SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SIMPLIFIED SETUP OF A UNIVERSAL REMOTE CONTROL

摘要

A system and method for enabling set up of a controlling device capable of controlling a plurality of appliances, via an interactive instruction set and associated programming. The programming is accessible by a STB or other controllable appliance and is configured to appropriately display interactive instructions and prompts to a user during a user initiated set up procedure for configuration of another controllable device (e.g., DVD, VCR, DVR, etc) available to the user. Appropriate set up data, generally in the form of command library codes, is displayed to the user by the interactive instruction set and associated programming for entry and trial by the user in set up of the desired appliance(s).

主权项

1. A method for setting up a control mode of operation of a controlling device having a plurality of input elements, the method comprising:
causing the controlling device to be entered into a controlling device setup mode of operation; transmitting from the controlling device to a first controllable appliance a first transmission having data that functions to enter the first controllable appliance into a first controllable appliance setup mode of operation; temporarily assigning to select ones of the plurality of input elements of the controlling device commands appropriate for communicating with the first controllable appliance wherein one or more of the commands are transmittable to the first controllable appliance while the first controllable appliance is in the first controllable appliance setup mode of operation to thereby obtain from the first controllable appliance a setup data for provision to the controlling device; receiving into the controlling device the setup data obtained from the first controllable appliance; using the setup data obtained from the first controllable appliance to temporarily assign to one or more of the plurality of input elements of the controlling device commands appropriate for communicating with a second controllable appliance wherein the commands are transmittable to the second controllable appliance to test one or more operational functions of the second controllable appliance while at least one remaining one of the plurality of input elements of the controlling device continues to be assigned a command appropriate for communicating with the first controllable appliance wherein the command that continues to be assigned to the at least one remaining one of the plurality of input elements is transmittable to the first controllable appliance to cause the first controllable appliance to be exited from the first appliance setup mode of operation; and causing the controlling device to exited from controlling device setup mode of operation in connection with causing the first controllable appliance to be exited from the first appliance setup mode of operation whereupon the setup data obtained from the first controllable appliance will be used by the controlling device to setup the controlling device to communicate commands to the second controllable appliance when the controlling device is entered into the control mode of operation.