Virtual remote controller
First Claim
1. A method for controlling non-television entertainment devices from a television, comprising:
- defining at least one set of graphic icons within a television memory;
grouping each set of graphic icons under a label such that the icons are displayed together and stored in said television memory;
mapping each set of graphic icons to function codes representing particular non-television device functions as they are transmitted from a non-television remote control device;
linking each of said non-television device functions to a selected graphic icon;
displaying on the television display a selected group of graphic icons at a request from a user;
transmitting a non-television device function code through an infrared transmission device associated with said television when one of said graphic icons is selected on the television screen; and
wherein the transmission of said non-television function code is operative to cause the non-television entertainment device to perform the selected function.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An entertainment system often contains a number of entertainment devices, such as a television, VCR, DVD player, CD player, Cable-TV box, and other devices each of which has a remote controller associated with the device. This often results in a confusing welter of remote controllers to operate the system as a whole. A system and method for displaying control function icons on a television display is presented here. The control function icons are displayed in large font, hi-intensity icons as an overlay on a television screen. There are a number of the graphic icon sets that may be mapped, one to each device in the system that has a remote controller. The user may then select the set of icons for the device to be controlled, select the function desired, and the control function code is sent to the infrared receiver of the device to be controlled. This Virtual Remote Controller is maintained in non-volatile memory within the television and may be expanded to map each non-television device in the entire entertainment system such that all are controlled from visual icons on the television display. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
51 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for controlling non-television entertainment devices from a television, comprising:
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defining at least one set of graphic icons within a television memory; grouping each set of graphic icons under a label such that the icons are displayed together and stored in said television memory; mapping each set of graphic icons to function codes representing particular non-television device functions as they are transmitted from a non-television remote control device; linking each of said non-television device functions to a selected graphic icon; displaying on the television display a selected group of graphic icons at a request from a user; transmitting a non-television device function code through an infrared transmission device associated with said television when one of said graphic icons is selected on the television screen; and wherein the transmission of said non-television function code is operative to cause the non-television entertainment device to perform the selected function. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for controlling non-television entertainment devices from a television, comprising:
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a processor within a television operative to display graphics icon sets as an overlay on a television display; an area of memory in which display graphics icon sets are stored within the television device; at least one set of graphics icons representing control functions for non-television entertainment devices and a label therefore; a capture function to capture non-television entertainment device IFR control codes for storage within said memory; a linking function to link a selected graphics display icon to a captured non-television entertainment device IFR control code within said memory; a selection function to permit a user to select at least one set of displayed graphics icons and further select one of the graphics icons; an IFR transmission device to transmit the non-television entertainment device IFR control code associated with the user selected graphics icon; and wherein the transmitted IFR control code is operative to cause the non-television entertainment device to perform the selected function. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions for controlling non-television entertainment devices from a television processor, comprising:
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defining at least one set of graphic icons within a television memory; grouping each set of graphic icons under a label such that the icons are displayed together and stored in said television memory; mapping each set of graphic icons to function codes representing particular non-television device functions as they are transmitted from a non-television remote control device; linking each of said non-television device functions to a selected graphic icon; displaying on the television display a selected group of graphic icons at a request from a user; transmitting a non-television device function code through an infrared transmission device associated with said television when one of said graphic icons is selected on the television screen; and wherein the transmission of said non-television function code is operative to cause the non-television entertainment device to perform the selected function. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification