Repeated Commands Based on Device-State Information
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). After receiving, from the portable electronic device, user-interface activity information that specifies a change in a state of the entertainment device, an audio/video (A/V) hub provides the user-interface activity information to the entertainment device and determines device-state information about the entertainment device, which specifies a current state of the entertainment device. Until the device-state information indicates that the change in the state has occurred, the A/V hub: provides: the user-interface activity information to entertainment device; and determines additional device-state information indicating about the entertainment device that indicates whether the change in the state has occurred. In addition, the A/V hub may provide feedback (such as a visual indicator or sensory-feedback instructions) to a user about the status of the change in the state.
1 . An audio/video (A/V) hub, comprising:
an antenna;
an interface circuit, coupled to the antenna, configured to communicate with a portable electronic device; and
a control circuit, coupled to the interface circuit, configured to:
receive, via the interface circuit, user-interface activity information from the portable electronic device specifying activation of a virtual command icon in a user interface displayed on the portable electronic device, wherein the activation of the virtual command icon specifies a change in a state of an entertainment device;
provide the user-interface activity information to the entertainment device;
determine device-state information about the entertainment device indicating whether the change in the state of the entertainment device has occurred; and
when the change in the state of the entertainment device has not occurred, perform, until the change in the state of the entertainment device has occurred, operations of:
providing the user-interface activity information to the entertainment device; and
determining additional device-state information about the entertainment device indicating whether the change in the state of the entertainment device has occurred.
2 . The A/V hub of claim 1 , wherein, when the change in the state of the entertainment device has not occurred, the control circuit is configured to provide, until the change in the state of the entertainment device has occurred, feedback that indicates that the change in the state of the entertainment device is being implemented.
3 . The A/V hub of claim 2 , wherein providing the feedback involves providing, via the interface circuit, a visual indicator to the portable electronic device for display in the user interface to indicate that the change in the state of the entertainment device is being implemented.
4 . The A/V hub of claim 2 , wherein providing the feedback involves providing, to the entertainment device, a visual indicator for display on the entertainment device; and
wherein the visual indicator indicates that the change in the state of the entertainment device is being implemented.
5 . The A/V hub of claim 1 , wherein, when the control circuit receives the user-interface activity information again from the portable electronic device, the control circuit is configured to provide, via the interface circuit, a sensory-feedback instruction to the portable electronic device that, when performed by the portable electronic device, indicates that the change in the state of the entertainment device is being implemented.
6 . The A/V hub of claim 5 , wherein the sensory-feedback instruction instructs the portable electronic device to activate a vibration actuator.
7 . The A/V hub of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit comprises:
memory configured to store a program module; and
a processor, coupled to the interface circuit and the memory, configured to execute the program module, wherein the program module includes instructions for operations performed by the control circuit.
8 . The A/V hub of claim 1 , wherein entertainment device includes a television.
9 . A non-transitory computer-program product for use in conjunction with an audio/video (A/V) hub, the computer-program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium that stores a computer-program mechanism that, when executed by the A/V hub, causes the A/V hub to communicate a change in a state of an entertainment device, the computer-program mechanism including:
instructions for receiving, via an interface circuit in the A/V hub, user-interface activity information from a portable electronic device specifying activation of a virtual command icon in a user interface displayed on the portable electronic device, wherein the activation of the virtual command icon specifies a change in a state of an entertainment device;
instructions for providing the user-interface activity information to the entertainment device;
instructions for determining device-state information about the entertainment device indicating whether the change in the state of the entertainment device has occurred; and
instructions for performing, when the change in the state of the entertainment device has not occurred and until the change in the state of the entertainment device has occurred, operations of:
providing the user-interface activity information to the entertainment device; and
determining additional device-state information about the entertainment device indicating whether the change in the state of the entertainment device has occurred.
10 . The computer-program product of claim 9 , wherein the computer-program mechanism further comprises instructions for providing, when the change in the state of the entertainment device has not occurred and until the change in the state of the entertainment device has occurred, feedback that indicates that the change in the state of the entertainment device is being implemented.
11 . The computer-program product of claim 10 , wherein providing the feedback involves providing, via the interface circuit, a visual indicator to the portable electronic device for display in the user interface to indicate that the change in the state of the entertainment device is being implemented.
12 . The computer-program product of claim 10 , wherein providing the feedback involves providing, to the entertainment device, a visual indicator for display on the entertainment device; and
wherein the visual indicator indicates that the change in the state of the entertainment device is being implemented.
13 . The computer-program product of claim 9 , wherein the computer-program mechanism further comprises instructions for providing, when the user-interface activity information is received again from the portable electronic device, a sensory-feedback instruction to the portable electronic device that, when performed by the portable electronic device, indicates that the change in the state of the entertainment device is being implemented.
14 . The computer-program product of claim 13 , wherein the sensory-feedback instruction instructs the portable electronic device to activate a vibration actuator.
15 . The computer-program product of claim 9 , wherein entertainment device includes a television.
16 . An audio/video (A/V) hub-implemented method for communicating a change in a state of an entertainment device, wherein the method comprises:
receiving, via an interface circuit in the A/V hub, user-interface activity information from a portable electronic device specifying activation of a virtual command icon in a user interface displayed on the portable electronic device, wherein the activation of the virtual command icon specifies a change in a state of an entertainment device;
providing the user-interface activity information to the entertainment device;
determining device-state information about the entertainment device indicating whether the change in the state of the entertainment device has occurred; and
using the A/V hub, performing, when the change in the state of the entertainment device has not occurred and until the change in the state of the entertainment device has occurred, operations of:
providing the user-interface activity information to the entertainment device; and
determining additional device-state information about the entertainment device indicating whether the change in the state of the entertainment device has occurred.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises, when the change in the state of the entertainment device has not occurred and until the change in the state of the entertainment device has occurred, providing feedback that indicates that the change in the state of the entertainment device is being implemented.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein providing the feedback involves providing, via the interface circuit, a visual indicator to the portable electronic device for display in the user interface to indicate that the change in the state of the entertainment device is being implemented.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein providing the feedback involves providing, to the entertainment device, a visual indicator for display on the entertainment device; and
wherein the visual indicator indicates that the change in the state of the entertainment device is being implemented.
20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises providing, when the user-interface activity information is received again from the portable electronic device, a sensory-feedback instruction to the portable electronic device that, when performed by the portable electronic device, indicates that the change in the state of the entertainment device is being implemented.