Patents Assigned to Universal Electronics
  • GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE AND DATA TRANSFER METHODS IN A CONTROLLING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20140224868
    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: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Marcel Hilbrink, Rex Xu, Cesar Alvarado, Paul D. Arling, Patrick H. Hayes
  • System and methods for enhanced remote control functionality
    Patent number: 8803655
    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: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Arsham Hatambeiki, Jeffrey Kohanek, Naimisaranya D. Busek
  • SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING ORIENTATION COMPENSATION IN POINTING DEVICES
    Publication number: 20140218290
    Abstract: Axis orientation compensation is provided in a system in which movement of a controlling device is used to control navigational functions of a target appliance by determining which one of plural sides of the controlling device is an active side of the controlling device and by causing navigational functions of the target appliance made relative to at least one of an X, Y, and Z axis of the target appliance to be dynamically aligned with movements of the controlling device made relative to at least one of an A, B, and C axis of the controlling device as a function of the one of the plural sides of the controlling device that is determined to be the active side of the controlling device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Gerben Meijer
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USER MONITORING AND INTENT DETERMINATION
    Publication number: 20140223465
    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: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Arsham Hatambeiki, Paul D. Arling
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONFIGURING THE REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONALITY OF A PORTABLE DEVICE
    Publication number: 20140222861
    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: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Paul D. Arling, Brian Barnett, Norman G. Sheridan, Patrick H. Hayes
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USER MONITORING AND INTENT DETERMINATION
    Publication number: 20140223463
    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: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Arsham Hatambeiki, Paul D. Arling
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONFIGURING THE REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONALITY OF A PORTABLE DEVICE
    Publication number: 20140218182
    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: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Paul D. Arling, Patrick H. Hayes
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONFIGURING THE REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONALITY OF A PORTABLE DEVICE
    Publication number: 20140222862
    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: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Paul D. Arling, Patrick H. Hayes, Arsham Hatambeiki
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USER MONITORING AND INTENT DETERMINATION
    Publication number: 20140223461
    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: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Arsham Hatambeiki, Paul D. Arling
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERACTING WITH A PROGRAM GUIDE DISPLAYED ON A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE
    Publication number: 20140215528
    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: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Lee Haughawout, Mauro Dresti, Sandro David Klein, Alex Louie, Han-Sheng Yu, Steve LanPing Huang, Patrick H. Hayes, Weidong William Wang
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING COMMUNICATION LINKS
    Publication number: 20140207975
    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: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Alan Chambers
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING COMMUNICATION LINKS
    Publication number: 20140204916
    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: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Alan Chambers
  • System and method for providing a low power remote control
    Patent number: 8788857
    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: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Arsham Hatambeiki, Christopher Lee Sommerville, Weidong William Wang
  • USER INTERFACE FOR A REMOTE CONTROL APPLICATION
    Publication number: 20140188484
    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: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Steve LanPing Huang, Cheryl Scott, Wayne Scott
  • DEVICE THAT MANAGES POWER PROVIDED TO AN OBJECT SENSOR
    Publication number: 20140176442
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Stephen Brian Gates, Jeremy K. Black
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONFIGURING THE REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONALITY OF A PORTABLE DEVICE
    Publication number: 20140167933
    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: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Paul D. Arling, Patrick H. Hayes
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONFIGURING THE REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONALITY OF A PORTABLE DEVICE
    Publication number: 20140167932
    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: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Paul D. Arling, Patrick H. Hayes
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVISION OF INFRARED SIGNALLING IN SMART PHONE DEVICES
    Publication number: 20140171148
    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: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Marcel Hilbrink, Patrick H. Hayes
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECONFIGURATION OF AN ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM CONTROLLING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20140146233
    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: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Paul D. Arling, Patrick H. Hayes
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECONFIGURATION OF AN ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM CONTROLLING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20140146241
    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: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Paul D. Arling, Patrick H. Hayes