Automatic updates to a remote control device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016358461-A1
Application number	US-201615240855-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 18, 2016
Priority date	Jul 23, 2010
Publication date	Dec 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method includes detecting that a particular media device is communicatively coupled to one or more media devices in a set of media devices; in response to detecting that the particular media device is communicatively coupled to the one or more media devices in the set of media devices: automatically sending one or more remote operating codes, for remotely controlling the particular media device, to a remote control device.

First claim

1 . A method comprising:
receiving, by a remote control device, user input for a yet-to-be-determined user command directed to a target media device; requesting, by the remote control device to a first media device, current state information of the target media device; receiving, by the remote control device from the first media device, the current state information of the target media device; based on the current state information of the target media device, determining the user command corresponding to the user input; transmitting, by the remote control device to the target media device, a remote control signal with the user command to the target media device.

2 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein transmitting, by the remote control device to the target media device, a remote control signal with the user command to the target media device comprises transmitting an infrared signal.

3 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein transmitting, by the remote control device to the target media device, a remote control signal with the user command to the target media device comprises transmitting a Bluetooth signal.

4 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein transmitting, by the remote control device to the target media device, a remote control signal with the user command to the target media device comprises the remote control device transmitting at least one of an infrared signal, Ethernet signal, a Wi-Fi signal, or HDMI CEC signal.

5 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first media device automatically selects the target media device associated with the user command based on context information.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first media device and the target media device are in a set of media devices that are communicatively coupled with at least one other device in the set of media devices.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the remote control device detecting the target media device in a wireless local area network.

8 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform:
receiving, by a remote control device, user input for a yet-to-be-determined user command directed to a target media device; requesting, by the remote control device to a first media device, current state information of the target media device; receiving, by the remote control device from the first media device, the current state information of the target media device; based on the current state information of the target media device, determining the user command corresponding to the user input; transmitting, by the remote control device to the target media device, a remote control signal with the user command to the target media device.

9 . The medium as recited in claim 8 , wherein transmitting, by the remote control device to the target media device, a remote control signal with the user command to the target media device comprises transmitting an infrared signal.

10 . The medium as recited in claim 8 , wherein transmitting, by the remote control device to the target media device, a remote control signal with the user command to the target media device comprises transmitting a Bluetooth signal.

11 . The medium as recited in claim 8 , wherein transmitting, by the remote control device to the target media device, a remote control signal with the user command to the target media device comprises the remote control device transmitting at least one of an infrared signal, Ethernet signal, a Wi-Fi signal, or HDMI CEC signal.

12 . The medium as recited in claim 8 , wherein the first media device automatically selects the target media device associated with the user command based on context information.

13 . The medium as recited in claim 8 , wherein the first media device and the target media device are in a set of media devices that are communicatively coupled with at least one other device in the set of media devices.

14 . The medium as recited in claim 8 , wherein the instructions comprise further instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to detect, by the remote control device, the target media device in a wireless local area network.

15 . An apparatus comprising:
one or more processors; a non-transitory storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform: receiving, by a remote control device, user input for a yet-to-be-determined user command directed to a target media device; requesting, by the remote control device to a first media device, current state information of the target media device; receiving, by the remote control device from the first media device, the current state information of the target media device; based on the current state information of the target media device, determining the user command corresponding to the user input; transmitting, by the remote control device to the target media device, a remote control signal with the user command to the target media device.

16 . The apparatus as recited in claim 15 , wherein transmitting, by the remote control device to the target media device, a remote control signal with the user command to the target media device comprises transmitting an infrared signal.

17 . The apparatus as recited in claim 15 , wherein transmitting, by the remote control device to the target media device, a remote control signal with the user command to the target media device comprises transmitting a Bluetooth signal.

18 . The apparatus as recited in claim 15 , wherein transmitting, by the remote control device to the target media device, a remote control signal with the user command to the target media device comprises the remote control device transmitting at least one of an infrared signal, Ethernet signal, a Wi-Fi signal, or HDMI CEC signal.

19 . The apparatus as recited in claim 15 , wherein the first media device automatically selects the target media device associated with the user command based on context information.

20 . The apparatus as recited in claim 15 , wherein the first media device and the target media device are in a set of media devices that are communicatively coupled with at least one other device in the set of media devices.

21 . The apparatus as recited in claim 15 , wherein the instructions comprise further instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to detect, by the remote control device, the target media device in a wireless local area network.

Assignees

• Tivo Inc

Inventors

• Patel Mukesh
• Logan Jonathan
• Gharaat Amir
• Lee Richard
• Hsu Roger
• Ponjatowski Robert
• Lee Anthony

Classifications

• G08C17/02 Primary

  using a radio link · CPC title

• G08C2201/92

  Universal remote control · CPC title

• G08C2201/40

  Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways · CPC title

• G08C2201/20

  Binding and programming of remote control devices · CPC title

• G08C2201/50

  Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices · CPC title