APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR BATTERYLESS HIERARCHY REMOTE CONTROL

• US 20060197676A1
• Filed: 01/27/2006
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: MStar Semiconductor Incorporated (MediaTek, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MStar Semiconductor Incorporated (MediaTek, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Sterling
• Application Number:
  US11/307,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20060197676A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• 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 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/441 Acquiring end-user identification , e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children

Abstract

A batteryless remote control device and associated method is provided. The batteryless remote control device comprises a plurality of buttons; an RFID circuit with a nonvolatile memory, coupled to the buttons; and an antenna, coupled to the RFID circuit, for transceiving an RF signal. The remote control method for a digital home appliance to be remote controlled by a batteryless remote control device comprising the following steps. The digital home appliance determines if a first RFID is present. Then, an electromagnetic wave is broadcasted. The digital home appliance receives a control packet from the batteryless remote control device and operates according to the control packet and a hierarchy information.

Claims

1. A batteryless remote control device, comprising:

a plurality of buttons;

an RFID (radio-frequency identification) circuit with a nonvolatile memory, coupled to said buttons; and

an antenna, coupled to said RFID circuit, for transceiving an RF (radio-frequency) signal.

2. The batteryless remote control device of claim 1, wherein when one of said buttons is pressed, said RFID circuit transmits a control packet, including a preamble, an ID code, and a data code, in response to said pressed button.

3. The batteryless remote control device of claim 1, wherein said RFID circuit is powered by said RF signal received by said antenna.

4. The batteryless remote control device of claim 1, wherein said nonvolatile memory stores a hierarchy information for a user.

5. The batteryless remote control device of claim 4, wherein said control packet associates with said hierarchy information.

6. The batteryless remote control device of claim 5, wherein said hierarchy information defines an access right to a digital home appliance for said user.

7. A remote control method for a batteryless remote control device having an ID to remote control a digital home appliance, comprising steps of:

receiving an electromagnetic wave;

converting said electromagnetic wave to a DC voltage;

handshaking with an RFID reader; and

transmitting a control packet associated with said ID in response to a pressed button.

8. The remote control method of claim 7 further comprising a step of said digital home appliance operating in response to said control packet.

9. The remote control method of claim 7 wherein said RFID reader is integrated in said digital home appliance.

10. The remote control method of claim 7 wherein said transmitting step transmits said control packet according to a hierarchy information.

11. The remote control method of claim 10 wherein said hierarchy information includes a plurality of access control permissions, a content control, a plurality of play-lists, a plurality of links, a plurality of personal configurations, a pay quota and saved data.

12. A remote control method for a digital home appliance to be remote controlled by a plurality of batteryless remote control devices, each remote control device having an ID, comprising steps of:

broadcasting an electromagnetic wave;

handshaking with said batteryless remote control devices;

receiving a control packet; and

said digital home appliance operating in response to said control packet.

13. The remote control method of claim 12 wherein said control packet includes a preamble, an ID code, and a data code.

14. The remote control method of claim 12 wherein said control packet associates with a pressed button.

15. The remote control method of claim 12 wherein said digital home appliance operates according to said control packet and a hierarchy information.

16. A remote control method for a digital home appliance to be remote controlled by a batteryless remote control device, comprising steps of:

determining if a first RFID is present;

broadcasting an electromagnetic wave;

receiving a control packet from said batteryless remote control device; and

said digital home appliance operating according to said control packet and a hierarchy information.

17. The remote control method of claim 16 wherein said control packet includes a preamble, an ID code, and a data code.

18. The remote control method of claim 16 wherein said control packet associates with a button of said control device pressed by a user.

19. The remote control method of claim 16 wherein said hierarchy information is stored in said digital home appliance.

20. The remote control method of claim 16 wherein said first RFID resides in an RFID card.

21. The remote control method of claim 16 wherein said hierarchy information associates with said first ID.

22. The remote control method of claim 16 wherein said hierarchy information defines a parents access right, a child access right and a teen hierarchy access right.

23. The remote control method of claim 16 wherein said hierarchy information defines a plurality of hierarchy access rights.

24. The remote control method of claim 23 further comprising a step of determining if a second RFID is present.

25. The remote control method of claim 24 wherein each RFID associates with one of said hierarchy access rights.

26. The remote control method of claim 25 wherein said digital home appliance operates according to said control packet and said hierarchy information associates with a higher hierarchy access right of said first ID and said second ID when said first RFID and said second RFID are both present.

27. The remote control method of claim 16 wherein said digital home appliance operates according to said control packet and said hierarchy information associated with a normal hierarchy access right when no RFID is detected.

28. The remote control method of claim 27 wherein said normal hierarchy access right is a lowest hierarchy access right.

29. A method for a television to program a hierarchy information for a member RFID, comprising steps of:

determining if a golden RFID and said member RFID in a proximity to said television;

displaying a hierarchy information associated with said member RFID on said television; and

managing said hierarchy information associated with said member RFID.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said proximity is determined according to a first strength of a first RF signal coming from said golden RFID and a second strength of a second RF signal coming from said member RFID.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein a password is required before managing said hierarchy information.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein a biometric identification is verified before managing said hierarchy information.

33. The method of claim 29 wherein said managing step manages said hierarchy information associated with said member RFID through a remote control device.

34. The method of claim 29 wherein said remote control device has an RFID circuit and a plurality of buttons and is batteryless.

35. The method of claim 29 wherein said hierarchy information defines a time limit associated said member RFID.

36. The method of claim 29 wherein said hierarchy information defines a program limit associated said member RFID.

37. The method of claim 29 wherein said hierarchy information records a payment information of a credit card associated said member RFID.

38. The method of claim 29 wherein said hierarchy information defines a pay quota associated said member RFID.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein said pay quota defines a pay quota for internet pay programs associated said member RFID.

40. A method for power saving a television controlled by a batteryless remote control device, comprising steps of:

periodically polling an RFID with a long predetermined period if said RFID is out of a first effective range; and

periodically polling said RFID with a medium predetermined period if said RFID is in said first effective range.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein said first effective range is adjustable.

42. The method of claim 40 wherein said television determines if said RFID is in said first effective range according to a power strength of an RF signal received from said RFID.

43. The method of claim 40 further comprising a step of polling said RFID in a short predetermined period if said RFID is in a second effective range.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein said first effective range is larger than said second effective range.

45. The method of claim 43 wherein said second effective range is adjustable.

46. The method of claim 43 further comprising a step of polling said batteryless remote control device if said RFID is in said second effective range.

47. A batteryless remote control method comprising steps of:

sending out an electromagnetic wave;

receiving said electromagnetic wave and powering up;

sending out a command; and

responding to said command according to a pressed key.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein said responding step responds a control packet including an ID code and a data code.

49. The method of claim 47 further comprising a step of a digital home appliance operating according to a hierarchy information and said pressed key.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein said hierarchy information includes a plurality of access control permissions, a content control, a plurality of play-lists, a plurality of links, a plurality of personal configurations, a pay quota and saved data.

51. The method of claim 49 wherein a biometric identification is verified before managing said hierarchy information.

52. A hierarchical remote control device comprising:

a power-on key;

at least one hierarchy key; and

a plurality of control keys,

wherein said at least one hierarchy key associates with a hierarchy information.

53. The hierarchical remote control device of claim 52 wherein said hierarchical remote control device is batteryless.

54. The hierarchical remote control device of claim 52 wherein said hierarchical remote control device is an infrared remote control device.

55. The hierarchical remote control device of claim 52 wherein each hierarchical key represents a hierarchy right.

56. The hierarchical remote control device of claim 55 wherein each hierarchy right requires an identification authentication.

57. The hierarchical remote control device of claim 56 wherein said identification authentication requires a password.

58. The hierarchical remote control device of claim 56 wherein said identification authentication requires a biometric identification.

59. The hierarchical remote control device of claim 56 wherein said identification authentication requires an RFID.

60. The hierarchical remote control device of claim 52 wherein said hierarchical remote control device transmits an electromagnetic wave to control a digital home appliance according to a personal configuration.

61. The hierarchical remote control device of claim 52 wherein said hierarchical remote control device transmits an electromagnetic wave to control a digital home appliance.

62. The hierarchical remote control device of claim 60 wherein said digital home appliance operates according to said hierarchy information in response to said electromagnetic wave.

63. The hierarchical remote control device of claim 61 wherein said hierarchy information includes a plurality of access control permissions, a content control, a plurality of play-lists, a plurality of links, a plurality of personal configurations, a pay quota and saved data.

64. A remote finder for finding a batteryless remote control device, comprising:

a wave-guide antenna;

a button;

a plurality of indicators; and

an RFID reader, coupled to said antenna, said indicators and said button,

wherein said RFID reader excites an electromagnetic wave through the wave-guide antenna when said button is pressed and said indicators indicate a direction of said batteryless remote control device according to a signal response from said batteryless remote control device.

65. The remote finder of claim 64 further comprising a signal strength adjuster, coupled to said RFID reader, for adjusting a strength of said electromagnetic wave.

66. The remote finder of claim 64 wherein said direction of said remote control device is determined according to a direction of the signal response.

67. The remote finder of claim 64, wherein said indicators further indicate if said batteryless remote control device is within a predetermined range.

68. The remote finder of claim 67, wherein said indicators comprises:

a plurality of direction indicators to indicate said direction of said batteryless remote control device; and

a closing indicator to indicate if said batteryless remote control device is within said predetermined range.

69. The remote finder of claim 68, wherein said direction indicators are arranged in a circle shape.

70. A method for finding a batteryless remote control device comprising steps of:

exciting an electromagnetic wave;

replying a signal response in response to said electromagnetic wave; and

indicating a direction of said remote control device according to a direction of said signal response.

71. The method of claim 70 further comprising a step of indicating if said remote control device is within a predetermined range according to a signal strength of said signal response.

72. A remote control system, comprising:

a digital home appliance with an RFID reader for sending out an electromagnetic wave; and

a batteryless remote control device, for receiving said electromagnetic wave and powering up;

wherein said RFID reader sends out a command and said remote control device responds to said command according to a pressed key.

73. The remote control system of claim 72 wherein said batteryless remote control device responds a control packet including an ID code and a data code.

74. The remote control system of claim 72 wherein said digital home appliance operates according to a hierarchy information and said pressed key.

75. The remote control system of claim 74 wherein said hierarchy information includes a plurality of access control permissions, a content control, a plurality of play-lists, a plurality of links, a plurality of personal configurations, a pay quota and saved data.

76. The remote control system of claim 74 wherein a biometric identification is verified before managing said hierarchy information.