REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE PROGRAMMING

• US 20090244403A1
• Filed: 06/10/2009
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Dish Network Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Beals, William M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,013,942 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/734
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• 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 21/42208 Display device provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42225 characterized by types of remote control, e.g. universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42226 Reprogrammable remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration

Abstract

A method and apparatus for assisting a user in programming a universal remote control. More specifically, a method and apparatus for helping the user reestablish system configurations, providing feedback, instructing the user, and supplying system information.

Claims

1. A method for programming a remote control to control a device having a device control code, comprising:

receiving at the remote control a first user input to enter a programming mode in which the device control code for the device is to be determined, wherein the device control code accompanies commands from the remote control to control the device;

in response to the first user input, entering the programming mode;

exiting the programming mode; and

upon exiting the programming mode, providing a visual indication of a status of the programming mode when exiting.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual indication includes flashing one or more LEDs in a specific pattern associated with the status of the programming mode.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the visual indication comprises:

providing a timeout indication if exiting occurs because no user inputs were received within a predetermined period of time;

providing a success indication if exiting occurs because of receipt of a second user input that selects the device control code from a set of device control codes; and

providing a failure indication if exiting occurs because of receipt of any user input that is different from the second user input that selects the device control code from the set of device control codes.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein one or more LEDs are illuminated at a high frequency for the timeout indication, are illuminated at a lower frequency for the success indication, and are continuously illuminated for the failure indication.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the visual indication comprises:

providing the visual indication until receipt of a third user input.

6. A method for programming a remote control to control a first device having a device control code, the first device being part of a home entertainment system including a display device, the method comprising:

receiving a first user input to enter a programming mode in which the device control code for the device is to be determined, wherein the device control code accompanies commands from the remote control to control the device;

in response to the first user input, entering the programming mode;

exiting the programming mode; and

upon exiting the programming mode, displaying the device control code on the display device.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the home entertainment system further comprises a television converter device, the display device being a television coupled to the television converter device and further comprising:

monitoring, by the television converter device, the signals sent by the remote control for signals indicative of an attempt by the user to program the remote control to control the first device; and

upon exiting the programming mode, transmitting by the remote control a success indicator to the television converter device.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the remote control comprises the display device.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

requesting the user to store the displayed device control code for future reference.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein displaying the device control code comprises:

displaying a composite code that includes the device control code and a command code.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the command code is a specific function of the first device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the function is selected from the group consisting of power on, power off, play, rewind, fast-forward, volume up, volume down, record, pause, or picture-in-picture functions.

13. A remote control, comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit commands wirelessly;

a user interface configured to receive user input; and

data storage configured to store device control codes, wherein each of the device control codes allows the remote control to control at least one device, wherein each of the device control codes accompanies commands from the remote control to control at least one device;

wherein the remote control is configured to;

receive a first user input to enter a programming mode to determine the device control code of the device control codes stored in the data storage that allows the remote control to control a first device;

in response to receiving the first user input, enter the programming mode;

exit the programming mode; and

upon exiting the programming mode, provide an indication of a status of the programming mode after exiting.

14. The remote control of claim 13, wherein the indication of the status of the programming mode comprises one of:

a timeout indication if the remote control exits the programming mode when no user inputs were received within a predetermined period of time;

a success indication if the remote control exits the programming mode when the user interface receives a second user input that selects the device control code that allows the remote control to control the first device; and

a failure indication if the remote control exits the programming mode when the user interface receives a third user input indicating that the device control code allowing the remote control to control the first device has not been determined.

15. The remote control of claim 13, further comprising:

at least one visual indicator configured to provide the indication of the status of the programming mode.

16. The remote control of claim 13, wherein:

the user interface comprises mode keys, wherein each of the mode keys is associated with a particular type of device; and

the first user input is a press of one of the mode keys for at least some predetermined period of time, wherein the one of the mode keys is associated with the first device.

17. The remote control of claim 16, wherein:

the remote control is configured to select, based on the one of the mode keys, a subset of the device control codes stored in the data storage from which the user may select the device control code allowing the remote control to control the first device.

18. The remote control of claim 13, wherein the remote control is configured to:

upon successfully exiting the programming mode, provide an indication of the device control code selected by the user as allowing the remote control to control the first device.

19. The remote control of claim 18, further comprising:

a visual display configured to present the device control code selected by the user upon successfully exiting the programming mode.

20. The remote control of claim 18, wherein:

the remote control is further configured to transmit the device control code selected by the user by way of the transmitter to a television converter device coupled with a television for presentation to the user by way of the television.