Patents Assigned to Universal Electronics
  • System and method for optimized appliance control
    Patent number: 9215394
    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: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Brian Barnett, Paul D. Arling
  • System and method for configuring the remote control functionality of a portable device
    Patent number: 9208679
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Paul D. Arling, Patrick H. Hayes, Arsham Hatambeiki
  • System and method for managing communication links
    Patent number: 9203579
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Alan Chambers
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR APPLIANCE DETECTION AND APP CONFIGURATION
    Publication number: 20150334165
    Abstract: A system and method is used to provision an app to a smart device for use in connection with an appliance. A presence of the appliance on a wireless network which includes the smart device is detected and data received from the appliance is used to initiate a retrieval of the app. When the retrieved app is installed on the smart device the app is usable with the smart device to provide at least an interface between the smart device and the appliance. In some circumstance, installation of the app on the smart device may also include causing the app to be synchronized with a corresponding app that was prior installed on another smart device capable of communicating with the appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Paul D. Arling, Arsham Hatambeiki
  • System and method for optimizing memory usage in a universal controlling device
    Patent number: 9167288
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Arsham Hatambeiki
  • System and method for managing communication links
    Patent number: 9160501
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Alan Chambers
  • System and method for identifying social media influencers
    Patent number: 9154838
    Abstract: Data indicative of first and second members of a social group, a media content accessed by the first and second members of the social group, and a time at which the media content was accessed by the first and second members of the social group is collected. A system then compares the received data to determine if the second member of the social group accessed the same media content as the first member of the social group and if the second member of the social group accessed the same media content within a predetermined amount of time. When the second member of the social group accessed the same media content as the first member of the social group within the predetermined amount of time the first member of the social group is identified as a social influencer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Paul D. Arling
  • System and method for providing a low power remote control
    Patent number: 9146611
    Abstract: To conserve power in a controlling device having a processing device in communication with an input element and a transmitting device the processing device is caused to be placed into a low-power state for at least a portion of a transmission inactive interval intermediate the transmission of at least a pair of command frames. The command frames are caused to be transmitted by the transmitting device in response to an activation of the input element sensed via the processing device to thereby command a functional operation of an intended target device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Arsham Hatambeiki, Christopher Lee Sommerville, Weidong William Wang
  • System and method for interacting with a program guide displayed on a portable electronic device
    Patent number: 9137473
    Abstract: A method for controlling the operation of a plurality of consumer electronic devices by displaying a plurality of broadcast channel identifiers each corresponding to a broadcast channel in a display of a controlling device adapted to command at least channel tuning operations of the plurality of consumer electronic devices. Input is accepted into the controlling device that functions to designate one of the plurality of broadcast channel identifiers and the controlling device uses the designation of the one of the plurality of broadcast channel identifiers to cause a transmission of a wireless signal from the controlling device to a one of the plurality of consumer electronic devices to thereby cause the one of the plurality of consumer electronic devices to tune to the broadcast channel corresponding to the designated one of the plurality of broadcast channel identifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Lee Haughawout, Mauro Dresti, Sandro David Klein, Alex Louie, Han-Sheng Yuh, Steve LanPing Huang, Patrick H. Hayes, Weidong William Wang
  • System and method for enhanced command input
    Patent number: 9134815
    Abstract: A portable electronic device having an input device for receiving a gesture based input from a user is used to control a navigation operation of an appliance. The portable electronic device receives via the input device the gesture based input and uses one or more parameters stored in a memory of the portable electronic device and one or more characteristics associated with the gesture based input to cause the portable electronic device to transmit a navigation step command to thereby control the navigation operation of the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Arsham Hatambeiki, Jeffrey Kohanek, Pamela Eichler Keiles, Patrick H. Hayes
  • System and method for user monitoring and intent determination
    Patent number: 9137570
    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: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Arsham Hatambeiki, Paul D. Arling
  • Two way communication between an appliance and a remote control
    Patent number: 9135811
    Abstract: A method for storing and using information received from a controllable appliance in a controlling device. In response to a detected activation of a key of the controlling device the controlling device transmits a request signal to the controlled appliance for the purpose of retrieving from the controlled appliance data associated with a media tuning state of the controlled appliance, such as a tuned-to channel, CD or DVD track being played, or the like, The controlling device receives from the controlled appliance the media tuning state data and stores the media tuning state data in memory. The media tuning state data stored in the memory of the controlling device may then be used to transmit from the controlling device to the controlled appliance a media tuning command to cause the controlled appliance to replicate the previously captured media tuning state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Paul D. Arling, Patrick H. Hayes
  • System and method for saving and recalling state data for media and home appliances
    Patent number: 9131272
    Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for enabling a user to save and recall media playback and device setting states across multiple sets of home appliances. 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: November 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Paul D. Arling, Christopher Chambers, Wayne Scott, Mark Momot
  • System and method for provision of infrared signalling in smart phone devices
    Patent number: 9131043
    Abstract: A smart phone device is fitted with a dual mode communications interface device having a housing wherein the housing provides access via an exterior of the smart phone device to both an infrared communications pathway and an electrical communications pathway each of which are coupled to one or more processing devices carried within the smart phone device. To this end, the communications interface device may be in the form of an audio jack having a plug receiving opening wherein the plug receiving opening is in communication with the electrical communications pathway and wherein at least a portion of the housing surrounding the plug receiving opening forms a light pipe for the infrared communications pathway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Marcel Hilbrink, Patrick H. Hayes
  • System and method for saving and recalling state data for media and home appliances
    Patent number: 9124912
    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: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Paul D. Arling, Christopher Chambers, Wayne Scott, Mark Momot
  • System and method for simplified setup of a universal remote control
    Patent number: 9123236
    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).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Lee Haughawout, Patrick H. Hayes
  • Media return system
    Patent number: 9100612
    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: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Paul D. Arling, Patrick H. Hayes, John E. Hyatt
  • System and method for enhanced command input
    Patent number: 9086739
    Abstract: A portable electronic device having an input device for receiving a gesture based input from a user is used to control a navigation operation of an appliance. The portable electronic device receives via the input device the gesture based input and uses one or more parameters stored in a memory of the portable electronic device and one or more characteristics associated with the gesture based input to cause the portable electronic device to transmit a navigation step command to thereby control the navigation operation of the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Arsham Hatambeiki, Jeffrey Kohanek, Pamela Eichler Keiles, Patrick H. Hayes
  • System and method for configuring the remote control functionality of a portable device
    Patent number: 9087100
    Abstract: A server device receives identity data retrieved from an appliance through use of a physical and logical interconnection referenced to a standard. The identity data is used at the server device to identify within a database having a plurality of appliance records, each of which is cross-referenced to an appliance, an appliance record having data in one or more record fields which matches the identity data retrieved from the appliance. A codeset identifier associated with the identified appliance record is then used to select from a plurality of codesets a codeset for use in configuring the portable device to command functional operations of the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Paul D. Arling, Brian Barnett, Norman G. Sheridan, Patrick H. Hayes
  • System for appliance control via a network
    Patent number: 9088663
    Abstract: A first remote control application is configured to cause a smart device to transmit at least one command for controlling at least one functional operation of a controllable appliance in response to a user interface element of the smart device being activated while a second remote control application of a bridge device is configured to cause the bridge device to transmit at least one command for controlling at least one functional operation of the controllable appliance in response to receiving at the bridge device the at least one command transmitted from the smart device. The at least one command is transmitted from the smart device using a first transmission protocol and the at least one command is transmitted from the bridge device using a transmission protocol recognized by the controllable appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Paul D. Arling, Jeffrey Kohanek, Norman G. Sheridan