Smart Device Remote Control Configuration via HDMI CEC
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing remote control systems for smart devices face challenges in efficiently configuring universal remote control apps to match various appliances, requiring manual setup and lack of user-friendly methods for determining appropriate command data and protocols.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for smart devices to temporarily connect to appliances to ascertain their identity, using HDMI and CEC protocols to determine command data and protocols, and optionally communicating with previously configured appliances to retrieve configuration settings, facilitating rapid and convenient setup and configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual configuration is used to set up universal remote control apps, then the system can support multiple appliance types, but the setup process becomes time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables appliances to automatically provide their own identification information and command data to the portable device. The appliance acts as its own configuration source, eliminating the need for manual user input. The portable device simply needs to establish communication with the appliance, and the appliance autonomously transmits its identity and associated command protocols, thereby reducing setup time while maintaining support for multiple appliance types.
Solution Approach 2:
The command data and protocols are pre-configured and stored within each appliance itself. Rather than requiring users to manually configure these settings during setup, the appliances have their identification information and command protocols prepared in advance. When the portable device connects to an appliance, the pre-prepared configuration data is automatically transmitted, eliminating the time-consuming manual configuration process.
2Measurement precision
If manual configuration is required for each appliance, then accurate command data can be selected, but the configuration process becomes cumbersome and user-unfriendly
Solution Approach 1:
Each appliance autonomously provides its own accurate identification information and command data to the portable device. The appliance self-identifies its type and transmits the precise command protocols it requires, eliminating the need for users to manually search and select from multiple options. This self-service approach ensures accurate command data selection while making the configuration process simple and user-friendly.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable device acts as an intermediary that facilitates the automatic exchange of configuration data between the appliance and the user. Instead of requiring direct manual input from the user, the portable device mediates the configuration process by receiving identification information from the appliance and automatically matching it with the appropriate command data from its library, thereby ensuring accuracy while simplifying user interaction.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a comprehensive command library is maintained for all appliance types, then universal control capability is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the necessary identification information and command data from each appliance during the configuration process. Rather than requiring the portable device to maintain and process all possible command protocols for every appliance type in its library simultaneously, the system extracts and loads only the specific command data relevant to the currently connected appliance. This reduces the active complexity while maintaining universal control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The comprehensive command library is pre-organized and stored in a structured format within the portable device. All possible command protocols for various appliance types are prepared in advance and categorized by appliance identification. When an appliance connects, the system quickly retrieves the pre-organized command data matching the appliance's identity, rather than having to process or generate commands in real-time. This preliminary organization reduces operational complexity while maintaining universal capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method used to configure a smart device to command functional operations of a target appliance. The smart device retrieves from a controllable appliance, such as a settop box, data indicative of a codeset identity of the target appliance wherein the codeset identity was determined during a process used to configure a conventional universal remote control to command functional operations of the target appliance and wherein the process used to configure the conventional universal remote control is performed in cooperation with the controllable appliance. A remote control application resident on the smart device then uses the data indicative of the codeset identity retrieved from the controllable appliance to also configure the smart device to command functional operations of the target appliance.