Universal Electronics Inc.

Ramzi Ammari

Arsham Hatambeiki

Paul D Arling

Jeffrey Kohanek

Graham Williams

Pamela Eichler Keiles

Wayne Scott

Christopher A Chambers

Brian G Barnett

Han-Sheng Yuh

Cheryl W Scott

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 having an activity mode corresponding to a controllable activity in which activation of a command key within a logical group of command keys of the controlling device causes a transmission of command data to control one or more functional operations of an intended target appliance. For a controllable activity the controlling device has a memory in which is stored a plurality of predetermined appliance to logical group of command keys mappings. To configure the controlling device for the controllable activity one or more predetermined keys of the controlling device are activated to thereby designate one or more intended target appliances for the controllable activity. When the controlling device is then placed into the activity mode corresponding to the controllable activity, the controlling device will use the configuration to select one of the plurality of predetermined appliance to logical group of command keys mappings to determine which appliance command data to transmit in response to an activation of a command key within a logical group of command keys.

System and method for simplified activity based setup of a controlling device

A device receives a request from a controlling device, such as a remote control, smart phone, or the like, where the request is intended to have one or more target devices perform one or more functional operations. The device responds to the request by applying the optimum methodology to propagate one or more commands to each intended target appliance to cause each intended target appliance to perform the intended one or more functional operations.

A hand-held device has a housing having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, at least one transmitter, a first user interface associated with the top surface of the housing having first user interface input elements which, when active, are actuatable to cause the at least one transmitter to transmit communications to an external device, and a second user interface associated with the bottom surface of the housing having second user interface input elements which, when active, are actuatable to cause the at least one transmitter to transmit communications to an external device. The hand-held device is programmed to selectively make one of the first user interface input elements of the first user interface and the second user interface input elements of the second user interface active while making the other of the first user interface input elements of the first user interface and the second user interface input elements of the second user interface inactive.

System and methods for enhanced remote control functionality

A configurable controlling device and associated editor program that allows a consumer to create on a personal computer for downloading to the controlling device a user interface comprised of user interface pages having icons which icons, when activated on the controlling device, cause the controlling device to perform a function, such as to transmit a command to an appliance, to change the user interface page being displayed, etc. The editor program allows for the visualization of links created between user interface pages, single step assigning of commands to logical groups of function keys (both iconic and hard keys), single step assigning of backgrounds to groups of user interface pages, and pre-rendering of user interface pages prior to the downloading of the user interface to the controlling device.

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Newport Coast, CA, United States of America

Ramzi Ammari