SYSTEM FOR LEARNING CONTROL CODES OF A REMOTE CONTROLLER

• US 20120075082A1
• Filed: 09/24/2010
• Published: 03/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Rothkopf, Fletcher, Lynch, Stephen Brian, Mittleman, Adam, Hobson, Phil
• Application Number:
  US12/890,034
• Publication Number:
  US 20120075082A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/12.28
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• 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 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1149 Arrangements for indoor wireless networking of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices

Abstract

One embodiment of an electronic device configured for supplying control codes to a programmable device may include a first receiver configured to receive a first command signal from a remote control device, a processing device coupled to the first receiver, and a transmitter configured to transmit a second command signal to a programmable device. The transmitter may be coupled to the processing device. The electronic device may further include a storage device coupled to the processing device. The storage device may be configured to store one or more control codes associated with the first command signal. The processing device may be configured to determine if the one or more control codes associated with the first command signal are stored on the storage device, and to transmit the second command signal to the programmable device via the transmitter if the processing device determines that the one or more control codes are stored on the storage device.

Claims

1. An electronic device configured for supplying control codes to a programmable device, the electronic device comprising:

a first receiver configured to receive a first command signal from a remote control device;

a processing device coupled to the first receiver;

a transmitter configured to transmit a second command signal to a programmable device, the transmitter coupled to the processing device; and

a storage device coupled to the processing device, the storage device configured to store one or more control codes associated with the first command signal;

wherein the processing device is configured to determine if the one or more control codes associated with the first command signal are stored on the storage device, and to transmit the second command signal to the programmable device via the transmitter if the processing device determines that the one or more control codes are stored on the storage device.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the second command signal over a wired connection.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein, if the processing device determines that the one or more control codes are not stored on the storage device, the processing device is configured to process the first command signal to obtain identifying information corresponding to the remote control device.

4. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the identifying information comprises a manufacturer and a model of the remote control device.

5. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the electronic device is a laptop.

6. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the electronic device is further configured transmit the identifying information to a remote server.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, further comprising a second receiver configured to receive one or more control codes from the server.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the processing device is further configured to store the one or more control codes on the storage device.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the programmable device is a wireless communication device.

10. A method for operating a programmable device configured for learning one or more control codes of a remote control device, comprising:

receiving an infrared command signal from the remote control device;

capturing infrared data from the infrared command signal using a camera; and

processing the captured infrared command signal to derive identifying information regarding the remote control device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

establishing a connection with a server configured to process the identifying information to obtain a control code of the infrared command signal; and

transmitting the identifying information to the server.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the identifying information comprises a manufacturer and a model of the remote control device.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving a control code from the server and storing the control code on a storage device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising transmitting a command signal comprising the control code to a controlled device.

15. A camera for capturing an infrared component of an infrared command signal, comprising:

an image sensor configured to sense an infrared command signal; and

a processing device coupled to the image sensor, the processing device configured to process the captured infrared command signal to derive identifying information regarding the remote control device.

16. The camera of claim 15, wherein the image sensor comprises a grid including one or more infrared-sensitive pixels;

and

an infrared-blocking filter configured to at least partially block infrared radiation from at least one of the one or more pixels.

17. The camera of claim 16, wherein the grid includes a central portion comprising one or more central pixels and an edge portion comprising one or more edge pixels, the edge portion at least partially surrounds the central portion, and the infrared-blocking filter is configured to at least partially block infrared radiation from the one or more central pixels of the central portion.

18. The camera of claim 15, wherein the identifying information includes a manufacturer and a model of the remote control device.

19. The camera of claim 15, wherein the camera is a video camera.

20. The camera of claim 15, wherein the camera is configured to capture one or more still images.