SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPTIMIZED APPLIANCE CONTROL

摘要

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.

主权项

1. A method for configuring a user interface that is to be presented in a display device associated with a smart device, comprising:
receiving at the smart device from a controllable appliance data that functions to identify a controllable feature of the controllable appliance; using by the smart device the data received from the controllable appliance to cause an icon representative of the controllable feature of the controllable appliance to be automatically added to the user interface that is to be presented in the display device associated with the smart device; in response to the smart device receiving from a controlling device a first command transmission that is indicative of a selection of the added icon from the user interface when the user interface is displayed in the display device associated with the smart device, causing the smart device to modify the user interface as displayed in the display device associated with the smart device whereby at least one user interface element for use in controlling at least one controllable function of the controllable appliance is caused to be newly displayed in the display device associated with the smart device, wherein the at least one user interface element that is caused to be newly displayed in the display device of the smart device in response to the added icon being selected is predetermined as a function of the controllable feature of the controllable appliance; and in response to the smart device receiving from a controlling device a second command transmission that is indicative of a selection of the at least one user interface element that was caused to be newly displayed in the display device associated with the smart device, causing the smart device to issue a command to at least the controllable appliance to control the at least one controllable function of the controllable feature of the controllable appliance.