Abstract: A remote control device communicates remote control discovery information to a receiver. The remote control device is used to control a particular electronic consumer device. The remote control discovery information may, for example, include: a codeset identifier that identifies a codeset stored in the remote control device, device information, diagnostic information, and/or marketing information. The device information may include a device description, and/or device characteristics information that correspond to the electronic consumer device. In one example, the receiver is a set-top box that is connected to a central database through a network. The remote control discovery information may be used to identify the remote control device and the corresponding electronic consumer device. In addition, the remote control discovery information may also be used for diagnostic and marketing purposes.

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.

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.

Abstract: A first controllable 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.

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.

Abstract: A system functions to recommend equipment expansions, additions and/or substitutions; interconnections; supplemental capabilities; features; etc. based upon a knowledge of a consumer's existing audio and/or visual system configuration.

Abstract: A codeset is described in a Public Codeset Communication Format (PCCF) as a format block including a plurality of fields having readily decipherable values, such as ASCII character values. One field is a mark/space information field that includes a sequence of mark time indicators and space time indicators for an operational signal of the codeset. A second field is a signal characteristic information field for the operational signal. Signal characteristic information may include carrier on/off information, repeat frame information, toggle control information, and last frame information. The PCCF is a codeset interchange format of general applicability.

Abstract: A hand-held device has a housing having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, at least one transmitter, a first user interface associated with the top surface of the housing having first user interface input elements which, when active, are actuatable to cause the at least one transmitter to transmit communications to an external device, and a second user interface associated with the bottom surface of the housing having second user interface input elements which, when active, are actuatable to cause the at least one transmitter to transmit communications to an external device. The hand-held device is programmed to selectively make one of the first user interface input elements of the first user interface and the second user interface input elements of the second user interface active while making the other of the first user interface input elements of the first user interface and the second user interface input elements of the second user interface inactive.

Abstract: A system and method for managing a communication link between a consumer electronic device adapted for two-way, wireless communications with at least one peripheral. The communication link is managed using a controller that is associated with the consumer electronic device that functions to assign communication slots to the peripheral to facilitate communications between the peripheral and the consumer electronic device.

Abstract: A system and method used to configure a smart device to command functional operations of a target appliance. The smart device retrieves from a controllable appliance, such as a settop box, data indicative of a codeset identity of the target appliance wherein the codeset identity was determined during a process used to configure a conventional universal remote control to command functional operations of the target appliance and wherein the process used to configure the conventional universal remote control is performed in cooperation with the controllable appliance. A remote control application resident on the smart device then uses the data indicative of the codeset identity retrieved from the controllable appliance to also configure the smart device to command functional operations of the target appliance.

Abstract: An adapter provides a link between a digital media player having a memory on which is stored digital media files, a display device, and a remote control. The adapter receives from the digital media player data which is used to generate a representation of a user interface which is provided to the display device for display. The adapter also receives from the remote control data for use in generating commands for controlling operations of the digital media player whereby a change in state of the digital media player resulting from a performance of an operation caused by the remote control will be reflected in the user interface on the display device.

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.

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.

Abstract: A method for optimizing memory usage in a device having a universal controlling application includes receiving into the device data for use in configuring the universal controlling application wherein the data is used to identify from within a library of command code sets stored in a memory of the device a command code set that is appropriate for use in commanding functional operations of the appliance and causing a non-identified one or more of the command code sets of the library of command code sets stored in the memory of the device to be discarded to thereby create freed space in the memory of the device.

Abstract: A system and method used to configure a smart device to command functional operations of a target appliance. The smart device retrieves from a controllable appliance, such as a settop box, data indicative of a codeset identity of the target appliance wherein the codeset identity was determined during a process used to configure a conventional universal remote control to command functional operations of the target appliance and wherein the process used to configure the conventional universal remote control is performed in cooperation with the controllable appliance. A remote control application resident on the smart device then uses the data indicative of the codeset identity retrieved from the controllable appliance to also configure the smart device to command functional operations of the target appliance.

Abstract: A hand-held device with a sensor for providing a signal indicative of a position of the hand-held device relative to an object surface enables power to the sensor at a first time interval when the hand-held device is indicated to be in a position that is stationary and adjacent relative to the object surface, enables power to the sensor at a second time interval shorter than the first time interval when the hand-held device is indicated to be in a position that is moving and adjacent relative to the object surface, and enables power to the sensor at a third time interval when the hand-held device is determined to be in a position that is removed relative to the object surface.

Abstract: A method for optimizing memory usage in a device having a universal controlling application includes receiving into the device data for use in configuring the universal controlling application wherein the data is used to identify from within a library of command code sets stored in a memory of the device a command code set that is appropriate for use in commanding functional operations of the appliance and causing a non-identified one or more of the command code sets of the library of command code sets stored in the memory of the device to be discarded to thereby create freed space in the memory of the device.

Abstract: A hand-held device has a housing having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, at least one transmitter, a first user interface associated with the top surface of the housing having first user interface input elements which, when active, are actuatable to cause the at least one transmitter to transmit communications to an external device, and a second user interface associated with the bottom surface of the housing having second user interface input elements which, when active, are actuatable to cause the at least one transmitter to transmit communications to an external device. The hand-held device is programmed to selectively make one of the first user interface input elements of the first user interface and the second user interface input elements of the second user interface active while making the other of the first user interface input elements of the first user interface and the second user interface input elements of the second user interface inactive.

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.

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. Appropriate set up data, generally in the form of command library codes, is displayed to the user by the interactive instruction set and associated programming for entry and trial by the user in set up of the desired appliance(s).