System and method for appliance control via a personal communication or entertainment device
A system for use in controlling operating functions of a controllable device includes a hand-held device and an intermediate device in communication with the hand-held device and the controllable device. The hand-held device is adapted to receive a gesture based input and to transmit a signal having data representative of the gesture based input. The intermediate device has programming for translating the data representative of the gesture based input in a signal received from the hand-held device into a command signal to be communicated to the controllable device wherein the command signal has a format appropriate for controlling an operating function of the controllable device that is associated with the gesture based input.
1. A controlling device, comprising:
a processing device;
a receiver coupled to the processing device;
a transmitter coupled to the processing device; and
a memory storing instructions executable by the processing device;
wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing device, cause the controlling device to establish during a pairing procedure executed between the controlling device and a first controllable device via use of the receiver and the transmitter a unique system identifier and to include the unique system identifier in a communication intended for receipt by the first controllable device transmitted via use of the transmitter wherein the communication further comprises a data usable by the first controllable device to cause a command for controlling at least one operating function of a second controllable device to be transmitted from the first controllable device.
2. The controlling device as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a wireless transceiver that includes the receiver and the transmitter.
3. The controlling device as recited in claim 2 , wherein the wireless transceiver comprises a radio frequency transceiver.
4. The controlling device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one operating function of the second controllable device comprises a media rendering pause function or a volume mute function.
5. The controlling device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the data comprises a type code indicative of a type for the second controllable device.
6. The controlling device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the data comprises a pointer to the command code data set of the library of command code data sets stored in a memory associated with the first controllable device.
7. The controlling device as recited in claim 6 , wherein the data further comprises a type code indicative of a type for the second controllable device.
8. The first controllable device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the data comprises a command code indicative of the at least one operating function of the second controllable device.
9. The controlling device as recited in claim 8 , wherein the data in the communication comprises a type code indicative of a type for the second controllable device.
10. A non-transitory, computer-readable media having stored thereon instruction wherein the instructions, when executed by a controlling device having a receiver and a transmitter, cause the controlling device to perform steps comprising:
establishing during a pairing procedure executed between the controlling device and a first controllable device via use of the receiver and the transmitter a unique system identifier; and
causing the unique system identifier to be included in a communication intended for receipt by the first controllable device transmitted via use of the transmitter wherein the communication further comprises a data usable by the first controllable device to cause a command for controlling at least one operating function of a second controllable device to be transmitted from the first controllable device.
11. The non-transitory, computer-readable media as recited in claim 10 , wherein the controlling device further comprising a wireless transceiver that includes the receiver and the transmitter.
12. The non-transitory, computer-readable media as recited in claim 11 , wherein the wireless transceiver comprises a radio frequency transceiver.
13. The non-transitory, computer-readable media as recited in claim 10 , wherein the at least one operating function of the second controllable device comprises a media rendering pause function or a volume mute function.
14. The non-transitory, computer-readable media as recited in claim 10 , wherein the data comprises a type code indicative of a type for the second controllable device.
15. The non-transitory, computer-readable media as recited in claim 10 , wherein the data comprises a pointer to the command code data set of the library of command code data sets stored in a memory associated with the first controllable device.
16. The non-transitory, computer-readable media as recited in claim 15 , wherein the data further comprises a type code indicative of a type for the second controllable device.
17. The non-transitory, computer-readable media as recited in claim 10 , wherein the data comprises a command code indicative of the at least one operating function of the second controllable device.
18. The non-transitory, computer-readable media as recited in claim 17 , wherein the data in the communication comprises a type code indicative of a type for the second controllable device.
19. The non-transitory, computer-readable media as recited in claim 10 , wherein the second controllable appliance comprises a television.
20. The non-transitory, computer-readable media as recited in claim 10 , wherein the second controllable appliance comprises a media access device.
21. The non-transitory, computer-readable media as recited in claim 20 , wherein the media access device comprises a set-top box.