Patents by Inventor Norman G. Sheridan

Norman G. Sheridan has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20180101284
    Abstract: A browser device communicates via Wi-Fi with a central function device. The function device has information regarding all the various remote controls needed by the consumer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Steven M. Pope, Raymond O. Chock, Norman G. Sheridan
  • Patent number: 9870123
    Abstract: A home entertainment device eliminates the need to use multiple remotes. The device is connected (by wired and/or wireless links) to electronic consumer devices (ECDs) to be controlled. A user uses a portable display device to view pages served by the device, and thereby to communicate with the device and indirectly control the ECDs. In a first aspect, a HDMI-CEC communication is used to identify a codeset from a codeset database. In a second aspect, the codeset of a remote is identified by serving pictures of remotes to the user. The user selects a picture and the system looks up its codeset. In a third aspect, keys on an illustration of a remote are dragged and dropped to create a new custom remote. In a fourth aspect, the user supplies a digital photograph of a remote. The system performs optical recognition and identifies the type of remote and its codeset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Pope, Raymond O. Chock, Norman G. Sheridan
  • Patent number: 9437104
    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: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Paul D. Arling, Brian Barnett, Norman G. Sheridan, Patrick H. Hayes
  • Patent number: 9350850
    Abstract: A home entertainment device eliminates the need to use multiple remote's. The device is connected (by wired and/or wireless links) to electronic consumer devices (ECDs) to be controlled. A user uses a portable display device to view pages served by the device, and thereby to communicate with the device and indirectly control the ECDs. In a first aspect, a HDMI-CEC communication is used to identify a codeset from a codeset database. In a second aspect, the codeset of a remote is identified by serving pictures of remotes to the user. The user selects a picture and the system looks up its codeset. In a third aspect, keys on an illustration of a remote are dragged and dropped to create a new custom remote. In a fourth aspect, the user supplies a digital photograph of a remote. The system performs optical recognition and identifies the type of remote and its codeset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: UEI Cayman Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Pope, Raymond O. Chock, Norman G. Sheridan
  • Publication number: 20150279206
    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: June 11, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Paul D. Arling, Brian Barnett, Norman G. Sheridan, Patrick H. Hayes
  • Publication number: 20150279205
    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: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Paul D. Arling, Jeffrey Kohanek, Norman G. Sheridan
  • 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
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8812629
    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: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Universal Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Paul D. Arling, Brian Barnett, Norman G. Sheridan, Patrick H. Hayes
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20120086563
    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: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Paul D. Arling, Jeffrey Kohanek, Norman G. Sheridan
  • Patent number: 8151211
    Abstract: A home entertainment device eliminates the need to use multiple remotes. The device is connected (by wired and/or wireless links) to electronic consumer devices (ECDs) to be controlled. A user uses a portable display device to view pages served by the device, and thereby to communicate with the device and indirectly control the ECDs. In a first aspect, a HDMI-CEC communication is used to identify a codeset from a codeset database. In a second aspect, the codeset of a remote is identified by serving pictures of remotes to the user. The user selects a picture and the system looks up its codeset. In a third aspect, keys on an illustration of a remote are dragged and dropped to create a new custom remote. In a fourth aspect, the user supplies a digital photograph of a remote. The system performs optical recognition and identifies the type of remote and its codeset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: UEI Cayman, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Pope, Raymond O. Chock, Norman G. Sheridan
  • Publication number: 20120071989
    Abstract: A system for control of electronic consumer device (ECD) functions includes a device having a signal output adapted to communicate with an ECD function information database to obtain function information for the ECD and to create a signal, transmittable via the signal output, using the function information for the ECD obtained from the function information database and a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cable that communicates the signal transmitted via the signal output to the ECD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: UEI CAYMAN INC.
    Inventors: Steven M. Pope, Raymond O. Chock, Norman G. Sheridan
  • Publication number: 20120041925
    Abstract: A home entertainment device eliminates the need to use multiple remote's. The device is connected (by wired and/or wireless links) to electronic consumer devices (ECDs) to be controlled. A user uses a portable display device to view pages served by the device, and thereby to communicate with the device and indirectly control the ECDs. In a first aspect, a HDMI-CEC communication is used to identify a codeset from a codeset database. In a second aspect, the codeset of a remote is identified by serving pictures of remotes to the user. The user selects a picture and the system looks up its codeset. In a third aspect, keys on an illustration of a remote are dragged and dropped to create a new custom remote. In a fourth aspect, the user supplies a digital photograph of a remote. The system performs optical recognition and identifies the type of remote and its codeset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Steven M. Pope, Raymond O. Chock, Norman G. Sheridan
  • Patent number: 8094875
    Abstract: A home entertainment device eliminates the need to use multiple remotes. The device is connected (by wired and/or wireless links) to electronic consumer devices (ECDs) to be controlled. A user uses a portable display device to view pages served by the device, and thereby to communicate with the device and indirectly control the ECDs. In a first aspect, a HDMI-CEC communication is used to identify a codeset from a codeset database. In a second aspect, the codeset of a remote is identified by serving pictures of remotes to the user. The user selects a picture and the system looks up its codeset. In a third aspect, keys on an illustration of a remote are dragged and dropped to create a new custom remote. In a fourth aspect, the user supplies a digital photograph of a remote. The system performs optical recognition and identifies the type of remote and its codeset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: UEI Cayman Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Pope, Raymond O. Chock, Norman G. Sheridan
  • Publication number: 20110289113
    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: August 4, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: UNIVERSAL ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Paul D. Arling, Brian Barnett, Norman G. Sheridan, Patrick H. Hayes