Television control system for universal control of hospital televisions

• US 20020053086A1
• Filed: 12/19/2001
• Published: 05/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Dixon, Steve A., Palm, Vern, Fridley, Duane P., Vanderpohl, Irvin J. III, Schuman, Richard J.
• Application Number:
  US10/025,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20020053086A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2143 located in a single building, e.g. hotel, hospital or museum arrangements specially adapted for plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63; adaptations for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution in television systems H04N7/106
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/436 Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4396 by muting the audio signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4884 for displaying subtitles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/60 for the sound signals

Abstract

A television control system for controlling different models of hospital televisions, has an input device for receiving an input from a person, and a controller for interfacing with hospital televisions. The controller generates command signal groups reflective of the input, and the command signal groups include a plurality of sequentially-generated, individual command signals for specific operational function of a plurality of different models of hospital televisions including ON/OFF, CHANNEL UP, CHANNEL DOWN, SELECT/MUSIC, PREVIOUS CHANNEL, MUTE, CLOSED CAPTION, and CHANNEL DIGIT operational functions.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a plurality of hospital TV models, including:

an input device that generates an input signal when actuated; and

a controller that responds to the input signal by generating a plurality of individual command signals, each corresponding to a different one of the TV models, to cause any of the TV models to perform a function.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of individual command signals are generated sequentially in a command signal group.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of individual command signals includes a plurality of ON command signals for turning on any of the TV models.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of individual command signals includes a plurality of OFF command signals for turning off any of the TV models.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of individual command signals include a plurality of CHANNEL command signals for changing the viewing channel of any of the TV models.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the plurality of CHANNEL command signals includes a plurality of CHANNEL UP command signals, each CHANNEL UP command signal being configured to cause one of the TV models to switch in one direction to an adjacent viewing channel.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the plurality of CHANNEL command signals includes a plurality of CHANNEL DOWN command signals, each CHANNEL DOWN command signal being configured to cause one of the TV models to switch in another direction to an adjacent viewing channel.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of individual command signals further includes a RADIO command signal for operating a radio associated with a hospital TV.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of individual command signals includes a SELECT signal corresponding to a hospital TV for selecting a function from a plurality of available functions.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller includes a processor for processing the input signal to generate the plurality individual of command signals.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the controller further includes a relay coupled to the processor, the processor responding to the input signal by opening and closing the relay to generate the plurality of individual command signals.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller includes a relay, the relay being opened and closed to generate the plurality individual of command signals.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is operable in any one of a plurality of operating modes.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the controller includes a mode switch for selecting an operating mode for the controller.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the mode switch is programmable.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein one of the operating modes includes a selectable submode, the controller automatically selecting the submode in response to the input signal.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein one of the operating modes includes a plurality of selectable submodes, the controller generating the plurality of individual command signals when operating in one of the submodes, and, when operating in another submode, generating a different command signal for causing a hospital TV that does not respond to the plurality of individual command signals to perform a function.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller also responds to the input signal by generating a different command signal for operating a TV that does not respond to the plurality of individual command signals.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is connected to a hospital bed.

20. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is connected to a hospital pillow speaker.

21. A system for controlling a plurality of hospital TV models, including:

an input device that generates an input signal when actuated; and

a controller configured to interface with the plurality of hospital TVs and being operable in a plurality of operating modes;

the controller responding to the input signal, when in one operating mode, by generating a command signal group including a plurality of individual command signals, each corresponding to a function of one of the TV models;

the controller responding to the input signal, when in another operating mode, by generating a different command signal corresponding to a function of a TV model that does not respond to the command signal group.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the controller includes a mode switch for selecting the operating mode of the controller.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein the controller includes a relay, the relay being opened and closed to generate the individual command signals.

24. The system of claim 21 wherein one of the operating modes includes a submode to be selected by a person when the controller is operated in the one operating mode.

25. The system of claim 21 wherein the controller is connected to a hospital bed.

26. The system of claim 21 wherein the controller is connected to a hospital pillow speaker.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the controller further generates a data stream as part of the command signal group when the input signal continues for a predetermined period of time following the generation of the command signal group, the data stream corresponding to a function of a hospital TV that does not respond to the command signal group.

29. The system of claim 27 wherein the controller generates individual command signals for causing the plurality of hospital TV models to switch to a viewing channel corresponding to a channel digit indicated by the input signal.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the command signal group includes sequentially generated CHANNEL DIGIT command signals for controlling the viewing channel of any of the TV models.

31. The system of claim 27 wherein the controller further generates a data stream as part of the command signal group when the input signal continues for a predetermined period of time following the generation of the command signal group, the data stream corresponding to a function of a hospital TV that does not respond to the command signal group.

32. The system of claim 27 wherein the command signal group includes sequentially generated PREVIOUS CHANNEL command signals for causing any of the TV models to switch to a previously viewed viewing channel.

33. The system of claim 27 wherein the command signal group includes sequentially generated MUTE command signals for causing any of the TV models to reduce a sound output of the TV model.

34. The system of claim 27 wherein the command signal group includes sequentially generated CLOSED CAPTIONING command signals for causing any of the TV models to display closed captioning text.

35. The system of claim 27 wherein the controller is coupled to a hospital bed.

36. The system of claim 27 wherein the controller is coupled to a hospital pillow speaker.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein the controller means includes processor means for processing the input signal to generate the plurality individual of command signals.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein the controller means further includes relay means coupled to the processor means, the processor means responding to the input signal by opening and closing the relay means to generate the plurality of individual command signals.

40. The system of claim 37 wherein the controller means includes switch means for selecting an operating mode for the controller means.

27. A system for controlling a plurality of hospital TV models, including:

an input device that generates an input signal when actuated; and

a controller that responds to the input signal by generating a command signal group including a plurality of individual command signals, each corresponding to a different one of the TV models, to cause any of the TV models to perform a function.

37. A system for controlling a plurality of hospital TV models, including:

input means for generating an input signal when actuated; and

controller means for responding to the input signal by generating a plurality of individual command signals, each corresponding to a different one of the TV models, to cause any of the TV models to perform a function.