A method of switching button functions is disclosed. The method is used for switching the functions of buttons used to operate a display when the portable device is connected to the display. The method includes the following steps of: detecting whether the portable device is connected to the display; if yes, determining whether the functions of the buttons can be switched according to whether a button information is received; if yes, pairing each of the buttons with functions provided by the portable device; and storing a pairing information of each of the buttons and the functions provided by the portable device.

A system displays a representation of an original equipment remote control device for a target device to be controlled using a macro button of a configurable controlling device. The displayed representation of the original equipment remote control device includes representations of buttons that would be used on the original equipment remote control device to control controllable functions of the target device. The system accepts input by which one or more of the displayed representations of buttons are selected. The macro button is then configured whereby an activation of the macro button will cause a transmission of commands from the configurable controlling device to control those controllable functions of the target devices that correspond to the one or more of the displayed representations of buttons that were selected.

Various techniques are provided to program and operate a user device to remotely control target devices. In one example, a user may program a user device with a remote control device that includes physical controls. The user device may capture an image of the remote control device. The user device may determine a location on the image corresponding to a physical control. The user device may receive an infrared (IR) signal from the remote control device corresponding to an actuation of the physical control. The user device may associate the IR signal and the location. The user may operate the user device to control a target device. The user device may present the image to the user on a display. The user device may receive a user contact corresponding to a location on the image and transmit an IR signal associated with the location to operate the target device.

A method of controlling an external apparatus includes: receiving an input command of a user and biometric information of the user from a device; determining a condition for controlling the external apparatus and operation of the external apparatus based on the received input command of the user and the received biometric information of the user; and providing a control command for controlling the operation of the external apparatus if the determined condition is satisfied.

The invention relates to a system and method of re-programming memory, and in particular, to wirelessly re-programming software, such as the application code, residing in memory of a trainable transceiver. The wireless re-programming of memory allows for software in the trainable transceiver to be updated or replaced from a remote location, where a direct or wired connection to the product is not otherwise available.

A method for creating, with an unset radio control provided with a NFC device, an adjunct rolling code radio control controlling a user device, with which an original radio control is already associated having a rolling code based on a variation algorithm unknown by the unset radio control, wherein includes identifying the algorithm via a sniffer provided with a NFC device. If the sniffer possesses the algorithm, then the algorithm is transmitted via NFC from the sniffer to the unset radio control; if instead the sniffer does not possess the algorithm, it acquires the algorithm with an apparatus connectable to the internet and provided with a NFC device, then transmits the algorithm via NFC from the apparatus to the unset radio control. The original and the unset radio control are simultaneously activated such that the original radio control can set up the unset radio control based on the algorithm.

A portable electronic device with a touch-sensitive display (such as a cellular telephone) provides a wireless remote control for an entertainment device (such as a consumer-electronic device). Based on device-state information that specifies a current state of the entertainment device (which is determined by an audio/video (A/V) hub that communicates with the entertainment device) and one or more related states of the entertainment device, the A/V hub may generate user-interface information that specifies a user interface that includes one or more virtual command icons. Note that the one or more related states are related to the current state in a state diagram by corresponding operations that transition the entertainment device from the current state to the one or more related states. Then, the A/V hub provides the user interface to the portable electronic device. In this way, the A/V hub device dynamically adapts the user interface.

Data indicative of an object of interest is received at a recognition system having an associated database in which is stored data for a plurality of reference objects each of which is cross-referenced to configuration information for a universal controlling device. The reference system uses the received data and the data for the plurality of reference objects to discern one or more reference objects as being a match for the object of interest. At least a subset of the configuration information that has been cross-referenced to the one or more reference objects discerned by the recognition system as being a match for the object of interest is then used to configure the universal controlling device to enable the universal controlling device to communicate commands to one or more target appliances.

Systems and methods for controlling one or more appliances are provided. One or more appliances (150), each having one or more unique identifiers and one or more first network adapters can be in communication with one or more first networks (140). One or more network adapter devices (120) capable of bi-directional communication on the first network (140) and on one or more second networks (160) can be disposed on the first network (140). One or more appliance databases can be disposed in, on, or about the one or more second networks (160). One or more handheld controllers (110) can be in communication with the one or more network adapter devices (120) and the one or more appliances (150).

A portable electronic device with a touch-sensitive display (such as a cellular telephone) provides a wireless remote control for an entertainment device (such as a consumer-electronic device). Based on device-state information that specifies a current state of the entertainment device (which is received from an audio/video (A/V) hub that communicates with the entertainment device) and one or more related states of the entertainment device, the portable electronic device may generate a user interface that includes one or more virtual command icons. Note that the one or more related states are related to the current state in a state diagram by corresponding operations that transition the entertainment device from the current state to the one or more related states. Then, the portable electronic displays the user interface on the touch-sensitive display. In this way, the portable electronic device dynamically adapts the user interface.