Methods and systems are disclosed for performing operations for controlling connected devices. The operations include detecting, by a messaging application implemented on a client device, a real-world object depicted in a received image. The operations include determining a current location of the client device. The operations include identifying a plurality of connected devices associated with the current location. The operations include selecting a first connected device from the plurality of connected devices based on one or more attributes of the real-world object depicted in the image. The operations include receiving, by the messaging application, input that selects a command associated with the first connected device. The operations include causing, by the messaging application, the first connected device to perform the selected command in response to receiving the input.

A keycode data structure includes a device type byte, a set of keycodes, system code information, a system data byte, a protocol pointer that points to a protocol table and a number of flagbytes that are used to index a particular key among the keycodes. The keycode data structure also contains a plurality of keycode data structure pointers (KDSPs). Keycode data structures are linked together using KDSPs. A special value in the keycode data structure is used to indicate that the keycode data structure contains multiple KDSPs. The number of pointers is stored in a particular location of the keycode data structure.

Disclosed is a display apparatus capable of receiving a remote control signal from a remote controller for a different apparatus and outputting a converted remote control signal and a control method thereof, the display apparatus including: a display configured to display an image; a communicator comprising communication circuitry; a signal receiver configured to receive a remote control signal from among a plurality of remote controllers respectively corresponding to a plurality of external apparatuses; and a controller configured to perform a function corresponding to an image displayed on the display in response to a command included in the received remote control signal, or to control the communicator to transmit the command to an external apparatus selected corresponding to the image displayed on the display from among the plurality of external apparatuses. Thus, the display apparatus receives a remote control signal from a remote controller for controlling an external apparatus, and uses the received remote control signal to directly perform a function or transmit a command to an apparatus desired to be controlled by a user, thereby allowing the user to easily use the remote controller.

In response to a detected presence of an intended target appliance within a logical topography of controllable appliances identity information associated with the intended target appliance is used to automatically add to a graphical user interface of a controlling device an icon representative of the intended target appliance and to create at a Universal Control Engine a listing of communication methods for use in controlling corresponding functional operations of the intended target appliance. When the icon is later activated, the controlling device is placed into an operating state appropriate for controlling functional operations of the intended target appliance while the Universal Control Engine uses at least one of the communication methods to transmit at least one command to place the intended target appliance into a predetermined operating state.

Embodiments utilize a camera on a universal remote control to automatically detect which device the remote is pointed at by the user. The image captured by the camera is compared to a database of images of known or preconfigured devices that can be controlled by the universal remote control. If the image captured by the camera matches an image in the database, then the universal remote control loads a specific key map for the preconfigured device from the database.

An example method for controlling an external electronic device of an electronic device, according to various embodiments, includes: receiving data information corresponding to at least one function of the external electronic device from an external electronic device connected to the electronic device; displaying a setting window for setting a user interface for controlling the external electronic device using the data information; selecting a control item corresponding to the at least one function included in the setting window according to user input reception; and setting and displaying the user interface corresponding to the selected control item.

A method includes identifying a plurality of vehicles within a geographic area; transmitting a first signal to a device of a customer, the first signal being configured to control each of the plurality of vehicles; receiving a selection of a vehicle from among the plurality of vehicles; and transmitting a second signal to the device in response to receiving the selection, the second signal modifying the first signal to be disabled from controlling the plurality of vehicles except the selected vehicle.

An electronic device and a method for controlling an external device thereof are provided. The method for controlling an external device by an electronic device includes: in response to a trigger input being sensed, determining an external device from among a plurality of external devices that is indicated by the electronic device; providing a user interface (UI) screen of an application corresponding to the external device indicated by the electronic device; and in response to a user command being input through the UI screen of the application, transmitting a control signal corresponding to the user command to the external device indicated by the electronic device.

A radio frequency connection between a controlling device and a one of a plurality of controllable appliances in an environment is used to determine when the controlling device is pointing more towards the one of the plurality of controllable appliances relative to remaining ones of the plurality of controllable appliances. When it is determined that the controlling device is pointing more towards the one of the plurality of controllable appliances relative to remaining ones of the plurality of controllable appliances, the controlling device automatically makes active a command codeset usable to transmit commands to command functional operations of the one of the plurality of controllable appliances.

The present invention relates to a remote control apparatus which can remotely control multiple devices. A remote control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a key input unit having multiple keys; a reception unit for receiving at least one device identification signal from at least one device or a transmission device corresponding to the device; a processor for detecting an identification signal for a device, which can be remotely controlled, from the at least one received device identification signal, and matching at least one of the multiple keys to a control command for the remote control of the device, on the basis of the detected identification signal; and a transmission unit for transmitting a signal corresponding to the control command when the key matched to the control command is selected. Accordingly, the present invention can remotely control multiple devices.