Automatic updates to a remote control device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9424738-B2
Application number	US-201213420562-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2012
Priority date	Jul 23, 2010
Publication date	Aug 23, 2016
Grant date	Aug 23, 2016

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

The invention claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
detecting that a particular media device is newly communicatively coupled to one or more media devices in a set of media devices, the one or more media devices being controlled by a remote control device;
in response to detecting that the particular media device is newly communicatively coupled to the one or more media devices in the set of media devices, a media device in the set of media devices performing:
automatically sending one or more remote operating codes, for remotely controlling the particular media device, to the remote control device;
automatically detecting a user interface stored on the particular media device;
transmitting the user interface to the remote control device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each device in the set of media devices is communicatively coupled with at least one other device in the set of media devices, and the step of detecting is responsive to the particular media device establishing a communication channel with the one or more media devices in the set of media devices.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the remote control operating codes are sent to the remote control device via Bluetooth.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein automatically sending the one or more operating codes is further in response to the remote control device periodically polling at least one media device in the set of media devices for remote operating codes for remotely controlling any device that has been newly communicatively coupled to the set of devices.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein in response to detecting that the particular media device is newly communicatively coupled to the one or more media devices in the set of media devices, physical buttons on the remote control device are reconfigured to operate features associated with the particular media device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is performed by a media device in the set of media devices.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting one or more new features associated with the particular media device;
responsive to detecting the one or more new features, automatically configuring the remote control device for selecting the one or more new features.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the detecting the one or more new features is performed by the particular media device or by one or more media devices in the set of media devices.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the detecting the one or more new features is performed by the remote control device at least in part by: the remote control device polling the particular media device or at least one media device in the set of media devices.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein automatically configuring the remote control device comprises the remote control device requesting remote operating codes, from the particular media device or at least one media device in the set of media devices, for selecting the one or more new features.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein automatically configuring the remote control device comprises sending, by the particular media device or at least one device in the set of media devices, remote operating codes for selecting the one or more new features.

12. A computer readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause performance of steps comprising:
detecting that a particular media device is newly communicatively coupled to one or more media devices in a set of media devices, the one or more media devices being controlled by a remote control device;
in response to detecting that the particular media device is newly communicatively coupled to the one or more media devices in the set of media devices, a media device in the set of media devices performing:
automatically sending one or more remote operating codes, for remotely controlling the particular media device, to the remote control device;
automatically detecting a user interface stored on the particular media device;
transmitting the user interface to the remote control device.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 12 , wherein each device in the set of media devices is communicatively coupled with at least one other device in the set of media devices, and the step of detecting is responsive to the particular media device establishing a communication channel with the one or more media devices in the set of media devices.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the remote control operating codes are sent to the remote control device via Bluetooth.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 12 , wherein automatically sending the one or more operating codes is further in response to the remote control device periodically polling at least one media device in the set of media devices for remote operating codes for remotely controlling any device that has been newly communicatively coupled to the set of devices.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 12 , wherein in response to detecting that the particular media device is newly communicatively coupled to the one or more media devices in the set of media devices, physical buttons on the remote control device are reconfigured to operate features associated with the particular media device.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the method is performed by a media device in the set of media devices.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 12 , further comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause performance of steps comprising:
detecting one or more new features associated with the particular media device;
responsive to detecting the one or more new features, automatically configuring the remote control device for selecting the one or more new features.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the detecting the one or more new features is performed by the particular media device or by one or more media devices in the set of media devices.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the detecting the one or more new features is performed by the remote control device at least in part by: the remote control device polling the particular media device or at least one media device in the set of media devices.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 18 , wherein automatically configuring the remote control device comprises the remote control device requesting remote operating codes, from the particular media device or at least one media device in the set of media devices, for selecting the one or more new features.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 18 , wherein automatically configuring the remote control device comprises sending, by the particular media device or at least one device in the set of media devices, remote operating codes for selecting the one or more new features.

23. An apparatus comprising:
one or more subsystems, implemented at least partially in hardware, that perform the steps of:
detecting that a particular media device is newly communicatively coupled to one or more media devices in a set of media devices, the one or more media devices being controlled by a remote control device;
in response to detecting that the particular media device is newly communicatively coupled to the one or more media devices in the set of media devices, a media device in the set of media devices performing:
automatically sending one or more remote operating codes, for remotel

Assignees

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

Inventors

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

Classifications

• G08C17/00 Primary

  Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link · CPC title

• G08C2201/50

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

• G08C2201/20

  Binding and programming of remote control devices · CPC title

• G08C2201/40

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

• G08C2201/92

  Universal remote control · CPC title