SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR APPLICATION DEPENDENT UNIVERSAL REMOTE CONTROL

• US 20080231762A1
• Filed: 01/08/2008
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hardacker, Robert, Iwamura, Ryuichi, Toft, Rolf
• Application Number:
  US11/970,858
• Publication Number:
  US 20080231762A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/734
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4108 characterised by an identification number or address, e.g. local network address protecting specific internal or external computer components using identification number G06F21/73; network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• 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 21/42208 Display device provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42226 Reprogrammable remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43635 HDMI
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8186 specially adapted to be executed by a peripheral of the client device, e.g. by a reprogrammable remote control

Abstract

A remote control device includes one or more mode buttons which, when manipulated, cause plural controlled devices to assume preset configurations. HDMI CEC can be used to convey device ID information to the TV, which can then access the Internet using the ID information and receive back device control information which can be communicated to the remote to enable the remote to control the device.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

at least one TV;

at least one remote control configured for communicating with the TV;

at least one component configured for communicating with the TV to cause the TV to display at least video information from the component and/or to cause the component to display at least audio information from the TV; and

at least one mode element on the remote control, the remote control sending at least one command to the TV and at least one command to the component in response to a single manipulation of the mode element, the command being established at least in part based on information from the TV, the information from the TV that is used to establish the commands being received by the TV over the Internet from a server and/or a server database, the commands being established at least in part by identifying at least the component using information conveyed on a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) link between the TV and the component.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the TV displays information relating to the commands, and a user can manipulate the remote control to establish the commands.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the information conveyed on the HDMI link is in consumer electronics control (CEC) protocol.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the component includes a HDMI assembly and the TV includes a HDMI assembly communicating with the HDMI assembly of the component to receive component identification information therefrom.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the TV accesses the Internet to send the component identification information therethrough and receive back in response component control information.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the TV is used to provide the component control information to the remote control.

7. A method for controlling multiple devices comprising:

receiving device information from a connected device over a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) connection;

providing said device information to a remote server;

receiving, from the remote server, control information for the connected device; and

transmitting said control information in response to a request from a remote control device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the acts are established at least in part based on information from a display device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the information from the display device that is used to establish the acts is received by the display device over the Internet from a server.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the display device is a TV.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the connected device is a video disk player.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the connected device is a personal video recorder (PVR).

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the connected device is a set-top box.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the connected device is a home theater sound system.

15. A digital processor executing logic comprising:

receiving identifying information over an HDMI link from at least one audio-video devices the identifying information including at least a model number and manufacturer of the device,

providing the identifying the information over the internet to a server;

receiving back from the server control information useful in controlling the device; and

providing the control information to a remote control whereby the remote control can use the control information to control the device.

16. The processor of claim 15, wherein the processor is in a TV.

17. The processor of claim 16, wherein the device is a video disk player.

18. The processor of claim 16, wherein the device is a personal video recorder (PVR).

19. The processor of claim 16, wherein the device is a set-top box.

20. The processor of claim 16, wherein the identifying information is received over the HDMI link in CEC protocol.