Universal remote control system

• US 20040056984A1
• Filed: 09/15/2003
• Published: 03/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Hayes, Patrick H., Campbell, Robert A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,142,127 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/734
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• 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 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42213 for facilitating data entry
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42225 characterized by types of remote control, e.g. universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42226 Reprogrammable remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application

Abstract

A remote control adapted for use with a releasable readable media storage device. A readable media storage device having data and target indicators. Electrical contacts provide releasable connection with the remote control.

Claims

1. A system for programming a remote control, comprising:

a readable media having electrical contacts for allowing the readable media to be releasably connected to the remote control, the readable media having stored thereon code data where the remote control is adapted to read the code data from the readable media and thereafter use the code data in connection with commanding a first home appliance to perform an operation and wherein the readable media is limited to being read by the remote control a predetermined number of times.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the code data functions to add codes to the remote control for use in connection with commanding a second home appliance to perform an operation.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the code data functions to allow remote control access to a limited-access program presented on the first home appliance.

4. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the code data functions to allow timed access to the limited-access program presented on the first home appliance.

5. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the code data functions to allow a predetermined number of accesses to the limited-access program presented on the first home appliance.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the code data functions to add a code to the remote control for use in commanding the first home appliance to perform a predetermined operation not otherwise commandable via the remote control.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the code data functions to enable access to a code stored within the remote control for use in commanding the first home appliance to perform a predetermined operation.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the code data functions to associate command codes with buttons of the remote control whereby activation of one of the buttons commands the first home appliance to access a specific program presented on the first home appliance.

9. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the code data comprises data representative of a channel line-up of a broadcast service provider.

10. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the code data comprises data representative of a change to a channel line-up of a broadcast service provider.

11. A system for programming a remote control having a direct channel access button, comprising:

a readable media storing code data and having electrical contacts for allowing the readable media to be releasably connected to the remote control wherein the code data is read from the readable media, via the electrical contacts, upon activation of the direct channel access button and used to command a home appliance to tune to a specific channel in a channel line-up of a broadcast service provider.

12. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the code data comprises data representative of the channel line-up for the broadcast service provider.

13. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the code data comprises data representative of a change to the channel line-up for the broadcast service provider.

14. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein code data further comprises access data for allowing the remote control to be used to access limited-access programming in the channel line-up of the broadcast service provider.

15. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the access data comprises data representative of an access code.

16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the data representative of the access code is transmittable from the remote control a predetermined number of times.

17. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the access data is representative of a credit amount.

18. A system for programming a remote control having a button activatable to transmit a signal to a home appliance to signify a request to view limited-access programming in a channel line-up of a broadcast service provider, comprising:

a readable media storing code data representative of a credit amount and having electrical contacts for allowing the readable media to be releasably connected to the remote control wherein the code data is read from the readable media, via the electrical contacts, upon activation of the button and transmission of the signal to the home appliance is limited as a function of the credit amount.

19. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein the remote control functions to debit the credit amount stored on the readable media in connection with transmission of the signal to the home appliance.