Virtual universal remote control
AssigneeAT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
InventorsSteven M. Belz, James Pratt, Marc Sullivan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for providing a virtual, universal remote control feature includes displaying a virtual remote interface for an electronic device. A user interaction with an element of the virtual remote interface is detected. The virtual remote interface element is mapped to a device-function code. The device-function code is provided to a code transmitter. The device-function code corresponds to a control command associated with the electronic device.
Claims21
A computer readable storage medium including computer executable instructions for providing a virtual, universal remote control feature, the instructions comprising instructions to:
- display a virtual remote interface for an electronic device;
- detect a user interaction with an element of the virtual remote interface;
- map the virtual remote interface element to a device-function code;
- and
- provide the device-function code to a code transmitter, wherein the device-function code corresponds to a control command associated with the electronic device.
A customer premises equipment (CPE) for use within a client configuration of a multimedia content distribution network, comprising:
- a processor;
- a network interface configured to receive multimedia content;
- a decoder configured to decode multimedia content received via the network;
- and
- processor readable storage media, accessible to the processor, including processor executable instructions, the instructions including instructions for:
- responsive to an initial signal from a remote control device, providing a virtual remote device selection table to a display, wherein the virtual remote device selection table includes a plurality of objects representing respective remotely controllable electronic devices;
- responsive to detecting a selection of one of the plurality of objects, accessing a device profile and providing a virtual remote device interface for the respective electronic device to the display, wherein the virtual remote device interface includes a plurality of selectable elements representing device-function codes for the electronic device;
- and
- responsive to detecting selection of one of the selectable elements, sending the respective device-function code to the electronic device.
A method for providing virtual, universal remote control, comprising:
- detecting a select signal from a remote control device while a virtual remote device interface is displaying;
- determining an element of a virtual remote interface indicated by the select signal;
- determining a device-function code corresponding to the indicated element;
- and
- providing the device-function code to a remote control code transmitter.
A virtual universal remote control service, comprising:
- enabling a client device to acquire remote control profiles for a plurality of electronic devices;
- enabling a user to select a remotely controllable electronic device from a plurality of such devices;
- responsive to the user selecting a remotely controllable electronic device, displaying a virtual remote control interface for the electronic device, the virtual remote control interface including a plurality of selectable elements;
- and
- responsive to the user selecting an element, generating a device-function code for a device function associated with the selected element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.