A remote control system 1 includes a selecting unit 13 that selects at least one control target device from among a plurality of control target devices 2, according to a result obtained by capturing a field of view of a user by a user terminal 20, and a control unit 14 that controls the control target device 2 selected by the selecting unit 13. Accordingly, the burden on the user when selecting the control target device 2 can be reduced.

Systems and methods for managing playback devices in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes a method for modifying a system that includes several devices. The method includes steps for measuring a first signal pattern for wireless signals between the several devices, measuring a second signal pattern for the wireless signals after measuring the first signal pattern between the several devices, determining an updated state of the system based on a difference between the second signal pattern and the first signal pattern, and modifying state variables of one or more devices of the playback system based on the determined updated state.

A system and method of providing one or more vehicle functions at a vehicle, the method including: when the vehicle is in a powered off state, periodically scanning for short-range wireless communication (SRWC) devices using a SRWC chipset and, as a result of the scanning, receiving a connection request from a mobile device; in response thereto, establishing a SRWC connection with the mobile device using the SRWC chipset; after establishing the SRWC connection, authorizing the mobile device to access one or more vehicle functions; then, performing an initialization suite of operations, wherein the initialization suite of operations includes initializing at least one vehicle system module, and wherein the initialization suite of operations is performed in response to a predictive user determination indicative of an imminent user interaction with the vehicle; and executing the initialization suite of operations at the vehicle.

Provided is a remote operating system which enables to operate a device by a remote operating device in a simple and reliable manner even if the device to be operated is not equipped with a communication function, or if displayed contents on a monitor screen of the device to be operated are not recognized by the remote operating device. A remote operating system (100) includes: a screen acquisition unit (121); an image determination unit (122); a state providing unit (123); an operation reception unit (131); an operating signal output unit (132); a correct or incorrect operation determination unit (133); and a state database DB. The remote operating system (100) further includes a capture device (141) for capturing an image of a monitor X1 of a device X of interest, and a control interface (142) connected to a keyboard X2 of the object X to be controlled in a superimposed manner.

A sensor detects whether or not an input device and a display device are in a combined state. A control mode determining unit determines a control mode associated with the state detected by the sensor. A control processing unit switches a control mode of a control target apparatus to the control mode determined by the control mode determining unit, and causes the display device to display a function to be operated in a display mode corresponding to the switched control mode.

A load control system may include devices for performing communications for controlling an amount of power provided to an electrical load. The devices may include load control devices that may communicate by transmitting digital messages. A user device having an adjustable wireless communication range may be used for discovering devices, configuring devices, and/or diagnosing devices in the load control system. The user device may detect whether devices are within an established wireless communication range of one another for performing communications. The user device may detect digital messages transmitted from a device and/or digital messages received at a device to determine whether the digital messages are correctly communicated in the load control system. The user device may provide an indication to a user indicating whether a digital message is correctly transmitted or received by a device in the load control system.

A control method according to the present disclosure is used in a remote control system including apparatuses and an information terminal that controls at least one of the apparatuses via a network. The control method includes: a step (S2) of displaying, on a user interface region of a display unit of the information terminal, apparatus icons indicating target apparatus candidates among the apparatuses; a step (S3) of obtaining, via the network, (a) apparatus state information related to the apparatuses and (b) sensor information that is a value indicating a spatial environment in which the apparatuses are located; and a step (S4) of (i) determining priorities of the target apparatus candidates based on the apparatus state information and the sensor information, all of which are obtained in the step (S3), and (ii) sorting, according to the determined priorities, the apparatus icons displayed on the user interface region.

Various implementations include approaches for controlling content via a playback device. In a particular implementation, a remote control device includes: a keypad having a set of actuatable buttons for controlling a playback device; and a control module, where the remote control device is operable in a plurality of different operating states, and where the control module is configured to highlight one or more distinct subsets of the set of actuatable buttons at the keypad based upon a current operating state of the remote control device.

Techniques for suggesting accessory devices controlled by an application executing on a mobile device are disclosed. A method includes measuring one or more sensor values using one or more sensors of a mobile device and the one or more sensor values are determined from one or more signals emitted by a first one or more accessory devices. An area of a physical space for the first one or more accessory devices can be determined based on the one or more sensor values. A second one or more accessory devices associated with the same area as the first one or more accessory devices can be suggested to a user.

A load control system may include devices for performing communications for controlling an amount of power provided to an electrical load. The devices may include load control devices that may communicate by transmitting digital messages. A user device having an adjustable wireless communication range may be used for discovering devices, configuring devices, and/or diagnosing devices in the load control system. The user device may detect whether devices are within an established wireless communication range of one another for performing communications. The user device may detect digital messages transmitted from a device and/or digital messages received at a device to determine whether the digital messages are correctly communicated in the load control system. The user device may provide an indication to a indicating whether a digital message is correctly transmitted or received by a device in the load control system.