Patent Application
20060089118
The present invention relates to remote control devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to the learning/programming/configuration of a universal remote control device.
Remote control devices have existed for countless years. Remote control devices premiered as a way to control a television set such that the end user need not physically actuate buttons on the television to control the television's functions, e.g., changing the channel, volume control, etc. Rather, the end user could manipulate such functions remotely from their viewing position via a remote control device.
Today remote control devices are used to control almost every end user device related to entertainment. Such end user devices include televisions, and other video display sources; broadcast tuners, such as cable set top boxes or satellite tuners; digital video disc (“DVD”) players; video cassette recorders (“VCR”); and digital video recorders (“DVR” or “PVR”), for example.
To alleviate having to use a plurality of remote controls (one remote control for each end user device), universal remote control devices were developed. A universal remote control device allows an end user to use one generic remote control device to control a plurality of end user devices capable of being remotely controlled (“remote controlled devices”), instead of many device specific remote control devices.
Since each end user has different types of remote controlled devices and from a variety of different manufacturers, a universal remote control device needs to be configured to command the specific remote controlled devices of each end user.
Conventionally an end user can configure a universal remote by performing one of two “learning” techniques. One learning technique requires the end user to find a code pertaining to each of the end user's remote controlled devices. This is conventional performed by the end user looking up device specific codes in a universal remote control's manual or other look-up table (Internet web site of universal remote control device's manufacturer), or by using a scanning function on the universal remote control device, where the universal remote control device scans until it emanates a command that effects a remote controlled device, e.g., “power off”, at which point the end user stops the scan, since the code for that remote controlled device has been found.
Another conventional method is for the end user to program each command of each of the plurality of remote controlled devices' specific individual remote controls into the universal remote control device by aiming each device specific remote control into a receiver on the universal remote control device, and assigning a physical key on the universal remote control device for each physical key and corresponding code on the device specific remote control.
The above learning/programming/configuration can take a great deal of time. Further, if the universal remote control device's battery dies, many universal remote control devices fail to retain the device specific codes and, thus, the learning/programming/configuration, as described above, must be performed again by the end user.
There exists a need for a more efficient and more simple system and method for configuring a universal remote control device.
An object of the present invention is to provide an efficient and simple system and method for configuring a universal remote control device.
In order to achieve this objective, as well as others which will become apparent in the disclosure below, the present invention provides for an inventive universal remote control device which incorporates a transceiver. Further, each remote controlled device, which the inventive universal remote control issues (transmits) commands, includes a transceiver. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the inventive universal remote control device polls remote controlled device(s) for each type of supported remote controlled device, e.g., television, DVD, PVR, VCR, etc., with a query that is unique for each type of device. In response to such poll, each polled remote controlled device responds to the inventive universal remote control device with its unique remote controlled device identifier (based upon make and model of the remote controlled device). In response to, and using, the received unique remote controlled device identifier(s), the inventive universal remote control device automatically programs/configures itself to be able to transmit commands to each of the remote controlled devices corresponding to the received unique remote controlled device identifiers.
The present invention greatly simplify the end-user's process of teaching a universal remote control device the identity of the remote controlled devices, or individual commands of the remote controlled devices. Thus, the present invention provides an efficient and simple system and method for configuring a universal remote control device, requiring minimal effort by the user efforts.
For a complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numbers indicate like features, components and method steps, and wherein:
Referring to
Each remote controlled device 104, 106, 108, 110 also includes a transceiver, comprising of a transmitted and a receiver. Each remote controlled device's 104, 106, 108, 110 transmitter is used provide the remote controlled device identifiers in response to polling of the universal remote 102, as described below. Each remote controlled device's 104, 106, 108, 110 receiver is used (1) to receive a request, in the form of polling from the universal remote, for the remote controlled device's unique identifier and (2) to receive conventional remote control function commands sent to the remote controlled device.
Referring to
In response to such poll, each polled remote controlled device 104, 106, 108, 110 responds to the universal remote 102 with its unique device identifier (code), in step 204. The universal remote 102, in response to, and using, the received unique device identifier, automatically programs/configures itself to be able to transmit conventional remote control commands to said remote controlled device corresponding to the received unique device identifier, in step 206. Thus, instead of an end user attempting to look up a code pertaining to each remote controlled device 104, 106, 108, 110 to be controlled by the universal remote 102, universal remote 102 of the present invention automates this process by self-configuring in response to the unique device identifiers received from remote controlled devices 104, 106, 108, 110.
If the remote controlled devices 104, 106, 108, 110 are controlled by IR signals, the universal remote 102 must be aimed in the direction the remote controlled devices 104, 106, 108, 110 to send the poll and receive the unique device identifiers. If the remote controlled devices 104, 106, 108, 110 are controlled by RF signals, physical direction of the universal remote is not relevant.
The present invention does not require the end-user/consumer to know anything about the codes required to configure a universal remote control device or the remote controlled devices it commands. Further, the present invention reduces the process of configuring the universal remote to a simple button sequence, command by the end user, or state of the universal remote. Thus, the system and method of the present invention provide for a more efficient and simple configuration of a universal remote control device 102.
Although the invention has been described herein by reference to an exemplary embodiment thereof, it will be understood that such embodiment is susceptible of modification and variation without departing from the inventive concepts disclosed. For example, the universal remote and remote controlled devices may employ Bluetooth signalling to accomplish the above inventive system and method. All such modifications and variations, therefore, are intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
