Universal Electronics Inc.

Lodgenet Interactive Corporation

Oncommand Corporation

Brian G Barnett

Paul D Arling

Arsham Hatambeiki

Jesus Perez

Rex Xu

Patrick H Hayes

Norman G Sheridan

Dan N McKay

Donald W Power

John T Miner

Richard C Fenwick, Jr

David John Simpson

Jan Van Ee

Ramzi Ammari

Nicu Ahmadi

Graham Williams

Maryam Owrang

Chris Chambers

Jackson Jones

John W Norris, Iii

In response to a detected presence of an intended target appliance within a logical topography of controllable appliances identity information associated with the intended target appliance is used to automatically add to a graphical user interface of a controlling device an icon representative of the intended target appliance and to create at a Universal Control Engine a listing of communication methods for use in controlling corresponding functional operations of the intended target appliance. When the icon is later activated, the controlling device is placed into an operating state appropriate for controlling functional operations of the intended target appliance while the Universal Control Engine uses at least one of the communication methods to transmit at least one command to place the intended target appliance into a predetermined operating state.

System and method for optimized appliance control

A controlling device is automatically configured to issue a communication directly to a first controllable appliance to control a functional operation of the first controllable appliance in the event that the first controllable appliance is determined to be unresponsive to a command communication transmitted to the first controllable appliance via a digital communications link or to issue a communication to a second controllable appliance to control the functional operation of the first controllable appliance via a digital communications link in the event that first controllable appliance is determined to be responsive to a command communication transmitted to the first controllable appliance via a digital communications link.

System and method for configuring controlling device functionality

Growing community of inventors

Castro Valley, CA, United States of America

Brian G Barnett