User interface for a remote control application
A hand-held electronic device having a remote control application user interface that functions to displays operational mode information to a user. The graphical user interface may be used, for example, to setup the remote control application to control appliances for one or more users in one or more rooms, to perform activities, and to access favorites. The remote control application is also adapted to be upgradeable. Furthermore, the remote control application provides for the sharing of operational mode information.
1 . A readable media having instructions for displaying capabilities of a hand-held device used to remotely control the operation of different types of devices of different manufacturers, the instructions performing steps comprising:
displaying a representation of a soft key with a first appearance indicative of a state wherein the hand held device needs to be setup to perform a function in response to activation of the soft key; and
displaying the representation of the soft key with a second appearance indicative of a state wherein the hand held device is setup to perform the function in response to activation of the soft key.
2 . The readable media as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second appearance comprises the first appearance with an overlay removed.
3 . The readable media as recited in claim 3 , wherein the overlay comprises an image of a wrench.
4 . The readable media as recited in claim 1 , wherein activation of the soft key places the remote control in a mode to effect control of a specific one of the types of devices.
5 . The readable media as recited in claim 4 , wherein the soft key is setup by specifying one of the different manufacturers of the specific one of the types of devices.
6 . The readable media as recited in claim 1 , wherein activation of the soft key causes the transmission of commands to cause one of the different types of devices to tune to a favorite channel.
7 . The readable media as recited in claim 6 , wherein the soft key is setup by specifying one of the different manufacturers of the specific one of the types of devices and a tuning location of the favorite channel.
8 . The readable media as recited in claim 1 , further comprising displaying an add icon the activation of which is used to add a representation of a second soft key which is required to be setup.
9 . The readable media as recited in claim 8 , wherein the add icon is used to add a representation of a mode of operation of the hand-held device.
10 . The readable media as recited in claim 1 , wherein activation of the soft key having the first appearance automatically invokes a setup wizard.
11 . A readable media having instructions for displaying information to a user of a hand-held device, comprising:
displaying to the user in a circular queue arrangement a plurality of iconic representations each corresponding to a home appliance which the hand-held device can be setup to remotely control;
accepting input from the user for setting up the hand-held device to control the operation of a home appliance; and
changing the appearance of the iconic representation corresponding to the home appliance after the user sets up the hand-held device to control the operation of the home appliance.
12 . The readable media as recited in claim 11 , wherein each iconic representation is provided with a first appearance indicative of a state wherein the hand held device needs to be setup to perform a function in response to activation of the iconic representation and is provided with a second appearance indicative of a state wherein the hand held device is setup to perform the function in response to activation of the iconic representation.
13 . The readable media as recited in claim 11 , wherein the circular queue is displayed as a wheel and the instructions further move the iconic representation corresponding to the home appliance the user setup the hand-held device to control to a top portion of the wheel.
14 . The readable media as recited in claim 11 , wherein changing the appearance of the iconic representation comprises removing an overlay from the iconic representation.
15 . The readable media as recited in claim 14 , wherein the overlay comprises an image of a wrench.
16 . The readable media as recited in claim 11 , wherein the instructions further display an iconic representation corresponding to an activity whereby the hand-held device can be setup to remotely control the operation of a plurality of home appliances to perform actions related to a common function.
17 . The readable media as recited in claim 16 , wherein the common function is control of home appliances arranged into a home theater system.
18 . A method for displaying operational mode information to a user of a hand held device, comprising:
displaying a plurality of mode soft-keys each activatable to place the hand held device in a mode to remotely control the operation of one or more home appliances while simultaneously displaying an add soft-key activatable to automatically allow a user to setup the hand held device to control the operation of one or more additional home appliances and, once the setup is completed, adding an additional mode soft-key to the plurality of mode soft-keys, the additional soft-key activatable to place the hand held device in a mode to remotely control the operation of the one or more additional home appliances.
19 . The method as recited in claim 18 , wherein at least one of the mode soft-keys is displayed with an image representative of a home appliance.
20 . The method as recited in claim 19 , wherein at least one of the mode soft-keys is displayed with an image representative of an activity.
21 . The method as recited in claim 18 , wherein the plurality of mode soft-keys are displayed in a circular queue arrangement and the method comprises accepting input from a user which selects one of the mode-soft keys and rotating the circular queue such that the selected mode soft-key moves from its current location within the circular queue to a predetermined location within the circular queue, the movement being in a direction that moves the selected mode soft-key the shortest distance to the predetermined location.
22 . A method for displaying operational information to a user of a remote control, comprising:
displaying to the user in a circular queue arrangement iconic representations of every device which the remote control is setup to control;
accepting input from the user indicating one of the devices which the user desires to control; and
rotating the iconic representations in the circular queue such that the iconic representation of the selected devices moves from its current location within the circular queue to a predetermined location within the circular queue, the movement being in a direction that moves the iconic representation the shortest distance.
23 . The method as recited in claim 22 , wherein the circular queue comprises a wheel and the predetermined location is generally located at a top portion of the wheel.
24 . A readable media having instructions for displaying information to a user of a hand-held device, the instructions performing steps comprising:
displaying to the user a plurality of iconic representations of sources of programming each having mapped thereto a channel number such that selection of one of the iconic representations causes the hand-held device to transmit a command to cause a home appliance to tune to the channel mapped to the selected iconic representation; and
using an electronic program guide downloaded to the hand-held device to automatically update the mapping between the channel numbers and the iconic representations in the hand-held device such that the mapping of the channel numbers to the iconic representations within the hand-held device correspond to an assignment of channel numbers to sources of programs with the electronic program guide.