Customizable and upgradable devices and methods related thereto

Abstract

A customizable and an upgradable remote control is provided which may be customized or upgraded via a Web site or through other remote, and preferably interactive, processes. A database is provided which includes a plurality of functions of a consumer electronic device, such as a TV and/or a DVD player. A user selects among the plurality of functions at least one of the desired functions. In response to the user selection a virtual configuration is created to virtually configure the customizable remote control. The virtual configuration may be downloaded to the customizable remote control.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for customizing a controlling device, comprising:
 an Internet Web server in communication with the controlling device via a wide area network, the Internet Web server having programming which, when executed by the Internet Web server, causes the Internet Web server to perform the steps of:   using first data and second data received via the wide area network, wherein the first data functions to identify a plurality of consumer electronic devices and the second data functions to identify an activity to be performed using the controlling device, to select from a database associated with the Internet Web server a pre-programmed sequence comprising instructions for causing at least a subset of the plurality of consumer electronic devices identified by the first data to perform a plurality of operations in connection with the activity identified by the second data when a configurable key of the controlling device is actuated; and   downloading the selected pre-programmed sequence via the wide area network for use by the controlling device;   wherein the controlling device has programming which, when executed by the controlling device, causes the controlling device to perform the steps of:   associating the downloaded, selected, pre-programmed sequence to the configurable key of the controlling device; and   responding to an activation of the configurable key at a time after the step of associating by causing the controlling device to execute the downloaded, selected, pre-programmed sequence.   
     
     
         2 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the pre-programmed sequence comprises instructions for causing the controlling device to control at least a channel tuning operation of at least a one of the at least a subset of the plurality of consumer electronic devices. 
     
     
         3 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the pre-programmed sequence comprises a code for accessing a pay-per-view broadcast program. 
     
     
         4 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the pre-programmed sequence comprises instructions for causing the controlling device to transmit at least a command to set a configuration setting of a one of the at least a subset of the plurality of consumer electronic devices. 
     
     
         5 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first data that functions to identify the plurality of consumer electronic devices comprises data identifying a brand/model of each of the plurality of consumer electronic devices. 
     
     
         6 . The system as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the programming of the controlling device further causes the controlling device to present in a display associated with the controlling device a user interface for obtaining from a user the first data. 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first data that functions to identify the plurality of consumer electronic devices is retrieved from a cookie on a client computer in communication with the Internet Web site. 
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , comprising further downloading from the Internet Web site for use in the remote control command sets appropriate for allowing operations of the plurality of consumer electronic devices to be controlled via actuations of corresponding keys of the remote control.