Method and apparatus for programming a remote control using a device identifier received through an interface

• US 10,448,104 B1
• Filed: 04/27/2012
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pontual, Romulo, Derovanessian, Henry, Casavant, Scott D., Guzman, Jorge H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, Hsiungfei
• Application Number:
  US13/458,661
• Time in Patent Office: 2,727 Days
• Field of Search: 725 71, 725 80- 82, 725131-133, 725139-141, 725151-153
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/21 Programming remote control devices via third means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/262 Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26291 for providing content or additional data updates, e.g. updating software modules, stored at the client deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42226 Reprogrammable remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4586 Content update operation triggered locally, e.g. by comparing the version of software modules in a DVB carousel to the version stored locally deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction of the data by redundancy during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25

Abstract

A method of programming a remote control and a set top box to control the same includes a network communication module at the set top box receiving a device identifier from an electronic device through an interface. The set top box also includes a communication module obtaining remote control programming code based on the device identifier. A controller controls programming a remote control to control the electronic device based on the remote control programming code.

Claims

1. A method of programming a remote control to control an electronic device coupled to a set top box, said set top box having a display associated therewith, said method comprising:

communicating a device identifier comprising a model identifier of the electronic device and a manufacturer identifier of the electronic device from the electronic device to the set top box through an interface;

thereafter, obtaining a remote control programming code at the set top box in response to model identifier and the manufacturer identifier from a remote control configuration database through a terrestrial communication network, said remote control programming code comprises a unique set of numbers or letters for both the model identifier and manufacturer identifier;

displaying the remote control programming code on the display associated with the set top box;

entering the remote control programming code into the remote control by pressing buttons corresponding to the unique set of numbers or letters; and

programming the remote control to control the electronic device based on the remote control programming code.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein obtaining a remote control programming code comprises obtaining the remote control programming code from a memory of the set top box.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 further comprising broadcasting a remote control configuration database having the remote control programming code to the set top box.

4. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein broadcasting comprises continually broadcasting the remote control configuration database.

5. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein broadcasting comprises broadcasting the remote control configuration database from a satellite.

6. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein broadcasting comprises broadcasting the remote control configuration database through a terrestrial communication network.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein programming a remote control comprises communicating the remote control programming code between the set top box and the remote control.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein programming a remote control comprises communicating the remote control programming code between the set top box and the remote control through a receiver/transmitter module of the set top box.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising initiating a remote control programming process by selecting a selection at a user interface of the set top box.

10. A method as recited in claim 9 further comprising, after initiating, communicating a query signal from the set top box to the electronic device and wherein the step of communicating the device identifier is performed in response to the step of communicating.

11. A system comprising:

a set top box comprising a network communication module receiving a device identifier from an electronic device comprising a model identifier of the electronic device and a manufacturer identifier of the electronic device through an interface;

a communication module, after the network communication module receives the device identifier, obtaining a remote control programming code from a remote control configuration database through a terrestrial communication network in response to the model identifier and the manufacturer identifier, said remote control programming code comprises a unique set of numbers or letters for both the model identifier and manufacturer identifier; and

a display control module displaying the remote control programming code on a display associated with the set top box; and

a remote control receiving button signals corresponding to the remote control programming code corresponding to the unique set of numbers or letters to control the electronic device.

12. A system as recited in claim 11 wherein the communication module receives the remote control programming code from a head end through a satellite.

13. A system as recited in claim 11 wherein the communication receives the remote control programming code from a head end through a terrestrial network.

14. A system as recited in claim 11 wherein the communication module receives the remote control programming code from a head end through a network.

15. A system as recited in claim 11 wherein the set top box comprises a satellite television set top box.

16. A system as recited in claim 11 further comprising a head end broadcasting a remote control configuration database having the remote control programming code.

17. A system as recited in claim 11 further comprising a head end continually broadcasting a remote control configuration database having the remote control programming code.