Television program record scheduling and satellite receiver control using compressed codes
First Claim
1. A remote controller comprising:
- wireless means for receiving commands from a first apparatus;
means for converting the received commands to commands recognizable by a second apparatus; and
wireless means for transmitting the converted commands to a second apparatus.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Encoded video recorder/player timer programming information listed in a television calendar allows a timer programming feature on a video cassette recorder VCR to be programmed using a compressed code of as few as 1 to 8 digits, which are decoded by a decoder built into an instant programmer to convert the compressed code into channel, date, time and length information. The compressed code indications associated with each television program can be printed in a television program calendar in advance. The user uses controls on the instant programmer to enter the code that signifies the program to be recorded. When the codes are entered they are decoded to channel, day, time-of-day, and length (CDTL) in the instant programmer. Then at the appropriate time the instant programmer transmits the proper commands to a VCR to command the recording of the selected program. This control function can be carried out by using an infrared link. To allow the instant programmer to command a satellite receiver to tune to the proper channel for recording the selected program, a code converter in a satellite remote controller converts commands from the instant programmer into commands recognizable by a satellite receiver. Then the commands are sent to a satellite receiver to command the satellite receiver on and off and to select the proper channel in the satellite receiver. Communication between the satellite remote controller and the satellite receiver can be either via infrared or radio frequency (RF) signals.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A remote controller comprising:
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wireless means for receiving commands from a first apparatus;
means for converting the received commands to commands recognizable by a second apparatus; and
wireless means for transmitting the converted commands to a second apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for using compressed codes for satellite receiver control that comprises:
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means for entering compressed codes each having at least one digit and each representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of channel, time-of-day, date and length commands for a program;
means for decoding each compressed code into channel, date, time and length commands coupled to said means for entering;
means for storing said channel, date, time-of-day and length commands coupled to said means for decoding;
a clock with an output as a function of time coupled to said means for decoding;
means for reordering said channel, time-of-day, date and length commands in said means for storing into temporal order;
means for comparing said date and time-of-day commands of the temporally earliest in time program entry in said means for storing to the output of the clock for a predetermined relation;
means for receiving satellite television signals;
means for remote control of said means for receiving satellite television signals;
means for channel selection coupled to the means for receiving satellite television signals;
first means for transmitting said channel commands to said means for remote control after the predetermined relationship is found to exist wherein said first means for transmitting is coupled to said means for comparing;
means for converting said channel commands to satellite receiver channel commands coupled to said means for remote control; and
second means coupled to said means for remote control for transmitting said satellite receiver channel commands to said means for channel selection in the means for receiving satellite television signals. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method for using compressed codes for satellite receiver control comprising the steps of:
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entering compressed codes each having at least one digit and each representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of channel, time-of-day, date and length commands for a program;
decoding each compressed code into channel, date, time-of-day and length commands;
storing said channel, date, time-of-day and length commands;
providing a clock with an output as a function of time;
reordering said channel, time-of-day, date and length commands into temporal order;
comparing said date and time-of-day commands of the temporally earliest in time program entry to the output of the clock for a predetermined relation;
providing a means for remote control of a means for receiving satellite television signals;
transmitting said channel commands to said means for remote control after the predetermined relationship is found to exist;
converting said channel commands to satellite receiver channel commands; and
transmitting said satellite receiver channel commands to said means for receiving satellite television signals. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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Specification