# US 12,192,559 B2 · System and method for configuring controlling device functionality > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,192,559 B2 - Document ID: US12192559B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/224,106 - Filed: 2023-07-20 - Published: 2023-11-16 - Granted: 2025-01-07 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-22 - Assignees: Universal Electronics Inc. - Applicants: Universal Electronics Inc. - Inventors: Brian Barnett; Arsham Hatambeiki; Rex Xu; Jesus Perez - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12192559B2 ## CPC - 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 5/765: Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus - H04N 5/775: between a recording apparatus and a television receiver - H04N 21/42216: {for quick navigation, e.g. through an EPG} - H04N 21/42227: {the keys being reprogrammable, e.g. soft keys} - H04N 21/43635: {HDMI} - H04N 21/4424: {Monitoring of the internal components or processes of the client device, e.g. CPU or memory load, processing speed, timer, counter or percentage of the hard disk space used (error monitoring in general G06F11/30; arrangements for monitoring conditions of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/32; diagnosis, testing or measuring for television receivers H04N17/04)} - H04N 21/4516: {involving client characteristics, e.g. Set-Top-Box type, software version or amount of memory available} - H04N 21/485: End-user interface for client configuration - G08C 2201/21: Programming remote control devices via third means - G08C 2201/92: Universal remote control - 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 21/4221: {Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext} - H04N 21/42221: {Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - 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) ## Abstract A controlling device is automatically configured to issue a communication directly to a first controllable appliance to control a functional operation of the first controllable appliance in the event that the first controllable appliance is determined to be unresponsive to a command communication transmitted to the first controllable appliance via a digital communications link or to issue a communication to a second controllable appliance to control the functional operation of the first controllable appliance via a digital communications link in the event that first controllable appliance is determined to be responsive to a command communication transmitted to the first controllable appliance via a digital communications link. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A controlling device, comprising: a communication interface; a processing device coupled to the communication interface; and a memory storing instructions executable by the processing device to cause the controlling device to perform steps comprising: receiving from a first controllable device via the communication interface a data that identifies a communication port of a second controllable appliance to which the first controllable appliance is communicatively coupled; and using the data received from the first controllable device to automatically configure a predetermined input element of the controlling device whereupon a subsequent activation of the predetermined input element of the controlling device will cause a transmission of a command via use of the communication interface for causing the second controllable appliance to make active the communications port of the second controllable appliance to which the first controllable appliance is communicatively coupled. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein the instructions cause the controlling device to be entered into a setup mode for configuring the predetermined input element of the controlling device prior to using the data received from the first controllable device to automatically configure the predetermined input element of the controlling device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The controlling device as recited in claim 2, wherein the controlling device is caused to enter into the setup mode for configuring the predetermined input element of the controlling device in response to receiving an instruction via the communication interface from the first controllable appliance. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The controlling device as recited in claim 3, wherein the predetermined input element of the controlling device comprises a hard key. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The controlling device as recited in claim 3, wherein the predetermined input element of the controlling device comprises a soft key. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein the communication interface comprises a radio frequency interface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein the communication interface comprises an infrared interface. ### Claim 8 A method, performed by a controlling device, comprising: receiving from a first controllable device via a communication interface of the controlling device a data that identifies a communications port of a second controllable appliance to which the first controllable appliance is communicatively coupled; and using the data received from the first controllable device to automatically configure a predetermined input element of the controlling device whereupon a subsequent activation of the predetermined input element of the controlling device will cause a transmission of a command via use of the communication interface for causing the second controllable appliance to make active the communications port of the second controllable appliance to which the first controllable appliance is communicatively coupled. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method as recited in claim 8, comprising causing the controlling device to be entered into a setup mode for configuring the predetermined input element of the controlling device prior to using the data received from the first controllable device to automatically configure the predetermined input element of the controlling device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method as recited in claim 9, comprising causing the controlling device to enter into the setup mode for configuring the predetermined input element of the controlling device in response to receiving an instruction via the communication interface from the first controllable appliance. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the predetermined input element of the controlling device comprises a hard key. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the predetermined input element of the controlling device comprises a soft key. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the communication interface comprises a radio frequency interface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the communication interface comprises an infrared interface. ### Claim 15 A system, comprising: a first controllable appliance; a second controllable appliance communicatively coupled to the first controllable appliance; and a controlling device, comprising: a communication interface; a processing device coupled to the communication interface; and a memory storing instructions executable by the processing device to cause the controlling device to perform steps comprising: receiving from the first controllable device via the communication interface a data that identifies a communication port of the second controllable appliance to which the first controllable appliance is communicatively coupled; and using the data received from the first controllable device to automatically configure a predetermined input element of the controlling device whereupon a subsequent activation of the predetermined input element of the controlling device will cause a transmission of a command via use of the communication interface for causing the second controllable appliance to make active the communications port of the second controllable appliance to which the first controllable appliance is communicatively coupled. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the instructions cause the controlling device to be entered into a setup mode for configuring the predetermined input element of the controlling device prior to using the data received from the first controllable device to automatically configure the predetermined input element of the controlling device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the controlling device is caused to enter into the setup mode for configuring the predetermined input element of the controlling device in response to receiving an instruction via the communication interface from the first controllable appliance. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the predetermined input element of the controlling device comprises a hard key. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the predetermined input element of the controlling device comprises a soft key. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the communication interface comprises a radio frequency interface. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the communication interface comprises an infrared interface.