SYSTEMS, METHODS AND DEVICES FOR DETECTING INFRARED NOISE AT A REMOTE CONTROL

• US 20120087671A1
• Filed: 10/08/2010
• Published: 04/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Eber, Samuel, Hieb, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 9,172,463 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/106
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1143 Bidirectional transmission

Abstract

Systems, devices and methods provide feedback about the quality of communication between a device and a remote control. A wireless signal is sent between a controlled device and the remote control. The quality of the signal can be measured and reported to a user, installer, troubleshooter, customer service agent or other person in any manner. Quality may be determined based upon the strength of the received signal as well as the amount of noise that is present. The quality measurements provide feedback that allows a user, installer, customer service representative or other person to change the positions of the device or the remote control, or to take other actions based upon the quality of the wireless signal that is received.

Claims

1. A method of operating an infrared remote control, the method comprising:

receiving infrared light at the infrared remote control;

detecting infrared noise in the infrared light received at the infrared remote control; and

adapting a transmission of an infrared command signal transmitted by the infrared remote control in response to the infrared noise detected in the infrared light received at the infrared remote control.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the infrared command signal is transmitted at a first wavelength, and wherein the detecting comprises identifying an intensity of the infrared light at the first wavelength prior to the transmission of the infrared command signal.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the adapting comprises selecting a second wavelength to transmit the infrared command signal if the intensity of the infrared light at the first wavelength exceeds a threshold value.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the adapting comprises increasing a power of the transmission of the infrared command signal if the infrared noise exceeds a threshold value.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the adapting comprises delaying the transmission of the infrared command signal until the infrared noise falls below a threshold value.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing an indication of the infrared noise in the received infrared light.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the providing comprises providing a visual indication of the infrared noise in the received infrared light on the infrared remote control.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the providing comprises providing an audible indication of the infrared noise in the received infrared light from the infrared remote control.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the providing comprises transmitting the indication to a remote receiver via a digital communications network.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the indication of the infrared noise in the received infrared light is updated in real time as the infrared remote control is moved.

11. A method of operating a remote control that provides infrared command signals to a controlled device, the method comprising:

receiving infrared light received at the remote control;

analyzing the received infrared light at the remote control to identify an infrared noise in the received infrared light; and

transmitting a signal to the controlled device, wherein the signal is responsive to the infrared noise in the received infrared light.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the signal transmitted to the controlled device is one of the infrared command signals, and wherein the transmitting comprises increasing a power of the signal when the infrared noise exceeds a threshold.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the signal transmitted to the controlled device is one of the infrared command signals, and wherein the transmitting comprises delaying transmission of the signal when the infrared noise exceeds a threshold.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the signal transmitted to the controlled device is one of the infrared command signals, and wherein the transmitting comprises adapting a wavelength of the signal to a second wavelength when the infrared noise exceeds a threshold.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the signal transmitted to the controlled device indicates the infrared noise in the received infrared light to the controlled device, and wherein the signal is transmitted over a wireless radio frequency network.

16. A remote control configured to provide infrared command signals to a controlled device, the remote control comprising:

an infrared transmitter configured to generate the infrared command signals;

an infrared receiver configured to receive infrared light; and

a processor coupled to the infrared transmitter and the infrared receiver, wherein the processor is configured to detect an infrared noise in the infrared light received by the infrared receiver and to adapt the infrared command signals generated by the infrared transmitter in response to the amount of noise in the infrared light received by the infrared receiver.

17. The remote control of claim 16 further comprising a position sensor configured to detect the position of the remote control, and wherein the processor is further configured to correlate an amount of infrared noise in the infrared light received by the infrared receiver to the position of the remote control.

18. The remote control of claim 16 further comprising a feedback device, and wherein the processor is configured to indicate a level of the infrared noise in the infrared light received by the infrared receiver on the feedback device.

19. The remote control of claim 18 wherein the processor is configured to update the indication of the level of noise in the infrared light in real time as the remote control is moved.

20. The remote control of claim 16 further comprising an interface to a wireless network based upon radio frequency signals transmitted separately from the infrared command signals, and wherein the processor is configured to transmit a message that indicates an amount of the infrared noise in the infrared light received by the infrared receiver to a recipient on the wireless network.