MENU-DRIVEN REMOTE CONTROL TRANSMITTER
First Claim
1. A remote control transmitter for enabling a user to control remotely a security system, the security system having a base unit with a communication module, the remote control transmitter comprising:
- a processor;
a display coupled to the processor to display information to the user under control of the processor;
a first input device coupled to the processor to allow the processor to read state of the first input device, the state of the first input device being selected by the user;
a second input device coupled to the processor to allow the processor to read state of the second input device, the state of the second input device being selected by the user;
a transmitter coupled to the processor, the transmitter being configured to send remote commands to the communication module of the base unit under control of the processor; and
a memory module coupled to the processor, the memory module storing code executed by the processor;
wherein;
the processor under control of the code is configured to display to the user various menu items on the display, enable the user to scroll among the menu items to point to one of the menu items using the first input device, and enable the user to select using the second input device the menu item that is pointed to;
the transmitter is configured to send commands to the communication module of the base unit over a wireless link;
the first and second input devices comprise a scroll wheel with an internal push-to-activate switch operable by depressing the scroll wheel in a radial direction of the scroll wheel toward center of the scroll wheel and releasing the scroll wheel;
the remote control transmitter is configured to enable the user to select the state of the first input device by rotating the scroll wheel; and
the remote control transmitter is configured to enable the user to select the state of the second user device by depressing and releasing the scroll wheel.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A digital processor-based remote controller of a wireless remote control system includes a small number of manual input devices, such as keys and scroll wheels, and a graphical user interface. The remote controller can have a single scroll wheel with internal push-to-activate switch, and a small display. This configuration minimizes the size of the remote controller, while allowing for a large number of different control commands to be transmitted to the controlled system. In addition, the remote controller can be configured by the user of both right- and left-handed operation.
-
Citations
47 Claims
-
1. A remote control transmitter for enabling a user to control remotely a security system, the security system having a base unit with a communication module, the remote control transmitter comprising:
-
a processor;
a display coupled to the processor to display information to the user under control of the processor;
a first input device coupled to the processor to allow the processor to read state of the first input device, the state of the first input device being selected by the user;
a second input device coupled to the processor to allow the processor to read state of the second input device, the state of the second input device being selected by the user;
a transmitter coupled to the processor, the transmitter being configured to send remote commands to the communication module of the base unit under control of the processor; and
a memory module coupled to the processor, the memory module storing code executed by the processor;
wherein;
the processor under control of the code is configured to display to the user various menu items on the display, enable the user to scroll among the menu items to point to one of the menu items using the first input device, and enable the user to select using the second input device the menu item that is pointed to;
the transmitter is configured to send commands to the communication module of the base unit over a wireless link;
the first and second input devices comprise a scroll wheel with an internal push-to-activate switch operable by depressing the scroll wheel in a radial direction of the scroll wheel toward center of the scroll wheel and releasing the scroll wheel;
the remote control transmitter is configured to enable the user to select the state of the first input device by rotating the scroll wheel; and
the remote control transmitter is configured to enable the user to select the state of the second user device by depressing and releasing the scroll wheel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A remote control transmitter for enabling a user to control remotely a security system, the security system having a base unit with a communication module, the remote control transmitter comprising:
-
a processor;
a display coupled to the processor to display information to the user under control of the processor;
a first input device coupled to the processor to allow the processor to read state of the first input device, the state of the first input device being selectable by the user;
a second input device coupled to the processor to allow the processor to read state of the second input device, the state of the second input device being selectable by the user;
a transmitter coupled to the processor, the transmitter being configured to send remote commands to the communication module of the base unit under control of the processor;
a memory module coupled to the processor, the memory module storing code executed by the processor; and
a receiver coupled to the processor, the receiver being configured to receive messages containing information from the communication module of the base unit and providing the messages to the processor, wherein the messages comprise alarm, status, or diagnostic data from the base unit, wherein;
the processor under control of the code is configured to display to the user various menu items on the display, enable the user to scroll among the menu items to point to one of the menu items using the first input device, and enable the user to select using the second input device the menu item that is pointed to; and
the transmitter is configured to send commands to the communication module of the base unit over a wireless link. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A remote control security system installed in a vehicle, the security system comprising:
-
a base unit comprising a base controller, security sensors coupled to the base controller, and a communication module; and
a remote control transmitter configured to enable a user to operate the base unit, the remote control transmitter comprising;
a processor;
a display coupled to the processor to display information to the user under control of the processor;
a first input device coupled to the processor to allow the processor to read state of the first input device, the state of the first input device being selectable by the user;
a second input device coupled to the processor to allow the processor to read state of the second input device, the state of the second input device being selectable by the user;
a transmitter coupled to the processor, the transmitter being configured to send remote commands to the communication module of the base unit under control of the processor; and
a memory module coupled to the processor, the memory module storing code executable by the processor;
wherein;
the processor under control of the code is configured to display to the user various menu items on the display, enable the user to scroll among the menu items to point to one of the menu items using the first input device, and enable the user to select the menu item that is pointed to by using the second input device;
the communication module and the transmitter are configured to communicate with each other over a wireless link;
the first and second input devices comprise a scroll wheel with an internal push-to-activate switch operable by depressing the scroll wheel in a radial direction of the scroll wheel toward center of the scroll wheel and releasing the scroll wheel, thereby enabling the user to select the state of the first input device by rotating the scroll wheel, and enabling the user to select the state of the second user input device by depressing the scroll wheel. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
-
29. A remote controller for enabling a user to control a security system installed in a vehicle, the security system comprising a base unit with a communication module, the remote controller comprising:
-
means for processing data;
means for displaying information to the user under control of the means for processing;
first input means for assuming at least two states under control of the user, the first input means being coupled to the means for processing to allow the means for processing to read the states of the first input means;
second input means for assuming at least two states under control of the user, the second input means being coupled to the means for processing to allow the means for processing to read the states of the second input means;
a transmitter coupled to the means for processing, the transmitter being configured to send remote commands over a radio frequency (RF) link to the communication module of the base unit under control of the means for processing; and
memory means coupled to the means for processing, the memory means storing code executable by the means for processing;
wherein the means for processing under control of the code is configured to display to the user various menu items on the means for displaying, allow the user to scroll among the menu items to point to one of the menu items using the first input means, and allow the user to select the menu item that is pointed to by using the second input means;
the first and second input means comprise a scroll wheel with an internal push-to-activate switch;
the remote controller is configured to enable the user to select the state of the first input means by rotating the scroll wheel;
the remote controller is configured to enable the user to select the state of the second input means by depressing the scroll wheel in a radial direction of the scroll wheel toward center of the scroll wheel and releasing the scroll wheel. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
-
-
40. A method of operating a remote controller to control a remote controlled system over a wireless link, the method comprising:
-
holding the remote controller in one hand;
rotating a scroll wheel with an internal push-to-activate switch with the thumb of said hand to cause the remote controller to display menu items;
depressing the scroll wheel in a radial direction of the scroll wheel toward center of the scroll wheel to select a menu item and transmit a remote command associated with the selected menu item to the remote controlled system. - View Dependent Claims (41)
-
-
42. A menu-driven remote control for operating a controlled system over a wireless link, the remote control comprising:
-
a hand-held general-purpose computing device comprising;
a first interface section, a manual input portion, a memory module, a graphical display, and a controller coupled to the first interface section, the manual input portion, the memory module, and the graphical display, the controller being configured to execute instruction code; and
a wireless communication module comprising a second interface section and a transmitter coupled to the second interface section, the second interface section being coupled to the first interface section through a digital bus, the transmitter being configured to send a plurality of remote commands to the controlled system over the wireless link, the remote commands instructing the controlled system to perform various operations;
wherein;
the controller is configured under control of the instruction code to display, on the graphical display, to the user, various menu items of a plurality of menu items;
each menu item of a first subset of the plurality of menu items is associated with at least one remote command of the plurality of remote commands;
the controller is configured under control of the instruction code to enable the user to scroll among the menu items to point to and select one of the menu items using the manual input portion; and
the controller is configured under control of the instruction code to communicate with the transmitter via the first interface section, the digital bus, and the second interface section, to direct the transmitter to send remote commands associated with the menu items selected by the user to the controlled system. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44)
-
-
45. A remote control security and entertainment system installed in a vehicle, the system comprising:
-
a base unit comprising a base controller, security sensors coupled to the base controller, a video entertainment module with a plurality of functions, and a communication module; and
a remote controller enabling a user to operate the base unit, the remote controller comprising;
a processor;
a display coupled to the processor to display information to the user under control of the processor;
a first input device coupled to the processor to allow the processor to read state of the first input device, the state of the first input device being selected by the user;
a second input device coupled to the processor to allow the processor to read state of the second input device, the state of the second input device being selected by the user;
a transmitter coupled to the processor, the transmitter being capable of sending remote commands to the communication module of the base unit under control of the processor;
a memory module coupled to the processor, the memory module storing code executable by the processor; and
an input port capable of receiving the code executable by the processor;
wherein;
the processor is configured to read the code from the input port and store the code in the memory module;
the processor under control of the code is configured to display to the user a plurality of menu items on the display, enable the user to scroll among the menu items to point to one of the menu items using the first input device, and enable the user to select the menu item that is pointed to by using the second input device, at least one of the menu items allowing the user to select a function of the video entertainment module. - View Dependent Claims (46)
-
-
47. A remote control security and positioning system installed in a vehicle, the system comprising:
-
a base unit comprising a base controller, security sensors coupled to the base controller, a global positioning module with a plurality of functions, and a communication module; and
a remote controller configured to enable a user to operate the base unit, the remote controller comprising;
a processor;
a display coupled to the processor to display information to the user under control of the processor;
a first input device coupled to the processor to allow the processor to read state of the first input device, the state of the first input device being selected by the user;
a second input device coupled to the processor to allow the processor to read state of the second input device, the state of the second input device being selected by the user;
a transmitter coupled to the processor, the transmitter being configured under control of the processor to send remote commands to the communication module of the base unit;
a memory module coupled to the processor, the memory module storing code executable by the processor; and
an input port configured to receive the code executable by the processor;
wherein;
the processor is configured to read the code from the input port and store the code in the memory module; and
the processor is configured under control of the code to display to the user a plurality of menu items on the display, enable the user to scroll among the menu items to point to one of the menu items using the first input device, and enable the user to select the menu item that is pointed to by using the second input device, at least one of the menu items allowing the user to select a function of the global positioning module.
-
Specification