# US 7,745,743 B2 · Method and device for controlling switch between appliances > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,745,743 B2 - Document ID: US7745743B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/638,029 - Filed: 2006-12-13 - Published: 2007-07-26 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2006-01-11 - Assignees: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Chen Liu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7745743B2 ## 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)} - G08C 23/04: using light waves, e.g. infrared - H04N 21/42225: {characterized by types of remote control, e.g. universal remote control} - G08C 2201/92: Universal remote control - H04L 12/2814: {Exchanging control software or macros for controlling appliance services in a home automation network (arrangements for maintenance or administration involving configuration of the network and network elements H04L41/08)} - H04L 12/282: {based on user interaction within the home (receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204)} - 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: 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) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract This invention provides a method and a device for controlling switch between appliances. The method includes: setting a group of control signals according to operations to be performed by appliances involved in a switch between a current appliance and a target appliance; and controlling the appliances involved in the switch between the current appliance and the target appliance to perform operations corresponding to the group of control signals, when the switch is triggered. The method simplifies the operation of switch between appliances in a multi-appliance environment and enables one appliance switching key to control multiple appliances. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for controlling switch between appliances, comprising: defining functions of the appliance switching keys each of which corresponds to one controlled appliance; detecting whether one appliance switching key is triggered; sending a group of control signals to appliances involved in a switch between a current appliance and a target appliance and switching current appliance control to target appliance control when detecting that the appliance switching key is triggered; wherein the group of control signals are configured to control the appliances involved in the switch to implement functions needed in the switch; and enabling the target appliance control of the remote controller. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the appliances involved in the switch between the current appliance and the target appliance comprises the current appliance, at least one intermediate appliance and the target appliance. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: displaying state of implementing the functions by the appliances involved in the switch according to the group of control signals. ### Claim 4 A device for controlling switch between appliances, configured to implement the method comprising: defining functions of the appliance switching keys each of which corresponds to one controlled appliance; detecting whether one appliance switching key is triggered; sending a group of control signals to appliances involved in a switch between a current appliance and a target appliance and switch current appliance control to target appliance control when detecting that the appliance switching key is triggered; wherein the group of control signals are configured to control the appliances involved in the switch to implement functions needed in the switch; and enabling the target appliance control of the remote controller. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4, wherein the device is any one selected from the group consisting of a remote controller and a control panel fixed in the controlled appliance. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4, wherein the appliances involved in the switch comprises the current appliance, at least one intermediate appliance and the target appliance. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6, wherein the number of the intermediate appliance is more than one. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein sending the group of control signals to the appliances comprises: sending a switch signal to the intermediate appliance enabling the intermediate appliance to work in a target appliance mode; and sending a power-on signal to the target appliance to start the target appliance. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6, wherein the device is further configured to send a switch signal to the intermediate appliance enabling the intermediate appliance to work in a target appliance mode; and send a power-on signal to the target appliance to start the target appliance when detecting that the appliance switching key is triggered. ### Claim 10 A system for controlling switch between appliances, comprising: a remote controller and appliances involved in a switch between a current appliance and a target appliance; wherein the remote controller is configured to implement a method of defining functions of the appliance switching keys each of which corresponds to one controlled appliance; detecting whether one appliance switching key is triggered; sending a group of control signals to the appliances involved in the switch between the current appliance and the target appliance and switch current appliance control to target appliance control when detecting that the appliance switching key is triggered; wherein the group of control signals are configured to control the appliances involved in the switch to implement functions needed in the switch, and the appliances involved in the switch between the current appliance and the target appliance are further configured to receive the group of control signals and implement the functions needed in the switch under the control of the group of control signals; and enabling the target appliance control of the remote controller. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein the appliances involved in the switch between the current appliance and the target appliance comprises the current appliance, at least one intermediate appliance and the target appliance. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein one of the appliances involved in the switch is further configured to display control result of the appliances involved in the switch simultaneously. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the remote controller is further configured to send a switch signal to the intermediate appliance enabling the intermediate appliance to work in a target appliance mode; and send a power-on signal to the target appliance to start the target appliance when detecting that the appliance switching key is triggered.