System and Method for Programming a Remote Control Device

• US 20090070696A1
• Filed: 09/06/2007
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Mark A., Belz, Steven M., Hubscher, Mark B.
• Application Number:
  US11/851,217
• Publication Number:
  US 20090070696A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/771
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• 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 21/42228 the reprogrammable keys being displayed on a display screen in order to reduce the number of keys on the remote control device itself

Abstract

A method for programming a remote control device is disclosed and can include displaying a virtual remote control device at a display device. The virtual remote control device is a virtual rendition of a first remote control device to be programmed. The method can further include detecting when a first button is pressed on the first remote control device and indicating a corresponding button on the virtual remote control device.

Claims

1. A method for programming a remote control device, the method comprising:

displaying a virtual remote control device at a display device, wherein the virtual remote control device is a virtual rendition of a first remote control device to be programmed;

detecting when a first button is pressed on the first remote control device; and

indicating a corresponding button on the virtual remote control device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the first button is already programmed.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

indicating to a user that the first button is already programmed.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

prompting a user to press a second button on a second remote control device to be ported to the first remote control device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving a signal from the second remote control device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

transmitting the signal to the first remote control device.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

indicating that the first button at the first remote control device is programmed.

8. A receiver, comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor; and

a computer program within the memory, wherein the computer program includes logic to;

display a virtual remote control device at a display device, wherein the virtual remote control device is a virtual rendition of a remote control device associated with the receiver.

9. The receiver of claim 8, wherein the computer program further comprises logic to:

detect when a first button is pressed on the remote control device; and

illuminate a corresponding button on the virtual remote control device.

10. The receiver of claim 9, wherein the computer program further comprises logic to:

determine whether the first button is already programmed.

11. The receiver of claim 10, wherein the computer program further comprises logic to:

indicate to a user that the first button is already programmed.

12. The receiver of claim 9, wherein the computer program further comprises logic to:

prompt a user to press a second button on an other remote control device to be ported to the remote control device.

13. The receiver of claim 12, wherein the computer program further comprises logic to:

receive a signal from the other remote control device at the receiver.

14. The receiver of claim 13, wherein the computer program further comprises logic to:

transmit the signal to the remote control device.

15. The receiver of claim 14, wherein the computer program further comprises logic to:

indicate that the first button at the first remote control device is programmed.

16. The receiver of claim 10, further comprising:

an IR receiver coupled to the processor; and

an IR transmitter coupled to the processor.

17. A method of programming a first remote control device, the method comprising:

prompting a user to press a first button on the first remote control device;

determining whether the first button is already programmed; and

prompting a user to press a second button on a second remote control device.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving a signal from a second remote control device.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

transmitting the signal to the first remote control device.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

indicating that the first button is now programmed.