Remote control device for use with a personal computer (PC) and multiple A/V devices and method of use

• US 20040155791A1
• Filed: 02/05/2002
• Published: 08/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
• Original Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
• Inventors: Kotsiopoulos, Chris, Nguyen, Huy, Takata, Wayne
• Granted Patent: US 7,084,780 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.69
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards
• 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 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver

Abstract

Aspects for remotely controlling audio/visual (A/V) devices with a personal computer (PC) are described. The aspects include providing connection hardware for connecting a plurality of A/V devices to a PC. A remote control device with selectable buttons is provided for transmitting data signals wirelessly to the connection hardware. The plurality of A/V devices are controlled according to the data signals from button selections on the remote control device. Through the present invention, a multi-function wireless remote is disclosed which allows for full command of a plurality of A/V devices in a PC, such as a DVD player, TV receiver, Digital Video Recorder (DVR), and electronic programming guide. In this manner, PC users are ensured of a simplified and intuitive interactive PC/video experience.

Claims

1. A method for remotely controlling audio/visual (A/V) devices within a personal computer (PC), the method comprising the steps of:

(a) mapping each button on a remote control device to predetermined key codes; and

(b) translating data signals from a selected button to device functions via the PC based on the key codes to control operations of a plurality of A/V devices coupled to the PC.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

(c) utilizing the look-up table to provide associations between the predetermined key codes and the device functions.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the utilizing of the look-up table step (c) further comprises the step of (c1) providing a button mapping code in the PC.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the device functions further comprises a plurality of CD/DVD and TV/DVR functions.

5. A system for remotely controlling a plurality of audio/visual (A/V) devices within a personal computer (PC), the system comprising:

a PC;

connection hardware coupled to the PC; and

a remote control device with selectable buttons for transmitting data signals wirelessly to the connection hardware to access control of the plurality of A/V devices.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the connection hardware further comprises a tuner box.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the connection hardware further comprises a graphics board in the PC coupled to the tuner box.

8. The system of claim 5 further comprising an infrared port receiver in the connection hardware to receive the data signals from the remote control device.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the graphics board translates the data signals to a button number.

10. The system of claim 5 further comprising an application driver programming in the PC that utilizes the button number to determine an action key code in one of the plurality of A/V devices.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the action key code further comprises one of a plurality of DVD and DVR functions.

12. A method for remotely controlling a plurality of audio/visual (A/V) devices within a personal computer (PC) utilizing a remote control, the remote control having a plurality of buttons, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a data signal based upon activating at least one of the plurality of buttons from the remote control, the at least one button for controlling one of the plurality of A/V devices; and

(b) translating the data signal to control one of the plurality of A/V devices.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the data signal translation comprises providing one of a plurality of CD/DVD and TV/DVR functions.

14. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for remotely controlling audio/visual (A/V) devices within a personal computer (PC), the program instructions for:

mapping each button on a remote control device to predetermined key codes; and

translating data signals from a selected button to device functions via the PC based on the key codes to control operations of a plurality of A/V devices coupled to the PC.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14 further comprising utilizing a look-up table to provide associations between the predetermined key codes and the device functions.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15 wherein utilizing a look-up table further comprises providing a button mapping code in the PC.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 15 wherein the device functions further comprises a plurality of CD/DVD and TV/DVR functions.

18. A method for remotely controlling audio/visual (A/V) devices within a personal computer (PC), the method comprising the steps of:

(a) mapping each button on a remote control device to predetermined key codes; and

(b) translating data signals from a selected button to device functions via the PC based on the key codes to control operations of a plurality of A/V devices coupled to the PC; and

(c) utilizing a look-up table to provide associations between the predetermined key codes and the device functions, wherein a button mapping code is utilized within the PC to provide the look-up table.

19. A system for remotely controlling a plurality of audio/visual (A/V) devices within a personal computer (PC), the system comprising:

a PC;

a tuner box coupled to a graphics board within the PC; and

a remote control device with selectable buttons for transmitting data signals wirelessly to the tuner box to access control of the plurality of A/V devices, wherein the graphics board translates the data signals to a button number.

20. A computer readable medium for remotely controlling audio/visual (A/V) devices within a personal computer (PC), the method comprising:

mapping each button on a remote control device to predetermined key codes;

translating data signals from a selected button to device functions via the PC based on the key codes to control operations of a plurality of A/V devices coupled to the PC; and

utilizing a look-up table to provide associations between the predetermined key codes and the device functions, wherein a button mapping code is utilized in the PC to provide the look-up table.

21. A system for remotely controlling a plurality of audio/visual (A/V) devices within a personal computer (PC), the system comprising:

an infrared port receiver;

a tuner box coupled to a graphics board within the PC;

a remote control device with selectable buttons for transmitting data signals wirelessly to the infrared port receiver to access control of the plurality of A/V devices wherein the graphics board translates the data signals to a button number; and

an application driver programming in the PC that utilizes the button number to determine an action key code in one of the plurality of A/V devices.