Arbitration system and method for use with wireless remote control devices in a multiple video screen entertainment system

• US 20090153390A1
• Filed: 12/18/2007
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Boyer, Bradley E., Zackschewski, Shawn R., Wittenbach, David E., Bishop, David L.
• Application Number:
  US12/002,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20090153390A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/176
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

An arbitration system and method for use with wireless remote control devices in a multiple video screen entertainment system includes transmitting a control signal from the remote to one or more video devices in the entertainment system. The control signal is received at a video screen where the signal strength of the control signal is measured at each device. A signal representing the received signal strength is transmitted from a video device to the remote and a comparison is made of the received signal strength of each of the received signals from each video device at the remote. The remote is then associated to the video device having the highest signal strength where a command is transmitted from the remote with an identification indication for its control of that video device.

Claims

1. An arbitration method for use with wireless remote control devices in a multiple video screen entertainment system comprising the steps of:

transmitting a control signal from a wireless remote control device of a plurality of wireless remote control devices;

receiving the control signal at at least one video screen in the entertainment system;

measuring the signal strength of the control signal proximate to each video screen in the entertainment system;

transmitting a signal representing the received signal strength from at least one video screen to the wireless remote control device;

comparing a received signal strength to each received signal strength signal at the wireless remote control device;

associating the wireless remote control device to the at least one video screen having the highest signal strength; and

transmitting a command from the remote control device with an identification to the at least one video screen indicating its control.

2. An arbitration method for use with wireless remote devices as in claim 1, wherein the wireless remote control devices communicate using an infrared (IR) frequency.

3. An arbitration method for use with wireless remote devices as in claim 1, wherein the entertainment system uses a multiple split screen display.

4. An arbitration method for use with wireless remote devices a in claim 1, wherein the entertainment system is used in a vehicle.

5. A method for enabling arbitration of remote control signals in a multiple video screen system comprising the step of:

actuating a control signal from a wireless remote control device of a plurality of wireless remote control devices;

receiving the control signal at at least one video screen in the multiple video screen system;

measuring the strength of the control function signal at the at lest one video screen;

determining one video screen in the multiple video screen system that has the highest signal strength of the control function signal; and

associating the control functionality of the wireless remote control device with that one video screen.

6. A method for enabling arbitration of remote control signals as in claim 5, wherein the step of determining includes the step of:

communicating the signal strength measurements via a data link between at least one video screen and the other video screens in the multiple video screen system; and

comparing the control signal strength of at least one video screen against the signal received at other video screens in the multiple video screen system.

7. A method for enabling arbitration of remote control signals as in claim 5, wherein the wireless remote device operates at an infrared (IR) frequency.

8. A method for enabling arbitration of remote control signals as in claim 5, wherein the multiple video screen system is rear seat entertainment (RSE) system.

9. A method for enabling arbitration of remote control signals as in claim 5, wherein the multiple video screen system utilizes a multiple split screen display.

10. A method for enabling arbitration of remote control signals as in claim 5, wherein the multiple video screen system is used in a vehicle.

11. An arbitration method for use with wireless remote control devices in a rear seat entertainment (RSE) system having a plurality of sensors each associated with a display view in a multi-split display device comprising the steps of:

actuating a control signal from a wireless remote control device of a plurality of wireless remote control devices;

receiving the control signal at at least one sensor associated with a display view in the multi-split screen display device;

measuring the signal strength at at least one sensor;

determining if the signal strength at at least one sensor is greater than the control signal received at each one of the plurality of sensors;

associating the control signal from the wireless remote control device with the display view having the highest signal strength.

12. An arbitration method for use with wireless remote control devices as in claim 11, wherein the wireless remote control device operates in the infrared (IR) frequency range.

13. An arbitration method for use with wireless remote control devices as in claim 11, wherein the RSE utilizes a multiple split screen display.

14. An arbitration method for use with wireless remote control devices as in claim 11, where the RSE is located in a vehicle.

15. An arbitration system for use with at least one wireless remote control device in a multiple video screen entertainment system comprising:

a wireless remote control device of a plurality of wireless remote control devices for transmitting a control signal;

at least one video screen in the entertainment system for receiving the control signal;

a receiver for measuring the signal strength of the control signal proximate to each video screen in the entertainment system;

a transmitter for transmitting a signal representing the received signal strength from at least one video screen to the wireless remote control device;

a processor for associating the wireless remote control device to at least one video screen having the highest signal strength; and

wherein the wireless remote control device operates to compare each received signal strength signal to determine the transmitter having the greatest signal strength.

16. An arbitration system for use with at least one wireless remote device as in claim 15, wherein a command is transmitted from a remote control device with an identification to the at least one video screen having the greatest signal strength indicating its control functionality.

17. An arbitration system for use with at least one wireless remote device as in claim 15, wherein the wireless remote control device communicates using infrared (IR) frequency.

18. An arbitration system for use with at least one wireless remote device as in claim 15, wherein the entertainment system uses a multiple split screen display.

19. An arbitration system for use with at least one wireless remote device as in claim 15, wherein the entertainment system is in a motor vehicle.