Graphical user interface and data transfer methods in a controlling device

Abstract

A smart device is provided with a main remote control application that may be configured using information. The main remote control application may present images of original remote controls corresponding to devices which are controllable by the configured main remote control application. In connection with a presented image of an original remote control, the display may present icons that are representative of a subset of the buttons of the original remote control. The user interface also allows a user to select amongst the images of the original remote controls to change which appliances are to be controlled via the user interface. A pop-up remote control widget may also be provided which may be invoked without switching to the main remote control application provisioned on the smart device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A non-transitory, computer-readable media having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processing device of a smart device, cause the smart device to perform steps comprising:
 invoking on the smart device in response to a first predetermined input being provided to the smart device a remote control application of the smart device wherein the invoked remote control application includes a main remote control user interface that is displayed in a display of the smart device, wherein the main remote control user interface displayed in the display of the smart device comprises a first plurality of user interface elements and wherein user interactions with the first plurality of user interface elements will cause the smart device to transmit commands for controlling functional operations of an intended target device;   causing a secondary remote control user interface to be provided to the display of the smart device in response to a second predetermined input being provided to the smart device, wherein the secondary remote control user interface displayed in the display of the smart device comprises a second plurality of user interface elements and wherein user interactions with the second plurality of user interface elements will cause the smart device to transmit commands for controlling functional operations of the intended target device; and   wherein the instructions cause the smart device to be responsive to the second predetermined user input to provide the secondary remote control user interface to the display of the smart device independent of the remote control application being invoked on the smart device.   
     
     
         2 . The non-transitory, computer readable media as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second predetermined input comprises a predetermined motion gesture made upon a surface of the display of the smart device. 
     
     
         3 . The non-transitory, computer readable media as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second predetermined input comprises a predetermined movement of the smart device. 
     
     
         4 . The non-transitory, computer readable media as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the secondary remote control user interface is caused to be superimposed over content currently being displayed in the display of the smart device. 
     
     
         5 . The non-transitory, computer readable media as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the secondary remote control user interface is caused to be temporarily displayed in the display of the smart device. 
     
     
         6 . The non-transitory, computer readable media as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second plurality of user interface elements comprises a subset of and less than all of the first plurality of user interface elements. 
     
     
         7 . The non-transitory, computer readable media as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the instructions cause an infrared transmission system of the smart device to transmit commands for controlling functional operations of the intended target device. 
     
     
         8 . The non-transitory, computer readable media as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the instructions cause a radio frequency transmission system of the smart device to transmit commands for controlling functional operations of the intended target device. 
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory, computer readable media as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the smart device comprises a tablet computing device. 
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory, computer readable media as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the smart device comprises a smart phone. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory, computer readable media as recited in  claim 1 , wherein an entirety of the display of the smart device is used by the main remote control user interface and wherein less than the entirety of the display of the smart device is used by the secondary remote control user interface. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable media as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the second plurality of user interface elements comprises one or more frequently selected ones of the first plurality of user interface elements. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable media as recited in claim  17 , wherein the instructions monitor selections of the first plurality of user interface elements to automatically determine the second plurality of user interface elements. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable media as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second plurality of user interface elements provide for control of a predetermined, controllable activity. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable media as recited in claim  19 , wherein the second plurality of user interface elements provide for control of volume operational functions and media transport functions.