Apparatus and method for setting macro of remote control

• US 20050231414A1
• Filed: 01/07/2005
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kwon, Hea-min, Chu, Chang-nam
• Granted Patent: US 7,525,473 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/175
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/21 Programming remote control devices via third means
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/33 Remote control using macros, scripts
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/41 Remote control of gateways

Abstract

An apparatus and method for easily setting a macro of a programmable remote control using a PC. The apparatus setting a macro of a remote control including: an input unit, inputting data or commands; a display unit displaying the data input by the user and/or data that is able to be selected by the user; a data transceiver receiving data from the remote control and transmitting data to the remote control; a memory storing device names assigned by the user and a data file of device function control commands received from the remote control via the data transceiver; and a controller displaying on the display unit a list of the device names and the commands included in the data file stored in the memory and setting a command selected from the command list as a macro command corresponding to a macro name.

Claims

1. An apparatus setting a macro of a remote control, the apparatus comprising:

an input unit, inputting data from a user;

a display unit displaying the data input by the user and/or other data;

a data transceiver communicating with the remote control;

a memory storing device names assigned by the user corresponding to devices to be controlled by the remote control and a data file including device function control commands received from the remote control via the data transceiver; and

a controller displaying on the display unit the other data comprising a list of the device names and the function control commands included in the data file stored in the memory when a macro name is input by the user through the input unit and setting at least one command selected from the list of the function control commands as macro commands corresponding to the macro name in the remote control.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein if a number of the devices is two or more, the controller receives data files each including a plurality of command controlling functions of each device in device units assigned by the user via the input unit and the data transceiver and displays the plurality of command controlling functions included in the data files on the display unit while simultaneously storing the plurality of command controlling functions in the memory.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein when one of the data files including the plurality of command controlling functions of a selected one of the devices is received, the controller further displays the device names assigned by the user on the display unit.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the remote control is a programmable remote control capable of controlling functions of the devices.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the controller transmits the macro command and the macro name to the remote control via the data transceiver.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the controller determines whether to write the macro name and the macro command in the remote control regardless of whether the macro name and macro command are stored in the remote control or write the macro name and the macro command in the remote control only if a same macro name and a same macro command are not stored in the remote control.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the controller displays the set macro commands on the display unit, and if the user requires editing of the macro command list, the controller sets an editing function for the macro commands at a position selected by the user from among the macro commands.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the editing function for the macro commands includes inserting a new macro command, deleting one of the macro commands, and setting a delay function.

9. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein if other remote controls are allocated to units of devices, and if the plurality of devices are controlled by a programmable remote control, the controller receives data files including the plurality of command from the remote control allocated to each device and transmits the macro command and macro name to the programmable remote control.

10. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein, if the remote controls are allocated to units of devices, and if the plurality of devices are controlled by a programmable remote control, the controller makes the programmable remote control learn by transmitting a data file stored in the memory to the programmable remote control.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data file including the function control commands received from the remote control includes command code data and text names that are recognized by the user in command units, and the controller displays the list of the device names and the function control commands using the text names.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller transmits the macro command and the macro name to the remote control via the data transceiver.

13. A method of setting a macro of a remote control, the method comprising:

receiving a data file including a plurality of commands controlling functions of a device from a remote control of the device if a command for controlling a function of the device assigned by a user is required;

storing the received data file and a name of the device;

displaying the stored device name and a list of the plurality of commands if a macro name is input by the user; and

setting a command selected from the list as a macro command corresponding to the macro name.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein, if a number of devices assigned by the user is two or more, the receiving of the data file including the plurality of commands comprises:

receiving data files each including the plurality of commands controlling functions of each of the devices in device units from the remote control; and

the displaying comprises;

displaying a command list corresponding to a device name selected by the user among a plurality of stored device names.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

transmitting the macro command and the macro name to the remote control if the macro command corresponding the macro name is set.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

transmitting the macro command and macro name to a programmable remote control when a number of devices that are assigned by the user is two or more, remote controls are allocated in devices units, and functions of the plurality of devices are controlled using the programmable remote control.

17. A method of setting a macro controlling a plurality of devices for a programmable remote control using a computer, the method comprising:

receiving in the computer data files each including a corresponding plurality of commands to control each device from a corresponding remote control of each device;

storing each received data file and a name of each device in the computer;

displaying a list comprising each stored name and the corresponding plurality of commands on a graphical user interface;

selecting from the list at least one stored name and the corresponding plurality of commands; and

setting the macro to control the selected name and the corresponding plurality of commands in the programmable remote control.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the setting the macro comprises:

setting a macro name of the macro; and

transferring the macro name and the macro to the programmable remote control.

19. A computer-readable recording medium, on which a program enabling a method of setting a macro in a programmable remote control is recorded, comprising:

receiving a data file including a plurality of commands controlling functions of a device from a remote control of the device if a command for controlling a function of the device assigned by a user is required;

storing the received data file and a name of the device;

displaying the stored device name and a list of the plurality of commands if a macro name is input by the user; and

setting a command selected from the list as a macro command corresponding to the macro name.

20. A computer system setting a macro in a programmable remote control to control at least one device having a remote control, comprising:

an input unit receiving data from a user;

a display unit displaying the data input by the user and/or other data;

a data transceiver communicating with the remote control and/or the programmable remote control;

a memory storing at least one device name input by the user corresponding to the at least one device controllable by the remote control and a corresponding data file including device function control commands received from the remote control via communication with the data transceiver; and

a controller displaying on the display unit the other data comprising a list of each device name and the corresponding data file stored in the memory when the data input by the user selects a macro set function and setting at least one command selected from the list of the function control commands as macro commands corresponding to a macro name entered by the user in the programmable remote control.