# US 2014/0152427 A1 · Programming a universal remote control via direct interaction > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0152427 A1 - Document ID: US20140152427A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/171,566 - Filed: 2014-02-03 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2009-06-01 - Assignees: AT&T Intellectual Property l, L.P. - Applicants: AT&T Intellectual Property l, L.P. - Inventors: Steven M. Belz; James Pratt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140152427A1 ## CPC - G08C 17/02: using a radio link - G08C 23/04: using light waves, e.g. infrared - G08C 2201/20: Binding and programming of remote control devices - G08C 2201/21: Programming remote control devices via third means - 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 method and system for programming a universal remote control (URC) to operate with a remote-controlled device is disclosed. A user may be instructed to operate a control element of an original remote control (ORC) of the remote-controlled device. The control element of the ORC may be operated with consumer-premises equipment of the MCDN, which receives a code associated with the control element. The code may be used to identify the remote-controlled device and obtain corresponding programming codes. The URC may be configured to use at least one of the programming codes to remotely control the remote-controlled device. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-27. (canceled) ### Claim 28 A remote control configuration method, comprising: receiving, by a multimedia handling device including a network adapter to receive multimedia content from a multimedia content distribution network server and a decoder to process multimedia content for display on a display, a request from a user to reprogram a universal remote control for operation with a remote-controlled device, wherein the request indicates an attribute of the remote-controlled device; prompting the user to operate a first control element of an original remote control corresponding to the remote-controlled device; receiving a first code from the original remote control; and responsive to uniquely identifying the remote-controlled device based on the first code: obtaining programming codes for the identified remote-controlled device; and wirelessly programming the universal remote control to use at least one of the programming codes. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, further comprising: sending the first code to a distribution network server; and receiving, from the distribution network server, information indicating identified remote-controlled devices that are responsive to the first code. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, wherein obtaining the programming codes for the identified remote-controlled device comprises: retrieving programming codes from the distribution network server. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, wherein the received information indicates more than one identified remote-control device, and further comprising: prompting the user to operate a second control element of the original remote control; responsive to receiving a second code corresponding to a second control element from the original remote control, sending the second code to the distribution network server; and receiving, from the distribution network server, information indicating identified remote-controlled devices that are responsive to both the first code and the second code. ### Claim 32 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, further comprising: sending an identity of the remote-controlled device to the user; and receiving a confirmation from the user acknowledging the identity. ### Claim 33 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, further comprising: wherein the attribute of the remote-controlled device comprises a device type associated with the remote-controlled device. ### Claim 34 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, wherein prompting the user includes sending an instruction to operate the original remote control. ### Claim 35 A customer premises equipment device, comprising: a processor; a local transceiver; and memory media accessible to the processor, including processor executable program instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising: receiving, by a multimedia handling device including a network adapter to receive multimedia content from a multimedia content distribution network server and a decoder to process multimedia content for display on a display, a request from a user to reprogram a universal remote control for operation with a remote controlled device, wherein the request indicates an attribute of the remote-controlled device; prompting the user to operate a first control element of an original remote control corresponding to the remote-controlled device; receiving a first code from the original remote control; responsive to uniquely identifying the remote-controlled device based on the first code: obtaining programming codes for the identified remote-controlled device; and wirelessly programming the universal remote control to use at least one of the programming codes. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The customer premises equipment device of claim 35, wherein the operations include: sending the first code to the distribution network server; and receiving, from the distribution network server, information indicating identified remote-controlled devices that are responsive to the first code. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The customer premises equipment device of claim 36, wherein receiving the programming codes for the identified remote-controlled device comprises: retrieving programming codes from the distribution network server. ### Claim 38 (depends on 36) The customer premises equipment device of claim 36, wherein the received information indicates more than one identified remote-control device, and wherein the operations include: sending an instruction to prompt the user to operate a second control element of the original remote control; after the user operates the second control element, receiving a second code from the original remote control; sending the second code to the distribution network server; and receiving, from the distribution network server, information indicating identified remote-controlled devices that are responsive to both the first code and the second code. ### Claim 39 (depends on 35) The customer premises equipment device of claim 35, wherein the operations include: sending an identity of the remote-controlled device to the user; and receiving a confirmation from the user acknowledging the identity. ### Claim 40 (depends on 35) The customer premises equipment device of claim 35, wherein the remote controlled device attribute comprises a device type of the remote-controlled device. ### Claim 41 (depends on 35) The customer premises equipment device of claim 35, wherein prompting the user includes sending the user an instruction to operate the original remote control. ### Claim 42 A computer readable medium, including stored computer executable program instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising: receiving, by a multimedia handling device including a network adapter to receive multimedia content from a multimedia content distribution network server and a decoder to process multimedia content for display on a display, a request from a user to reprogram a universal remote control for operation with a remote controlled device, wherein the request indicates an attribute of the remote-controlled device; prompting the user to operate a first control element of an original remote control corresponding to the remote-controlled device; receiving a first code from the original remote control; responsive to uniquely identifying the remote-controlled device based on the first code: obtaining programming codes for the identified remote-controlled device; and wirelessly programming the universal remote control to use at least one of the programming codes. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The computer readable medium of claim 42, wherein the operations include: sending the first code to the distribution network server; and receiving, from the distribution network server, information indicating identified remote-controlled devices that are responsive to the first code. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) The computer readable medium of claim 43, wherein receiving the programming codes for the identified remote-controlled device comprises: retrieving programming codes from the distribution network server. ### Claim 45 (depends on 43) The computer readable medium of claim 43, wherein the received information indicates more than one identified remote-control device, and wherein the operations include: sending an instruction to prompt the user to operate a second control element of the original remote control; after the user operates the second control element, receiving a second code from the original remote control; sending the second code to the distribution network server; and receiving, from the distribution network server, information indicating identified remote-controlled devices that are responsive to both the first code and the second code. ### Claim 46 (depends on 42) The computer readable medium of claim 42, wherein the operations include: sending an identity of the remote-controlled device to the user; and receiving a confirmation from the user acknowledging the identity. ### Claim 47 (depends on 42) The computer readable medium of claim 42, wherein the remote-controlled device attribute comprises a device type corresponding to the remote-controlled device. ### Claim 48 (depends on 42) The computer readable medium of claim 42, prompting the user includes sending the user an instruction to operate the original remote control.