System and method for upgrading the remote control functionality of a device

摘要

A system and method for upgrading remote control application resident on a device. To this end, a markup language file is created. The markup language file has a representation of information used to setup the remote control application to communicate with an appliance. The markup language file may be executed, on the device or an intermediate client with which the device is synchronized, to upload the representation of the information to a remote server. At the remote server, the uploaded information is used to automatically display user-selectable, downloadable data files relevant to the control of the appliance. Downloaded data files, which may include command codes and/or graphical user interface elements, may be used within the device to upgrade the ability of the remote control application to communicate with the appliance. The information uploaded to the server may also be used to generate demographic data regarding consumer preferences.

主权项

1. A method of defining a future release of a command library, comprising:
receiving at a Web site requests to download an upgrade to a previously installed command library containing instructions for controlling the operation of one or more functions of an appliance to thereby provide a controlling device with a capability to command at least one function of the appliance which function of the appliance was incapable of being commanded by the controlling device using the previously installed command library; and using statistics derived from information associated with the requests received at the Web site to determine if the future release of a command library containing instructions for controlling the operation of one or more functions of the appliance is to include the capability to command the at least one function of the appliance which was incapable of being commanded by the controlling device using the previously installed command library.