ELECTRONIC SYSTEM INFORMING A FIRST ELECTRONIC DEVICE OF USER REMOTE CONTROL ACTIVITY INVOLVING A SECOND ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20090167855A1
• Filed: 12/27/2007
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Dish Network Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies Corporation (Dish Network Corporation)
• Inventors: Kummer, David A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,083,914 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• 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 21/42225 characterized by types of remote control, e.g. universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4436 Power management, e.g. shutting down unused components of the receiver power management in computer systems G06F1/3203; hibernate or awake process in computer systems G06F9/4418
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0075 by a user operated remote control device, e.g. receiving instructions from a user via a computer terminal or mobile telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

An electronic system is presented which includes a remote control device and a first electronic device. In one embodiment, the remote control device is configured to accept a user input signifying a command for a second electronic device, as well as generate the command for the second electronic device, and an indication of the command. In another embodiment, the remote control device is configured to accept a user input that causes a mode change of the remote control device, wherein the mode identifies one of a plurality of electronic devices that receive commands from the remote control device. The remote control device is also configured to transmit the command to the second electronic device, if applicable, and transmit the indication of the command or mode change to the first electronic device. The first electronic device is configured to receive and process the indication to alter operation of the first electronic device.

Claims

1. An electronic system, comprising:

a remote control device and a first electronic device;

wherein the remote control device is configured to accept a user input signifying a command for a second electronic device, generate the command for the second electronic device and an indication of the command, transmit the command to the second electronic device, and transmit the indication of the command to the first electronic device; and

wherein the first electronic device is configured to receive the indication of the command, and process the indication of the command to alter operation of the first electronic device.

2. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein:

the first electronic device comprises one of a satellite broadcast receiver, a cable broadcast receiver, and an over-the-air terrestrial broadcast receiver; and

the second electronic device comprises a display device in communication with the first electronic device.

3. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the first electronic device is configured to process the indication of the command to transmit a signal associated with the indication of the command to the second electronic device for display.

4. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the first electronic device is configured to process the indication of the command to transmit a second indication of the command to a third electronic device.

5. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the control logic of the first electronic device is configured to alter the operation of the first electronic device by presenting programming-related information for display on the second electronic device.

6. The electronic system of claim 5, wherein the programming-related information is presented as at least one of a static video screen and a video channel.

7. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the first electronic device is configured to alter the operation of the first electronic device by terminating or postponing a standby mode of the first electronic device.

8. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the remote control device transmits each of the command and the indication of the command by way of at least one of an ultra-high frequency signal, an infrared signal, and an ultrasonic signal.

9. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the command comprises one of turning on the second electronic device, turning off the second electronic device, modifying a volume output of the second electronic device, selecting a channel of the second electronic device, and accessing a menu of the second electronic device.

10. An electronic system, comprising:

a remote control device and a first electronic device;

wherein the remote control device is configured to accept a user input which causes a change in a mode of the remote control device, generate an indication of the mode change, and transmit the indication of the mode change to the first electronic device;

wherein the mode identifies one of a plurality of electronic devices for receiving commands from the remote control device; and

wherein the first electronic device is configured to receive the indication of the mode change and process the indication of the mode change to alter operation of the first electronic device.

11. The electronic system of claim 10, wherein:

the first electronic device comprises one of a satellite broadcast receiver, a cable broadcast receiver, and an over-the-air terrestrial broadcast receiver; and

the plurality of electronic devices comprises at least a display device in communication with the first electronic device.

12. The electronic system of claim 10, wherein the first electronic device is configured to process the indication of the mode change to transmit a signal associated with the indication of the mode change to one of the second electronic devices for display.

13. The electronic system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of electronic devices comprises at least one of a video cassette recorder, a digital video recorder, a compact disc player, a digital video disc player, and an audio amplifier.

14. The electronic system of claim 10, wherein the first electronic device is configured to alter the operation of the first electronic device by presenting programming-related information for display on one of the second electronic devices.

15. The electronic system of claim 14, wherein the programming-related information is presented as at least one of a static video screen and a video channel.

16. The electronic system of claim 10, wherein the first electronic device is configured to alter the operation of the first electronic device by terminating or postponing a standby mode of the first electronic device.

17. The electronic system of claim 10, wherein the remote control device transmits the indication of the mode change by way of at least one of an ultra-high frequency signal, an infrared signal, and an ultrasonic signal.

18. A method for informing a first electronic device concerning control of a second electronic device, the method comprising:

accepting a user input at a remote control device, wherein the input signifies a command for the second electronic device;

generating the command for the second electronic device in the remote control device;

generating an indication of the command in the remote control device;

transmitting the command from the remote control device to the second electronic device;

transmitting the indication of the command from the remote control device to the first electronic device;

receiving the indication of the command at the first electronic device; and

processing the indication of the command in the first electronic device to alter operation of the first electronic device.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising transmitting a signal associated with the indication of the command from the first electronic device to the second electronic device for display.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising transmitting a second indication of the command from the first electronic device to a third electronic device in response to processing the first indication of the command.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein altering the operation of the first electronic device comprises terminating or postponing a standby mode of the first electronic device.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the command comprises one of turning on the second electronic device, turning off the second electronic device, modifying a volume output of the second electronic device, selecting a channel of the second electronic device, and accessing a menu of the second electronic device.

23. A method for informing a first electronic device concerning activity of a remote control device, the method comprising:

accepting a user input signifying a change of a mode of the remote control device at the remote control device, wherein the mode identifies one of a plurality of electronic devices for receiving commands from the remote control device;

changing the mode of the remote control device in response to the user input;

generating an indication of the mode change in the remote control device;

transmitting the indication of the mode change from the remote control device to the first electronic device;

receiving the indication of the mode change at the first electronic device; and

processing the indication of the mode change in the first electronic device to alter operation of the first electronic device.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising transmitting a signal associated with the indication of the mode change from the first electronic device to one of the second electronic devices for display.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein altering the operation of the first electronic device comprises terminating or postponing a standby mode of the first electronic device.