System and method for providing a vacation mode of home device operation
AssigneeUniversal Electronics Inc.
InventorsVictor Berrios, Nicu Ahmadi, ARsham Hatambeiki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A controlling device periodically captures data indicative of a state of the controlling device for use in generating a vacation mode operational data. When the controlling device is subsequently placed into a vacation mode of operation, the controlling device uses the vacation mode operational data to replicate the periodically captured state of the controlling device and, thereby, the controlling device is caused to periodically issue command communications to a controllable device for the purpose of simulating the prior usage of at least the controllable device.
Claims16
A controlling device adapted for simulating a prior usage of at least a controllable device, comprising:
- a processing device;
- a memory coupled to the processing device;
- a first communications interface;
- and
- a second communications interface;
- wherein the memory stores instructions and the instructions, when executed by the processing device, cause the controlling device to perform steps comprising:
- while operating in a normal mode of operation, extracting by the controlling device from first command communications transmitted by the controlling device command and address data;
- using by the controlling device the command and address data extracted from the first command communication to generate a vacation mode operational data;
- and
- in response to the controlling device being placed into a vacation mode of operation, using by the controlling device the vacation mode operational data to cause the controlling device to issue second command communications to at least the controllable device via the first communications interface for the purpose of simulating the prior usage of at least the controllable device;
- wherein the controlling device comprises a universal remote control device, the controllable device comprises a television, and the universal remote control device comprises an input element for placing the universal remote control device into the vacation mode of operation.
The controlling device as recited in clam 1, further comprising associating a captured state of the controlled device with the command and address data extracted from the first command communication where the captured state of the controlled device is also used by the controlling device when generating the vacation mode operational data.
A method for simulating a prior usage of at least a controllable device, comprising:
- while operating in a normal mode of operation of a controlling device, extracting by the controlling device from first command communications transmitted by the controlling device command and address data;
- using by the controlling device the command and address data extracted from the from the first command communication to generate a vacation mode operational data;
- and
- in response to the controlling device being placed into a vacation mode of operation, using by the controlling device the vacation mode operational data to cause the controlling device to issue second command communications to at least the controllable device via a first communications interface of the controlling device for the purpose of simulating the prior usage of at least the controllable device;
- wherein the controlling device comprises a universal remote control device, the controllable device comprises a television, and the universal remote control device comprises an input element for placing the universal remote control device into the vacation mode of operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.