Remote control system and method for cable television system

• US 5,329,370 A
• Filed: 07/13/1993
• Issued: 07/12/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pacific Pay Video Limited
• Original Assignee: Pacific Pay Video Limited
• Inventors: Yazolino, Lauren F., Leung, Ming S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Murrell, Jeffrey S.
• Application Number:
  US08/090,507
• Time in Patent Office: 364 Days
• Field of Search: 358/86, 358/188, 358/194.1, 359/142, 359/146, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 455/180.1, 455/4.1, 455/6.2
• US Class Current: 348/734
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/32 Arrangements for monitoring conditions of receiving stations, e.g. malfunction or breakdown of receiving stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/43 for identifying broadcast channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/60 for the sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems

Abstract

A cable television system provides television signals in multiple predefined television signal formats. Each television has a multi-standard receiver for receiving television signals in those predefined television signal formats. Hidden behind each television, or elsewhere out of view of the user, is a converter coupling the respective television to transmission cable. The only connection from the converter to the television is a cable connected to the television'"'"'s cable or antenna input port. Each television includes a sensor for receiving wireless command signals. The television'"'"'s control circuitry ingores wireless command signals not in a first defined set. The converter includes a sensor for receiving a second defined set of wireless command signals. The converter'"'"'s sensor is preferably located near or on the housing of the television. The converter'"'"'s controller ignores wireless command signals not in the second defined set. The converter'"'"'s controller responds to wireless channel selection commands by tuning the frequency converter to a respective television channel and/or by transmitting pay-per-view requests to the controller at the head end of the system. A remote controller signal transmitter includes a memory table that stores data representing the commands and signal formats to use when transmitting wireless commands. Some user commands are transmitted as wireless commands to the television, other user commands are transmitted as wireless commands to the converter and at least one user command is transmitted as wireless commands to both the television and the converter.

Claims

1. Cable television apparatus, comprising:

a television signal converter including;

a frequency channel converter that receives a multiplicity of television signals in different frequency bands and outputs any selected one of said multiplicity of television signals on a predefined frequency band;

a first sensor for receiving wireless command signals;

a first controller coupled to the frequency channel converter and said second sensor, said second controller responding only to a first predefined set of wireless commands, said first controller responding to wireless converter channel selection commands by selecting one of said multiplicity of television signals to be output by said frequency channel converter;

a television having;

an on/off switch for turning the television on and off;

a tuner coupled to an input signal port;

a second sensor for receiving wireless command signals;

a second controller coupled to the on/off switch, tuner and sensor, said second controller responding only to a second predefined set of wireless commands received by said sensor that are distinct from said first predefined set of wireless commands, said second controller responding to wireless on/off commands received by said sensor by toggling said on/off switch, said controller further responding to wireless TV channel selection commands received by said sensor by sending corresponding channel selection signals to said tuner;

a remote control transmitter including;

a user interface for selecting user commands from a predefined set of user commands;

a memory table storing for each command in said predefined set of user commands at least one wireless command to transmit in response to selection of said each command; and

a transmitter coupled to said user interface and said memory table that responds to on/off user commands by transmitting said wireless on/off command signal and transmitting a predefined one of said wireless converter channel selection commands that selects a predefined one of said multiplicity of television signals to be output by said frequency channel converter; and

that responds to channel selection user commands by transmitting corresponding wireless converter channel selection commands;

whereby both said television and said television signal converter respond to wireless commands from said remote control transmitter.

2. The cable television apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first sensor for said television signal converter is positioned proximate said television so that both said first and second sensors receive the wireless commands transmitted by said remote control signal transmitter.

3. The cable television apparatus of claim 1, wherein said user interface includes volume control keys and said remote control transmitter transmits, in response to activation of said volume control keys, wireless volume control commands that are included only in said second predefined set of wireless commands.

4. The cable television apparatus of claim 1, wherein said user interface includes numeric keys and said remote control transmitter transmits, in response to activation of said numeric keys, corresponding wireless commands that are included only in said first predefined set of wireless commands.

5. The cable television apparatus of claim 1, wherein

said wireless TV channel selection commands including one wireless TV channel selection command for commanding said television to tune to a predefined TV channel on said predefined frequency band;

and

said transmitter further responds to on/off user commands by transmitting said one wireless TV channel selection signal.

6. Cable television apparatus, comprising:

a television having;

an on/off switch for turning the television on and off;

a tuner coupled to an input signal port;

a first sensor for receiving wireless command signals;

a first controller coupled to the on/off switch, tuner and sensor, said first controller responding only to wireless commands received by said sensor having a first predefined signal format, said first controller responding to wireless on/off commands received by said sensor having said first predefined signal format by toggling said on/off switch, said controller further responding to wireless TV channel selection commands received by said sensor having said first predefined signal format by sending corresponding channel selection signals to said tuner;

a television signal converter including;

a frequency channel converter that receives a multiplicity of television signals in different frequency bands and outputs any selected one of said multiplicity of television signals on a predefined frequency band;

a second sensor for receiving wireless command signals;

a second controller coupled to the frequency channel converter and said second sensor, said second controller responding only to wireless commands received by said second sensor having a second predefined signal format which is distinct from said first predefined signal format, said second controller responding to wireless converter channel selection commands having said second predefined signal format by selecting one of said multiplicity of television signals to be output by said frequency channel converter; and

a remote control transmitter including;

a user interface for selecting user commands from a predefined set of user commands;

a memory table storing for each command in said predefined set of user commands at least one wireless command to transmit in response to selection of said each command, said memory table storing, for each wireless command, data representing (A) which of said first and second signal formats to use when transmitting said wireless command and (B) said wireless command; and

a transmitter coupled to said user interface and said memory table that responds to on/off user commands by transmitting said wireless on/off command signal having said first predefined signal format and transmitting a predefined one of said wireless converter channel selection commands having said second predefined signal format so as to select a predefined one of said multiplicity of television signals to be output by said frequency channel converter; and

that responds to channel selection user commands by transmitting corresponding wireless converter channel selection commands having said second predefined signal format;

whereby both said television and said television signal converter respond to wireless commands from said remote control transmitter.

7. The cable television apparatus of claim 6, wherein

said wireless TV channel selection commands including one wireless TV channel selection command having said first predefined signal format for commanding said television to tune to a predefined TV channel on said predefined frequency band;

and

said transmitter further responds to on/off user commands by transmitting said one wireless TV channel selection signal.

8. The cable television apparatus of claim 6, wherein said sensor for said television signal converter is positioned proximate said television so that both sensors receive the wireless commands transmitted by said remote control signal transmitter.

9. The cable television apparatus of claim 6, wherein said user interface includes volume control keys and said remote control transmitter transmits volume control commands, in response to activation of said volume control keys, having said first predefined signal format for use only by said television.

10. The cable television apparatus of claim 6, wherein said user interface includes numeric keys and said remote control transmitter transmits, in response to activation of said numeric keys, corresponding commands having said first predefined signal format for use only by said television.