Patents Assigned to Universal Electronics Inc.
  • 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
  • System and method for configuration of a controlling device to enable selection of media streams
    Patent number: 9736523
    Abstract: A controlling device has a configurable key. An overlay, such as a sticker, is provided to the configurable key and includes an indicia representative of media content and machine readable data indicative of an identity of the media content represented by the indicia. A memory of the controlling device stores a correspondence between the configurable key and data indicative of a source of the media content. Upon activation of configured, configurable key, the controlling device uses select command codes from a library of command codes and the correspondence between the configurable key and the data indicative of the source of the media content to transmit one or more commands for causing one or more appliances to access the source of the media content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy K. Black, Patrick H. Hayes
  • Features for use with a multi-sided controlling device
    Patent number: 9734707
    Abstract: A multi-sided controlling device automatically makes keys on one or more sides of the controlling device active as a function of an operating mode of the controlling device. One or more sides of such a multi-sided controlling device may also have at least one keycap behind which is positioned an IR transmitter usable when another side of the controlling device is active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Joven Jubilo, Cesar Alvarado, Linh Do, Rex Xu
  • User interface for a remote control application
    Patent number: 9733804
    Abstract: A hand-held electronic device having a remote control application user interface that functions to displays operational mode information to a user. The graphical user interface may be used, for example, to setup the remote control application to control appliances for one or more users in one or more rooms, to perform activities, and to access favorites. The remote control application is also adapted to be upgradeable. Furthermore, the remote control application provides for the sharing of operational mode information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Steve LanPing Huang, Cheryl Scott, Wayne Scott
  • System and method for appliance control via a personal communication or entertainment device
    Patent number: 9727234
    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: October 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Negron, Patrick H. Hayes
  • System and method for retrieving information while commanding operation of an appliance
    Patent number: 9727213
    Abstract: When a command key of a controlling platform is activated, the platform performs an operation to initiate a playing of media content and also initiates the retrieval of information from an information source. The information retrieved is related to the media content and is displayed in a display of the controlling platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Lilleness, Han-Sheng Yuh, Weidong William Wang, Wayne Scott
  • System and method for flexible configuration of a controlling device
    Patent number: 9720575
    Abstract: A system and method whereby an user interface editing device is used to create a user interface for a controlling device, the created user interface including user interface elements that are associated with functional operations of a virtual equivalent of an appliance. After the created user interface is transferred to the controlling device, the virtual equivalent of an appliance is caused to be linked to an intended target appliance whereupon activation of those user interface elements of the graphical user interface that were associated with functional operations of the virtual equivalent of an appliance will cause the controlling device to transmit commands to control corresponding functional operations of the intended target appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Arsham Hatambeiki, Christopher A. Chambers, Han-Sheng Yuh, Steven Clegg
  • Graphical user interface and data transfer methods in a controlling device
    Patent number: 9720580
    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: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Marcel Hilbrink, Rex Xu, Cesar Alvarado, Paul D. Arling, Patrick H. Hayes
  • System and method for optimized appliance control
    Patent number: 9716853
    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: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Paul D. Arling, Ramzi Ammari, Arsham Hatambeiki, Graham Williams
  • Automatic determination and retrieval of a favorite channel
    Patent number: 9712875
    Abstract: A consumer electronic device tracks the current channel to which the electronic consumer device is tuned. The consumer electronic device determines an amount of time that the current channel remains unchanged. Based at least in part on this amount of time, the consumer electronic device determines whether the current channel should be stored as a favorite channel. When the consumer electronic device subsequently receives a favorite channel command, the consumer electronic device is caused to tune to the favorite channel that is currently stored in memory. Changing user preferences are thus automatically accommodated without manual intervention, resulting in an effortless user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Ramaiah Satish
  • System and method for creating and utilizing metadata regarding the structure of program content
    Patent number: 9711185
    Abstract: Metadata is created in connection with an editing of a copy of a digital media for the purpose of generating a sample of the digital media, such as a ringtone generated from a song. The metadata is published and is retrievable for use in editing another copy of the digital media to automatically recreate the media sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Negron, Patrick H. Hayes, Jeremy K. Black
  • System and method for user monitoring and intent determination
    Patent number: 9706252
    Abstract: Sensing interfaces associated with a home entertainment system are used to automate a system response to events which occur in a viewing area associated with the home entertainment system. Data derived from such sensing interfaces may also be used to enhance the response readiness of one or more system components. Still further, user presence data derived from such sensing interfaces may be used to capture and report user viewing habits and/or preferences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Arsham Hatambeiki, Paul D. Arling
  • Media return system
    Patent number: 9693089
    Abstract: A system includes a consumer electronic device adapted to render a media content and a hand-held, portable device having a touch screen display, a transmitter, a receiver, and a processing unit. The processing unit of the hand-held, portable device uses data related to the media content received via the receiver to cause command icons related to rendering of the media content to be defined and displayed in the touch screen display and to cause the transmitter to transmit one or more commands for controlling a functional operation related to rendering of the media content by the consumer electronic device in response to a user interaction with one or more of the command icons caused to displayed in the touch screen display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Paul D. Arling, Patrick H. Hayes, John E. Hyatt
  • System and method for optimized appliance control
    Patent number: 9693006
    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: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Barnett, Paul D. Arling
  • System and method for upgrading the remote control functionality of a device
    Patent number: 9690263
    Abstract: A system and method for upgrading a remote control application resident on a device. Information identifying a controllable appliance is caused to be uploaded to a remote server device and the uploaded information is used to automatically display user-selectable, downloadable data files relevant to the control of the controllable appliance. Downloaded data files, which may include command codes and/or graphical user interface elements, may be used within the device to upgrade the ability of the remote control application to communicate with the controllable appliance. The information uploaded to the server may also be used to generate demographic data regarding consumer preferences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Han-Sheng Yuh, Weidong William Wang, Patrick H. Hayes, James N. Conway, Jr.
  • Infrared repeater
    Patent number: 9692506
    Abstract: An IR repeater includes a receiver portion for receiving an IR light signal representing a coded command modulated by a modulating signal and a transmitter portion, electrically coupled to the receiver portion to generate an IR light signal corresponding to the coded signal received by the receiver portion. A mounting structure mounts the receiver portion outside an opaque object and mounts the transmitter portion inside the opaque object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Kohanek, Lou Hughes, Cesar Alvarado, Rex Xu
  • System and method for monitoring user interactions with a universal controlling device
    Patent number: 9673925
    Abstract: Usage of a universal controlling device is monitored by determining a current operating mode of the universal controlling device, sensing an event occurring within the universal controlling device, and storing within a memory of the universal controlling device data indicative of the event occurring in the current operating mode of the universal controlling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Prahalladachar Havinal
  • System and methods for interacting with a control environment
    Patent number: 9671936
    Abstract: A system and methods for facilitation of user interactions with an electronic device. A number of user interface methods are described and may be used alone or in combination with one another to present an enhanced interface to a user. A method of providing user interaction using a compact status indicator is described. A method for providing a virtual scroll wheel to a user for interaction with content sets is described. A method for allowing a user to dynamically modify a scalable user interface is described. A method for providing gesture based input to a user via a virtual gesture pad is described. A method of providing an interactive graphic search query interface is described. A method for indicating and selecting available content type is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Chambers, Wayne Scott, Cheryl Scott, Allen Yuh, Paul D. Arling
  • System and method for detecting the removal of a controlling device
    Patent number: 9654824
    Abstract: A system and method for using a controllable appliance to report an inoperable state of a controlling device. The appliance is caused to repeatedly determine, at a first predetermined timed interval, if a wireless notification signal, repeatedly transmitted by the controlling device at a second predetermined timed interval, has been received from the controlling device. When the wireless notification signal has not been received from the controlling device within the first predetermined timed interval, the appliance is caused to issue a status notification that the controlling device is in an inoperable state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Gerben Meijer, Patrick H. Hayes