Infrared signal distribution and management system and method
First Claim
1. An apparatus for distributing and reproducing infrared signals within a digital network, the apparatus comprising:
- a. a control unit for digitizing a received infrared signal command from a wireless remote and transmitting the digitized signal over the digital network; and
b. at least one transceiver device coupled to the network and identified by the control unit to receive the digitized signal and reproduce the infrared signal as originally received.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for and method of distributing and reproducing infrared signals within a digital network is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a control unit for digitizing a received infrared signal command from a wireless remote and transmitting the digitized signal over the digital network. The apparatus also comprises at least one transceiver device coupled to the network and identified by the control unit to receive the digitized signal and reproduce the infrared signal as originally received. The transceiver device can provide the reproduced infrared signal to at least one electronic device located within a vicinity of the transceiver device.
121 Citations
48 Claims
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1. An apparatus for distributing and reproducing infrared signals within a digital network, the apparatus comprising:
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a. a control unit for digitizing a received infrared signal command from a wireless remote and transmitting the digitized signal over the digital network; and
b. at least one transceiver device coupled to the network and identified by the control unit to receive the digitized signal and reproduce the infrared signal as originally received. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of distributing and reproducing infrared signals within a digital network, the method comprising the steps of:
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a. digitizing a received infrared signal;
b. transmitting the digitized signal over the digital network; and
c. reproducing the infrared signal as originally received. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for distributing and reproducing infrared signals within a digital network, the apparatus comprising:
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a. means for digitizing a received infrared signal and transmitting the digitized signal over the digital network; and
b. means for receiving the digitized signal and reproducing the infrared signal as originally received. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An apparatus for controlling a plurality of electronic devices locatable in at least two rooms within a building and coupled to a digital network, the apparatus comprising a control unit coupled to the network for digitizing a received infrared signal and transmitting the digitized signal over the network to communicate with a plurality of transceiver devices coupled to the electronic devices, thereby establishing a two way communication between the control unit and the transceiver devices, wherein the transceiver devices reproduce the infrared signal as originally received and send the infrared signals to the electronic devices to be controlled.
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30. A method of controlling a plurality of electronic devices locatable in at least two rooms within a building and coupled over a digital network, the method comprising the steps of:
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a. digitizing a received infrared signal;
b. transmitting the digitized signal over the network to communicate with a plurality of transceiver devices coupled to the electronic devices;
c. reproducing the infrared signal as originally received; and
d. sending the infrared signal to the electronic devices to be controlled.
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31. An infrared signal distribution and management system for controlling electronic devices, the system comprising:
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a. at least one network IR device coupled to each electronic device to be controlled, the at least one network IR device including means for emitting coded infrared signals to control the electronic devices, means for being uniquely addressable, and means for addressing each network IR device to communicate signals;
b. an IR management element for accepting commands from a user, the IR management element including means for emitting the coded infrared signals to control the electronic devices directly, and means for addressing and instructing the at least one network IR device to emit infrared signals to control the electronic devices; and
c. means for transmitting information between the electronic devices. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method of distributing and managing infrared signals to control electronic devices, comprising the steps of:
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a. receiving commands from a user through an IR management element;
b. sending instructions from the IR management element to network IR devices;
c. sending signals between the network IR devices;
d. emitting coded infrared signal commands to the electronic devices to be controlled; and
e. transmitting information between the electronic devices. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. An infrared signal distribution and management system to control electronic devices, the system comprising:
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a. means for receiving commands from a user through an IR management element;
b. means for sending instructions from the IR management element to network IR devices;
c. means for sending signals between the network IR devices;
d. means for emitting infrared signal commands from the IR management element and the network IR devices to the electronic devices to be controlled; and
e. means for transmitting information between the electronic devices. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification