System and method for using a mark-up language page to command an appliance

Abstract

A hand-held device having a display and a browser application which supports functionality particularly suited for the hand-held device. For example, the browser application supports a full screen tag which allows information to be displayed as a full screen within the display. The browser application may also support a tag for use in displaying a link the activation of which will cause the hand-held device to transmit command codes to a consumer appliance. Still further, the browser application can support a tag which the hand-held device can use to issue reminders.

1 . A computer-readable media having computer executable instructions for displaying information in a display, the instructions performing steps comprising: 
 retrieving a mark-up language formatted page having an first embedded mark-up language formatted page tag comprised of a first field containing first information indicative of a command code to be transmitted upon activation of a first hyperlink displayed on the display and a second embedded mark-up language formatted page tag comprised of second information for use in retrieving a further mark-up language formatted page upon activation of a second hyperlink displayed on the display;    displaying the mark-up language formatted page including the first hyperlink and the second hyperlink in the display;    determining if either the first hyperlink or the second hyperlink has been activated; and    if the first hyperlink has been activated using the first information in the first field to transmit the command code to a consumer appliance and if the second hyperlink has been activated using the second information to retrieve the further mark-up language formatted page.    
     
     
         2 . The computer-readable media as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first information comprises data for use in generating the command code.  
     
     
         3 . The computer-readable media as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first information comprises a pointer to data for generating the command code.  
     
     
         4 . The computer-readable media as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the mark-up language formatted page tag comprises a second field containing third information representing a label which is displayed on the display and which is activatable as the hyperlink.  
     
     
         5 . The computer-readable media as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the mark-up language page depicts a representation of a user interface of a remote control.  
     
     
         6 . The computer-readable media as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the mark-up language formatted page is representative of a media guide.  
     
     
         7 . The computer-readable media as recited in  claim 6 , wherein activation of the first hyperlink is used to transmit a command to tune the consumer appliance to a television channel.  
     
     
         8 . The computer-readable media as recited in  claim 6 , wherein activation of the first hyperlink is used to transmit a command to tune the consumer appliance to a radio channel.  
     
     
         9 . The computer-readable media as recited in  claim 6 , wherein activation of the first hyperlink is used to transmit a command to tune the consumer appliance to a CD track.  
     
     
         10 . The computer-readable media as recited in  claim 6 , wherein activation of the first hyperlink is used to transmit a command to tune the consumer appliance to a DVD chapter.  
     
     
         11 . A computer-readable media having computer executable instructions for displaying information in a display, the instructions performing steps comprising: 
 retrieving a mark-up language formatted page having an embedded mark-up language formatted page tag comprised of a first field containing first information indicative of an infrared code to be transmitted upon activation of a hyperlink displayed on the display;    displaying the mark-up language formatted page including the hyperlink in the display;    determining if the hyperlink has been activated; and    if the hyperlink has been activated, using the first information in the first field to transmit the infrared code to a consumer appliance.    
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable media as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the first information comprises data for use in generating the infrared code.  
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable media as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the first information comprises a pointer to data for generating the infrared code.  
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable media as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the mark-up language formatted page tag comprises a second field containing second information representing a label which is displayed on the display and which is activatable as the hyperlink.  
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable media as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the mark-up language page depicts a representation of a user interface of a remote control.  
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable media as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the mark-up language formatted page is representative of a media guide.  
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable media as recited in  claim 16 , wherein activation of the hyperlink is used to transmit a command to tune the consumer appliance to a television channel.  
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable media as recited in  claim 16 , wherein activation of the hyperlink is used to transmit a command to tune the consumer appliance to a radio channel.  
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable media as recited in  claim 16 , wherein activation of the hyperlink is used to transmit a command to tune the consumer appliance to a CD track.  
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable media as recited in  claim 16 , wherein activation of the hyperlink is used to transmit a command to tune the consumer appliance to a DVD chapter.  
     
     
         21 . A method for making a mark-up language formatted page for use in a remote control application, comprising: 
 creating a mark-up language formatted page tag comprised of a first field containing first information indicative of an infrared code to be transmitted upon activation of a hyperlink displayed on a display; and    embedding the mark-up language formatted page tag within the mark-up language formatted page.    
     
     
         22 . The method as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the first information comprises data for use in generating the infrared code.  
     
     
         23 . The method as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the first information comprises a pointer to data for use in generating the infrared code.  
     
     
         24 . The method as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the mark-up language formatted page tag is comprised of a second field containing second information representing a label which is displayed on the display and which is activatable as the hyperlink  
     
     
         25 . A device for use in commanding the operation of a consumer appliance, comprising: 
 a display;    a memory storing a library of commands for commanding the operation of a plurality of different consumer appliances;    a transmission circuit for transmitting commands to the consumer appliance;    a mark-up language formatted page; and    a browser application for displaying the mark-up language formatted page within the display;    wherein the mark-up language formatted page includes an embedded mark-up language formatted page tag comprising first information representing a command to be transmitted to the consumer appliance upon activation of a displayed hyperlink and wherein the browser application is responsive to activation of the displayed hyperlink to use the first information of the mark-up language formatted page tag to cause the transmission circuit to transmit to the consumer appliance a command selected from the library of commands stored in the memory.    
     
     
         26 . The device as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the transmission circuit comprises an infrared transmitter.  
     
     
         27 . The device as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the device comprises a hand-held remote control.  
     
     
         28 . The device as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the display comprises a touch screen.  
     
     
         29 . The device as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the mark-up language page depicts a representation of a user interface of a remote control.  
     
     
         30 . The device as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the mark-up language formatted page tag comprises second information representing a label which is displayed on the display and which is activatable as the hyperlink.  
     
     
         31 . The device as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the mark-up language formatted page is representative of a media guide.  
     
     
         32 . The device as recited in  claim 31 , wherein activation of the hyperlink is used to transmit a command to tune the consumer appliance to a television channel.  
     
     
         33 . The device as recited in  claim 31 , wherein activation of the hyperlink is used to transmit a command to tune the consumer appliance to a radio channel.  
     
     
         34 . The device as recited in  claim 31 , wherein activation of the hyperlink is used to transmit a command to tune the consumer appliance to a CD track.  
     
     
         35 . The device as recited in  claim 31 , wherein activation of the hyperlink is used to transmit a command to tune the consumer appliance to a DVD chapter.