System and method for measuring and presenting memory size of a universal remote control

• US 20050062614A1
• Filed: 09/19/2003
• Published: 03/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Young, Jeffrey J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,221,306 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.110
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control

Abstract

A system and method for measuring and presenting a size of a memory within a universal remote control. The described system and method allows a user to place a universal remote control into an operational mode wherein it measures a size of memory and reports the measured memory by means of an audio or visual indication.

Claims

1. A method for presenting a size of a writeable memory within a universal remote control, comprising:

invoking a diagnostic routine within the universal remote control which measures a size of the writeable memory; and

using the universal remote control to present an indication of the measured size.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the indication is presented by causing an LED of the universal remote control to blink.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the LED is blinked one of a predetermined number of times each being correlated to a different measurable memory size.

4. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the LED is blinked in at least one group of blinks, the group of blinks corresponding to one or more digits representative of measured memory size.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the indication is presented by causing a speaker of the universal remote control to emit a sound.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the speaker is caused to emit the sound one of a predetermined number of times each being correlated to a different measurable memory size.

7. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the speaker emits at least one group of sounds, the group of sounds corresponding to one or more digits representative of measured memory size.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the measured memory size is displayed in an alpha-numeric display of the universal remote control.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the alpha-numeric display comprises a touch screen display.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the memory size measured is an overall size of the writeable memory.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the memory size measured is an amount of available memory in the writeable memory.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the diagnostic routine is automatically invoked in response to a request to download data into the writeable memory.

25. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the sound comprises a voice.

13. A readable medium having instructions for presenting a size of a writeable memory within a universal remote control, the method performing steps comprising:

invoking a diagnostic routine within the universal remote control which measures a size of the writeable memory; and

causing the universal remote control to present an indication of the measured size.

14. The readable medium as recited in claim 13, wherein the indication is presented by causing an LED of the universal remote control to blink.

15. The readable medium as recited in claim 14, wherein the LED is blinked one of a predetermined number of times each being correlated to a different measurable memory size.

16. The readable medium as recited in claim 14, wherein the LED is blinked in at least one group of blinks, the group of blinks corresponding to one or more digits representative of measured memory size.

17. The readable medium as recited in claim 13, wherein the indication is presented by causing a speaker of the universal remote control to emit a sound.

18. The readable medium as recited in claim 17, wherein the speaker is caused to emit the sound one of a predetermined number of times each being correlated to a different measurable memory size.

19. The readable medium as recited in claim 17, wherein the speaker emits at least one group of sounds, the group of sounds corresponding to one or more digits representative of measured memory size.

20. The readable medium as recited in claim 13, wherein the measured memory size is displayed in an alpha-numeric display of the universal remote control.

21. The readable medium as recited in claim 20, wherein the alpha-numeric display comprises a touch screen display.

22. The readable medium as recited in claim 13, wherein the measured memory size is an overall size of the writeable memory.

23. The readable medium as recited in claim 13, wherein the measured memory size is an amount of available memory in the writeable memory.

24. The readable medium as recited in claim 13, wherein the diagnostic routine is automatically invoked in response to a request to download data into the writeable memory.

26. The readable medium as recited in claim 17, wherein the sound comprises a voice.