Multi-function remote control device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9786159-B2
Application number	US-84296610-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 23, 2010
Priority date	Jul 23, 2010
Publication date	Oct 10, 2017
Grant date	Oct 10, 2017

Abstract

In an embodiment, a method for operating a target media device is described. The method includes receiving a user command by a remote control device for operating a target media device, where a signal to operate the target media device is not stored on the remote control device when the user command is received. Data associated with the user command is transmitted by the remote control device to a second media device and signal information, associated with the signal to operate the target media device, is received by the remote control device from the second media device. The signal to operate the target media device is transmitted by the remote control device to the target media device, where the target media device performs a function based on the signal received from the remote control device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
receiving, by a remote control device, a user command;
transmitting, by the remote control device to a first media device, information associated with the user command, the user command transmitted by the remote control device being directed to a target media device that is unspecified in the information associated with the user command but that is to be identified by the first media device;
receiving, by the remote control device from the first media device, signal information associated with a signal to operate the target media device, the first media device automatically selecting the target media device associated with the user command based on an operation state of the target media device determined by the first media device;
transmitting, by the remote control device to the target media device, the signal to operate the target media device.

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

3. 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.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first media device automatically selects the target media device based on one or more user commands previously received from the remote control device.

5. A method comprising:
receiving, by a first media device from a remote control device, data associated with a user command received by the remote control device, the user command transmitted by the remote control device being directed to a target media device that is unspecified in the information associated with the user command but that is to be identified by the first media device;
automatically selecting, at the first media device, the target media device associated with the user command based on an operation state of the target media device determined by the first media device;
transmitting, to the remote control device, a signal to operate the target media device based on the user command.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 , wherein transmitting the signal to operate the target media device comprises the first media device transmitting at least one of an infrared signal, Ethernet signal, a Wi-Fi signal, or High-Definition Multimedia Interface Consumer Electronics Control (HDMI CEC) signal.

7. The method as recited in claim 5 , wherein the automatic selection of the target media device associated with the user command is based on context information.

8. An apparatus comprising:
a subsystem, implemented at least partially in hardware on a remote control device, that receives a user command;
a subsystem, implemented at least partially in hardware on the remote control device, that transmits to a first media device, information associated with the user command, the user command transmitted by the remote control device being directed to a target media device that is unspecified in the information associated with the user command but that is to be identified by the first media device;
a subsystem, implemented at least partially in hardware on the remote control device, that receives, from the first media device, signal information associated with a signal to operate a target media device, the first media device automatically selecting the target media device associated with the user command based on an operation state of the target media device determined by the first media device;
a subsystem, implemented at least partially in hardware on the remote control device, that transmits, to the target media device, the signal to operate the target media device.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 , wherein the subsystem that that transmits information associated with the user command to the first media device transmits the information associated with the user command as a Bluetooth signal.

10. The apparatus 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.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 , wherein the first media device automatically selects the target media device based on one or more user commands previously received from the remote control device.

12. An apparatus comprising:
a subsystem, implemented at least partially in hardware, that receives, by a first media device from a remote control device, data associated with a user command received by the remote control device, the user command transmitted by the remote control device being directed to a target media device that is unspecified in the information associated with the user command but that is to be identified by the first media device;
a subsystem, implemented at least partially in hardware, that automatically selects, at the first media device, a target media device associated with the user command based on an operation state of the target media device determined by the first media device;
a subsystem, implemented at least partially in hardware, that transmits to the remote control device, a signal to operate the target media device based on the user command.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12 , wherein the signal to operate the target media device comprises at least one of an infrared signal, Ethernet signal, a Wi-Fi signal, or High-Definition Multimedia Interface Consumer Electronics Control (HDMI CEC) signal.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 12 , wherein the automatic selection of the target media device associated with the user command is based on context information.

15. A computer readable storage medium comprising instructions, which when executed by one or more processors, performs steps comprising:
receiving, by a remote control device, a user command; transmitting, by the remote control device to a first media device, information associated with the user command, the user command transmitted by the remote control device being directed to a target media device that is unspecified in the information associated with the user command but that is to be identified by the first media device;
receiving, by the remote control device from the first media device, signal information associated with a signal to operate a target media device, the first media device automatically selecting the target media device associated with the user command based on an operation state of the target media device determined by the first media device;
transmitting, by the remote control device to the target media device, the signal to operate the target media device.

16. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 15 , wherein transmitting the information associated with the user command by the remote control device to the first media device comprises transmitting a Bluetooth signal.

17. The computer readable storage medium 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.

18. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 15 , wherein the first media device automatically selects the target media device based on one or more user commands previously received from the remote control device.

19. A computer readable storage medium comprising instructions, which when executed by one or more processors, performs steps comprising:
receiving, by a first media de

Assignees

• Patel Mukesh K
• Logan Jonathan A
• Gharaat Amir
• Lee Richard
• Hsu Roger
• Poniatowski Robert
• Lee Anthony P
• Tivo Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Patel Mukesh K
• Logan Jonathan A
• Gharaat Amir
• Lee Richard
• Hsu Roger
• Poniatowski Robert
• Lee Anthony P

Classifications

• G06F17/30554

  Physics · mapped topic

• 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