REMOTE CONTROL RELAY FOR WIRELESSLY-CONTROLLED DEVICES

• US 20090220243A1
• Filed: 02/28/2008
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bosch Security Systems Incorporated (Robert Bosch GmbH), Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Johan, Ron, Petricoin, Dennis Michael JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,634,720 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/106
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1149 Arrangements for indoor wireless networking of information

Abstract

Methods and systems for relaying an optical signal from a remote control to a remote-controlled device such as a home entertainment device or a security device. Embodiments include at least one optical receiver and a plurality of optical transmitters. The optical transmitter positioned with an unobstructed line-of-sight to the home entertainment device is identified and the data encoded in the optical signal from the remote control is sent to that transmitter. A second optical signal that is substantially identical to the first is then generated at the optical transmitter and communicated to the home entertainment device.

Claims

1. A remote control relay system for wirelessly, remote-controlled devices, the remote control relay system comprising

at least one optical receiver configured to receive a first optical signal from a remote control and derive encoded data from the first optical signal;

a plurality of optical transmitters each configured to receive the encoded data and generate a second optical signal wherein the second optical signal is substantially identical to the first optical signal; and

a first controller coupled to the at least one infrared receiver and the plurality of infrared transmitters, wherein the controller is configured to

receive encoded data from the at least one optical receiver,

analyze the encoded data to identify a corresponding remote-controlled device,

identify one optical transmitter from the plurality of optical transmitters that is positioned with an unobstructed line-of-sight to the corresponding remote-controlled device, and

route the encoded data to the one identified optical transmitter.

2. The remote control relay system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of optical receivers.

3. The remote control relay system of claim 2 wherein each of the plurality of optical receivers is positioned with one of the plurality of optical transmitters.

4. The remote control relay system of claim 1 wherein the first optical signal and the second optical signal include pulsed infrared radiation.

5. The remote control relay system of claim 2 further comprising a plurality of security system control panels wherein each security system control panel includes one of the plurality of optical receivers and one of the plurality of optical transmitters.

6. The remote control relay system of claim 5 further comprising a central security system processor including the controller and coupled to each of the plurality of security system control panels.

7. The remote control relay system of claim 1 wherein the first optical signal is received from one of a plurality of remote controls and one of the plurality of optical transmitters is positioned in unobstructed optical communication with a plurality of remote-controlled devices.

8. The remote control relay system of claim 3 further comprising a data storage medium containing a list of device identifiers and the corresponding optical transmitters.

9. The remote control relay system of claim 8 wherein the controller is further configured to

derive the device identifier from the encoded data, and

access the list in the data storage medium to identify the corresponding optical transmitter.

10. The remote control relay system of claim 8 wherein the controller is further configured to

derive the device identifier from the encoded data,

access the list in the data storage medium,

identify the device identifier as previously unknown, and

add the device identifier and the corresponding optical transmitter to the list, wherein the corresponding optical transmitter is the optical transmitter positioned with the optical receiver that derived the encoded data.

11. The remote control relay system of claim 8 further comprising an initializing button positioned with one optical receiver and one optical transmitter, wherein the controller is further configured to:

derive a new device identifier from the encoded data received while the initializing button is pressed, and

add the device identifier and the corresponding optical transmitter to the list, wherein the corresponding optical transmitter is the optical transmitter positioned with the pressed initializing button.

12. The remote control relay system of claim 1 wherein the second optical signal has a higher amplitude than the first optical signal.

13. A method of controlling a wirelessly, remote-controlled device, the method comprising:

receiving a first optical signal generated by a remote control associated with the remote-controlled device;

deriving encoded data from the first optical signal;

identifying one optical transmitter from a plurality of optical transmitters, wherein the one optical transmitter is positioned with an unobstructed line-of-sight to the home entertainment device;

transmitting the encoded data to the one optical transmitter; and

emitting an second optical signal from the infrared transmitter wherein the second optical signal is substantially identical to the first optical signal.

14. The method according to claim 13 further comprising:

deriving a device identifier from the encoded data, and

accessing a list of device identifiers and each corresponding optical transmitter, wherein the corresponding optical transmitter is the optical transmitter positioned with an unobstructed line-of-sight to the home entertainment device.

15. The method according to claim 14 further comprising:

identifying the device identifier as previously unknown when the identifier is not included in the list, and

adding the previously unknown device identifier and the corresponding optical transmitter to the list, wherein the corresponding optical transmitter is the optical transmitter positioned with an optical receiver that derived the encoded data.

16. The method according to claim 14 further comprising:

deriving a new device identifier from the first optical signal received while an initializing button is pressed, and

adding the device identifier and the corresponding optical transmitter to the list, wherein the corresponding optical transmitter is the optical transmitter positioned with the pressed initializing button.

17. The method according to claim 14 further comprising:

receiving a optical device signal at an optical receiver, wherein the optical device signal is generated from the remote-controlled device,

deriving the device identifier from the optical device signal,

updating the list such that the optical transmitter corresponding to the device identifier is the optical transmitter positioned with the optical receiver.

18. A security system comprising:

a plurality of security system control panels each including an infrared transmitter and an infrared receiver; and

a security system controller configured to receive the content of a first infrared signal captured by the infrared

receiver of one of the plurality of security system control panels,

communicate the content of the first infrared signal to at least one of the plurality of security system control panels, and

emit a second infrared signal from the infrared transmitter of at least one of the plurality of security system control panels, wherein the second infrared signal is identical to the first infrared signal.

19. The security system of claim 18 further comprising a remote computer server including the security system controller.

20. The security system of claim 18 further comprising a main security system control panel including the security system controller, an infrared transmitter, and an infrared receiver.