System and method for interactive appliance control

摘要

A controlling device interacts dynamically with a plurality of appliances using state information known to a master appliance. The master appliance conveys to the controlling device the state information and the controlling device uses the state information to dynamically configure itself to command functional operations of one or more of the plurality of appliances. The master appliance also causes a graphical representation of the current configuration of the controlling device to be displayed on a display device that is associated with the master appliance.

主权项

1. A method for providing proactive appliance control in a system comprised of a master routing device, a controllable appliance in communication with the master routing device, and a controlling device configurable to transmit command communications, the method comprising:
causing the controlling device to be provisioned with a first command code set appropriate for commanding functional operations of the controllable appliance; in response to an activation of a one of a plurality of command input elements of the controlling device, causing the controlling device to issue to the controllable appliance, via use of a first transmission system of the controlling device, a corresponding command from the first command code set and to issue to the master routing device, via use of a second transmission system of the controlling device, a communication having data that identifies the one of the plurality of command input elements that was activated; in response to an activation of a predetermined input element of the controlling device, causing the controlling device to issue to the master routing device, via use of the second transmission system of the controlling device, a communication having data indicative of the predetermined input element having been activated; in response to the master routing device receiving the communication having data indicative of the predetermined input element having been activated, causing the master routing device to issue to the controlling device a response communication; and in response to the controlling device receiving the response communication, causing the controlling device to prevent an issuance of a corresponding command from the first command code set, via the first transmission system of the controlling device, in response to a subsequent activation of a one of the plurality of command input elements of the controlling device while causing the controlling device to continue in issuing to the master routing device, via use of the second transmission system of the controlling device, a communication having data that identifies the one of the plurality of command input elements that was subsequently activated.