Patents Assigned to Universal Electronics Inc.
  • Patent number: 11922431
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method carried out by a content-presentation device may include transmitting a consent-processing request, including an identifier string unique to the device, to a consent management platform disposed in a computing cloud. The string may be used to establish an interactive session for user selection of consent options associated with a consent package having consent features of a media distribution system that require user consent for activation on the device. The consent package may be one of multiple consent packages targeted for the device by the consent management platform. The interactive session may prompt for consent choices of consent options, each choice being acceptance or rejection of consent to activating features of the consent package. The consent choices may be provided to the consent management platform via the interactive session, and corresponding information may be stored in a device-based activation whitelist for each consent-to feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Paul Johnson, Peter William Ellison, Matthew Jorgensen, George Earl Harvey, Kurt Roman Thielen
  • Patent number: 11922940
    Abstract: A first data that identifies a first device is used to identify within a data store a one or more capabilities of the first device. When a voice input having one or more keywords that have been pre-associated within the data store to an operational problem associated with at least the first device is received, a system causes a state of at least the first device at a time at which the voice input is received to be identified, causes the one or more keywords, the one or more capabilities of the first device, and the state of at least the first device to be used to identify within the data store a set of instructions for interacting with at least the first device to solve the operational problem, and causes the set of instructions to be presented to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Arsham Hatambeiki
  • Patent number: 11900794
    Abstract: A system and method for enabling set up of a controlling device capable of controlling a plurality of appliances, via an interactive instruction set and associated programming. The programming is accessible by a STB or other controllable appliance and is configured to appropriately display interactive instructions and prompts to a user during a user initiated set up procedure for configuration of another controllable device (e.g., DVD, VCR, DVR, etc) available to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Lee Haughawout, Patrick H. Hayes
  • Patent number: 11887469
    Abstract: In response to a detected presence of an intended target appliance within a logical topography of controllable appliances identity information associated with the intended target appliance is used to automatically add to a graphical user interface of a controlling device an icon representative of the intended target appliance and to create at a Universal Control Engine a listing of communication methods for use in controlling corresponding functional operations of the intended target appliance. When the icon is later activated, the controlling device is placed into an operating state appropriate for controlling functional operations of the intended target appliance while the Universal Control Engine uses at least one of the communication methods to transmit at least one command to place the intended target appliance into a predetermined operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Paul D. Arling, Brian Barnett
  • Patent number: 11889142
    Abstract: A configurable input element of a controlling device is configured by using a data representative of an over-the-top (OTT) media app determined to be installed on an OTT device and a data representative of the OTT device to identify at least one command that is required to be transmitted to cause the OTT device to launch the OTT media app. The at least one command is provisioned to the controlling device and assigned to the configurable input element. When the input element is subsequently activated, the controlling device will transmit the at least one command to cause the OTT device to launch the OTT media app.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Hascher, Menno Koopmans
  • Patent number: 11868588
    Abstract: A browser device communicates via Wi-Fi with a central function device. The function device has information regarding all the various remote controls needed by the consumer. The function device communicates wirelessly with the browser device and in turn then operates all of the consumer's electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Pope, Raymond O. Chock, Norman G. Sheridan
  • Patent number: 11862010
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and method is described for controlling one or more consumer electronic devices that is performed by a smart device. The smart device causes one or more graphical elements, each for performing a particular operation to be displayed. The smart device then causes an action to be performed when the user selects one of the graphical elements, for example by pressing one of the keys on the universal controlling device or by speaking a command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Rex Xu, Jesus Perez, Jon Gallegos
  • Patent number: 11849169
    Abstract: A programming access device such as, for example, a cable or satellite set top box (STB), a digital video recorder (DVR), a personal computer, and/or a digital media receiver automatically optimizes an order of content choices presented in a content listing, such as a program guide display, favorite channel display, and/or a recording listing display based on the past viewing and/or recording history of an identified user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Bhuvanesh Prabhu, Anurag Thakur
  • Patent number: 11830957
    Abstract: A controlling device has at least a light-based energy harvesting system disposed within the controlling device housing. The light-based energy harvesting system is operative to supply power to at least one of a processing device and a transmitter of the controlling device. The light-based energy harvesting system includes s a substrate having a photovoltaic (PV) active area, a lens disposed over the PV active area, and a mask associated with the lens. The mask provides a finishing to a surface of the lens that functions to allow light to reach the PV active area through the mask while blending the light-based energy harvesting system into the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Rex Xu, Ara Gharapetian
  • Patent number: 11825147
    Abstract: An entertainment device initiates a configuration process of a controlling device in response to a change in an audio visual entertainment system configuration in which at least one of a plurality devices is connected to the entertainment device as an audio and/or visual source and at least one of the plurality of devices is connected to the entertainment device as an audio and/or visual output destination for the entertainment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Paul D. Arling, Patrick H. Hayes
  • Patent number: 11817965
    Abstract: A listing of each of the plurality of appliances is used, with reference to a command and/or protocol database, to configure a software agent to exchange communications, via a one or more communication channels, with each of the plurality of appliances. An action triggering state of at least one of the plurality of appliances is associated with an action. The action is performed when it is determined that a current state of the at least one of the plurality of appliances corresponds to the action triggering state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Arsham Hatambeiki, Paul D. Arling
  • Patent number: 11812097
    Abstract: A first appliance receives from a second controllable appliance a command for causing the first controllable appliance to be placed into a state and, in response, determines a trust level of the second controllable appliance. When it is determined that the second controllable appliance is trustworthy, the first controllable appliance executes the command. When it is determined that the second controllable appliance is untrustworthy, the first controllable appliance ignores the command. Otherwise, the first controllable appliance enters into a state in which the first controllable appliance waits for at least a predetermined period of time for a user to confirm whether or not the first controllable appliance should be caused to execute the command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Arsham Hatambeiki
  • Patent number: 11812111
    Abstract: A controlling device is provided with the ability to present personalized program guide information by using personal preferences provided to a home computing device. The personal preferences are used to filter program guide data received at the home computing device whereby the program guide data will include only programming information for user-specified sources of programming for each of plural, different user-specified periods of time. The filtered program guide data is then downloaded to the controlling device from the home computing device for use in connection with an application of the controlling device that functions to display program guide information within a display of the controlling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Paul D. Arling, Patrick H. Hayes
  • Patent number: 11808474
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for summarizing and conveying expected thermal responses is described. Expected thermal responses of a room or an entire structure are calculated based on thermostat setpoints. The expected thermal responses are summarized into an expected thermal response visualization and displayed to a user for easy understanding of current, and future, temperature expectations before or as a room or entire structure is heated or cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Rex Xu, Dai Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11803298
    Abstract: A system for use in controlling operating functions of a controllable device includes a hand-held device and an intermediate device in communication with the hand-held device and the controllable device. The hand-held device is adapted to receive a gesture based input and to transmit a signal having data representative of the gesture based input. The intermediate device has programming for translating the data representative of the gesture based input in a signal received from the hand-held device into a command signal to be communicated to the controllable device wherein the command signal has a format appropriate for controlling an operating function of the controllable device that is associated with the gesture based input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Negron, Patrick H. Hayes
  • Patent number: 11792466
    Abstract: A codeset having function-code combinations is provisioned on a controlling device to control functions of an intended target device. Input is provided to the controlling device which designates a function to be controlled on the intended target device. From a plurality of codes that are each associated with the designated function in a database stored in a memory of the controlling device a first code that is determined to be valid for use in controlling the designated function on the intended target device is selected. When the codeset is then provisioned on the controlling device, the provisioned codeset includes as a function-code combination thereof the designated function and the first code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: George Vergis, Sunilkumar Mankame
  • Patent number: 11792185
    Abstract: An app installed on a smart device is caused to retrieve from a cloud-server a one-time use code. The one-time use code is then provided to a controllable device and the controllable device is caused to provide the one-time use code back to the smart device. The app causes the one-time use code provided back to the smart device by the controllable device to be authenticated. In response to the one-time use code being authenticated, the controllable device is bound to the app whereupon the controllable device is controllable through use of the app.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Allen Yuh, Haiming Huang, Arsham Hatambeiki, Nicu Ahmadi
  • Patent number: 11790938
    Abstract: A radio frequency connection between a far field voice detection device and a further device is used to determine a first angular direction from the far field voice detection device to the further device. The determined first angular direction is then used to emphasize, during a noise processing of a plurality of sounds received via use of a plurality of microphones of the far field voice detection device, a first one of the plurality of sounds relative to a remainder of the plurality of sounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Haiming Huang, Michael Courtney, Jan van Ee, Khanh Nguyen, Jeremy Mickelsen, Arsham Hatambeiki
  • Patent number: 11790769
    Abstract: A universal remote control (URC) is programmed to control a particular type and make of electronic consumer device using a graphical user interface. A plurality of images is displayed on the user-interface. Each image of the plurality of images is a digital photograph of an electronic consumer device or a remote control device usable to control the corresponding electronic consumer device. A user selects the digital photograph of the particular type and make of electronic consumer device or its corresponding remote control device. Codeset information associated with the selected device is transmitted to the URC such that the URC is programmed to control the selected device. If the codeset information is a codeset identifier, then it is displayed on the user interface. The user enters the codeset identifier into the URC such that the URC is programmed to control the selected device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel SauFu Mui
  • Patent number: 11788756
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for remote control of a thermostat by a network-based server, when the thermostat is not connected to a local or wide-area network. A network-based server calculates a modified temperature profile for a thermostat based on a utility's time-of-use pricing and/or weather forecasts. After the server has calculated the modified temperature profile, it is provided to a mobile device via a wide-area network, and the mobile device provides the modified temperature profile directly to the thermostat when the mobile device is within range of the thermostat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Michael Hoffman