Patents Assigned to Universal Electronics Inc.
  • System and method for configuration of network-capable appliances
    Patent number: 9906376
    Abstract: A first device and a second device are placed into communication via use of a first communications link and, in response, the first device and the second device exchange data via use of the first communications link to thereby configure the first device to receive communications from the second device via use of a second communications link different than the first communications link. In this manner, the second device can be used to transmit commands to control functional operations of the first device via use of the second communications link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Negron, Patrick H. Hayes
  • System and method for reconfiguration of an entertainment system controlling device
    Patent number: 9883226
    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: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Paul D. Arling, Patrick H. Hayes
  • Selecting a picture of a device to identify an associated codeset
    Patent number: 9870123
    Abstract: A home entertainment device eliminates the need to use multiple remotes. The device is connected (by wired and/or wireless links) to electronic consumer devices (ECDs) to be controlled. A user uses a portable display device to view pages served by the device, and thereby to communicate with the device and indirectly control the ECDs. In a first aspect, a HDMI-CEC communication is used to identify a codeset from a codeset database. In a second aspect, the codeset of a remote is identified by serving pictures of remotes to the user. The user selects a picture and the system looks up its codeset. In a third aspect, keys on an illustration of a remote are dragged and dropped to create a new custom remote. In a fourth aspect, the user supplies a digital photograph of a remote. The system performs optical recognition and identifies the type of remote and its codeset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Pope, Raymond O. Chock, Norman G. Sheridan
  • Controlling device with selectively illuminated user interfaces
    Patent number: 9864451
    Abstract: A controlling device using a source of energy, such as light energy, to provide the controlling device with a user interface having multiple, different visual appearances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Alejandro Garfio, Cesar Alvarado
  • System and methods for enhanced remote control functionality
    Patent number: 9852616
    Abstract: A hand-held device having a touch sensitive surface uses a relative distance from an origin location to each of a plurality of touch zones of the touch sensitive surface activated by a user to select a one of the plurality of touch zones as being intended for activation by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Arsham Hatambeiki, Jeffrey Kohanek, Naimisaranya D. Busek
  • Star cluster codeset database for universal remote control devices
    Patent number: 9852618
    Abstract: A keycode data structure includes a device type byte, a set of keycodes, system code information, a system data byte, a protocol pointer that points to a protocol table and a number of flagbytes that are used to index a particular key among the keycodes. The keycode data structure also contains a plurality of keycode data structure pointers (KDSPs). Keycode data structures are linked together using KDSPs. A special value in the keycode data structure is used to indicate that the keycode data structure contains multiple KDSPs. The number of pointers is stored in a particular location of the keycode data structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Oscar C. Miramontes
  • System and method for facilitating appliance control via a smart device
    Patent number: 9852615
    Abstract: A bridge device, in communication with a smart device, functions to command one or more controllable appliances in response to communications received from the smart device. The bridge device also includes input elements by which the bridge device can be used to directly command common functional operations of the one or more controllable appliances. In this manner, common functional operations, such as volume control, playback pause/resume control, etc., may be made readily available without necessitating the use of the smart device, while the more sophisticated GUI provided by the smart device remote control app may be advantageously utilized when more complex or less frequently used command functions are to be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jesus Perez, Joven Jubilo, Rex Xu, Jeffrey Kohanek
  • Graphical user interface and data transfer methods in a controlling device
    Patent number: 9851879
    Abstract: A smart device is provided with a main remote control application that may be configured using information. The main remote control application may present images of original remote controls corresponding to devices which are controllable by the configured main remote control application. In connection with a presented image of an original remote control, the display may present icons that are representative of a subset of the buttons of the original remote control. The user interface also allows a user to select amongst the images of the original remote controls to change which appliances are to be controlled via the user interface. A pop-up remote control widget may also be provided which may be invoked without switching to the main remote control application provisioned on the smart device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Marcel Hilbrink, Rex Xu, Cesar Alvarado, Paul D. Arling, Patrick H. Hayes
  • System and method for voice actuated configuration of a controlling device
    Patent number: 9847083
    Abstract: A speech recognition engine is provided voice data indicative of at least a brand of a target appliance. The speech recognition engine uses the voice data indicative of at least a brand of the target appliance to identify within a library of codesets at least one codeset that is cross-referenced to the brand of the target appliance. The at least one codeset so identified is then caused to be provisioned to the controlling device for use in commanding functional operations of the target appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Lim
  • System and method for optimized appliance control
    Patent number: 9842492
    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: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Paul D. Arling
  • System and method for reconfiguration of an entertainment system controlling device
    Patent number: 9826266
    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: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Paul D. Arling, Patrick H. Hayes
  • System and method for automatically setting up a universal remote control
    Patent number: 9818293
    Abstract: A system and method for configuring a remote control to command the operation of appliances, to capture demographic data, and to provide services, such as automated warranty registration, instructions, viewing guides, etc., relevant to the appliances is provided. The system includes a database and associated server that are located remotely from the remote control and accessible via a network connection. Command codes, graphical user interface elements, and services are accessed and downloaded to the remote control, as appropriate, using data supplied to the server that identifies the appliances and/or functional capabilities of the appliances. This data can be supplied by the appliances directly or can be obtained from other sources such as barcode labels, network devices, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick H. Hayes, James N. Conway, Jr., Robert P. Lilleness, Paul D. Arling
  • System and method for provision of appliance control functionality to a smart device
    Patent number: 9813543
    Abstract: A system for use in issuing commands to a plurality of appliances each of a specific one of a plurality of different appliance types includes a smart device adapted to transmit command communications and a plurality of low-energy consuming controllers each adapted to transmit a command to a one of the plurality of appliances of a specific one of the plurality of different appliance types in response to receipt of a command communication originating from the smart device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Brandt Thompson, Patrick H. Hayes
  • Graphical user interface and data transfer methods in a controlling device
    Patent number: 9804757
    Abstract: A smart device is provided with a main remote control application that may be configured using information obtained from a QR code. The main remote control application may present images of original remote controls corresponding to devices which are controllable by the configured main remote control application. In connection with a presented image of an original remote control, the display may present icons that are representative of a subset of the buttons of the original remote control. The user interface also allows a user to select amongst the images of the original remote controls to change which appliances are to be controlled via the user interface. A pop-up remote control widget may also be provided which may be invoked without switching to the main remote control application provisioned on the smart device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Marcel Hilbrink, Rex Xu, Cesar Alvarado, Paul D. Arling, Patrick H. Hayes
  • System and method for widget-assisted setup of a universal remote control
    Patent number: 9805591
    Abstract: A system and method for enabling set up of a controlling device capable of controlling a plurality of appliances provides an interactive instruction set and associated programming which is downloadable to a controllable appliance having an associated display, such as an Internet enabled television. The programming is accessible by the controllable appliance and is configured to appropriately display interactive instructions from the interactive instruction set to a user during a user initiated set up procedure for setting up the controlling device to communicate commands to another controllable device (e.g., a DVD, VCR, DVR, etc).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Lee Haughawout, Arsham Hatambeiki, Paul Ogaz, Jeffrey Kohanek
  • System and method for optimized appliance control
    Patent number: 9800818
    Abstract: A device receives a request from a controlling device, such as a remote control, smart phone, or the like, where the request is intended to have one or more target devices perform one or more functional operations. The device responds to the request by applying the optimum methodology to propagate one or more commands to each intended target appliance to cause each intended target appliance to perform the intended one or more functional operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Paul D. Arling, Brian Barnett, Dan N. McKay
  • Interactive web-based codeset selection and development tool
    Patent number: 9792133
    Abstract: A web server uses selection criteria for identifying an electronic consumer device to identify a codeset likely to be appropriate for communicating with the electronic consumer device and data indicative of at least one code of the identified codeset is provided to a remote control device whereupon the data indicative of the at least one code of the identified codeset is automatically activated by the remote control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Lee, Oscar C. Miramontes, Daniel SauFu Mui
  • System and method for using image data in connection with configuring a universal controlling device
    Patent number: 9762647
    Abstract: Data indicative of an object of interest is received at a recognition system having an associated database in which is stored data for a plurality of reference objects each of which is cross-referenced to configuration information for a universal controlling device. The reference system uses the received data and the data for the plurality of reference objects to discern one or more reference objects as being a match for the object of interest. At least a subset of the configuration information that has been cross-referenced to the one or more reference objects discerned by the recognition system as being a match for the object of interest is then used to configure the universal controlling device to enable the universal controlling device to communicate commands to one or more target appliances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Lim, Joseph Lee Haughawout
  • System and method for controlling device location determination
    Patent number: 9754480
    Abstract: A controlling device such as a remote control has programming for transmitting a signal response to a plurality of control environments, each environment including a signaling device. Each signaling device in receipt of the signal request sends a signal response having a unique ID which is chosen to be characteristically attenuated by the surroundings of the environment. Because the controlling device can only be in one environment at a given time, and given the attenuation characteristics of the signal response from each signaling device, only one signal response will be received by the controlling device in each environment. Location definitions associated with the received unique ID may be used by programming in the controlling device to recall saved devices states, commands sets, macros, and even to dynamically generate commands based on the location information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Paul D. Arling
  • System and method for saving and recalling state data for media and home appliances
    Patent number: 9749694
    Abstract: A set of media playback and device settings data from each home appliance of a first set of home appliances is stored on a central server and/or sent to a remote control device upon initiation of a suspend command by a user. The stored media and devices states may be used at a later time to control the first set of home appliances, or a user may, after relocating to a second set of home appliances, initiate a resume state command whereupon media playback and device settings data from the central server and/or remote control device controls each home appliance in the second set of home appliances to bring about the same or substantially similar media and device states as in the first set of home appliances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Paul D. Arling, Christopher Chambers, Wayne Scott, Mark Momot