INTEGRATED REMOTE CONTROL SIGNALING
First Claim
1. A method for communicating remote control information in a system including a source device and a sink device that are communicatively coupled by a serial communication link that includes a forward channel and a backward channel, comprising:
- at the sink device, detecting infrared (IR) remote control signal data for the source device;
sampling the IR remote control signal data to form an electrical signal; and
sending the electrical signal to the source device via the backward channel, wherein the forward channel can simultaneously carry payload data from the source device to the sink device;
wherein the backward channel is implemented using a single fiber optic cable or a wireless transmission, and the forward channel is implemented using the same single fiber optic cable as the backward channel or an optical wireless transmission.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A serial transmission protocol and architecture are provided that can be used to forward remote control data between sink (e.g., DTV) and source (e.g., DVD player) devices, in addition to other data such as video and/or audio or other payload. The target device need not be in the line of sight of the remote control beam. Daisy-chained devices will pass the remote control signal to the appropriate target device, so that the user can point any remote control at the DTV or other conveniently located device in the system, and still control the actual target device. The communication channel that carries payload, processing control, and remote control data can be implemented with wired or wireless of technology (or a combination thereof). In one particular embodiment, the communication channel is implemented with a single fiber. A number of presentation and entertainment system applications that employ remote control technology (e.g., home theater, audio, and computer implemented systems) can benefit from embodiments of the present invention.
151 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for communicating remote control information in a system including a source device and a sink device that are communicatively coupled by a serial communication link that includes a forward channel and a backward channel, comprising:
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at the sink device, detecting infrared (IR) remote control signal data for the source device; sampling the IR remote control signal data to form an electrical signal; and sending the electrical signal to the source device via the backward channel, wherein the forward channel can simultaneously carry payload data from the source device to the sink device; wherein the backward channel is implemented using a single fiber optic cable or a wireless transmission, and the forward channel is implemented using the same single fiber optic cable as the backward channel or an optical wireless transmission. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for communicating remote control information in a multimedia communication system including a source device and a sink device that are communicatively coupled by a serial communication link that includes a forward channel and a backward channel, comprising:
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at the sink device, detecting infrared (IR) data; determining if the detected IR data is valid IR remote control signal data for the source device; in response to the detected IR data being valid IR remote control signal data, sampling the IR remote control signal data; grouping IR remote control signal samples into a data packet; and sending the remote control data packet to the source device via the backward channel, wherein the forward channel can simultaneously carry payload data from the source device to the sink device; wherein the backward channel is implemented using a single fiber optic cable or a wireless transmission, and the forward channel is implemented using the same single fiber optic cable as the backward channel or an optical wireless transmission. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for communicating remote control information between a source device and a sink device that are communicatively coupled by a serial communication link that includes a forward channel and a backward channel, the system comprising:
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a sink-side infrared (IR) detector for detecting IR remote control signal data for the source device; a sink-side control processor for sampling the IR remote control signal data to form an electrical signal; and a sink-side transmitter for sending the electrical signal to the source device via the backward channel, wherein the forward channel can simultaneously carry payload data from the source device to the sink device; wherein the backward channel is implemented using a single fiber optic cable or a wireless transmission, and the forward channel is implemented using the same single fiber optic cable as the backward channel or an optical wireless transmission. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification