Abstract: A universal controlling device is provided with one or more buttons which, when activated in a set up mode, serves to initiate a rapid configuration of the universal controlling device to adapt the universal controlling device to communicate with an intended target appliance.

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.

Abstract: A controlling device is configures to control functional operations of an appliance by using a 3D sync signal transmitted to synchronize a wearable 3D viewing apparatus with a device adapted to render 3D media to select from a library of command codes a command code set appropriate for controlling functional operations of the appliance. The command codes within the command code set selected from the library of command codes are assigned to respective keys of the controlling device whereupon a subsequent activation of one or more of the respective keys of the controlling device will cause the controlling device to issue a command transmission via use of one or more of the command codes within the command code set selected from the library of command codes to thereby control one or more functional operations of the appliance.

Abstract: A signal format definition data appropriate for a rendering device used to present alternate-frame sequencing based 3D material is identified and the identified signal format definition data is thereafter used to decode received synchronization signals associated with the rendering device. A shutter of a universal viewing device may thus be controlled as a function of the decoded synchronization signals associated with the rendering device to thereby allow for viewing of the alternate-frame sequencing based 3D material.

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 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 touch operated user interface having tactile feedback for use in connection with a universal remote control or universal remote control with cordless phone functionality is shown in FIG. 13. Surface features are provided as part of or as an overlay (1300) to a touchable face area of the user interface in order to assist the user in locating key positions and/or to provide positive indication of key activation. The overlay is placed over a flexible electroluminescent panel (318) that provides a lighted indication and a plurality of dome switches (310) that function as keys.

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 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 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.

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 device includes a sensor which generates a value representative of a position of the device relative to an object surface. The device then uses the value obtained from the sensor to automatically transition from a first state in which the input interface is enabled to a second state in which at least a portion of the input interface is inhibited.

Abstract: A universal controlling device is provided with one or more buttons which, when activated in a set up mode, serves to initiate a rapid configuration of the controlling device to utilize one of a group of pre-selected command data sets.

Abstract: A system and method for configuring a controlling device to allow the controlling device to generate commands for commanding operations of a new appliance which new appliance was previously unable to be supported by the controlling device. The system and method uses a definition input into the controlling device to create a new device data set for use in generating commands to command operations of the new appliance. The new device data set is a new combination of elements selected from device data sets already stored within a memory of the controlling device.

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.

Abstract: A touch operated user interface having tactile feedback for use in connection with a universal remote control or universal remote control with cordless phone functionality is shown in FIG. 13. Surface features are provided as part of or as an overlay (1300) to a touchable face area of the user interface in order to assist the user in locating key positions and/or to provide positive indication of key activation. The overlay is placed over a flexible electroluminescent panel (318) that provides a lighted indication and a plurality of dome switches (310) that function as keys.

Abstract: A controlling device for operating a PC and one or more home appliances. The described controlling device has integrated mouse and remote control functions, and may be configured to automatically detect whether the controlling device is being used as a mouse or as a remote control. For effective operation in both control modes, the controlling device includes both RF and IR transmitters, and is configured to transition between these transmission mediums based on the detection of whether the controlling device is being used as a mouse or as a remote control.

Abstract: A remote control transmission monitoring system. A remote control has programming for transmitting a sequence of command codes and a command receiver has programming for determining if the transmission from the remote control included all of the command codes in the sequence of command codes. The programming further functions to generate a signal to cause corrective action to be taken and/or to notify a user that an unsuccessful transmission of the sequence of command codes occurred when the transmission from the remote control is determined to include less than all of the command codes in the sequence of command codes.

Abstract: A remote control transmission monitoring system. A remote control has programming for transmitting a sequence of command codes and a command receiver has programming for determining if the transmission from the remote control included all of the command codes in the sequence of command codes. The programming further functions to generate a signal to cause corrective action to be taken and/or to notify a user that an unsuccessful transmission of the sequence of command codes occurred when the transmission from the remote control is determined to include less than all of the command codes in the sequence of command codes.