Method and system for updating a control device database via flashing light

• US 20100028010A1
• Filed: 04/11/2008
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zhao, Yonghong, Menon, Roshan, Lambert, Roger J., Schulze, Kim W., Bennett, Eric J., Guzman, Jorge H.
• Application Number:
  US12/082,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20100028010A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/106
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1141 One-way transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/116 Visible light communication

Abstract

A system for delivering codes to a remote control for controlling a number of electronic devices includes a receiver for receiving a signal from a transmitter. A display connected to the receiver has a mechanism for flashing visible-light to the remote control, the flashed visible-light being related to the signal. The remote control includes a code database and mechanisms for receiving flashed visible-light and converting it into a code storable in the database. A method for acquiring updated codes includes storing codes for controlled apparatus in a code database. Data related to additional device codes are then transmitted to a processing device connected to a visual display. The data are flashed as visible-light from the display and received by the remote control. Received visible-light is converted into at least one device code and used to update the code database in the remote control.

Claims

1. A system for delivering device codes to a remote control having a device code database whereby the remote control is capable of controlling a number of electronic devices via at least one device code specific to each electronic device, comprising:

a transmitter;

a receiver receiving a signal originating from the transmitter; and

a display operationally connected to the receiver, having means for flashing visible-light to the remote control, wherein the flashed visible-light is related to the signal;

wherein the remote control includes means for receiving the flashed visible-light, and means for converting received visible-light into at least one device code to be stored in the device code database.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote control is positioned adjacent to the display in order to reduce visible-light incoming to the remote control from light sources other than the display.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for flashing visible-light comprises a graphical user interface on the display.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for flashing visible-light comprises an area of the display running a video stream.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the area is adjustable in size to accommodate a light-receiving end of the remote control.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a light shield engaging the remote control about the light-receiving end in order to reduce the amount of ambient visible-light reaching the light-receiving end of the remote control.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for flashing visible-light comprises a non-flashing dark border portion projected on the display surrounding a visible-light flashing portion projected on the display.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote control includes means for adjusting the means for flashing visible-light.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for receiving visible-light comprises an LDR.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for receiving visible-light further comprises a lens disposed between the LDR and the display.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for converting received visible-light further comprises a microprocessor.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for initiating a device code update.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a satellite disposed between the transmitter and the receiver, receiving an uplink signal comprising the signal from the transmitter;

wherein the signal received by the receiver comprises a downlink signal from the satellite, wherein the downlink signal is related to the uplink signal, and the visible-light flashed to the remote control is related to the downlink signal.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the uplink signal is related to the at least one device code.

15. A method for acquiring updated device codes for a controlled apparatus, comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of device codes for a plurality of controlled apparatus in a code database of a remote control

generating data related to additional device codes;

transmitting the generated data from a transmission source to a processing device operationally connected to a display;

flashing the generated data from the display to the remote control;

receiving the flashed visible-light with the remote control;

converting the received flashed visible-light into at least one device code; and

updating the code database in the remote control with the at least one device code.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the transmitting step further comprises the step of routing the generated data through a satellite network to the display.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of using the remote control to access the generated data.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of using the remote control to operate different controlled apparatus, wherein the different controlled apparatus are manufactured by a common manufacturer or different manufacturers.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of selecting a particular device code from a plurality of device codes to operate a particular controlled apparatus.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of using at least one of the codes to operate a particular controlled apparatus.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the particular controlled apparatus is a selected one of a television, a CD player, a DVD player, a DVR, a stereo system, a VCR, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, a cable converter and a set-top box.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of adjusting a graphical user interface projected on the display in order to flash the visible-light.

23. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of initiating a device code update.