Universal remote

• US 20060261999A1
• Filed: 08/10/2004
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Mabry, John Dan
• Application Number:
  US10/567,719
• Publication Number:
  US 20060261999A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/176
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• 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 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4221 Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42225 characterized by types of remote control, e.g. universal remote control

Abstract

A universal remote control is disclosed that is easy to operate in an environment where sight regarding the remote is limited. The keypad of the remote is arranged into a plurality of groupings based on their functionality. The plurality of groupings includes a grouping for a power button, a grouping for each different appliance, a grouping for support functions for the appliances, a grouping for navigation keys, a grouping for volume/channel keys a grouping for number keys and a grouping for device functions. The layout of the keypad of the remote into specific groupings allows the user to learn to operate the remote quickly and easily without having to look at the remote for guidance, i.e., by feel alone.

Claims

1. A universal remote control, comprising:

a plurality keypads arranged in a plurality of groupings based on functionality, wherein the shape and location of the keypads in each grouping enable a user to operate the universal remote control.

2. The universal remote control of claim 1 wherein the plurality of groupings are selected from the group consisting of a grouping for a power button, a grouping for each different appliance, a grouping for support functions for the appliances, a grouping for navigation keys, a grouping for volume/channel keys a grouping for number keys and a grouping for device functions.

3. The universal remote control of claim 1 wherein keypad spacing between keypads within each grouping is smaller than keypad spacing between each of the plurality of groupings.

4. The universal remote control of claim 1 wherein keypads in adjacent groupings have different shapes.

5. The universal remote control of claim 1 wherein keypads in adjacent groupings have different sizes.

6. A universal remote control system, comprising;

at least one remotely controllable appliance; and

a universal remote control, wherein the universal remote control includes a plurality keypads arranged in a plurality of groupings based on functionality, wherein the shape and location of the keypads in each grouping enable a user to operate the universal remote control.

7. The universal remote control system of claim 6 wherein the plurality of groupings are selected from the group consisting of a grouping for a power button, a grouping for each different appliance, a grouping for support functions for the appliances, a grouping for navigation keys, a grouping for volume/channel keys a grouping for number keys and a grouping for device functions.

8. The universal remote control system of claim 6 wherein keypad spacing between keypads within each grouping is smaller than keypad spacing between each of the plurality of groupings.

9. The universal remote control system of claim 6 wherein keypads in adjacent groupings have different shapes.

10. The universal remote control system of claim 6 wherein keypads in adjacent groupings have different sizes.

11. The universal remote control system of claim 6 wherein the at least one remotely controllable appliance is selected from the group consisting of a television receiver, a video cassette recorder (VCRs), a digital video disk player (DVDs), a satellite receiver, a compact disk player, and an audio system.