System and method for rapid configuration of a universal controlling device

摘要

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.

主权项

1. A universal controlling device, comprising:
a memory in which is stored a plurality of command code data sets for a plurality of devices; a transmission circuit; a processing unit in communication with the memory and the transmission circuit which uses one or more of the command code data sets stored in the memory to cause the transmission circuit to transmit commands to control functional operations of one or more of the plurality of devices; a key matrix in communication with the processing unit comprising a setup input element used to place the universal controlling device into a setup operating mode of the universal controlling device, a plurality of command input elements each used to cause the universal controlling device to transmit commands to control functional operations of one or more of the plurality of devices when the controlling device is in a one of a plurality of appliance control operating modes of the universal controlling device, and a plurality of quick setup input elements used in connection with the setup operating mode of the universal controlling device wherein each of the plurality of quick setup input elements is mapped to only one of a group of command code data sets within the plurality of command code data sets and wherein the group of command code data sets has been predetermined to be applicable to at least a common one of the plurality of appliance control operating modes of the universal controlling device; and programming executable by the processing unit which, in response to activation of a one of the plurality of the quick setup input elements while in the setup operating mode of the universal remote control, causes the processing unit to establish an association between the at least one common appliance control operating mode of the universal controlling device and the one of the command code data sets of the group of command code data sets that is mapped to the activated one of the plurality of quick setup input elements such that, in response to the universal controlling device being subsequently placed into the at least one common appliance control operating mode of the plurality of appliance control operating modes of the universal controlling device, each of the command input elements will be associated with a corresponding command code data from the one of the command code data sets and a subsequent activation of a one of the command input elements will cause the processing unit to use the corresponding command code data when transmitting via the transmission circuit commands to control functional operations of a one of the plurality of devices.