System and method for interleaving infrared command codes with identifier codes

• US 20020140569A1
• Filed: 03/30/2001
• Published: 10/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Home Control Signapore Pte., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: van Ee, Jan, Ekkel, Frederik
• Granted Patent: US 6,774,813 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.69
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/21 Programming remote control devices via third means
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control

Abstract

A universal programmable remote is programmed for being used with a specific apparatus. A sequence of test codes is sent to the apparatus until the apparatus responds. The test codes comprise tags that are sent along. The tags fall all within a same narrow frequency band. An STB that is eavesdropping on the transmission is receptive to that band. The STB identifies the last tag and enables a server to identify the complete set of codes for the apparatus based on the tag. Thereupon the set is downloaded and programmed in the remote.

Claims

1. A method for enabling a user to program a remote control device for remote control of an apparatus, the method comprising:

enabling to send respective signals, representative of the respective test control codes, sequentially to the apparatus until the apparatus responds to a specific test control code, wherein;

each respective test control code is representative of a respective set of multiple control codes, and

each respective test control code has a respective tag;

enabling to monitor the sending of the respective signals for identifying the specific test code through a specific one of the tags;

enabling to identify a specific set under control of the tag; and

enabling to render the specific set operational on the remote control device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote control device is pre-programmed with the respective test control codes.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective sets are pre-programmed on the remote control device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective test codes are supplied from a remote server via a data network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the specific set is supplied from a remote server via a data network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the enabling to monitor comprises enabling a set-top box to monitor the sending of the tags.

7. A database comprising a plurality of respective sets of control codes, at least one set for use with a programmable remote control device, the database associating respective tags with respective ones of the sets, each respective tag being representative of a respective signal transmittable by the remote in substantially the same, relatively narrow frequency band.

8. A plurality of respective test codes for being sent in a sequence of respective signals for probing a response of a remote controllable apparatus, the respective signals comprising respective tags, wherein the respective tags are being sent in substantially the same, relatively narrow frequency band.

9. A programmable remote control device pre-programmed for sequentially sending respective signals, representative of respective test control codes, to an apparatus until the apparatus responds to a specific one of the test control codes, wherein:

each respective test control code is representative of a respective set of multiple control codes,

each respective test control code has a respective tag; and

the respective tags are being sent in substantially the same, relatively narrow frequency band.

10. Data processing equipment comprising a receiver for wireless input in a specific frequency band, and having software to identify a last one in a sequence of multiple tags received as wireless input, for upon identifying the last one sending a message via a data network to a remote server.

11. The equipment of claim 10 comprising a set top box.

13. The software of claim 12, for receiving via the data network a set of control codes in response to the sending of the message, the control codes being suitable for being programmed into a programmable remote control device.

12. Software for being installed on data processing equipment, the equipment comprising a receiver for wireless input in a specific frequency band, the software being operational to identify a last one in a sequence of multiple tags received as wireless input, for upon identifying the last one sending a message via a data network to a remote server.