Universal Electronics Inc.

Joven Jubilo

Rex Xu

Jeffrey Kohanek

Jesus Perez

Brandt J Thompson

Cesar Alvarado

Linh Do

A bridge device, in communication with a smart device, functions to command one or more controllable appliances in response to communications received from the smart device. The bridge device also includes input elements by which the bridge device can be used to directly command common functional operations of the one or more controllable appliances. In this manner, common functional operations, such as volume control, playback pause/resume control, etc., may be made readily available without necessitating the use of the smart device, whilst the more sophisticated GUI provided by the smart device remote control app may be advantageously utilized when more complex or less frequently used command functions are to be performed.

System and method for facilitating appliance control via a smart device

A bridge device, in communication with a smart device, functions to command one or more controllable appliances in response to communications received from the smart device. The bridge device also includes input elements by which the bridge device can be used to directly command common functional operations of the one or more controllable appliances. In this manner, common functional operations, such as volume control, playback pause/resume control, etc., may be made readily available without necessitating the use of the smart device, while the more sophisticated GUI provided by the smart device remote control app may be advantageously utilized when more complex or less frequently used command functions are to be performed.

A multi-sided controlling device automatically makes keys on one or more sides of the controlling device active as a function of an operating mode of the controlling device. One or more sides of such a multi-sided controlling device may also have at least one keycap behind which is positioned an IR transmitter usable when another side of the controlling device is active.

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Anaheim, CA, United States of America

Joven Jubilo