# US 12,008,223 B2 · System and method for flexible configuration of a controlling device

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- Number: US 12,008,223 B2
- Document ID: US12008223B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/197,334
- Filed: 2023-05-15
- Published: 2023-09-07
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2004-09-08
- Assignees: Universal Electronics Inc.
- Applicants: Universal Electronics Inc.
- Inventors: Arsham Hatambeiki; Christopher A. Chambers; Han-Sheng Yuh; Steven Clegg
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12008223B2

## CPC

- 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 9/44505: {Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files}
- G08C 17/02: using a radio link
- G08C 23/04: using light waves, e.g. infrared
- G11B 27/034: on discs (G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence)
- G11B 27/34: Indicating arrangements {(indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D)}
- 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 21/42208: {Display device provided on the remote control}
- H04N 21/42224: {Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control}
- H04N 21/42228: {the reprogrammable keys being displayed on a display screen in order to reduce the number of keys on the remote control device itself}
- H04N 21/8186: {specially adapted to be executed by a peripheral of the client device, e.g. by a reprogrammable remote control}
- G06F 1/16: Constructional details or arrangements
- G06F 3/01: Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer (G06F3/16 takes precedence)
- G06F 3/0486: Drag-and-drop
- G06F 8/10: Requirements analysis; Specification techniques
- G06F 9/06: using stored programs, i.e. using an internal store of processing equipment to receive or retain programs
- G06F 9/451: Execution arrangements for user interfaces
- G08C 2201/20: Binding and programming of remote control devices
- G08C 2201/21: Programming remote control devices via third means
- G08C 2201/30: User interface
- G08C 2201/92: Universal remote control
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- 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)
- G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R)
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

A system and method whereby an user interface editing device is used to create a user interface for a controlling device, the created user interface including user interface elements that are associated with functional operations of a virtual equivalent of an appliance. After the created user interface is transferred to the controlling device, the virtual equivalent of an appliance is caused to be linked to an intended target appliance whereupon activation of those user interface elements of the graphical user interface that were associated with functional operations of the virtual equivalent of an appliance will cause the controlling device to transmit commands to control corresponding functional operations of the intended target appliance.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for configuring a controlling device to command functional operations of an intended target appliance, comprising:
receiving into the controlling device data that functions to identify the intended target appliance;
causing the controlling device to use the received data that functions to identify the intended target appliance to establish within the controlling device a link functional operations of a virtual equivalent of the intended target appliance and command codes transmittable to the intended target appliance to control corresponding functional operations of the intended target appliance, wherein the command codes are caused to be transmitted to the intended target appliance in response to corresponding user interface elements of a graphical user interface provided to the controlling device being activated;
causing the controlling device to periodically issue polling requests to the intended target appliance to thereby retrieve a state status of the intended target appliance; and
caching one or more responses to the periodically issued polling requests in a memory of the controlling device to thereby allow the state status of the intended target appliance to be used by plural n-state widgets of the graphical user interface provided to the controlling device.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data that functions to identify the intended target appliance is received directly from the intended target appliance.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data that functions to identify the intended target appliance is received from a device on a network that includes the intended target appliance.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data that functions to identify the intended target appliance is received from another controlling device that is configured to control functional operations of the intended target appliance.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the plural n-state widgets comprises a definition of multiple areas of a touch-screen display of the controlling device, one or more images to be displayed within the one or more of the multiple areas of the touch-screen display of the controlling device, and one or more actions to be taken by the controlling device in response to user interaction with the one or more of the multiple areas of the touch-screen display of the controlling device.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the plural n-state widgets comprises a definition of one or more reactions to be taken by the controlling device in response to the state status of the intended target appliance.

### Claim 7

A non-transitory, computer-readable media having stored thereon instructions for configuring a controlling device to command functional operations of an intended target appliance, the instructions, when executed by the controlling device, causing the controlling device to perform steps comprising:
receiving into the controlling device data that functions to identify the intended target appliance;
causing the controlling device to use the received data that functions to identify the intended target appliance to establish within the controlling device a link functional operations of a virtual equivalent of the intended target appliance and command codes transmittable to the intended target appliance to control corresponding functional operations of the intended target appliance, wherein the command codes are caused to be transmitted to the intended target appliance in response to corresponding user interface elements of a graphical user interface provided to the controlling device being activated;
causing the controlling device to periodically issue polling requests to the intended target appliance to thereby retrieve a state status of the intended target appliance; and
caching one or more responses to the periodically issued polling requests in a memory of the controlling device to thereby allow the state status of the intended target appliance to be used by plural n-state widgets of the graphical user interface provided to the controlling device.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The non-transitory, computer-readable media as recited in claim 7, wherein the data that functions to identify the intended target appliance is received directly from the intended target appliance.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The non-transitory, computer-readable media as recited in claim 7, wherein the data that functions to identify the intended target appliance is received from a device on a network that includes the intended target appliance.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The non-transitory, computer-readable media as recited in claim 7, wherein the data that functions to identify the intended target appliance is received from another controlling device that is configured to control functional operations of the intended target appliance.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The non-transitory, computer-readable media as recited in claim 7, wherein each of the plural n-state widgets comprises a definition of multiple areas of a touch-screen display of the controlling device, one or more images to be displayed within the one or more of the multiple areas of the touch-screen display of the controlling device, and one or more actions to be taken by the controlling device in response to user interaction with the one or more of the multiple areas of the touch-screen display of the controlling device.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The non-transitory, computer-readable media as recited in claim 7, wherein each of the plural n-state widgets comprises a definition of one or more reactions to be taken by the controlling device in response to the state status of the intended target appliance.