Downloadable remote control

• US 20090231178A1
• Filed: 06/16/2005
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: NDS Limited (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lamdan, Avidan, Letourneur, Patrice
• Application Number:
  US11/887,057
• Publication Number:
  US 20090231178A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/176
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

A universal remote control (100) is described, the universal remote control (100) including a configuration port (155) operative to receive a download of configuration information sent to a device (110), the configuration information defining a communication protocol for sending control information from the universal remote control (100) to the device (110), and a processor (148) operative to determine if the configuration has previously been downloaded to the universal remote control (100) and in response to a negative result of the determining configuration request a download of the configuration information from the device (110) to the universal remote control (100), and configure the universal remote control (100) in accordance with the received configuration information thereby configuring the universal remote control (100) to send control information to the device (110). Related methods and apparatus are also described.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a universal remote control, the method comprising:

directing a universal remote control at a device, the device being operative to download configuration information to the universal remote control, the configuration information defining a communication protocol for sending control information from the universal remote control to the device;

determining if the configuration has previously been downloaded to the universal remote control;

in response to a negative result of the determining configuration, performing the following;

sending information from the device to the universal remote control;

receiving the configuration information at the universal remote control; and

configuring the universal remote control in accordance with the received configuration information thereby configuring the universal remote control to send control information to the device.

2. The method according to claim 1 and wherein the configuration information comprises at least:

a look and feel for each button comprised in the remote control;

button properties for each button comprised in the remote control;

a remote control protocol; and

cryptography information.

3. The method according to claim 2 and wherein the button properties comprise a repetition rate.

4. The method according to claim 2 and wherein the button properties comprise a repetition frequency.

5. The method according to claim 2 and wherein the cryptography information comprises encryption and decryption methods.

6. The method according to claim 2 and wherein the cryptography information comprises encryption and decryption keys.

7. The method according to claim 1 and also comprising storing the configuration information for future retrieval.

8. The method according to claim 1 and also comprising:

reading a barcode with a barcode reader operatively associated with the universal remote control, the barcode comprising encoded remote control configuration information; and

configuring the universal remote control in accordance with the information encoded in the barcode.

9. The method according to claim 1 and also comprising:

receiving a user input; and

sending control information from the universal remote control to the device in accordance with the user input.

10. The method according to claim 9 and wherein the universal remote control comprises a touch screen and the user input is input on the touch screen.

11. The method according to claim 1 and wherein the receiving the configuration information comprises receiving a plurality of sets of configuration information.

12. A universal remote control comprising:

a configuration port operative to receive a download of configuration information sent to a device, the configuration information defining a communication protocol for sending control information from the universal remote control to the device; and

a processor operative to;

determine if the configuration has previously been downloaded to the universal remote control; and

in response to a negative result of the determining configuration;

request a download of the configuration information from the device to the universal remote control; and

configure the universal remote control in accordance with the received configuration information thereby configuring the universal remote control to send control information to the device.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 and wherein the configuration information comprises at least:

a look and feel for each button comprised in the remote control;

button properties for each button comprised in the remote control;

a remote control protocol; and

cryptography information.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 and wherein the button properties comprise a repetition rate.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13 and wherein the button properties comprise a repetition frequency.

16. The apparatus according to claim 13 and wherein the cryptography information comprises encryption and decryption methods.

17. The apparatus according to claim 13 and wherein the cryptography information comprises encryption and decryption keys.

18. The apparatus according to claim 12 and also comprising a storage device operative to store the configuration information for future retrieval.

19. The apparatus according to claim 12 and also comprising a barcode reader operatively associated with the universal remote control, the barcode reader being operative to read a barcode comprising encoded remote control configuration information,

wherein the processor configures the universal remote control in accordance with the information encoded in the barcode.

20. The apparatus according to claim 12 and also comprising:

a user input receiver; and

a port operative to send control information from the universal remote control to the device in accordance with the user input.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the user input receiver comprises a touch screen.

22. A universal remote control comprising:

configuration port means for downloading configuration information to the universal remote control, the configuration information defining a communication protocol for sending control information from the universal remote control to the device; and

processing means for;

determining if the configuration has previously been downloaded to the universal remote control; and

in response to a negative result of the determining configuration;

requesting a download of the configuration information from the device to the universal remote control; and

configuring the universal remote control in accordance with the received configuration information thereby configuring the universal remote control to send control information to the device.