Method and apparatus for programming a remote control using broadcast data

• US 20080320542A1
• Filed: 06/20/2007
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.), Black & Veatch Corporation
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Guzman, Jorge H., Schulze, Kim W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,402,501 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/131
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23617 by inserting additional data into a data carousel, e.g. inserting software modules into a DVB carousel arrangements for broadcast or for distribution of identical information repeatedly in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/16
• 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 21/42226 Reprogrammable remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4349 by extracting from data carousels, e.g. extraction of software modules from a DVB carousel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite

Abstract

A set top box 22 includes a communication module 102 receiving a remote control configuration database having a remote control associated therewith. The set top box 22 further includes a display control module 116 forming a screen display in response to the remote control configuration database. An interface 110 forms selections in response to the screen display and a display control module displays programming instructions for the remote control.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a remote control configuration database at a set top box having a remote control associated therewith;

forming a screen display in response to the remote control configuration database;

forming selections at the set top box in response to the screen display; and

displaying programming instructions for the remote control.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising broadcasting the remote control configuration database.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein broadcasting comprises continually broadcasting the database.

4. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein broadcasting comprises broadcasting the database in a carousel format.

5. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein further comprising broadcasting content at a first data rate and wherein broadcasting a remote control configuration comprises broadcasting the remote control configuration at a second data rate less than the first data rate.

6. A method as recited in claim 2 further comprising prior to broadcasting a remote control configuration database, communicating configuration updates to the remote control configuration database.

7. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein broadcasting comprises broadcasting the remote control configuration database through a satellite.

8. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein broadcasting comprises broadcasting the remote control configuration database through a terrestrial communication network.

9. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein the terrestrial communication network comprises an optical fiber.

10. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein the terrestrial communication network comprises a broadband network.

11. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein the terrestrial communication network comprises a telephone network.

12. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein the terrestrial communication network comprises a wireless network

13. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein prior to forming a screen display, entering a remote control programming mode.

14. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein forming selections at the set top box comprises forming selections at the set top box using the remote control.

15. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein displaying comprises displaying a code.

16. A method as recited in claim 15 further comprising entering the code into the remote control.

17. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein forming a screen display comprises forming a plurality of screen display in response to the remote control configuration database and the selections.

18. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein one of the plurality of screen displays correspond to a device type.

19. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein one of the plurality of screen displays correspond to a brand type.

20. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein one of the plurality of screen displays correspond to a model type.

21. A set top box comprising:

a communication module receiving a remote control configuration database at a set top box having a remote control associated therewith;

a display control module forming a screen display in response to the remote control configuration database;

a user interface forming selection signals in response to the screen display; and

a display control module displaying programming instructions for the remote control configuration database.

22. A system as recited in claim 21, wherein the set top box comprises a satellite television set top box.

23. A system comprising:

a set top box as recited in claim 21;

a display in communication with the set top box; and

a remote control device.

24. A system as recited in claim 23 further comprising a head end broadcasting the remote control configuration database.

25. A system as recited in claim 24 further comprising a head end continually broadcasting the remote control configuration database.

26. A system as recited in claim 24 further comprising a head end broadcasting the remote control configuration database in a carousel format.

27. A system as recited in claim 23 further comprising a remote control vendor database communicating remote control information to a remote control configuration database.