# US 12,217,601 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 12,217,601 B2 - Document ID: US12217601B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/233,192 - Filed: 2023-08-11 - Published: 2023-12-07 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - 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/US12217601B2 ## 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 system for automatically configuring a control device, the system comprising: a multimedia receiver communicatively coupled to an electronic device, the multimedia receiver comprising: a test command initiator configured to: automatically identify the electronic device; select at least one of a communication protocol known to be supported by the electronic device or a format of a command using the communication protocol for transmission to the electronic device based at least on the automatic identification of the electronic device; automatically program a controller to communicate with the electronic device based at least on the communication protocol or the format of the command using the communication protocol; and cause a test command to be transmitted to control the electronic device according to the communication protocol or the format; and a test command verifier configured to verify that the electronic device successfully applied the test command based on a detection of a video stream associated with the electronic device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a sink media device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is a remote control device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the automatic identification of the electronic device comprises automatically identifying at least one of a brand, make, or model of the electronic device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the communication protocol is one of: an infrared (IR) protocol; a radio-frequency (RF) protocol; an Internet Protocol (IP); or a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI-CEC) protocol. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the automatic programming of the controller comprises automatically programming the controller to use an infrared (IR) code associated with the electronic device. ### Claim 7 A method implemented in a multimedia receiver for automatically configuring a control device, the method comprising: automatically identifying an electronic device that is communicatively coupled to the multimedia receiver; selecting at least one of a communication protocol known to be supported by the electronic device or a format of a command using the communication protocol for transmission to the electronic device based at least on the automatic identification of the electronic device; automatically programing a controller to communicate with the electronic device based at least on the communication protocol or the format of the command using the communication protocol; causing a test command to be transmitted to control the electronic device according to the communication protocol or the format; and verifying that the electronic device successfully applied the test command based on a detection of a video stream associated with the electronic device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the electronic device is a sink media device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the controller is a remote control device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the automatically identifying the electronic device comprises automatically identifying at least one of a brand, make, or model of the electronic device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the communication protocol is one of: an infrared (IR) protocol; a radio-frequency (RF) protocol; an Internet Protocol (IP); or a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI-CEC) protocol. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the automatically programming the controller comprises automatically programming the controller to use an infrared (IR) code associated with the electronic device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the automatically identifying the electronic device comprises automatically identifying the electronic device by parsing information received from the electronic device via an audio/video interface. ### Claim 14 A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium having program logic recorded thereon that, when executed by at least one processor circuit of a multimedia receiver, perform a method, the method comprising: automatically identifying an electronic device that is communicatively coupled to the multimedia receiver; selecting at least one of a communication protocol known to be supported by the electronic device or a format of a command using the communication protocol for transmission to the electronic device based at least on the automatic identification of the electronic device; automatically programing a controller to communicate with the electronic device based at least on the communication protocol or the format of the command using the communication protocol; causing a test command to be transmitted to control the electronic device according to the communication protocol or the format; and verifying that the electronic device successfully applied the test command based on a detection of a video stream associated with the electronic device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the electronic device is a sink media device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the controller is a remote control device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the automatically identifying the electronic device comprises automatically identifying at least one of a brand, make, or model of the electronic device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the automatically programming the controller comprises automatically programming the controller to use an infrared (IR) code associated with the electronic device.