System and Method for Capturing Remote Control Device Command Signals

• US 20100123834A1
• Filed: 03/10/2009
• Published: 05/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Brodersen, Rainer, Cinereski, Stephanie, Fu, Jack I-Chieh
• Application Number:
  US12/401,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20100123834A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/734
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus for learning remote control command signals by a media processing device. In one aspect, a method includes activating a learning mode of operation, presenting an instruction to actuate a control associated with a secondary remote control device, capturing a command signal transmitted by the secondary remote control device while the learning mode is active, generating a mapping that associates a representation of the captured command signal with a media processing device function, and storing the generated mapping in a profile corresponding to the secondary remote control device. Further, a control symbol identifying the control associated with the secondary remote control device can be displayed. Additionally, a progress bar can be displayed indicating a period for which the control is to be actuated.

Claims

1. A method of learning remote control command signals by a media processing device, the method comprising:

activating a learning mode of operation;

presenting an instruction to actuate a control associated with a secondary remote control device;

capturing a command signal transmitted by the secondary remote control device while the learning mode is active;

generating a mapping that associates a representation of the captured command signal with a media processing device function; and

storing the generated mapping in a profile corresponding to the secondary remote control device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a command signal from a primary remote control device to activate the learning mode of operation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the representation of the captured command signal comprises:

one or more of a parameter indicating an initial pattern of the command signal, a parameter indicating a repeat packet associated with the command signal, and a parameter indicating a time interval between events comprising the command signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting an instruction to actuate a control further comprises:

displaying a control symbol identifying the control associated with the secondary remote control device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

displaying a progress bar indicating a period for which the control is to be actuated.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein capturing a command signal further comprises:

capturing all received command signals for a predetermined period of time.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting an interface that includes a plurality of control symbols; and

displaying a cursor in the interface indicating a selected control symbol.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

automatically repositioning the cursor to select a different one of the plurality of control symbols after the command signal has been captured.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a name for the profile corresponding to the secondary remote control device.

10. A computer program product, encoded on a computer-readable medium, operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

activating a learning mode of operation;

presenting an instruction to actuate a control associated with a secondary remote control device;

capturing a command signal transmitted by the secondary remote control device while the learning mode is active;

generating a mapping that associates a representation of the captured command signal with a media processing device function; and

storing the generated mapping in a profile corresponding to the secondary remote control device.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, further operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

receiving a command signal from a primary remote control device to activate the learning mode of operation.

12. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the representation of the captured command signal comprises:

one or more of a parameter indicating an initial pattern of the command signal, a parameter indicating a repeat packet associated with the command signal, and a parameter indicating a time interval between events comprising the command signal.

13. The computer program product of claim 10, further operable to present an instruction to actuate a control by causing data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

displaying a control symbol identifying the control associated with the secondary remote control device.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, further operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

displaying a progress bar indicating a period for which the control is to be actuated.

15. The computer program product of claim 10, further operable to capture a command signal by causing data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

capturing all received command signals for a predetermined period of time.

16. The computer program product of claim 10, further operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

presenting an interface that includes a plurality of control symbols; and

displaying a cursor in the interface indicating a selected control symbol.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, further operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

automatically repositioning the cursor to select a different one of the plurality of control symbols after the command signal has been captured.

18. The computer program product of claim 10, further operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

receiving a name for the profile corresponding to the secondary remote control device.

19. A system comprising:

a display;

a secondary remote control device including one or more controls, wherein the secondary remote control device is configured to transmit one or more command signals responsive to actuation of the one or more controls; and

a media processing device including a storage device and a sensor configured to receive command signals, wherein the media processing device further includes processor electronics configured to perform operations comprising;

activating a learning mode of operation;

presenting on the display an instruction to actuate a control associated with a secondary remote control device;

capturing a command signal transmitted by the secondary remote control device while the learning mode is active;

generating a mapping that associates a representation of the captured command signal with a media processing device function; and

storing on the storage device the generated mapping in a profile corresponding to the secondary remote control device.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

a primary remote control device configured to transmit a command signal to activate the learning mode of operation.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the representation of the captured command signal comprises:

one or more of a parameter indicating an initial pattern of the command signal, a parameter indicating a repeat packet associated with the command signal, and a parameter indicating a time interval between events comprising the command signal.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the processor electronics are further configured to perform operations comprising:

displaying on the display a control symbol identifying the control associated with the secondary remote control device.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the processor electronics are further configured to perform operations comprising:

displaying on the display a progress bar indicating a period for which the control is to be actuated.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the processor electronics are further configured to perform operations comprising:

capturing all received command signals for a predetermined period of time.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein the processor electronics are further configured to perform operations comprising:

presenting on the display an interface that includes a plurality of control symbols; and

presenting a cursor in the interface indicating a selected control symbol.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the processor electronics are further configured to perform operations comprising:

automatically repositioning the cursor in the interface to select a different one of the plurality of control symbols after the command signal has been captured.

27. The system of claim 19, wherein the processor electronics are further configured to perform operations comprising:

receiving a name for the profile corresponding to the secondary remote control device; and

storing on the storage device the received name in association with the profile.