TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION FOR CONTROL OF AN ENTERTAINMENT DEVICE

• US 20080158003A1
• Filed: 12/29/2006
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Dish Network Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Linebarger, John William, Dower, Anthony George, Johnson, Jan, Zenthoefer, Matthew Paul, Harper, Leslie Ann, Gatewood, Joshua Alan, Innes, David Arthur, Beals, William Michael, Martch, Henry Gregg
• Granted Patent: US 9,293,032 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.69
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/63 Redundant transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

The present invention relates to systems and devices for controlling at least one entertainment device and further relates to at least one remote in two-way communication with a base device.

Claims

1. A remote device for controlling an entertainment device, the remote comprising:

(a) a transmitter;

(b) a receiver operative to receive at least one signal from a base;

(c) a processor operably coupled with the transmitter and the receiver; and

(d) a memory operably coupled to the processor.

2. The remote device of claim 1, wherein the remote is a handheld remote control.

3. The remote device of claim 1, wherein the at least one signal is a wireless transmission.

4. The remote device of claim 3, wherein the at least one signal is an infrared signal.

5. The remote device of claim 3, wherein the at least one signal is an ultra-high frequency signal.

6. The remote device of claim 1, wherein the at least one signal comprises base data, entertainment device data, recording timers, parental lock settings, or caller identification data.

7. The remote device of claim 1, wherein the memory is operative to store substantially the same data as the base, whereby if one of the remote or the base fails, data in the memory of the non-failing device can be loaded into a memory of a replacement device.

8. The remote device of claim 1, wherein the memory is operative to store substantially the same data as a second remote, whereby if one of the remote or the second remote fails, data in the memory of the non-failing remote can be loaded into a memory of a replacement remote.

9. The remote device of claim 1, wherein the remote has an operating mode and a sleeping mode, wherein the sleeping mode comprises the receiver being operational at predetermined repeating intervals, wherein the receiver is operative to be capable of recognizing a signal while operational.

10. The remote device of claim 9, wherein the remote is operative to switch from the sleeping mode to the operating mode when the receiver recognizes a wake signal from the base.

11. A base device for controlling an entertainment device, the base comprising:

(a) a transmitter;

(b) a receiver operative to receive at least one signal from a remote;

(c) a processor operably coupled with the transmitter and the receiver;

(d) a memory operably coupled to the processor; and

(e) an operable connection to the entertainment device.

12. The base device of claim 11, wherein the base device is a set-top box.

13. The base device of claim 11, wherein the at least one signal is a wireless transmission.

14. The base device of claim 11, wherein the memory is operative to store substantially the same data as the remote, whereby if one of the base or the remote fails, data in the memory of the non-failing device can be loaded into a memory of a replacement device.

15. The base device of claim 14, whereby if the remote fails, data in the memory of the base can be transmitted to a replacement remote and loaded into a memory of the replacement remote.

16. The base device of claim 14, whereby if the base fails, data in the memory of the remote can be transmitted to a replacement base and loaded into a memory of the replacement base.

17. The base device of claim 11, wherein the memory is operative to store substantially the same data as a second remote, whereby if one of the base or the second remote fails, data in the memory of the non-failing device can be loaded into a memory of a replacement device.

18. The base device of claim 11, wherein the base is operably coupled with an external system over a network, wherein the base is operative to receive a signal from the external system.

19. The base device of claim 18, wherein the base is operative to transmit a signal to the remote based on the signal from the external system.

20. The base device of claim 19, wherein the remote is operative to perform an action based on the signal from the external system.

21. The base device of claim 18, wherein the base is operative to transmit a signal to the external system based on the signal from the external system.

22. The base device of claim 18, wherein the signal is related to repair, maintenance, diagnostics, or an operational command.

23. The base device of claim 11, further comprising:

(a) an operable connection to a second entertainment device; and

(b) a transceiver operably coupled to the operable connection in substantial proximity with the base, wherein the transceiver is operative to transmit signals from the base to a second remote.

24. The base device claim of 23, wherein the first and second entertainment devices are in separate rooms.

25. A system for controlling an entertainment device, the system comprising:

(a) a base operably coupled to the entertainment device;

(b) a remote operative to control at least the base, the remote comprising;

(i) a remote transmitter;

(ii) a remote receiver operative to receive at least one signal from the base;

(iii) a remote processor operably coupled with the remote transmitter and the remote receiver; and

(iv) a remote memory operably coupled to the remote processor.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the base is a set-top box.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the remote is a handheld remote control.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the at least one signal is a wireless transmission.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the at least one signal is an infrared signal.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the at least one signal is an ultra-high frequency signal.

31. The system of claim 25, wherein the at least one signal comprises base data, entertainment device data, recording timers, parental lock settings, or caller identification data.

32. The system of claim 25, wherein the base comprises a base memory.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the base memory is operative to store substantially the same data as the remote memory, whereby if one of the base or the remote fails, data in the memory of the non-failing device can be loaded into a memory of a replacement device.

34. The system of claim 25, further comprising a second remote comprising a second remote memory.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the second remote memory is operative to store substantially the same data as the remote memory, whereby if one of the remote or the second remote fails, data in the memory of the non-failing device can be loaded into a memory of a replacement device.

36. The system of claim 25, wherein the remote has an operating mode and a sleeping mode.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the sleeping mode comprises the remote receiver being operational for a predetermined period of time.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the sleeping mode comprises the remote receiver being operational at predetermined repeating intervals.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the sleeping mode comprises the remote receiver being operational for a predetermined period of each minute.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein the sleeping mode comprises the remote receiver being operational for a predetermine period of each second.

41. The system of claim 37, wherein the remote receiver is operative to be capable of recognizing a signal while operational.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the remote is operative to switch from the sleeping mode to the operating mode when the remote receiver recognizes a wake signal from the base.

43. The system of claim 25, wherein the base is operably coupled to a network.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the base is in communication with an external system over the network.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the base is operative to receive a signal from the external system over the network.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the base is operative to further transmit a signal to the remote based on the signal from the external system.

47. The system of claim 45, wherein the base is operative to transmit a signal to the external system based on the signal from the external system.

48. The system of claim 45, wherein the signal is related to repair, maintenance, diagnostics, or an operational command.

49. The system of claim 25, further comprising a second remote operative to control a second entertainment device, the second remote comprising a second remote receiver.

50. The system of claim 49, further comprising an operable connection between the base and the second entertainment device.

51. The system of claim 50, further comprising a transceiver operably coupled with the operable connection in proximity with the base, wherein the second remote receiver is operative to receive signals from the base via the transceiver.

52. The system of claim 49, wherein the first and second entertainment devices are in separate rooms.

53. A method of preventing the loss of settings and data in a remote for controlling an entertainment device, the method comprising:

transmitting data from a first base to a memory of a first remote, such that data is stored in both the first base and the first remote, wherein the first base is operably coupled to the entertainment device.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein transmitting the data from the first base to the memory of the first remote further comprises transmitting the data to a receiver of the first remote, such that the data is then saved into the remote memory.

55. The method of claim 53, further comprising transmitting data from the first base to the memory of a second remote via the receiver of the second remote in the event that the first remote fails.

56. The method of claim 53, further comprising transmitting data from the first remote to a memory of a second base via a receiver of the second base in the event that the first base fails.

57. A method of conserving power in a remote for controlling an entertainment device, the method comprising:

placing a remote in a sleeping mode after a predetermined period of non-use, wherein the sleeping mode comprises predetermined operational intervals to detect a signal;

transmitting a wake signal from a base to the remote;

receiving the wake signal at the receiver of the remote during one of the predetermined operational intervals; and

waking the remote in response to receiving the wake signal.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the signal from the external system is related to operation, maintenance, repair, or diagnostics.

59. The method of claim 57, further comprising the remote performing a function based on instructions in the signal from the base.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the function is transmitting a signal to the base.

61. The method of claim 59, wherein the function is transmitting a signal to the entertainment device.

57-1. A method of operation, maintenance, or repair of a remote for controlling an entertainment device, the method comprising:

providing;

(a) a base operably coupled to the entertainment device and operably coupled to a network; and

(b) a remote comprising a receiver and a memory; and

transmitting a signal from an external system to the base via the network; and

transmitting a signal to the remote based on the signal from the external system.