Patent ID: 9019435
Filing Date: 2015-04-28
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for configuring a controlling device to control a functional operation of a first controllable appliance, comprising: determining by a second controllable appliance if the first controllable appliance is responsive to a command communication transmitted to the first controllable appliance by the second controllable appliance via a digital communications link; communicating a message from the second controllable appliance to the controlling device, the message having data indicative of a result of the determining step; and using by the controlling device the message communicated from the second controllable appliance to the controlling device to automatically configure the controlling device whereupon the controlling device is caused to issue a communication directly to the first controllable appliance to control the functional operation of the first controllable appliance in the event that data in the message communicated from the second controllable appliance to the controlling device indicates that the first controllable appliance is unresponsive to the command communication and to issue a communication directly to the second controllable appliance to control the functional operation of the first controllable appliance via the digital communications link in the event that data in the message communicated from the second controllable appliance to the controlling device indicates that the first controllable appliance is responsive to the command communication.