Patent ID: 9454899
Filing Date: 2016-09-27
CPC Classification: G08C

Claim Text:
1. A method for using an intermediate device to facilitate configuring a smart device to command functional operations of a target appliance that is coupled to the intermediate device, comprising: causing the smart device to issue a polling message to a High Definition Media interface (“HDMI”) connection port of the intermediate device for the purpose of retrieving from a HDMI connection port of the target appliance data indicative of an identity of the target appliance, wherein the data indicative of the identity of the target appliance is retrieved from the HDMI connection port of the target appliance by assigning to the smart device a logical address value for use by the target appliance in responding to the polling message and by using the intermediate device acting as a Consumer Electronic Control (“CEC”) switch; and using the data indicative of the identity of the target appliance as retrieved by the smart device to automatically configure the smart device whereupon subsequent interactions with the smart device for the purpose of using the smart device to command a functional operation of the target appliance causes the smart device to issue commands to the target appliance via use of a communications protocol suitable for controlling the corresponding functional operation of the target appliance.