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US 9,239,837 B2Granted
Remote control system for connected devices
AssigneeLogitech Europe S.A.
InventorsJean-Michel Chardon, Mark Connolly, Steven Heintz, Ian Crowe, Ashish Arora, Adrien Lazzaro
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods utilize a display to provide universal remote control functionality. A menu of options appears on a display of a display device. A user can navigate the various options to control devices that are separate from the display device. The menu may be dynamically configured according to the context in which the display device is being used. The menu may be activated using a remote control device or other device and the menu may include options for controlling one or more devices that are absent from the remote control device.
Claims33
A remote control system, comprising:
- a controller including a plurality of fixed-function buttons and permanently configured to output a plurality of command signals corresponding to the plurality of buttons;
- and
- a hub, said hub including one or more processors;
- and memory including instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the remote control system to at least:
- determine a menu that includes one or more options for controlling at least one consumer electronic device from a set of consumer electronic devices;
- in response to receipt of an indication of user intent to view the menu, including one or more of the command signals from the controller, cause the determined menu to appear on a display of a device that is different from the consumer electronic device;
- receive one or more of the command signals corresponding to user interaction with the displayed menu;
- and
- when the user selects an option of the menu for controlling the consumer electronic device, causing a signal to be transmitted to the consumer electronic device, the signal being configured to cause the consumer electronic device to change state according to the selected option,
- wherein, each of the plurality of buttons is permanently configured to activate its corresponding command signal regardless of the state of the consumer electronic device.
7 more elements
A remote control configuration system, comprising:
- a display device including:
- a video display;
- a processor configured to interact with a remote control;
- a communication apparatus configured for communicating with at least one other device;
- wherein, the processor is further configured to:
- present a user interface including selectable commands on the display;
- receive a set of predetermined commands from the remote control;
- interpret at least one of the predetermined commands as a navigation command in one context and as a received command in another context;
- communicate the received command to the at least one other device;
- and
- modify the user interface based on the navigation command.
8 more elements
A method of controlling a peripheral device via a display device comprising:
- controlling the display device via a hub to present a first user interface including a plurality of selectable options;
- while presenting the first user interface on the display device, receiving a control signal via the hub and interpreting the control signal as a selected option of one of the plurality of selectable options;
- communicating, based at least in part on the selected option, commands from the hub to the peripheral device;
- while not presenting the first user interface on the display device, receiving the control signal via the hub and interpreting the control signal as a peripheral device command;
- and
- communicating the peripheral device command from the hub to the peripheral device.
3 more elements
A method of controlling a set of one or more consumer electronic devices comprising:
- under the control of a set of one or more controlling components of a remote control system,
- determining a menu that includes one or more options for controlling at least one consumer electronic device from the set of consumer electronic devices;
- causing the determined menu to appear on a display of a device that is different from the consumer electronic device;
- receiving one or more signals corresponding to user interaction with the displayed menu, the signals having been generated remotely from the device having the display;
- and
- when the user selects an option of the menu for controlling the consumer electronic device, causing a signal to be transmitted to the consumer electronic device, the signal being configured to cause the consumer electronic device to change state according to the selected option;
- wherein the set of one or more controlling components include a remote control device and a bridge device, the remote control device including a plurality of fixed-function buttons and permanently configured to output a plurality of command signals corresponding to the plurality of buttons regardless of the state of the consumer electronic device;
- the received one or more signals are generated by the remote control device according to user interaction with the remote control device;
- and
- the bridge device generates and transmits the signal to the consumer electronic device.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.