System And Method For Effectively Performing A Remote Control Configuration Procedure

Abstract

A system and method for effectively performing a remote control configuration procedure includes a settop box that receives electronic programming from a program source and a television that is configured to reproduce the electronic programming. A remote control device controls various functionalities of the television over an RC-TV communications link. The remote control configuration procedure is coordinated by the television and a configuration server to allow the remote control device to also control various functionalities of the settop box over an RC-STB communication link. The television and the configuration server support a user-friendly interactive procedure to automatically determine and provide certain settop-box control information for adding appropriate settop-box control functions to the remote control device during the remote control configuration procedure.

1 . A remote control for effectively controlling an electronic system, comprising:
 an RC application that controls a first device over a first communications link, said remote control coordinating a configuration procedure to allow said remote control to also control a second device over a second communication link, said remote control accessing control information for adding control functions to said remote control during said configuration procedure; and   a processor that controls said RC application.   
     
     
         2 . The remote control of  claim 1  further comprising a configuration server that said remote control interacts with to identify and obtain said control information. 
     
     
         3 . The remote control of  claim 2  wherein said remote control communicates with said configuration server over an Internet network, said second device being implemented as a settop box that receives electronic programming from a program source, said first device being implemented as a remote control that is configured to reproduce said electronic programming. 
     
     
         4 . The remote control of  claim 1  wherein said second device is alternately implemented as a cable-television settop box or a satellite-television settop box. 
     
     
         5 . The remote control of  claim 1  wherein said configuration procedure is initiated in response to a configuration trigger event that alternately includes an initial setup procedure for said television or a replacement installation of said second device. 
     
     
         6 . The remote control of  claim 2  wherein said remote control automatically transmits a network login communication, including an IP address, to said configuration server, said configuration server responsively accessing a locale lookup table to determine a specific locale for said remote control based upon said IP address. 
     
     
         7 . The remote control of  claim 6  wherein said configuration server accesses a vendor lookup table to determine one or more probable vendors for said second device based upon said specific locale of said remote control, said configuration server notifying said remote control regarding said one or more probable vendors for said second device based upon vendor information from said vendor lookup table. 
     
     
         8 . The remote control of  claim 7  wherein said remote control displays a vendor identification question about said one or more probable vendors to allow a system user to utilize said remote control for interactively confirming an actual vendor of said second device. 
     
     
         9 . The remote control of  claim 8  wherein said vendor identification question is formulated as a yes/no question for which said system user may respond either “yes” or “no.” 
     
     
         10 . The remote control of  claim 8  wherein said remote control confirms said actual vendor of said second device to said configuration server, said configuration server responsively accessing a model lookup table to determine model information for possible devices supported in said specific locale by said actual vendor, said configuration server then uploading said model information to said remote control. 
     
     
         11 . The remote control of  claim 10  wherein said model information includes model numbers and/or digital images for said possible devices supported by said actual vendor at said specific locale, said system user identifying one of said digital images or said model numbers. 
     
     
         12 . The remote control of  claim 10  wherein said remote control displays said model information, said remote control also displaying a model identification question about said possible devices to allow said system user to utilize said remote control for interactively confirming an actual model of said second device. 
     
     
         13 . The remote control of  claim 12  wherein said remote control confirms said actual model of said second device to said configuration server, said configuration server responsively accessing a control-information lookup table to determine control information for said actual model of said second device. 
     
     
         14 . The remote control of  claim 13  wherein said control information includes specific control codes to support adding said control functions to said remote control. 
     
     
         15 . The remote control of  claim 13  wherein said configuration server uploads said control information to said remote control, said remote control responsively providing said control information to said remote control. 
     
     
         16 . The remote control of  claim 15  wherein said remote control receives said control information by utilizing low-speed or high-speed radio-frequency transmissions. 
     
     
         17 . The remote control of  claim 15  wherein said remote control receives said control information by utilizing Near-Field Communication techniques. 
     
     
         18 . The remote control of  claim 15  wherein said remote control utilizes said control information to update remote control functionalities of said remote control to support controlling both said second device and said first device. 
     
     
         19 . The remote control of  claim 1  wherein said remote control generates an RC GUI for visually presenting to a system user a graphical representation of said remote control and current control button functions of said remote control after said configuration procedure has been performed. 
     
     
         20 . The remote control of  claim 19  wherein said RC function GUI includes function descriptor popups to indicate current control functionalities of specific identified remote-control buttons after said configuration procedure has been performed.