Apparatus and method to facilitate universal remote control

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention provides a universal remote control, which includes a display screen and a user input mechanism. The universal remote control also includes a processing unit that is configured to display information on the display screen and to accept selection data from the user input mechanism. The universal remote control additionally includes a wireless communication mechanism that is configured to provide communications between the processing unit and an appliance or computer program running on a computer system. The appliance provides information to be displayed on the display screen, and information entered through the user input mechanism is communicated to the appliance. Since the appliance provides the information to be displayed on the display screen and also interprets the entries on the input mechanism, the universal remote control needs no special knowledge about the appliance.

1 . An appliance comprising:
 a communication module configured to communicate with a remote control device; and   a processor configured to send a specification for an appliance-specific user interface to the remote control device via the communication module,   wherein the specification is usable by the remote control device to provide a user interface and transmit commands to the appliance, and the specification is customized for a current state of the appliance.   
     
     
         2 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the specification customized for the current state of the appliance defines one or more graphical input elements to accept user input. 
     
     
         3 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the specification is one of a plurality of specifications stored by the appliance. 
     
     
         4 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the specification includes information identifying the appliance. 
     
     
         5 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to send unique display information to the remote control device in response to receiving a discovery command from the remote control device. 
     
     
         6 . The appliance of  claim 5 , wherein the discovery command is a Bluetooth™ discovery command. 
     
     
         7 . The appliance of  claim 5 , wherein unique display information includes one or more of a name of the appliance, an icon, user instructions, or an advertising message. 
     
     
         8 . An appliance comprising:
 a communication module configured to communicate with a remote control device; and   a processor configured to send a specification for an appliance-specific user interface to the remote control device via the communication module,   wherein the specification is usable by the remote control device to provide a user interface and transmit commands to the appliance, the specification is one of a plurality of specifications stored by the appliance, the specification is customized for a current state of the appliance, and the specification defines one or more graphical input elements to accept user input.   
     
     
         9 . The appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the graphical input elements include one or more of rewind, pause, play, stop, eject, and fast-forward. 
     
     
         10 . The appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the specification further defines one or more graphical output elements operable to be displayed via the remote control device. 
     
     
         11 . The appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the appliance is one or more of a television, a video tape player, a video disk player, a stereo, a home control system, or a computer system. 
     
     
         12 . The appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the specification is encoded in a markup language. 
     
     
         13 . The appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the markup language is XML or HTTP 
     
     
         14 . The appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to perform a requested action in response to receiving a control request from the remote control device. 
     
     
         15 . The appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to send a reply to the remote control device in response to receiving the control request. 
     
     
         16 . The appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the communication module is configured to communicate with the remote control device over a wireless communication link. 
     
     
         17 . The appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the wireless communication link is an infrared communication link or a radio frequency communication link. 
     
     
         18 . A method of operating an appliance, the method comprising:
 receiving, by the appliance from a remote control device, a request for a specification; and   in response to receiving the request for a specification, sending, by the appliance, a specification for an appliance-specific user interface to the remote control device,   wherein the specification is usable by the remote control device to provide a user interface and transmit commands to the appliance, and the specification is customized for a current state of the appliance.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the remote control device, a discovery command; and   in response to receiving the discovery command, sending unique display information to the remote control device.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 receiving a control request; and   in response to receiving the control request:
 performing a requested action; and 
 sending a reply to the remote control. 
   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the specification is sent wirelessly to the remote control device. 
     
     
         22 . A method of operating an appliance, the method comprising:
 receiving, by the appliance from a remote control device, a request for a specification; and   in response to receiving the request for a specification, sending, by the appliance, a specification for an appliance-specific user interface to the remote control device,   wherein the specification is usable by the remote control device to provide a user interface and transmit commands to the appliance, the specification is one of a plurality of specifications stored by the appliance, the specification is customized for a current state of the appliance, and the specification defines one or more graphical input elements to accept user input.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the remote control device, a discovery command; and   in response to receiving the discovery command, sending unique display information to the remote control device.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein unique display information includes one or more of a manufacturer's logo, user instructions, and an advertising message. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein unique display information includes text indicating one or more of a television, a video tape player, a video disk player, a stereo, home controls, a computer MP3 player, and a computer DVD player.