Remote Control with User Profile Capability

Abstract

A control unit ( 101 ), such as a remote control device, includes a profile selector ( 104 ). The profile selector ( 104 ), which may be a single profile selector button integrated into the side or top of a remote control, allows quick and simple selection of an operating mode or user profile. The control unit ( 101 ) includes an indicator ( 107 ) that provides indicia of the currently selected mode or profile. Examples of indicators include multicolored lights and display devices. Where multicolored lights are used as the indicator ( 107 ), actuation of the profile selector ( 104 ) causes the indicator ( 107 ) to change from a first color to a second color.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the first electronic device comprises a mode selection module configured to indicate, in the user interface, a mode selection status to a user. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the first electronic device further comprises a second receiver for video signals, the system further comprising a video display communicatively coupled to a processor of the first electronic device, wherein the mode selection status comprises visual indicia presented on the video display. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the visual indicia comprises at least a mode name and one or more mode characteristic information indicia. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 33 , further comprising the second electronic device, wherein:
 the second electronic device comprises the transceiver, the transceiver configured to communicate wirelessly with the receiver of the first electronic device, wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit a mode change signal to the receiver responsively to the profile change message, thereby causing the visual indicator of the first electronic device to change appearance.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the first electronic device comprises a mode creation module, wherein upon receipt of a mode creation signal from the transmitter, the mode creation module is actuated. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the first electronic device further comprises a security module configured to prompt for a security input upon selection of the mode from the plurality of modes. 
     
     
         27 . An electronic control device configured for wirelessly controlling a software application executed in a second electronic device, wherein the software application executed in the second electronic device has at least one user profile associated therewith, the electronic control device comprising:
 a processor;   a user interface configured to display a profile selector, the processor configured to detect actuation of the profile selector, wherein detecting actuation comprises detecting at least a predetermined number of actuations of a single profile selection actuator of the user interface;   a transmitter, the processor further configured to cause the transmitter to transmit, to the second device, a user change signal upon detecting actuation of the profile selector; and   an indicator configured to change an appearance of the electronic control device by presenting profile indication indicia on the electronic control device, wherein the indicator further comprises a light source capable of emitting a light in one of a plurality of colors;   the processor further configured, upon detecting actuation of the profile selector, to cause the indicator to change an indicia state of the indicator from a first indicia state to a second indicia state by changing the light source from emitting a first color to emitting a second color; wherein the first indicia state is a present indicia state and the second indicia state is a default indicia state.   
     
     
         28 . The electronic control device of  claim 27 , the indicator further comprising a light pipe disposed along the electronic control device through which the light passes. 
     
     
         29 . The electronic control device of  claim 27 , wherein the single profile selection actuator comprises a single profile selector button. 
     
     
         30 . A first electronic device for wirelessly controlling a software application executed in a second electronic device, wherein the software application executed in the second electronic device has at least one user profile associated therewith, the first electronic device comprising:
 a processor;   a user interface configured to display a selector for selecting one of a plurality of profiles;   a transceiver comprising a transmitter configured to at least transmit a profile change signal; and   an indicator having a plurality of indicia states;   the processor configured to detect actuation of the selector, wherein detecting actuation of the selector comprises detecting actuation of a profile selection actuator, wherein detecting actuation of the profile selection button comprises detecting actuation of the actuator for at least a predetermined duration;   the processor further configured to cause the transceiver in the first electronic device to transmit a profile change signal;   the processor further configured to receive a profile change acknowledgement;   the processor further configured, responsively to receiving the profile change acknowledgement, to change an indicia state of the indicator from a first indicia state to a second indicia state, wherein changing the indicia state of the indicator occurs after the step of receiving the profile change acknowledgement.   
     
     
         31 . A method of selecting a user profile in a first electronic device that comprises a user interface configured to display a selector for selecting one of a plurality of profiles, a transmitter configured to at least transmit a profile change signal, and an indicator having a plurality of indicia states, the method comprising:
 detecting actuation of the selector, wherein the step of detecting actuation of the selector comprises detecting actuation of a profile selection actuator, and wherein the step of detecting actuation of the profile selection actuator comprises detecting at least a predetermined number of actuations;   transmitting, by a transmitter in the first electronic device, a profile change signal; and   changing an indicia state of the indicator from a first indicia state to a second indicia state, wherein the step of changing the indicia state comprises the step of changing a light source from a first color to a second color, and further wherein the step of changing the indicia state of the indicator comprises changing the indicia state from a present indicia state to a default indicia state.   
     
     
         32 . A method of selecting a user profile in a first electronic device comprising a user interface configured to display a selector for selecting one of a plurality of profiles, a transmitter configured to at least transmit a profile change signal, and an indicator having a plurality of indicia states;
 detecting actuation of the selector, wherein the step of detecting actuation of the selector comprises detecting actuation of a profile selection actuator, wherein the step of detecting actuation of the profile selection actuator comprises detecting actuation of the actuator for at least a predetermined duration;   transmitting, by the transmitter in the first electronic device, a profile change signal;   receiving a profile change acknowledgement; and   changing an indicia state of the indicator from a first indicia state to a second indicia state, wherein the step of changing the indicia state of the indicator occurs after the step of receiving the profile change acknowledgement.   
     
     
         33 . A user profile selection system comprising:
 a first electronic device configured to communicate with a second electronic device having a plurality of modes of operation, wherein at least some of the plurality of modes of operation correspond to a plurality of user profiles, the first electronic device comprising:   a user interface configured to display a user profile selector for receiving, from a user, a selection of at least one mode from the plurality of modes of operation;   a transmitter configured to transmit wirelessly to a transceiver of the second electronic device, responsively to the selection, a profile change message associated with the selection of the at least one mode from the plurality of modes of operation;   a receiver configured to communicate wirelessly with the transceiver of the second electronic device;   the user interface further configured to display a visual indicator, wherein the visual indicator changes appearance based at least on the selection of the at least one mode from the plurality of modes of operation.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33  wherein the visual indicator changes appearance responsively to the user interface receiving, from the user, the selection of at least one mode. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 33  wherein the visual indicator changes appearance responsively to a mode change signal for confirming a changed mode of operation in the second electronic device, the mode change signal received in the receiver from the transceiver of the second electronic device.