US007574693B1
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Kemink
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,574,693 B1
`Aug. 11, 2009
`
`(54) INTERNET-BASED SERVICE FOR UPDATING
`A PROGRAMMABLE CONTROL DEVICE
`
`(75) Inventor: Joost Kemink, Campbell, CA (US)
`
`O O
`(73) Assignee: sounty's hip Electronics N.V.,
`1COWC
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/311,128
`(22) Filed:
`May 13, 1999
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`(60) Yal application No. 60/100,826, filed on Sep.
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`G06F 9/44
`(2006.01)
`G06F 9/445
`(2006.01)
`G06F 5/16
`(52) U.S. Cl. ....................... 717/121: 717/120; 717/122;
`717/168; 717/174; 709/218
`(58) Field of Classification Search ......... 345/716–866;
`717/120-123, 168–178; 709/217 219; 341/173–178:
`71.5/513 516
`See application file for complete search history.
`References Cited
`
`(56)
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,410,326 A
`4, 1995 Goldstein ................... 348,734
`6,049,671 A * 4/2000 Slivka et al. ................ 717/173
`6,075,528 A
`6/2000 Curtis ........................ 345,866
`
`6,198.479 B1* 3/2001 Humpleman et al......... 71.5/733
`6,208,341 B1* 3/2001 van Ee et al. .........
`... 345,716
`6,211,856 B1 * 4/2001 Choi et al. ........
`... 345,666
`6.256,668 B1* 7/2001 Slivka et al. ...
`... 709.220
`6,317,143 B1 * 1 1/2001 Wugofski ......
`... 345,765
`6,408,435 B1* 6/2002 Sato ..........
`...
`25.58
`6,466,203 B2 * 10/2002 Van Ee ...
`... 345,173
`6,466,233 B1 * 10/2002 Mitani .......
`... 345,716
`6,476,825 B1* 11/2002 C
`tal. .................. 345,716
`of '56, Rita". 235,462.01
`7.218.243 B2 *
`5/2007 Hayes et al. ........... 340,825.72
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`0626635 A2 11/1994
`EP
`O862304 A2
`9, 1998
`EP
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner Lewis A Bullock, Jr.
`Assistant Examiner Jason Mitchell
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`An Internet based service is provided for updating a program
`mable control device. An Internet site contains links to appli
`ance-dependent control and feature option information which
`can be downloaded to the programmable control as a graphic
`user interface (GUI). A user interface is provided at the site
`for the user to easily specify a target appliance, and thereafter
`selectively download the interface and control information
`that is available for the target appliance. The Internet site also
`contains links to other providers of configurations and mac
`ros, such as System integrators who provide interfaces based
`on an inventory of the user's controllable equipment, hobby
`ist who share configurations and macros that they've found
`useful, and so on.
`
`10 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
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`DETERMINE USER PROFILE --310
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`- - - - - - - - - - - - -
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`320
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`330
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`340
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`COMMUNCATEGUCODE:
`TOUSER PC
`--350
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`ENABLEEDITOFGUICODE --360
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`a - - - - - - - - - - - -
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`COMMUNICATEGUICODE
`TO CONTROL DEVICE
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`370
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`Ex.1024
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`U.S. Patent
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`Aug. 11, 2009
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`Sheet 1 of 3
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`US 7,574,693 B1
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`
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`FIG. 1
`(PRIOR ART)
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`120
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`U.S. Patent
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`Aug. 11, 2009
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`Sheet 2 of 3
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`US 7,574,693 B1
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`251
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`ONTROL
`DEVICE
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`INTERNET ACCESS
`DEVICE
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`Y
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`MICROWAVE
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`FIG.2
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`U.S. Patent
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`Aug. 11, 2009
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`Sheet 3 of 3
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`US 7,574,693 B1
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`DETERMINE USER PROFILE -310
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`DETERMINE SELECTED
`APPLIANCE(S)
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`320
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`330
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`340
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`COMMUNICATEGU CODE
`TOUSER PC
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`-350
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`L - - - - - - - -
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`- -
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`a
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`.
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`.
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`.
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`.
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`.
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`.
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`.
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`.
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`.
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`.
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`.
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`COMMUNCATEGUICODE
`TO CONTROL DEVICE
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`370
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`FIG. 3
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`US 7,574,693 B1
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`1.
`INTERNET-BASED SERVICE FOR UPDATING
`A PROGRAMMABLE CONTROL DEVICE
`
`This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
`Application No. 60/100,826, filed Sep. 17, 1998.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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`the consumer if he/she cannot get it to do what he/she wants
`it to do and when he/she wants it be done.
`FIG. 1 illustrates an example programmable remote con
`trol 100 similar to the “Pronto’. The remote control 100
`provides a graphic user interface (GUI) via an LCD touch
`screen 110 and also has direct-access buttons 120 for fre
`quently used control functions. Typically, the remote control
`100 includes customizable device templates for full control of
`the device being controlled. For example, the remote control
`100 comprises one or more templates for the GUI that con
`tains illustrations or icons of the controls typically found on a
`playback device Such as a DVD, including a play button icon
`131, fast forward 132, go to end 133, stop 134, and so on. The
`user merely touches the icon 131-134 on the LCD touch
`screen 110 to effect the desired function. Also illustrated on
`the LCD touchscreen 110 is an icon 141 to switch to another
`related device, such as a TV, and an icon 142 to switch to an
`index of controllable devices and function.
`An advanced programmable remote control 100 such as the
`“Pronto' also provides options to assign control functions to
`icons or buttons; options to delete and create icons or buttons;
`to program and edit macros; a keyboard with Soft keys for
`(re-) labeling buttons, icons and templates or the GUI's con
`trol panels. For example, a user may desire some of the
`control options for the television, Such as Volume control, to
`be displayed on the LCD touch screen 110 whenever the
`controls 131-134 of the example DVD are displayed. Differ
`ent users of the control device 100 in the same household may
`each prefer a different layout for the same device. To accom
`modate Such preferences, programmable control devices Such
`as the “Pronto' are highly customizable in terms of the lay
`out, appearance, labeling, organization and in terms of pro
`gramming and editing the control functions. As the use of
`graphic user interfaces becomes commonplace, the availabil
`ity of programmable graphic user interfaces on other devices,
`Such as telephones, hand-held radios, household appliances,
`navigation devices, and so on, can be expected to also become
`commonplace.
`An ergonomically designed programmable control. Such
`as the “Pronto remote controller for example, may help to
`lower the acceptance-threshold for home theater and home
`automation systems, owing to the controller's user-friendli
`ness, personalizing options and wide applicability, but many
`capabilities of the programmable control system may go
`unused if the consumer is reluctant to program the device, or
`if the programming of the device is perceived as a daunting
`task. Similarly, the Synergistic aspects of a programmable
`control system may also go unused if the user is not aware of
`or sensitive to, the possibility of Such synergy. That is, a
`cluster of appliances may be synergistically controlled so as
`to enhance a sense of being embedded in the experience. The
`playback of a DVD movie, for example, may be enhanced by
`enabling Surround Sound on the user's audio appliance, dim
`ming the lights in the room where the user's television is
`located, and placing the user's telephone in an auto-answer
`mode.
`The capabilities of the programmable control system may
`also go unused if the capabilities of the device being con
`trolled, herein termed the appliance, are difficult to obtain or
`the commands that effect the control of the appliance are
`difficult to map to the available capabilities of the program
`mable control. To ease the programming task, the Pronto
`system includes an infrared (IR) receiver that receives the
`appliance commands from a remote control device that is
`specific to the appliance. This feature, however, presupposes
`that an appliance-specific remote control device will continue
`to be provided with each remotely controllable appliance. As
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`1. Field of the Invention
`This invention relates to the field of consumer electronics,
`and in particular to devices having a programmable graphics
`user interface. Such as programmable remote control devices,
`telephones, household appliances, and the like.
`2. Description of Related Art
`Ever increasingly more Sophisticated electronic audio/
`Video (AV) equipment and home automation equipment are
`being introduced on the consumer electronics (CE) market.
`Typically, the equipment is programmable by the end-user in
`order to tailor the numerous functionalities and settings to the
`individual preferences. The user-interactivity and synergy
`aspects of the equipment are determined Substantially by
`Software such as interactive applications, control Software
`and user interfaces. See, for example, the HAViarchitecture
`and the Home API initiative, both involving substantial con
`tributions from Philips Electronics, the Jini technology of Sun
`Microsystems, Inc., etc.
`A step forward in user-friendliness regarding interacting
`with the equipment is the universal programmable remote
`controller, such as the “RC-2000' of Marantz and the
`“Pronto” made by Philips Electronics. The term “universal
`remote' refers to a device that enables the end-user to control
`the majority of his/her collection of remotely controllable
`apparatus, regardless of the type or brand of the individual
`apparatus. This universal controllability is achieved by
`accommodating on the remote a database of multiple sets of
`existing control (IR or RF) codes, each particular set being
`associated with a particular type of apparatus of a particular
`brand. In addition, the universal remote is programmable to
`learn or adopt new codes and to associate them with a par
`ticular user-defined input. The “Pronto’, for example, has
`built-in RC-5 and RC-6 codes for Philips and Marantz equip
`ment, IR-sending and IR-learning eyes, and an RS232 serial
`port connector for after-market expandability, e.g., via a PC.
`As the advantages of programmable control are realized,
`the market demand for programmable control can be
`expected to result in programmable graphic user interfaces on
`devices other than remote controllers. For example, consum
`ers may find that the conventional numeric key pad on a
`telephone device is antiquated in light of new communica
`tions means and dialing options provided by their communi
`cations service provider. Some consumers may prefer only
`two options to appear on their washing machine: “white
`wash” or “color wash’, wherein each selectable option is
`preprogrammed to provide the appropriate wash duration,
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`water temperature, cool down cycle, and so on. In like man
`ner, common settings for a microwave oven can be prepro
`grammed and presented on a control panel that is customized
`for a particular user.
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`OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
`
`The customization capability of programmable user inter
`faces raises the issue of user-friendliness regarding control
`lability, reliability and accessability, as well as the user
`friendliness of the user-programmability. How technically
`sophisticated the equipment may be, it will be of little use to
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`US 7,574,693 B1
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`programmable remote controls such as Pronto become pro
`lific, the need for packaging an appliance-specific remote
`control device with each appliance becomes questionable. As
`is becoming increasingly common, the appliance-specific
`remote control devices are typically used once by the con
`Sumer to program a common programmable remote control,
`then stored or tossed away.
`As noted above, the programmable control device exem
`plified by Pronto includes a configuration capability, wherein
`the user-interface is designed for all the appliance-specific
`controls, macro groups, GUI panel layouts, button appear
`ances and behaviors, and so on. Copending U.S. patent appli
`cation FULLY FUNCTIONAL REMOTE CONTROLEDI
`TOR AND EMULATOR, U.S. Ser. No. 09/271,200, filed
`Mar. 17, 1999 for Jan van Ee, and incorporated by reference
`herein, points out the difficulty of developing an effective
`configuration, particularly when the only means for testing
`and Verifying the configuration is to actually apply the con
`figuration to the device. This referenced application discloses
`the use of an editor and emulator to develop and test configu
`rations and command sequences on a personal computer, for
`Subsequent download to the programmable control device
`after the configuration is verified, via emulation. It is expected
`that the use of this referenced invention will result in a rapid
`development of many useful appliance-specific macros. As
`programmable remote devices such as “Pronto' become
`increasingly popular, manufacturers are likely to develop
`macros and Graphic user interfaces that enhance the ease of
`use of their products, the appeal of their products, and,
`through interaction with other devices, enhance the apparent
`capabilities of their products. In like manner, as program
`mable control is provided for devices other than remote con
`trol devices, such as telephones, household appliances, and
`the like, it is expected that the vendors of these devices will
`provide optional appliance-specific macros and configura
`tions as well.
`It is an object of this invention to ease the task of program
`ming a programmable control device, and in particular a
`device having a graphic user interface. It is a further object of
`40
`this invention to provide a means for accessing and down
`loading graphic user interfaces corresponding to appliances
`that are included in a user's inventory of controllable appli
`ances. It is a further object of this invention to provide a means
`for accessing and downloading graphic user interfaces that
`45
`provides for the synergistic control of the users inventory of
`controllable appliances.
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`4
`equipment, hobbyist who share configurations and macros
`that they've found useful, and so on.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The invention is explained in further detail, and by way of
`example, with reference to the accompanying drawings
`wherein:
`FIG. 1 illustrates an example prior art programmable
`remote control device.
`FIG. 2 illustrates an example block diagram of an Internet
`based service for updating a programmable control device in
`accordance with this invention.
`FIG. 3 illustrates an example flow diagram of an Internet
`based service for updating a programmable control device in
`accordance with this invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
`FIG. 2 illustrates an example block diagram of an Internet
`based service for updating a programmable control device
`100 in accordance with this invention. The paradigm of a
`programmable remote control device 100 is used herein for
`ease of understanding. As would be evident to one of ordinary
`skill in the art, the principles embodied herein are applicable
`to other control devices, such as telephones and otherhouse
`hold appliances having a programmable control interface. A
`user (not shown) accesses the Internet 220 via an Internet
`access device 210. Such as a personal computer (PC). As
`would be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art, Internet
`access devices are currently available in other forms, such as
`set-top boxes, handheld computers, cellular telephones, and
`the like, and can be expected to migrate to other devices as
`well, including the control device 100. FIG. 2 also illustrates
`a variety of appliances 251-254 that are potentially control
`lable by the remote control device 100; the Internet access
`device 210 may be included in one or more of the appliances
`251-254 as well. As noted above, the programmable control
`interface may also be located on the appliance 251-254, the
`paradigm of a remote control being used herein for ease of
`understanding.
`In accordance with this invention, an Internet site 225
`provides a service for obtaining software code for program
`ming the graphic user interface of the control device 100. The
`Software code will generally contain information specific to
`one or more of the appliances 251-254, but may also contain
`general purpose information as well. Such as code for orga
`nizing and presenting information on the display Screen 110.
`The term device control profile is used herein to identify the
`nature of the graphic user interface, for ease of reference,
`although the profile or code need not be appliance specific.
`The software code is downloaded and stored at the control
`device 100, via the Internet access device 210; it may also be
`stored at the Internet access device 210 for subsequent or
`interim loading to the control device 100. After receiving the
`device control profile, the control device 100 is able to display
`the graphic user interface corresponding to the profile. If the
`profile is appliance specific, the appliance commands to
`effect the control illustrated by the graphic user interface may
`also be communicated to the control device 100, to facilitate
`control of the appliance 251-254 or appliances corresponding
`to the downloaded code, as discussed with regard to FIG. 1.
`For example, the service at the Internet site 225 will display,
`via the Internet Access device 210, a list of appliances that
`have corresponding graphic user interface code, and prompt
`the user for a selection. As is common in the art, the user may
`be led through a sequence of links and web pages until a
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`BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`These objects and others are achieved by providing an
`Internet based service for updating the graphic user interface
`of a programmable control device. An Internet site contains
`links to appliance-dependent control and feature option infor
`mation which can be downloaded to the programmable con
`trol as a graphic user interface (GUI). The graphic user inter
`face includes, for example, selectable buttons, icons, clusters
`of icons, templates, and the like that enhance the control of
`one or more user appliances. The Internet site allows the user
`to easily specify a target appliance, or collection of appli
`ances, and thereafter selectively download one or more
`graphic user interfaces that are available for the target appli
`ance, the collection of appliances, or an environment that
`includes one or more of the appliances. The Internet site also
`contains links to other providers of graphic user interfaces,
`Such as system integrators who provide configurations and
`macros based on an inventory of the user's controllable
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`US 7,574,693 B1
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`manufacturer's model number is found that corresponds, for
`example, to the television 251 in FIG. 2. The user may also be
`presented a plurality of graphic user interfaces corresponding
`to the selected appliance and is given a choice among them.
`The selected graphic interface code is thereafter downloaded
`to the control device 100. Ancillary information may also be
`downloaded. For example, in the example of a remote control
`device 100 such as the “Pronto', the sequence used by the
`infrared transmitter of the remote control device 100 to effect
`each appliance control may also be downloaded.
`The Internet site 225, or sites, may be provided by the
`vendor of a remote control device 100, to provide added
`perceived value to its product; or by one or more vendors of
`the appliances 251-254 that can be controlled by the remote
`control device or by a control device contained within the
`appliance, to provide added perceived value and ease of use to
`their products; or by a third party that provides the service in
`return for revenue from advertisers on the site. Particularly in
`the case of appliance vendors and third parties, the site 225
`may provide differing versions of code corresponding to the
`device control profile, depending upon the type of control
`device 100. That is, for example, different remote control
`device manufacturers may employ different commands and
`protocols to program their remote control devices, or differ
`ent models of control devices from the same manufacturer
`may have different characteristics and capabilities. In a pre
`ferred embodiment, the site 225 is configured to provide the
`appropriate code to the particular model of control device
`100. As would be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art,
`although the Internet site 225 is illustrated in FIG.2 as a single
`site, the site 225 will typically include links to multiple other
`sites, such as vendor-specific sites, system-integrator sites,
`and the like.
`FIG. 3 illustrates an example flow diagram of an Internet
`based service for updating a programmable control device in
`accordance with this invention. Illustrated in FIG. 3 is an
`optional block 310 for determining a user profile. Copending
`U.S. patent application “CUSTOMIZED UPGRADING OF
`INTERNET-ENABLED DEVICES BASED ON USER
`PROFILE, U.S. Ser. No. 09/160,490, filed Sep. 25, 1998 for
`Adrian Turner et al., presents a server system that maintains a
`user profile of a particular end-user of consumer electronics
`network-enabled equipment, and a database of new technical
`features for this equipment, and is incorporated by reference
`herein. Copending U.S. patent application, “UPGRADING
`OF SYNERGETIC ASPECTS OF HOME NETWORKS,
`45
`U.S. Ser. No. 09/189,535, filed Nov. 10, 1998 for Yevgeniy
`Shteyn, incorporated by reference herein, presents a system
`with a server that has access to an inventory of devices and
`capabilities on a user's home network. The inventory is, for
`example, a look-up service as provided by HAVii, JINI and
`Home API architectures. The server also has access to a data
`base with information of features for a network. The server
`determines if the Synergy of the apparatus present on the
`user's network can be enhanced based on the listing of the
`inventory and on the user's profile. If there are features that
`are relevant to the synergy, based on these criteria, the user is
`notified. In accordance with this invention, upon notification
`of newly added features, or the potential for synergistic
`enhancement, the user is provided the option to select and
`download graphic user interfaces related to these new fea
`tures and enhancements.
`Using the techniques presented in the aforementioned
`copending applications, or other techniques common in the
`art, such as an interactive query session, the options presented
`to the user at block 320 can be customized for the particular
`user. Differing graphic user interfaces may also be provided
`in dependence upon demographics. For example, the GUI
`code may differ for the same appliance in dependence upon
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`the age of the user. Alternatively, if a user profile is not
`provided, block 320 is configured to presentall of the options
`for downloading graphic user interface code from the Inter
`net. Using techniques common in the art, discussed above, the
`service in accordance with this invention determines the
`graphic user interface code Suitable to the user's request and
`suitable to the user's particular control device.
`Illustrated in FIG. 3, the selection sequence is typically
`effected by a determination of a particular appliance, at 330,
`and thereafter a determination of the corresponding GUI
`code, at 340. As noted above, the graphic user interface code
`is not necessarily limited to appliance specific code, and
`alternative means for determining the appropriate GUI code
`corresponding to the user's desires will be evident to one of
`ordinary skill in the art in the light of this disclosure.
`Illustrated in FIG. 3 is optional block 350 that communi
`cates the GUI code to the Internet access device, prior to
`downloading to the control device, at 370. Depending upon
`the configuration of the Internet access device, the GUI code
`may be downloaded to the Internet access device, and then
`transferred to the control device, or the GUI code may be
`routed directly to the control device. Block 360 is an optional
`block that facilitates a user modification of the GUI code prior
`to downloading to the control device, at 370. In this optional
`embodiment, the user may, for example, choose a different
`layout of the icons that are included in the GUI code, or
`choose to delete Some of the icons, or choose to combine the
`downloaded GUI code with other GUI code. The aforemen
`tioned copending U.S. patent application "FULLY FUNC
`TIONAL REMOTE CONTROL, EDITOR AND EMULA
`TOR, U.S. Ser. No. 09/271,200, filed Mar. 17, 1999 for Jan
`van Ee, is utilized in a preferred embodiment to effect and
`verify such changes. Alternatively, the GUI code may be
`modified on the control device, using for example the tech
`niques presented in copending U.S. patent application “GUI
`OF REMOTE CONTROL, FACILITATES USER
`FRIENDLY EDITING OF MACROS, U.S. Ser. No. 09/129,
`300, filed Aug. 5, 1998 for Jan van Ee, and incorporated by
`reference herein.
`The user is also provided the option of repeating the above
`sequence for additional downloads of GUI code, as indicated
`by the dashed line to block 310. After the GUI code is down
`loaded to the control device, at 370, the user may utilize the
`GUI corresponding to the code to control the selected appli
`ance. As discussed above, the download process may also
`include a download of other information related to a remote
`control device and/or the selected appliance.
`The foregoing merely illustrates the principles of the
`invention. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the
`art will be able to devise various arrangements which,
`although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody
`the principles of the invention and are thus within its spirit and
`scope. For example, the choice of GUI code for a particular
`appliance may be dependent upon an inventory of other appli
`ances of the user, or it may be dependent upon the location of
`the appliance, or the location of the control device. For
`example, the controls included in the GUI for a DVD player
`may differ depending upon whether the DVD is used with a
`conventional television or a high definition television. In like
`manner the controls included in the GUI for a television may
`depend upon whether the television is incorporated into a
`multimedia system, or located in a bedroom, as compared to
`a family room, and so on. Copending U.S. patent application
`REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE WITH LOCATION
`DEPENDENT INTERFACE, U.S. Ser. No. 09/210,416,
`filed Dec. 11, 1998 for Joost Kemink, discloses the use of a
`location determination device to select or modify the user
`interface independence upon the location of a remote control
`device, and is incorporated by reference herein. In like man
`ner, the controls included in the GUI may differ depending
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`upon the geographic location of the user, using, for example,
`different language text in different countries. The controls
`may also be dependent upon a time parameter, such as the
`time of day, season of the year, and so on.
`The structure and configuration are presented in the figures
`for illustrative purposes, and alternative arrangements would
`be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the
`aforementioned GUI editing and verification tasks could be
`effected at the Internet site 225, rather than local to the Inter
`net access device 210 or control device 110. In like manner,
`the Internet site 225 may provide the GUI information in the
`form of parametric data, wherein the Internet access device
`210 or control device 110 is configured to process the down
`loaded parametric GUI data to create the corresponding GUI
`details. For the purposes of this invention, it would be evident
`to one of ordinary skill in the art that the term GUI code
`includes such parametric GUI data. In like manner, the con
`trol device 110 may upload GUI code, in the form of GUI
`details, parametric GUI data, and the like, to the Internet
`access device 210, for processing and modification by the
`Internet access device 210 based upon downloaded GUI code
`from the Internet site 225. It is also noted that other devices
`and systems that perform similar functions could be
`employed to effect this invention. For example, the use of an
`Internet site 225 in this disclosure is a paradigm for a general
`source of information. Other local networks, private net
`works, and the like could be used to store GUI information at
`an accessible site. Such as a server, for downloading to indi
`vidual control devices having access to that site. These and
`other alternative architectures and configurations will be evi
`dent to one of ordinary skill in the art, and are included within
`the scope of the following claims.
`I claim:
`1. A method to facilitate a programming of a control device
`that provides agraphic user interface, the method comprising:
`enabling a determination of at least one appliance or col
`lection of appliances for being user-controlled through
`the control device;
`determining code for graphically representing controllable
`features of the at least one appliance or collection of
`appliances on the graphic user interface of the control
`40
`device, wherein the graphic user interface includes
`Selectable buttons, icons, clusters of icons, and tem
`plates that enhance a control of one or more appliance
`and need not be appliance specific, wherein determining
`the code includes extracting, as a function of a synergis
`tic control, a device control profile (i) specific to the one
`or more appliance and (ii) which identifies a nature of the
`graphic user interface, further in dependence upon at
`least one of a location parameter representing a location
`of the at least one appliance or collection of appliances,
`a location parameter representing a location of the con
`trol device, a location parameter representing a location
`of a user, a time parameter representing a time of day, a
`time parameter representing a season of the year, a user
`profile, and an inventory of appliances of a user; and
`communicating the code to the control device for storage at
`the control device for enabling user-control of the appli
`ance in response to a Subsequent user activation of the
`control device,
`wherein determining the code further includes accessing
`an Internet site in dependence upon the determination of
`the at least one appliance or collection of appliances.
`2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the code
`includes extracting a device control profile from a plurality of
`device control profiles for a same appliance, wherein graphic
`user interface code is further provided in dependence upon
`demographics.
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`50
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`45
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`55
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`60
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`65
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`3. The method of claim 1, further including:
`communicating appliance control commands to the control
`device to facilitate the user-control of the appliance.
`4. The method of claim 1, further including enabling an
`editing of the code, wherein editing includes one selected
`from the group consisting of a user choice of different layout
`of icons included in the communicated graphic user interface
`code; user deletion of icons in the communicated graphic user
`interface code; and user combination of the communicated
`graphic user interface code with other graphic user interface
`code.
`5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of at
`least one appliance includes
`providing a sequence of selection options that lead to the
`determination of the at least one appliance.
`6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one appli
`ance comprises at least one of a television, a CD player, a
`DVD player, a computer, a set-top box, a telephone, and a
`microwave.
`7. A control device for remotely controlling one or more
`electronic devices, the control device comprising:
`a programmable user interface, wherein the programmable
`user interface includes selectable buttons, icons, clusters
`of icons, and templates that enhance a control of one or
`more electronic device and need not be electronic device
`specific, and
`a receiver that receives user interface code from an Internet
`site storing interface codes for at least one electronic
`device or plurality of electronic devices, wherein the
`user interface code is extracted as a function of a syner
`gistic device control profile that is (i) specific to the one
`or more electronic device and (ii) used to identify a
`nature of the user interface, further wherein the user
`interface code is received in dependence upon at least
`one of a location parameter representing a location of
`the at least one electronic device or plurality of elec
`tronic devices, a location paramet