System and method for using image data in connection with configuring a universal controlling device

Abstract

A method for configuring a universal controlling device to enable the universal controlling device to communicate commands to one or more target appliances. A system having an associated database of original equipment remote control images that are cross-referenced to configuration information for a respective plurality of appliances receives identification data that specifies at least a brand and type of an appliance. The system uses the received identification data to discern one or more images from the associated database as being a match for the received identification data. The one or more images from the associated database that were discerned as being a match for the received identification data are then displayed to allow for the selection of one or more of the displayed plurality of images. At least a subset of the configuration information that has been cross-referenced to the selected one or more of the displayed plurality of images is used to enable the universal controlling device to communicate commands to the one or more target appliances.

1 . A method for configuring a universal controlling device to enable the universal controlling device to communicate commands to one or more target appliances, comprising:
 receiving identification data that specifies at least a brand and type of at least one appliance at a system having an associated database of original equipment remote control images that have been cross-referenced to configuration information for a respective plurality of appliances;   using the system to discern one or more images from the associated database as being a match for the received identification data;   displaying the one or more images from the associated database that were discerned as being a match for the received identification data;   allowing for the selection of one or more of the displayed plurality of images; and   using at least a subset of the configuration information that has been cross-referenced to the selected one or more of the displayed plurality of images to enable the universal controlling device to communicate commands to the one or more target appliances.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , comprising keying into the universal controlling device the at least a subset of the configuration information. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , comprising downloading into the universal controlling device the at least a subset of the configuration information. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 3 , comprising downloading the at least a subset of the configuration information into the universal controlling device via an intermediate device. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , comprising providing the at least a subset of the configuration information to a computing device having a configuration editor and using the at least a subset of the configuration information and the configuration editor to create a configuration for provision to the universal controlling device to thereby enable the universal controlling device to communicate commands to the one or more target appliances. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , comprising using the at least a subset of the configuration information to select one or more command sets from a library of command sets which selected one or more command sets are to be used in connection with transmitting commands to the one or more target appliances. 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , comprising selecting the one or more command sets from a library of command sets stored in a memory of the universal controlling device. 
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , comprising selecting the one or more command sets from a library of command sets stored in a memory remote from the universal controlling device and downloading the selected one or more command sets to the universal controlling device. 
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , comprising using the at least a subset of the configuration information to select one or more graphical user interface elements from a library of graphical user interface elements which selected one or more graphical user interface elements are to be used in connection with transmitting commands to the one or more target appliances. 
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 9 , comprising selecting the one or more graphical user interface elements from a library of graphical user interface elements stored in a memory of the universal controlling device. 
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 9 , comprising selecting the one or more graphical user interface elements from a library of graphical user interface elements stored in a memory remote from the universal controlling device and downloading the selected graphical user interface elements to the universal controlling device. 
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , comprising uploading to the system an image of a original equipment remote control and one or more command codes learned from the original equipment remote control corresponding to the uploaded image, storing the uploaded image in the database of images associated with the system, and cross-referencing to the uploaded image as configuration information at least the one or more uploaded command codes learned from the original equipment remote control corresponding to the uploaded image. 
     
     
         13 . A universal controlling device configuration system, comprising:
 a database of original equipment remote control images that have been cross-referenced to configuration information for a respective plurality of appliances; and   a server device associated with the database and having a computer-readable media embodied on a physical device having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for configuring a universal controlling device to enable the universal controlling device to communicate commands to one or more target appliances wherein the computer-executable instructions perform steps comprising:
 receiving identification data that specifies at least a brand and type of at least one appliance; 
 discerning one or more images from the associated database as being a match for the received identification data; 
 causing the one or more images from the associated database that were discerned as being a match for the received identification data to be displayed; 
 allowing for the selection of one or more of the displayed plurality of images; and 
 facilitating a download of at least a subset of the configuration information that has been cross-referenced to the selected one or more of the displayed plurality of images to thereby enable the universal controlling device to communicate commands to the one or more target appliances. 
   
     
     
         14 . The system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the computer-executable instructions receive an uploaded image of an original equipment remote control and one or more command codes learned from the original equipment remote control corresponding to the uploaded image, store the uploaded image in the database of images associated with the system, and cross-reference to the uploaded image as configuration information at least the one or more uploaded command codes learned from the original equipment remote control corresponding to the uploaded image.