# US 11,308,796 B2 · System and method for optimized appliance control > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,308,796 B2 - Document ID: US11308796B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/527,532 - Filed: 2021-11-16 - Published: 2022-03-10 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2011-10-28 - Assignees: Universal Electronics Inc. - Applicants: Universal Electronics Inc. - Inventors: Paul D. Arling; Brian Barnett - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11308796B2 ## CPC - G08C 17/02: using a radio link - G08C 23/04: using light waves, e.g. infrared - H04N 21/42226: {Reprogrammable remote control devices} - 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 21/43635: {HDMI} - H04N 21/43637: {involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth®, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] (arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114)} - H04N 21/44227: {Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network (configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811)} - G08C 2201/20: Binding and programming of remote control devices - G08C 2201/30: User interface - G08C 2201/40: Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways - G08C 2201/70: Device selection - G08C 2201/92: Universal remote control - G08C 2201/93: Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop - H04N 21/42225: {characterized by types of remote control, e.g. universal remote control} - H04N 21/4363: Adapting the video stream to a specific local network, e.g. a Bluetooth® network - 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) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract In response to a detected presence of an intended target appliance within a logical topography of controllable appliances identity information associated with the intended target appliance is used to automatically add to a graphical user interface of a controlling device an icon representative of the intended target appliance and to create at a Universal Control Engine a listing of communication methods for use in controlling corresponding functional operations of the intended target appliance. When the icon is later activated, the controlling device is placed into an operating state appropriate for controlling functional operations of the intended target appliance while the Universal Control Engine uses at least one of the communication methods to transmit at least one command to place the intended target appliance into a predetermined operating state. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A first media device, comprising: a processing device; a high-definition multimedia interface, coupled to the processing device, for communicatively connecting the first media device to a second media device; a wireless communications interface, coupled to the processing device, for communicatively coupling the first media device to a controlling device; and a memory device, coupled to the processing device, having stored thereon processor executable instructions; wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing device, cause the first media device to operate in one of a first mode and a second mode dependent upon a received data indicative of a responsiveness of the second media device to a test command, in the first mode the first media device does not execute a command for controlling a functional operation of the second media device transmitted by the controlling device and received via the wireless communications interface with the first media device instead having caused the controlling device to be configured with an infrared command code for use in directly controlling the functional operation of the second media device, in the second mode the first media device responds to the command for controlling a functional operation of the second media device transmitted by the controlling device and received via the wireless communications interface, and executing the command comprises at least transmitting a corresponding command to the second media device via use of the high-definition multimedia interface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The first media device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first media device transmits the test command. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The first media device as recited in claim 1, wherein the controlling device transmits the test command. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The first media device as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless communications interface comprises a radio frequency communications interface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The first media device as recited in claim 4, wherein the wireless communications interface further comprises an infrared communications interface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The first media device as recited in claim 1, wherein the test command comprises a command to control a volume functional operation of the second media device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The first media device as recited in claim 3, wherein the first media device specifies the test command to the controlling device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The first media device as recited in claim 3, wherein the first media device provides the test command to the controlling device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The first media device as recited in claim 1, wherein the test command is transmitted to the second media device by the first media device via use of the high-definition multimedia interface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The first media device as recited in claim 9, wherein the test command comprises a command transmitted to test a volume functional operation of the second media device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The first media device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first media device causes a pointer to a one of a plurality of infrared command code sets stored in a memory of the controlling device which includes the infrared command code to be provided to the controlling device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The first media device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first media device provides the infrared command code to the controlling device. ### Claim 13 A system, comprising: a first media device; and a controlling device; wherein the first media device comprises: a processing device; a high-definition multimedia interface, coupled to the processing device, for communicatively connecting the first media device to a second media device; a wireless communications interface, coupled to the processing device, for communicatively coupling the first media device to the controlling device; and a memory device, coupled to the processing device, having stored thereon processor executable instructions; wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing device, cause the first media device to operate in one of a first mode and a second mode dependent upon a received data indicative of a responsiveness of the second media device to a test command, in the first mode the first media device ignores a command for controlling a functional operation of the second media device transmitted by the controlling device and received via the wireless communications interface with the first media device instead having caused the controlling device to be configured with an infrared command code for use in directly controlling the functional operation of the second media device, in the second mode the first media device responds to the command for controlling a functional operation of the second media device transmitted by the controlling device and received via the wireless communications interface, and responding to the command comprises at least transmitting a corresponding command to the second media device via use of the high-definition multimedia interface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the first media device transmits the test command. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the controlling device transmits the test command. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the wireless communications interface comprises a radio frequency communications interface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the wireless communications interface further comprises an infrared communications interface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the test command comprises a command to control a volume functional operation of the second media device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the second media device comprises a media source device for the first media device acting as a media sink device and wherein the first media device receives media data from the media source device via use of the high-definition multimedia interface. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the second media device comprises a media sink device for the first media device acting as a media source device and wherein the first media device transmits media data to the media sink device via use of the high-definition multimedia interface. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The system as recited in claim 19, wherein the media sink device comprises a sound rendering device. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The system as recited in claim 20, wherein the media sink device comprises a sound rendering device. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the first media device specifies the test command to the controlling device. ### Claim 24 (depends on 15) The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the first media device provides the test command to the controlling device. ### Claim 25 (depends on 13) The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the test command is transmitted to the second media device by the first media device via use of the high-definition multimedia interface. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The system as recited in claim 25, wherein the test command comprises a command transmitted to test a volume functional operation of the second media device. ### Claim 27 (depends on 13) The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the first media device causes a pointer to a one of a plurality of infrared command code sets stored in a memory of the controlling device which includes the infrared command code to be provided to the controlling device. ### Claim 28 (depends on 13) The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the first media device provides the infrared command code to the controlling device.