# US 10,311,714 B2 · User interface for a remote control application

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- Number: US 10,311,714 B2
- Document ID: US10311714B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/855,501
- Filed: 2010-08-12
- Published: 2010-12-23
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2001-11-20
- Assignees: Universal Electronics Inc.
- Applicants: Steve LanPing Huang; Cheryl Scott; Wayne Scott
- Inventors: Steve LanPing Huang; Cheryl Scott; Wayne Scott
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10311714B2

## CPC

- G08C 17/02: using a radio link
- G06F 3/0481: based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
- G06F 3/04817: using icons (graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34)
- G06F 3/0484: for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
- G06F 3/04842: Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence)
- G06F 9/445: Program loading or initiating (bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57)
- G08C 17/00: Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
- G08C 19/28: using pulse code
- G08C 23/04: using light waves, e.g. infrared
- G10L 17/22: Interactive procedures; Man-machine interfaces
- H03J 1/0025: {in a remote control unit (remote control tuning in general H03J9/00)}
- H04B 1/202: {by remote control}
- H04L 12/2816: {Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities (arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00)}
- H04L 41/509: {wherein the managed service relates to media content delivery, e.g. audio, video or TV}
- H04N 5/50: Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
- H04N 7/16: Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
- H04N 7/17318: {Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests}
- H04N 21/25891: {being end-user preferences (retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18)}
- H04N 21/41265: {having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device (unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204)}
- H04N 21/4131: {home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices (home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807)}
- H04N 21/42204: {User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor (constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205)}
- H04N 21/43615: {Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals (home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805)}
- H04N 21/4622: {Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet (web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859)}
- H04N 21/485: End-user interface for client configuration
- H04N 21/6547: comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
- H04N 21/8543: using a description language, e.g. Multimedia and Hypermedia information coding Expert Group [MHEG], eXtensible Markup Language [XML] {(information retrieval of semistructured data, the underlying structure being taken into account, e.g. mark-up language structure data G06F16/80)}
- G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
- G08C 2201/21: Programming remote control devices via third means
- G08C 2201/30: User interface
- G08C 2201/33: Remote control using macros, scripts
- G08C 2201/42: Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network
- G08C 2201/50: Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
- G08C 2201/91: Remote control based on location and proximity
- G08C 2201/92: Universal remote control
- H03J 2200/23: Remote control device with display showing data to be transmitted to the controlled apparatus
- H03J 2200/25: Remote control device with display
- H03J 2200/26: Remote control device with touch screen display
- H04B 1/20: for coupling gramophone pick-up, recorder output, or microphone to receiver
- H04N 21/42209: {for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic programme guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel}
- H04N 21/4222: {Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy (remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415)}
- H04N 21/4227: {Providing} Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
- H04N 21/426: Internal components of the client {; Characteristics thereof} (H04N5/44 takes precedence)
- H04N 21/4316: {for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window}
- H04N 21/47: End-user applications
- G08C: TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS (fluid pressure transmitting systems F15B; mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member into a different variable G01D5/00; mechanical control systems G05G)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G10L: SPEECH ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES OR SPEECH SYNTHESIS; SPEECH RECOGNITION; SPEECH OR VOICE PROCESSING TECHNIQUES; SPEECH OR AUDIO CODING OR DECODING
- H03J: TUNING RESONANT CIRCUITS; SELECTING RESONANT CIRCUITS
- H04B: TRANSMISSION
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

A hand-held electronic device having a remote control application user interface that functions to displays operational mode information to a user. The graphical user interface may be used, for example, to setup the remote control application to control appliances for one or more users in one or more rooms, to perform activities, and to access favorites. The remote control application is also adapted to be upgradeable. Furthermore, the remote control application provides for the sharing of operational mode information.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A remote control device for controlling one or more consumer devices of various device types, the remote control comprising:
a plurality of user input elements;
an action map having a plurality of action map entries wherein each of the plurality of action map entries is associated with a one of the plurality of user input elements;
a plurality of device command code sets wherein each of the plurality of device command code sets has a plurality of functions for controlling at least one consumer device;
a selector configured to allow a user to select individual functions from the plurality of device command code sets appropriate for controlling the one or more consumer devices;
an activator configured to allow a user to create one or more links between at least one of the selected individual functions of the plurality of device command code sets and action map entries of the action map whereupon an activation of a one of the plurality of user input elements will cause a transmission from the remote control device of the individual functions of the plurality of device command code sets that were selected via use of the selector and linked to the one of the plurality of action map entries assigned to the activated one of the plurality of user input elements via use of the activator; and
a memory device that is configured to store the plurality of device command code sets and the action map.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The remote control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the remote control device is a multi-mode remote control.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The remote control device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a proposer for proposing one of the plurality of device command code sets prior to the selection by the selector.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The remote control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device command code set corresponds to an operating mode of the remote control device.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The remote control device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a touch screen.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The remote control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the remote control device is configured to store functions from outside the remote control device in the memory device of the remote control device.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The remote control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein unlinked user input elements are communicated to a user.

### Claim 8

A method for programming a remote control device having a plurality of user input elements for controlling one or more consumer devices of various device types, the method comprising acts of:
linking a plurality of device command code sets provided for one or more device types with the plurality of user input elements via use of an action map for one or more consumer devices to be controlled, wherein the action map is stored in a memory of the remote control device, wherein each of the plurality of device command code sets has a plurality of functions for controlling at least one consumer device, wherein the action map has a plurality of action map entries, wherein each of the plurality of action map entries includes at least one function for controlling at least one consumer device, and wherein the plurality of device command codes sets are linked with the plurality of user input elements by:
selecting by a user via one or more interactions with the remote control device an individual function from one of the plurality of device command code sets; and
creating by the user via one or more interactions with the remote control device links between one of the selected individual functions of any one of the plurality of device command code sets provided for a given device type and action map entries of the action map assigned to a one of the plurality of user input elements, whereupon an activation of a one of the plurality of user input elements will cause a transmission from the remote control device of the individual functions of the plurality of device command code sets that were selected by the user and linked by the user to the one of the plurality of action map entries assigned to the activated one of the plurality of user input elements.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method for programming a remote control device as claimed in claim 8, comprising an act of proposing one of the plurality of device command code sets to the user by the remote control device.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method for programming a remote control device as claimed in claim 9, comprising an act of ordering the plurality of device command code sets proposed to the user based on a predetermined criteria.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The method for programming a remote control device as claimed in claim 8, comprising an act of transferring the plurality of device command code sets from a device outside the remote control device for storage in the memory device of the remote control device.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The method for programming a remote control device as claimed in claim 8, comprising an act of storing the plurality of device command code sets.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The method for programming a remote control device as claimed in claim 8, comprising the act of communicating unlinked user input elements to a user.

### Claim 14

A programmable remote control device comprising user input elements for controlling one or more consumer devices of various device types and a memory, the memory being configured to store a plurality of device command code sets, and comprising a program of instructions for performing the method comprising acts of:
linking a plurality of device command code sets provided for one or more device types with the plurality of user input elements via use of an action map for one or more consumer devices to be controlled, wherein the action map is stored in a memory of the remote control device, wherein each of the plurality of device command code sets has a plurality of functions for controlling at least one consumer device, wherein the action map has a plurality of action map entries, wherein each of the plurality of action map entries includes at least one function for controlling at least one consumer device, and wherein the plurality of device command codes sets are linked with the plurality of user input elements by:
selecting by a user via one or more interactions with the remote control device an individual function from one of the plurality of device command code sets; and
creating by the user via one or more interactions with the remote control device links between one of the selected individual functions of any one of the plurality of device command code sets provided for a given device type and action map entries of the action map assigned to a one of the plurality of user input elements, whereupon an activation of a one of the plurality of user input elements will cause a transmission from the remote control device of the individual functions of the plurality of device command code sets that were selected by the user and linked by the user to the one of the plurality of action map entries assigned to the activated one of the plurality of user input elements.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The programmable remote control device as claimed in claim 14, comprising a program for proposing one of the plurality of device command code sets.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The programmable remote control device as claimed in claim 14, comprising a program for ordering the plurality of device command code sets based on a predetermined criteria.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The programmable remote control device as claimed in claim 14, wherein unlinked user input elements are communicated to a user.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The programmable remote control device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the action map corresponds to an operating mode of the remote control device.