Selecting a picture of a device to identify an associated codeset
A device communicates via Wi-Fi with a central function device. The function device has information regarding all the various remote controls needed by the consumer. The function device communicates wirelessly with the device and in turn then operates all of the consumer's electronic devices.
1. A system for control of electronic consumer device (ECD) functions, the system comprising: a controlling device comprising a plurality of input elements, a first wireless transmitter, a first processing device coupled to the plurality of input elements and the wireless transmitter, and a first memory coupled to the first processing device having stored thereon first instructions wherein the first instructions, when executed by the first processing device, cause the controlling device to respond to an activation of a one of the plurality of input elements by transmitting, via the first wireless transmitter, a data that identifies the activated one of the plurality of input elements; and a function device comprising a first wireless receiver for receiving the data that identifies the activated one of the plurality of input elements, a wired transmitter, a second processing device coupled to the first wireless receiver and the wired transmitter, and a second memory device having stored thereon a command cod eset and second instructions executable by the second processing device wherein the second instructions, when executed by the second processing device, cause the function device to use the data that identifies the activated one of the plurality of input elements to select a command code from the command cod eset, use the command code selected from the command cod eset to create a command signal for transmission to the ECD via use of the wired transmitter, and transmit to the ECD via use of the wired transmitter the command signal to thereby control a function of the ECD.
2. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the controlling device comprises a display and wherein the plurality of input elements are displayed in the display of the controlling device.
3. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first wireless transmitter and the first wireless receiver comprise components of a radio frequency protocol communications channel.
4. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first wireless transmitter and the first wireless receiver comprise components of an infrared protocol communications channel.
5. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the wired transmitter is adapted to transmit the command signal via use of a High Definition Multimedia Interface-Consumer Electronic Control protocol.
6. The system as recited in claim 2 , wherein the function device further comprises a second wireless transmitter, the second processing device is coupled to the second wireless transmitter, the second instructions, when executed by the second processing device, further cause the function device to provide to the controlling device via use of the second wireless transmitter data for use in creating a graphical user interface having the plurality of portable device input elements, the controlling device further comprises a second wireless receiver for receiving the data for use in creating the graphical user interface, the first processing device is coupled to the second wireless receiver, and the first instructions, when executed by the first processing device, further cause the controlling device to use the data for use in creating to the graphical user interface to cause the graphical user interface to be displayed in the display of the controlling device.
7. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the function device comprises a media access device couplable to the ECD via use of the wired transmitter.
8. The system as recited in claim 7 , wherein the media access device comprises a settop box.
9. The system as recited in claim 7 , wherein the wired transmitter is a component of a High-Definition Multimedia Interface of the function device.
10. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the function device further comprises a second wireless receiver for receiving communications originating from a remotely located server device, the second processing device is coupled to the second wireless receiver, and the second instructions, when executed by the second processing device, further cause the function device to store in the second memory the command cod eset as received from the remotely located server via the second wireless receiver.
11. The system as recited in claim 10 , wherein the function device further comprises a wired receiver for receiving communications from the ECD, a second wireless transmitter for transmitting communications to the remotely located server device, the second processing device is coupled to the wired receiver and the second wireless transmitter, and the second instructions, when executed by the second processing device, further cause the function device to transmit to the remotely located server via the second wireless transmitter device identifying data received from the ECD via the wired receiver to thereby receive from the remotely located server via the second wireless receiver the command cod eset.
12. The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the wired transmitter and the wired receiver are components of a High-Definition Multimedia Interface of the function device.