System and method for providing an adaptive user interface on an electronic appliance

Abstract

A controllable device, such as a set top box, responds to a transmission received from a one of a plurality of controlling devices of differing capabilities by entering into a one of a plurality of operating modes wherein the one of the plurality of operating modes entered into corresponds to the capabilities of the controlling device from which the transmission originated.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method performed by a switching device comprising a plurality of audio/video (AV) ports and a switch circuit that is operable to selectively connect any one of a plurality of source devices, each of which is connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of AV ports, to a sink device that is connected to another one of the plurality of AV ports, the method comprising:
 detecting, by a control signal detector of the switching device, which is operable to receive wireless control signals that have been sent from different remote control devices to different source devices, that a wireless control signal has been sent from a remote control device to a source device of the plurality of source devices so that the remote control device can wirelessly control the source device;   determining an identifier that identifies the source device to which the control signal was sent;   identifying a first AV port from among the plurality of AV ports to which the identified source device is connected based on the determined identifier; and   automatically connecting the first AV port to the AV port to which the sink device is connected so that content can be provided from the identified source device to the sink device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said determining is based on an indicator included in the wireless control signal that uniquely identifies the source device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining that a second remote control device is being utilized;   identifying a second source device that is associated with the second remote control device from among the plurality of source devices; and   identifying a second AV port from among the plurality of AV ports to which the identified second source device is connected; and   automatically connecting the second AV port to the AV port to which the sink device is connected to that content can be provided by the identified second source device to the sink device.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless control signal is received via universal infrared receiver of the switching device.