command comprises a message which, when received by a given multimedia processing unit, causes the multimedia processing unit to alter a defined setting of the multimedia processing unit in a predictable manner;
the method comprising:
(a) the general purpose computer displaying a representation of the appearance of the first screen object;
(b) the general purpose computer simultaneously displaying information regarding the first screen object and the key objects of the first screen object;
(c) the general purpose computer providing objected object oriented tools for creating and editing soft key objects;
(d) the general purpose computer providing objected oriented orient tools for creating and editing labels;
(e) the general purpose computer displaying tagnames for commands which may be assigned to soft key objects in the first screen object, programmable key objects in the first screen object, and directly to the first screen object;
(f) the general purpose computer receiving the user's selections of commands to assign to soft key objects in the first screen object, programmable key objects in the first screen object, and directly to the first screen object.
10. The method of claim 9, additionally comprising the general purpose computer downloading the screen object to the programmable remote control unit.
11. The method of claim 9, additionally comprising the general purpose computer accessing the first screen object from one or more preconfigured screen objects from a database.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein the general purpose computer downloads the first screen object to the programmable remote control unit via a docking station that communicatively couples to the programmable remote control unit.
13. A remote control development program for use in connection with a general purpose computer comprising a processor, an operating system, a short term memory, a long term memory, a graphics display and a user input device, the remote control development program comprising:
a set of instructions on a computer-readable medium, the instructions configured to cause the general purpose computer to provide a user with the ability to edit a screen object comprising a screen layout definition and at least one key object which is a soft key object, the screen object providing for a screen display and commands associated therewith wherein each soft key object comprises a representation of a soft key, a location for displaying the representation of the soft key, and a tagname for a command which is to be issued when the soft key is activated, the command comprising a message which, when received by a given multimedia processing unit, causes the multimedia processing unit to alter a defined setting of the multimedia processing unit in a predictable manner; and wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the general purpose computer to:
(a) display a representation of the appearance of the screen object;
(b) display information regarding the screen object and the key objects of the screen object;
(c) accept user input via object oriented tools for creating and editing soft key objects;
(d) display tagnames for commands which may be assigned to soft key objects in the screen object; and
(e) accept user selections of commands to assign to soft key objects in the screen object.
14. The remote control development program of claim 13, wherein the at least one key object further comprises a programmable key object, the programmable key object comprising an identifier of one of plural programmable keys of a programmable remote control unit and a tagname for a command which is to be issued when the identified programmable key is activated and wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the general purpose computer to display tagnames for commands which may be assigned to programmable key objects in the screen object and accept user selections of commands to assign to programmable key objects in the screen object.
15. The remote control development program of claim 13, wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the general purpose computer to simultaneously display information regarding the screen object and the key objects of the screen object.
16. The remote control development program of claim 13, wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the general purpose computer to download the screen object to a programmable remote control unit that is communicatively connected to the general purpose computer.
17. The remote control development program of claim 13, wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the general purpose computer to provide a user with the ability to transfer the screen object to a programmable remote control unit.
18. The remote control development program of claim 17, wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the general purpose computer to provide a user with the ability to transfer the screen object to the programmable remote control unit via a docking station that couples to the programmable remote control unit.
19. The remote control development program of claim 17, wherein each soft key comprises a representation of a soft key that will be displayed on the programmable remote control unit.
20. The remote control development program of claim 13, wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the general purpose computer to access one or more preconfigured screen objects.
21. The remote control development program of claim 20, wherein the preconfigured screen objects are stored in a database of the general purpose computer.
22. The remote control development program of claim 13, wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the general purpose computer to facilitate editing of the screen object by allowing the user to edit the tagnames for commands that are assigned to the soft key objects.
23. A method of editing one or more screen objects for downloading to a programmable remote control unit using a general purpose computer, the general purpose computer comprising a processor, an operating system, a short term memory, a long term memory, a graphics display and a user input device, the screen objects each comprising a screen layout definition and at least one key object which is a soft key object, the screen object providing for a screen display and commands associated therewith, wherein each soft key object comprises a representation of a soft key, a location for displaying the representation of the soft key, and a tagname for a command which is to be issued when the soft key is activated, the command comprising a message which, when received by a given multimedia processing unit, causes the multimedia processing unit to alter a defined setting of the multimedia processing unit in a predictable manner, the method comprising:
(a) the general purpose computer displaying a representatoin of the appearance of the screen object;
(b) the general purpose computer displaying information regarding the screen object and the key objects of the screen object;
(c) the general purpose computer receiving user input via object oriented tools for creating and editing soft key objects;
(d) the general purpose computer displaying tagnames for commands which may be assigned to soft key objects in the screen object; and
(e) the general purpose computer receiving user selections of commands to assign to soft key objects in the screen object.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein the at least one key object further comprises a programmable key object, the programmable key object comprising an identifier of one of plural programmable keys of the programmable remote control unit and a tagname for a command which is to be issued when the identified programmable key is activated and wherein the method additionally comprises the general purpose computer displaying tagnames for commands which may be assigned to programmable key objects in the screen object and the general purpose computer receiving user selections of commands to assign to programmable key objects in the screen object.
25. The method of claim 23, additionally comprising the general purpose computer simultaneously displaying information regarding the screen object and the key objects of the screen object.
26. The method of claim 23, additionally comprising the general purpose computer downloading the screen object to the programmable remote control unit.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein the general purpose computer downloads the screen object to the programmable remote control unit via a docking station that communicatively couples to the programmable remote control unit.
28. The method of claim 27, additionally comprising the general purpose computer accepting user input via object oriented tools for creating and editing a label to be displayed with the screen object.
29. The method of claim 28, wherein the label is associated with a soft key object of the screen object.
30. The method of claim 23, additionally comprising the general purpose computer accessing the screen object from one or more preconfigured screen objects from a database.
US10/403,454 1997-07-07 2003-03-31 Computer programmable remote control Expired - Lifetime USRE39059E1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10/403,454 USRE39059E1 (en) 1997-07-07 2003-03-31 Computer programmable remote control

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US5184897P 1997-07-07 1997-07-07
US09/111,547 US6211870B1 (en) 1997-07-07 1998-07-07 Computer programmable remote control
US10/403,454 USRE39059E1 (en) 1997-07-07 2003-03-31 Computer programmable remote control

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US09/111,547 Reissue US6211870B1 (en) 1997-07-07 1998-07-07 Computer programmable remote control

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
USRE39059E1 true USRE39059E1 (en) 2006-04-04

Family

ID=26729876

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US09/111,547 Ceased US6211870B1 (en) 1997-07-07 1998-07-07 Computer programmable remote control
US10/403,454 Expired - Lifetime USRE39059E1 (en) 1997-07-07 2003-03-31 Computer programmable remote control

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US09/111,547 Ceased US6211870B1 (en) 1997-07-07 1998-07-07 Computer programmable remote control

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (2) US6211870B1 (en)

Cited By (34)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20020054154A1 (en) * 2000-09-29 2002-05-09 Tetsu Fukuda Electronic device
US20040080543A1 (en) * 2002-10-21 2004-04-29 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Electronic device
US20050052423A1 (en) * 2000-03-15 2005-03-10 Harris Glen Mclean Online remote control configuration system
US20050111823A1 (en) * 1999-06-03 2005-05-26 Opentv, Corp. Networking smart toys
US20060125783A1 (en) * 2004-12-10 2006-06-15 Kuan-Hong Hsieh Display device with detachable housing
US20060132656A1 (en) * 2004-12-21 2006-06-22 Funai Electric Co., Ltd. Picture quality adjusting device and a television set having a picture quality adjusting device
US20060152401A1 (en) * 2005-01-13 2006-07-13 Skipjam Corp. Method for universal remote control configuration
US20070165555A1 (en) * 2004-02-29 2007-07-19 Netac Technology Co., Ltd. Wireless control systems for digital household appliance
US20070171196A1 (en) * 2006-01-23 2007-07-26 Thomas Robert Pfingsten Controller user interface and method
US20070186180A1 (en) * 2005-12-30 2007-08-09 Barrett Morgan Ubiquitous navbar user interface across multiple heterogeneous digital media devices
US20070225828A1 (en) * 2006-03-24 2007-09-27 Universal Electronics Inc. System and method for defining a controlled device command set
US20070233731A1 (en) * 2006-02-22 2007-10-04 Logitech Europe S.A. System and method for configuring media systems
US20080032790A1 (en) * 2006-06-09 2008-02-07 James Zielinski Interactive dvd gaming systems
US20080036642A1 (en) * 2000-03-15 2008-02-14 Logitech Europe S.A. Remote Control Multimedia Content Listing System
US20080235620A1 (en) * 2004-02-02 2008-09-25 Koninklijke Philips Electronic, N.V. Non-Disruptive Activity Switching on Remote Control
US20080281718A1 (en) * 2007-01-08 2008-11-13 Barrett Morgan Household network incorporating secure set-top devices
US20090006960A1 (en) * 2007-06-27 2009-01-01 Arcadyan Technology Corporation Multimedia system and information transmitting method
US20090002217A1 (en) * 2007-06-28 2009-01-01 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Touchpad-enabled remote controller and user interaction methods
US20110063855A1 (en) * 2008-05-30 2011-03-17 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Round illumination device
US20110069011A1 (en) * 2009-09-18 2011-03-24 Yamaha Corporation Mixing console
US20110069025A1 (en) * 2009-09-18 2011-03-24 Yamaha Corporation Mixing console
US8026789B2 (en) 2000-03-15 2011-09-27 Logitech Europe S.A. State-based remote control system
US20120044135A1 (en) * 2010-08-20 2012-02-23 Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. Remote control for electronic reader and remote control method
US8151211B1 (en) * 2008-04-18 2012-04-03 UEI Cayman, Inc. Copying keys to create a custom remote
US8456575B2 (en) * 2011-09-21 2013-06-04 Sony Corporation Onscreen remote control presented by audio video display device such as TV to control source of HDMI content
US8477059B1 (en) * 2007-08-21 2013-07-02 Control4 Corporation Remote control with speed channel changing mode
US8509400B2 (en) 2005-04-20 2013-08-13 Logitech Europe S.A. System and method for adaptive programming of a remote control
US8508401B1 (en) 2010-08-31 2013-08-13 Logitech Europe S.A. Delay fixing for command codes in a remote control system
US8531276B2 (en) 2000-03-15 2013-09-10 Logitech Europe S.A. State-based remote control system
TWI414962B (en) * 2010-08-25 2013-11-11 Hon Hai Prec Ind Co Ltd Remote controller of electronic reading device and remote control method
US8918544B2 (en) 2011-03-31 2014-12-23 Logitech Europe S.A. Apparatus and method for configuration and operation of a remote-control system
US9087448B2 (en) 2010-06-04 2015-07-21 Home Control Singapore Pte. Ltd. Programming a universal remote control
US9239837B2 (en) 2011-04-29 2016-01-19 Logitech Europe S.A. Remote control system for connected devices
US20160323626A1 (en) * 2012-03-29 2016-11-03 Lg Electronics Inc. Multimedia device connected to at least one electronic device and controlling method thereof

Families Citing this family (133)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6691150B1 (en) * 1996-12-26 2004-02-10 Hitachi, Ltd. Information device, information device system control method, and information device system
US5973734A (en) 1997-07-09 1999-10-26 Flashpoint Technology, Inc. Method and apparatus for correcting aspect ratio in a camera graphical user interface
US6223348B1 (en) * 1997-09-03 2001-04-24 Universal Electronics Inc. Universal remote control system
US20040090423A1 (en) * 1998-02-27 2004-05-13 Logitech Europe S.A. Remote controlled video display GUI using 2-directional pointing
US20020140571A1 (en) * 2001-01-29 2002-10-03 Hayes Patrick H. System and method for using a hand held device to display product information
US7218243B2 (en) * 1998-07-23 2007-05-15 Universal Electronics Inc. System and method for automatically setting up a universal remote control
US8098140B1 (en) * 2000-07-13 2012-01-17 Universal Electronics Inc. Customizable and upgradable devices and methods related thereto
US7831930B2 (en) * 2001-11-20 2010-11-09 Universal Electronics Inc. System and method for displaying a user interface for a remote control application
US6597374B1 (en) * 1998-11-12 2003-07-22 Microsoft Corporation Activity based remote control unit
US6937972B1 (en) * 1999-03-17 2005-08-30 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Fully functional remote control editor and emulator
US6317141B1 (en) * 1998-12-31 2001-11-13 Flashpoint Technology, Inc. Method and apparatus for editing heterogeneous media objects in a digital imaging device
US7032184B1 (en) * 1999-06-15 2006-04-18 Samsung Electronics, Co., Ltd. Video display apparatus having hotkey functions and a method therefor
US6690392B1 (en) * 1999-07-15 2004-02-10 Gateway, Inc. Method system software and signal for automatic generation of macro commands
US7137073B2 (en) 1999-12-18 2006-11-14 Lg Electronics Inc. Method for managing menu function in mobile station
US6714220B2 (en) * 2000-01-19 2004-03-30 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Interactive input with limit-value monitoring and on-line help for a palmtop device
JP4846890B2 (en) * 2000-01-20 2011-12-28 ソニー株式会社 Terminal control device
US6609038B1 (en) 2000-09-11 2003-08-19 Milacron Inc. Multi-media enhanced program controlled machine
US6665741B1 (en) * 2000-10-17 2003-12-16 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Portable computer with removable I/O device
US6792319B1 (en) 2000-10-19 2004-09-14 Destiny Networks, Inc. Home automation system and method
US6912429B1 (en) 2000-10-19 2005-06-28 Destiny Networks, Inc. Home automation system and method
US6756998B1 (en) 2000-10-19 2004-06-29 Destiny Networks, Inc. User interface and method for home automation system
US6909921B1 (en) 2000-10-19 2005-06-21 Destiny Networks, Inc. Occupancy sensor and method for home automation system
JP4434467B2 (en) * 2000-11-01 2010-03-17 キヤノン株式会社 User interface control device
US7191024B2 (en) * 2000-11-02 2007-03-13 Yamaha Coproration Remote control method and apparatus, remote controller, and apparatus and system based on such remote control
EP1205843A3 (en) * 2000-11-13 2004-10-20 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha User interfaces
US6640144B1 (en) * 2000-11-20 2003-10-28 Universal Electronics Inc. System and method for creating a controlling device
US6943845B2 (en) * 2000-12-15 2005-09-13 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Apparatus and method for data processing, and storage medium
US7127678B2 (en) * 2000-12-21 2006-10-24 Microsoft Corporation System and method to specify device specific user interface information in the firmware of a USB device
KR20020050490A (en) * 2000-12-21 2002-06-27 구자홍 Union remote controller information providing system and using method of the same
US6832273B2 (en) 2000-12-21 2004-12-14 Microsoft Corporation System and method to specify extended configuration descriptor information in USB devices
US20020151327A1 (en) * 2000-12-22 2002-10-17 David Levitt Program selector and guide system and method
US7877588B2 (en) * 2001-01-05 2011-01-25 Harman International Industries, Incorporated System for transmitting control commands to electronic devices
US6938101B2 (en) * 2001-01-29 2005-08-30 Universal Electronics Inc. Hand held device having a browser application
US7093003B2 (en) * 2001-01-29 2006-08-15 Universal Electronics Inc. System and method for upgrading the remote control functionality of a device
US8909739B2 (en) * 2001-01-29 2014-12-09 Universal Electronics Inc. System and method for upgrading the remote control functionality of a device
US6897880B2 (en) * 2001-02-22 2005-05-24 Sony Corporation User interface for generating parameter values in media presentations based on selected presentation instances
JP4136330B2 (en) * 2001-05-31 2008-08-20 株式会社Kddi研究所 Content viewing system and content viewing method
US7246235B2 (en) * 2001-06-28 2007-07-17 Intel Corporation Time varying presentation of items based on a key hash
US6885362B2 (en) * 2001-07-12 2005-04-26 Nokia Corporation System and method for accessing ubiquitous resources in an intelligent environment
US9264755B2 (en) * 2001-07-13 2016-02-16 Universal Electronics Inc. System and method for presenting program guide information in an electronic portable device
US8863184B2 (en) * 2001-07-13 2014-10-14 Universal Electronics Inc. System and method for presenting program guide information in an electronic portable device
CA2357160A1 (en) * 2001-09-10 2003-03-10 Ibm Canada Limited-Ibm Canada Limitee Wizard user interface providing interim system product generation and reversion during wizard traversal
DE10158551B4 (en) * 2001-11-29 2005-11-03 Reichensperger, Günter Remote control for a videoconferencing system and method for assembling the remote control
DE10161923A1 (en) * 2001-12-17 2003-07-17 Siemens Ag Method for operating an electronic device
US7224903B2 (en) 2001-12-28 2007-05-29 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N. V. Universal remote control unit with automatic appliance identification and programming
US20030174169A1 (en) * 2002-01-31 2003-09-18 Tiwari Rajesh K. Porting screens designed for a higher resolution HMI to a lower resolution HMI
US6989763B2 (en) * 2002-02-15 2006-01-24 Wall Justin D Web-based universal remote control
KR20040111427A (en) 2002-03-29 2004-12-31 코닌클리케 필립스 일렉트로닉스 엔.브이. Programmable remote control and method for programming a programmable remote control, a readable memory and a program
US7653212B2 (en) 2006-05-19 2010-01-26 Universal Electronics Inc. System and method for using image data in connection with configuring a universal controlling device
US7234115B1 (en) 2002-09-26 2007-06-19 Home Director, Inc. Home entertainment system and method
KR100493879B1 (en) * 2002-10-04 2005-06-10 삼성전자주식회사 Method of controlling universal remote controller
US20040091234A1 (en) * 2002-11-07 2004-05-13 Delorme Alexandre P.V. System and method of facilitating appliance behavior modification
US20060123428A1 (en) * 2003-05-15 2006-06-08 Nantasket Software, Inc. Network management system permitting remote management of systems by users with limited skills
US7747596B2 (en) * 2005-06-17 2010-06-29 Fotonation Vision Ltd. Server device, user interface appliance, and media processing network
US7685341B2 (en) * 2005-05-06 2010-03-23 Fotonation Vision Limited Remote control apparatus for consumer electronic appliances
US7506057B2 (en) * 2005-06-17 2009-03-17 Fotonation Vision Limited Method for establishing a paired connection between media devices
US7792970B2 (en) 2005-06-17 2010-09-07 Fotonation Vision Limited Method for establishing a paired connection between media devices
US6967565B2 (en) * 2003-06-27 2005-11-22 Hx Lifespace, Inc. Building automation system
US7581182B1 (en) * 2003-07-18 2009-08-25 Nvidia Corporation Apparatus, method, and 3D graphical user interface for media centers
WO2005033880A2 (en) * 2003-09-28 2005-04-14 Nbor Corporation Method and apparatus for performing multimedia operations
US7671758B1 (en) 2003-10-02 2010-03-02 Tivo Inc. Remote control programming system
KR101000923B1 (en) * 2004-01-08 2010-12-13 삼성전자주식회사 Apparatus for setting macro of remote control and method thereof
PL1578016T3 (en) * 2004-03-15 2007-05-31 Ruwido Austria Ges M B H Programmable remote control, in particular infrared remote control and programming device for programming the remote control
CN1985511A (en) * 2004-07-13 2007-06-20 皇家飞利浦电子股份有限公司 Controllable system having functions that can be activated by control commands
US20110093799A1 (en) * 2004-09-08 2011-04-21 Universal Electronics Inc. System and method for configuration of controlling device functionality
US7941786B2 (en) * 2004-09-08 2011-05-10 Universal Electronics Inc. Configurable controlling device and associated configuration distribution system and method
US11687217B2 (en) 2004-09-08 2023-06-27 Universal Electronics Inc. System and method for flexible configuration of a controlling device
US9632665B2 (en) 2004-09-08 2017-04-25 Universal Electronics Inc. System and method for flexible configuration of a controlling device
US7266777B2 (en) * 2004-09-08 2007-09-04 Universal Electronics Inc. Configurable controlling device having an associated editing program
US7743012B2 (en) 2004-09-08 2010-06-22 Universal Electronics Inc. Configurable controlling device and associated configuration upload and download system and method
US7461350B2 (en) * 2004-12-30 2008-12-02 Nokia Corporation Application specific key buttons in a portable device
CN100422934C (en) * 2005-01-25 2008-10-01 英特维数位科技股份有限公司 Frame of shared disk cut zone in operating system and method thereof
GB2422700A (en) * 2005-01-27 2006-08-02 Inventec Multimedia & Telecom Digitised wireless remote control of personal video recorder
EP1691278B1 (en) * 2005-02-11 2008-05-07 Sap Ag Method and computer system for editing documents
US7694048B2 (en) * 2005-05-06 2010-04-06 Fotonation Vision Limited Remote control apparatus for printer appliances
DE602006012136D1 (en) * 2005-05-25 2010-03-25 Canon Kk Sheet feeding apparatus and image forming apparatus having such therein
US11769398B2 (en) 2005-09-08 2023-09-26 Universal Electronics Inc. System and method for widget-assisted setup of a universal remote control
US9805591B2 (en) 2005-09-08 2017-10-31 Universal Electronics Inc. System and method for widget-assisted setup of a universal remote control
US7907222B2 (en) * 2005-09-08 2011-03-15 Universal Electronics Inc. System and method for simplified setup of a universal remote control
US9024733B2 (en) * 2005-11-30 2015-05-05 Koninklijke Philips N.V. Programming of a universal remote control device
US11812111B2 (en) 2005-12-20 2023-11-07 Universal Electronics Inc. System and method for presenting program guide information in an electronic portable device
US20070180074A1 (en) * 2006-01-31 2007-08-02 Lathrop Frederick L Logic in a system that enables and disables support for a remote control based on whether an external device is coupled to the system
CN101496387B (en) 2006-03-06 2012-09-05 思科技术公司 System and method for access authentication in a mobile wireless network
US8510666B2 (en) * 2006-03-14 2013-08-13 Siemens Enterprise Communications Gmbh & Co. Kg Systems for development and/or use of telephone user interface
US20080122675A1 (en) * 2006-06-27 2008-05-29 John Bilodeau Universal remote control programming and operations platform
US20080005679A1 (en) * 2006-06-28 2008-01-03 Microsoft Corporation Context specific user interface
US20090115915A1 (en) * 2006-08-09 2009-05-07 Fotonation Vision Limited Camera Based Feedback Loop Calibration of a Projection Device
US9224145B1 (en) 2006-08-30 2015-12-29 Qurio Holdings, Inc. Venue based digital rights using capture device with digital watermarking capability
US8864580B2 (en) * 2006-08-31 2014-10-21 Wms Gaming Inc. Remote input device for a wagering game
US8718714B2 (en) * 2006-10-25 2014-05-06 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Settings system and method for mobile device
US8230466B2 (en) 2006-11-16 2012-07-24 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Home automation system and method including remote media access
US8896426B1 (en) * 2007-02-09 2014-11-25 Uei Cayman Inc. Graphical user interface for programming universal remote control devices
US20080224915A1 (en) * 2007-03-13 2008-09-18 Sony Corporation And Sony Electronics Inc. System and method for effectively implementing a universal remote control device
US8254352B2 (en) * 2007-06-28 2012-08-28 Universal Electronics Inc. System and method for configuration of network-capable appliances
US9418538B2 (en) * 2007-08-14 2016-08-16 Jeffrey D. Antos Self-contained, pocket-sized presentation apparatus
US8627218B2 (en) * 2007-08-24 2014-01-07 Creative Technology Ltd Host implemented method for customising a secondary device
US8797377B2 (en) 2008-02-14 2014-08-05 Cisco Technology, Inc. Method and system for videoconference configuration
US20090212939A1 (en) * 2008-02-21 2009-08-27 Richmond Robert C Dockable wireless remote control
KR20100127252A (en) * 2008-04-01 2010-12-03 교세라 가부시키가이샤 User interface generation device
WO2009123030A1 (en) 2008-04-02 2009-10-08 京セラ株式会社 User interface generation device
US8390667B2 (en) 2008-04-15 2013-03-05 Cisco Technology, Inc. Pop-up PIP for people not in picture
US9870123B1 (en) 2008-04-18 2018-01-16 Universal Electronics Inc. Selecting a picture of a device to identify an associated codeset
US8094875B1 (en) 2008-04-18 2012-01-10 Uei Cayman Inc. Performing optical recognition on a picture of a remote to identify an associated codeset
US9294705B2 (en) 2008-06-27 2016-03-22 Universal Electronics Inc. System and method for ubiquitous appliance control
US8805110B2 (en) 2008-08-19 2014-08-12 Digimarc Corporation Methods and systems for content processing
EP2159772A1 (en) * 2008-08-28 2010-03-03 Thomson Licensing SA Environment friendly remote control
US8929877B2 (en) 2008-09-12 2015-01-06 Digimarc Corporation Methods and systems for content processing
JP2010109446A (en) * 2008-10-28 2010-05-13 Sony Corp Controller, system and method for controlling electronic equipment
US9082297B2 (en) 2009-08-11 2015-07-14 Cisco Technology, Inc. System and method for verifying parameters in an audiovisual environment
US8339416B2 (en) * 2009-09-16 2012-12-25 Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Image construction apparatus and computer-readable media
JP4755733B2 (en) * 2009-10-14 2011-08-24 パイオニア株式会社 Sheet-type remote control device, setting method, setting program, and storage medium
US20130239905A1 (en) * 2009-11-03 2013-09-19 Dt Systems, Inc. Hand controller and smart phone system for electronic trainer
TW201124906A (en) * 2010-01-14 2011-07-16 Amtran Technology Co Ltd Interactive system
CN102131066A (en) * 2010-01-14 2011-07-20 瑞轩科技股份有限公司 Interactive system
FR2956757B1 (en) * 2010-02-25 2012-09-21 Somfy Sas ASSIGNING SCENARIOS TO CONTROL BUTTONS.
US20110238731A1 (en) * 2010-03-23 2011-09-29 Sony Corporation Method to provide an unlimited number of customized user interfaces
US20110296313A1 (en) * 2010-05-25 2011-12-01 Sony Corporation Translating input from devices to appropriate rui commands
US8896655B2 (en) 2010-08-31 2014-11-25 Cisco Technology, Inc. System and method for providing depth adaptive video conferencing
US8902244B2 (en) 2010-11-15 2014-12-02 Cisco Technology, Inc. System and method for providing enhanced graphics in a video environment
US9338394B2 (en) 2010-11-15 2016-05-10 Cisco Technology, Inc. System and method for providing enhanced audio in a video environment
US8542264B2 (en) 2010-11-18 2013-09-24 Cisco Technology, Inc. System and method for managing optics in a video environment
US8723914B2 (en) 2010-11-19 2014-05-13 Cisco Technology, Inc. System and method for providing enhanced video processing in a network environment
US9111138B2 (en) 2010-11-30 2015-08-18 Cisco Technology, Inc. System and method for gesture interface control
USD682293S1 (en) * 2010-12-16 2013-05-14 Cisco Technology, Inc. Display screen with graphical user interface
USD682854S1 (en) 2010-12-16 2013-05-21 Cisco Technology, Inc. Display screen for graphical user interface
CN104123124A (en) * 2013-04-26 2014-10-29 鸿富锦精密工业(深圳)有限公司 Burning control device and method
US20160092095A1 (en) * 2013-05-21 2016-03-31 Fairlight.Au Pty Ltd User interface for controlling software applications
CN103942946B (en) * 2013-12-31 2017-10-13 海尔集团公司 Cloud Server for home wiring control
US9830808B2 (en) * 2014-09-12 2017-11-28 Logitech Europe S.A. Controllers with adaptable interfaces
CN105068440A (en) * 2015-08-27 2015-11-18 广东美的暖通设备有限公司 Method and apparatus for customizing button function
US20170070066A1 (en) * 2015-09-04 2017-03-09 Chris Ng Remote Control Assembly
KR101992706B1 (en) * 2016-11-07 2019-06-25 엘지전자 주식회사 Display device and operating method thereof
JP7026340B2 (en) * 2018-07-11 2022-02-28 パナソニックIpマネジメント株式会社 Setting device, control device, program

Citations (24)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4680729A (en) * 1983-06-17 1987-07-14 Tektronix, Inc. Method and apparatus for storing and updating user entered command strings for use with otherwise unassigned softkeys
US4746919A (en) * 1986-03-28 1988-05-24 Rca Licensing Corporation Remote control system with key function display provisions
US4856081A (en) * 1987-12-09 1989-08-08 North American Philips Consumer Electronics Corp. Reconfigurable remote control apparatus and method of using the same
US4959810A (en) * 1987-10-14 1990-09-25 Universal Electronics, Inc. Universal remote control device
US5212553A (en) * 1990-09-04 1993-05-18 Sony Corporation Television receiver with selective menu display
US5327160A (en) * 1991-05-09 1994-07-05 Asher David J Touch sensitive user interface for television control
US5335276A (en) * 1992-12-16 1994-08-02 Texas Instruments Incorporated Communication system and methods for enhanced information transfer
US5367316A (en) * 1990-03-27 1994-11-22 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Remote-control apparatus for electronics apparatus
US5410326A (en) * 1992-12-04 1995-04-25 Goldstein; Steven W. Programmable remote control device for interacting with a plurality of remotely controlled devices
US5450079A (en) * 1992-04-13 1995-09-12 International Business Machines Corporation Multimodal remote control device having electrically alterable keypad designations
US5465401A (en) * 1992-12-15 1995-11-07 Texas Instruments Incorporated Communication system and methods for enhanced information transfer
US5517257A (en) * 1995-03-28 1996-05-14 Microsoft Corporation Video control user interface for interactive television systems and method for controlling display of a video movie
US5537463A (en) * 1987-10-14 1996-07-16 Universal Electronics Inc. Magnetic modem in a remote control
US5675390A (en) * 1995-07-17 1997-10-07 Gateway 2000, Inc. Home entertainment system combining complex processor capability with a high quality display
US5689663A (en) * 1992-06-19 1997-11-18 Microsoft Corporation Remote controller user interface and methods relating thereto
US5721850A (en) * 1993-01-15 1998-02-24 Quotron Systems, Inc. Method and means for navigating user interfaces which support a plurality of executing applications
US5774063A (en) * 1995-12-14 1998-06-30 International Business Machines Corporation Method and apparatus for software based wireless remote control of electronic devices
US5886697A (en) * 1993-05-24 1999-03-23 Sun Microsystems, Inc. Method and apparatus for improved graphical user interface having anthropomorphic characters
US5889506A (en) * 1996-10-25 1999-03-30 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Video user's environment
US5909183A (en) * 1996-12-26 1999-06-01 Motorola, Inc. Interactive appliance remote controller, system and method
US6313851B1 (en) * 1997-08-27 2001-11-06 Microsoft Corporation User friendly remote system interface
US6597374B1 (en) * 1998-11-12 2003-07-22 Microsoft Corporation Activity based remote control unit
US6690392B1 (en) * 1999-07-15 2004-02-10 Gateway, Inc. Method system software and signal for automatic generation of macro commands
US6690290B2 (en) * 1999-10-14 2004-02-10 Universal Electronics Inc. Media system and remote control for the same

Patent Citations (24)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4680729A (en) * 1983-06-17 1987-07-14 Tektronix, Inc. Method and apparatus for storing and updating user entered command strings for use with otherwise unassigned softkeys
US4746919A (en) * 1986-03-28 1988-05-24 Rca Licensing Corporation Remote control system with key function display provisions
US5537463A (en) * 1987-10-14 1996-07-16 Universal Electronics Inc. Magnetic modem in a remote control
US4959810A (en) * 1987-10-14 1990-09-25 Universal Electronics, Inc. Universal remote control device
US4856081A (en) * 1987-12-09 1989-08-08 North American Philips Consumer Electronics Corp. Reconfigurable remote control apparatus and method of using the same
US5367316A (en) * 1990-03-27 1994-11-22 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Remote-control apparatus for electronics apparatus
US5212553A (en) * 1990-09-04 1993-05-18 Sony Corporation Television receiver with selective menu display
US5327160A (en) * 1991-05-09 1994-07-05 Asher David J Touch sensitive user interface for television control
US5450079A (en) * 1992-04-13 1995-09-12 International Business Machines Corporation Multimodal remote control device having electrically alterable keypad designations
US5689663A (en) * 1992-06-19 1997-11-18 Microsoft Corporation Remote controller user interface and methods relating thereto
US5410326A (en) * 1992-12-04 1995-04-25 Goldstein; Steven W. Programmable remote control device for interacting with a plurality of remotely controlled devices
US5465401A (en) * 1992-12-15 1995-11-07 Texas Instruments Incorporated Communication system and methods for enhanced information transfer
US5335276A (en) * 1992-12-16 1994-08-02 Texas Instruments Incorporated Communication system and methods for enhanced information transfer
US5721850A (en) * 1993-01-15 1998-02-24 Quotron Systems, Inc. Method and means for navigating user interfaces which support a plurality of executing applications
US5886697A (en) * 1993-05-24 1999-03-23 Sun Microsystems, Inc. Method and apparatus for improved graphical user interface having anthropomorphic characters
US5517257A (en) * 1995-03-28 1996-05-14 Microsoft Corporation Video control user interface for interactive television systems and method for controlling display of a video movie
US5675390A (en) * 1995-07-17 1997-10-07 Gateway 2000, Inc. Home entertainment system combining complex processor capability with a high quality display
US5774063A (en) * 1995-12-14 1998-06-30 International Business Machines Corporation Method and apparatus for software based wireless remote control of electronic devices
US5889506A (en) * 1996-10-25 1999-03-30 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Video user's environment
US5909183A (en) * 1996-12-26 1999-06-01 Motorola, Inc. Interactive appliance remote controller, system and method
US6313851B1 (en) * 1997-08-27 2001-11-06 Microsoft Corporation User friendly remote system interface
US6597374B1 (en) * 1998-11-12 2003-07-22 Microsoft Corporation Activity based remote control unit
US6690392B1 (en) * 1999-07-15 2004-02-10 Gateway, Inc. Method system software and signal for automatic generation of macro commands
US6690290B2 (en) * 1999-10-14 2004-02-10 Universal Electronics Inc. Media system and remote control for the same

Non-Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
"Home Vision(TM) Interactive Intelligent Home Control," Home Automation Systems Catalogue, p. 27, dated at least Feb., 1998. *
"In Control," Stereo Review, Aug. 1997, pp. 56-61. *
"Take Control of Your Home," Home Theater Buyer's Guide, Spring 1997, pp. 40-48. *

Cited By (56)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20050111823A1 (en) * 1999-06-03 2005-05-26 Opentv, Corp. Networking smart toys
US8854192B1 (en) 2000-03-15 2014-10-07 Logitech Europe S.A. Configuration method for a remote
US20050052423A1 (en) * 2000-03-15 2005-03-10 Harris Glen Mclean Online remote control configuration system
US7944370B1 (en) 2000-03-15 2011-05-17 Logitech Europe S.A. Configuration method for a remote control via model number entry for a controlled device
US8026789B2 (en) 2000-03-15 2011-09-27 Logitech Europe S.A. State-based remote control system
US8330582B2 (en) 2000-03-15 2012-12-11 Logitech Europe S.A. Online remote control configuration system
US20080036642A1 (en) * 2000-03-15 2008-02-14 Logitech Europe S.A. Remote Control Multimedia Content Listing System
US8531276B2 (en) 2000-03-15 2013-09-10 Logitech Europe S.A. State-based remote control system
US8797149B2 (en) 2000-03-15 2014-08-05 Logitech Europe S.A. State-based control systems and methods
US8742905B2 (en) 2000-03-15 2014-06-03 Logitech Europe S.A. Easy to use and intuitive user interface for a remote control
US8704643B2 (en) 2000-03-15 2014-04-22 Logitech Europe S.A. Convenient and easy to use button layout for a remote control
US8674814B2 (en) 2000-03-15 2014-03-18 Logitech Europe S.A. State-based remote control system
US8653950B2 (en) 2000-03-15 2014-02-18 Logitech Europe S.A. State-based remote control system
US8674815B1 (en) 2000-03-15 2014-03-18 Logitech Europe S.A. Configuration method for a remote
US20020054154A1 (en) * 2000-09-29 2002-05-09 Tetsu Fukuda Electronic device
US7296234B2 (en) * 2000-09-29 2007-11-13 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Electronic device
US20040080543A1 (en) * 2002-10-21 2004-04-29 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Electronic device
US20080235620A1 (en) * 2004-02-02 2008-09-25 Koninklijke Philips Electronic, N.V. Non-Disruptive Activity Switching on Remote Control
US20070165555A1 (en) * 2004-02-29 2007-07-19 Netac Technology Co., Ltd. Wireless control systems for digital household appliance
US20060125783A1 (en) * 2004-12-10 2006-06-15 Kuan-Hong Hsieh Display device with detachable housing
US7667781B2 (en) * 2004-12-21 2010-02-23 Funai Electric Co., Ltd. Picture quality adjusting device and a television set having a picture quality adjusting device
US20060132656A1 (en) * 2004-12-21 2006-06-22 Funai Electric Co., Ltd. Picture quality adjusting device and a television set having a picture quality adjusting device
US7375673B2 (en) * 2005-01-13 2008-05-20 Netgear, Inc. System and method for universal remote control configuration
US20060152401A1 (en) * 2005-01-13 2006-07-13 Skipjam Corp. Method for universal remote control configuration
US9207652B2 (en) 2005-04-20 2015-12-08 Logitech Europe S.A. System and method for adaptive programming of a remote control
US8509400B2 (en) 2005-04-20 2013-08-13 Logitech Europe S.A. System and method for adaptive programming of a remote control
US7673240B2 (en) * 2005-12-30 2010-03-02 Polaroid Labs, Llc Ubiquitous navbar user interface across multiple heterogeneous digital media devices
US20070186180A1 (en) * 2005-12-30 2007-08-09 Barrett Morgan Ubiquitous navbar user interface across multiple heterogeneous digital media devices
US20070171196A1 (en) * 2006-01-23 2007-07-26 Thomas Robert Pfingsten Controller user interface and method
US20070233731A1 (en) * 2006-02-22 2007-10-04 Logitech Europe S.A. System and method for configuring media systems
US7548246B2 (en) * 2006-03-24 2009-06-16 Universal Electronics, Inc. System and method for defining a controlled device command set
US20070225828A1 (en) * 2006-03-24 2007-09-27 Universal Electronics Inc. System and method for defining a controlled device command set
US7591703B2 (en) 2006-06-09 2009-09-22 Mattel, Inc. Interactive DVD gaming systems
US20080032790A1 (en) * 2006-06-09 2008-02-07 James Zielinski Interactive dvd gaming systems
US20080281718A1 (en) * 2007-01-08 2008-11-13 Barrett Morgan Household network incorporating secure set-top devices
US20090006960A1 (en) * 2007-06-27 2009-01-01 Arcadyan Technology Corporation Multimedia system and information transmitting method
US20090002217A1 (en) * 2007-06-28 2009-01-01 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Touchpad-enabled remote controller and user interaction methods
WO2009006224A1 (en) * 2007-06-28 2009-01-08 Panasonic Corporation Touchpad-enabled remote controller and user interaction methods
US7889175B2 (en) * 2007-06-28 2011-02-15 Panasonic Corporation Touchpad-enabled remote controller and user interaction methods
US8477059B1 (en) * 2007-08-21 2013-07-02 Control4 Corporation Remote control with speed channel changing mode
US8151211B1 (en) * 2008-04-18 2012-04-03 UEI Cayman, Inc. Copying keys to create a custom remote
US20110063855A1 (en) * 2008-05-30 2011-03-17 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Round illumination device
US20110069025A1 (en) * 2009-09-18 2011-03-24 Yamaha Corporation Mixing console
US8674942B2 (en) * 2009-09-18 2014-03-18 Yamaha Corporation Mixing console with touch panels for managing user-defined keys
US20110069011A1 (en) * 2009-09-18 2011-03-24 Yamaha Corporation Mixing console
US9087448B2 (en) 2010-06-04 2015-07-21 Home Control Singapore Pte. Ltd. Programming a universal remote control
US20120044135A1 (en) * 2010-08-20 2012-02-23 Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. Remote control for electronic reader and remote control method
US8587524B2 (en) * 2010-08-20 2013-11-19 Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. Remote control for electronic reader and remote control method
TWI414962B (en) * 2010-08-25 2013-11-11 Hon Hai Prec Ind Co Ltd Remote controller of electronic reading device and remote control method
US8508401B1 (en) 2010-08-31 2013-08-13 Logitech Europe S.A. Delay fixing for command codes in a remote control system
US8918544B2 (en) 2011-03-31 2014-12-23 Logitech Europe S.A. Apparatus and method for configuration and operation of a remote-control system
US9239837B2 (en) 2011-04-29 2016-01-19 Logitech Europe S.A. Remote control system for connected devices
US8456575B2 (en) * 2011-09-21 2013-06-04 Sony Corporation Onscreen remote control presented by audio video display device such as TV to control source of HDMI content
US20160323626A1 (en) * 2012-03-29 2016-11-03 Lg Electronics Inc. Multimedia device connected to at least one electronic device and controlling method thereof
US10425677B2 (en) * 2012-03-29 2019-09-24 Lg Electronics Inc. Multimedia device connected to at least one electronic device and controlling method thereof
US11425443B2 (en) 2012-03-29 2022-08-23 Lg Electronics Inc. Multimedia device connected to at least one electronic device and controlling method thereof

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US6211870B1 (en) 2001-04-03

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
USRE39059E1 (en) Computer programmable remote control
US6496927B1 (en) Method and configuring a user interface for controlling a controlled device based upon a device class
US10210749B1 (en) Remote control system
JP5069207B2 (en) User interface for remote control applications
US6597374B1 (en) Activity based remote control unit
JP3670079B2 (en) How to create a menu for a television device
US5386251A (en) Television receiver with learning remote control system capable of being controlled by a remote control device manufactured by different companies
EP1336167B1 (en) System and method for creating a controlling device
US6469633B1 (en) Remote control of electronic devices
EP1137979B1 (en) Remotely controlling electronic devices
US20060066716A1 (en) Integrated remote control device and method for controlling multiple devices
US20140362233A1 (en) System and method for reconfiguration of an entertainment system controlling device
US11687217B2 (en) System and method for flexible configuration of a controlling device
JP3035877B2 (en) Remote control device
US6892350B1 (en) Audio system with customization of information display
EP1133830A1 (en) Universal remote control unit
JPH0652665A (en) Vcr apparatus having cable-box control function and control method thereof
JPH08331662A (en) Method for controlling electronic equipment, electronic equipment controller and television receiver
JP2000276833A (en) Audio system capable of changing display
JP2002229539A (en) Display changeable audio system
KR19990043004A (en) How to guide setup information for the universal remote controller

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
FPAY Fee payment

Year of fee payment: 8

AS Assignment

Owner name: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE

Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.;REEL/FRAME:029010/0735

Effective date: 20120914

FPAY Fee payment

Year of fee payment: 12

IPR Aia trial proceeding filed before the patent and appeal board: inter partes review

Free format text: TRIAL NO: IPR2014-01112

Opponent name: UNIVERSAL REMOTE CONTROL, INC.

Effective date: 20140702