Universal remote control program scheduling system

• US 5,412,377 A
• Filed: 02/18/1994
• Issued: 05/02/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Benjamin F. Evans, Jerry J. Heep
• Original Assignee: Benjamin F. Evans, Jerry J. Heep
• Inventors: Evans, Benjamin F., Heep, Jerry J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holloway, III, Edwin C.
• Application Number:
  US08/198,690
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.22, 340/825.24, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/825.56, 340/309.15, 340/309.15, 340/309.4, 340/309.6, 455/151.2, 455/352, 455/171.1, 455/231, 455/151.4, 359/42, 359/46, 359/48, 348/734, 341/176, 364/143-145
• US Class Current: 340/4.35
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/106 for selecting a programme, variable or parameter
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23039 Remote programmer
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23077 Reconfigurable remote programmer, learn control signals for different devices
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25192 Infrared
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25403 Compare real clock time with programmed time, if equal execute next command
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/023 remotely controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control

Abstract

A method and apparatus for scheduling operating sessions to be performed by a group of remotely controlled devices. A remote controller is used to operate the remotely controlled devices at selected times scheduled by the user. The operating sessions may be programmed to be performed on a daily or weekly basis without continued reprogramming by the user.

Claims

1. A handheld controller for transmitting instructions to plurality of remotely controllable devices and for receiving and storing a schedule of at least one operating event input by a user to be executed at a preselected time, the remote controller comprising:

(a) a keyboard including a plurality of keys for inputting instructions from a user;

(b) a memory for storing instructions to be performed by said remote controller;

(c) a multiple-day function flag associated with said at least one operating event for indicating whether said at least one operating event is to be executed on more than one day at said preselected time;

(d) a multiple-week function flag associated with said at least one operating event for indicating whether said at least one operating event is to be executed only once or weekly;

(e) a clock for tracking real time;

(f) comparison means connected to said clock, said keyboard, and said memory for comparing a current time tracked by said clock to said preselected time stored in said memory and for issuing a start signal when said current time is equal to said preselected time;

(g) means for wireless transmission of a particular set of instructions to said plurality of remotely controllable devices in response to said start signal to initiate execution of said at least one operating event;

(h) means for detecting if said multiple-day function flag is set and for repeating said at least one operating event at said preselected time only on weekdays if said multiple-day function flag is set to a first state and repeating said at least one operating event at said preselected time only on weekend days if said multiple-day function flag is set to a second state; and

(i) means for detecting if said multiple-week function flag is set and for executing said at least one operating event weekly if said multiple-week function flag is set and executing said at least one operating event only once if said multiple-week function flag is not set.

2. The remote controller of claim 1 further including means for resetting the multiple-day function flag after the particular operating session is repeated a selected number of times.

3. The remote controller of claim 1 wherein the memory comprises a RAM for storing temporary instructions learned by said hand held controller, data, and the schedule of operating sessions created by the user to be performed by said hand held controller.

4. The remote controller of claim 1 wherein the memory comprises ROM for storing permanent instructions to be performed by said hand held controller in response to commands input by the user via the keyboard.

5. A reconfigurable universal remote controller capable of learning and storing control signals for controlling a plurality of remotely controllable devices, such that the control signals are transmitted by a remote control transmitter associated with one of the plurality of remotely controllable devices and then received and learned by the remote controller, which learned control signals are stored in a signal storage location for later use, and for receiving and storing in the remote controller a schedule of at least one operating event defined by instructions input by a user to be executed at a preselected time, the remote controller comprising:

(a) a keyboard having a plurality of keys for inputting instructions from a user, said instructions specifying at least one selected execution time for said at least one operating event, and a portion of said keys being operable for accessing said stored control signals for output by said controller;

(b) a memory for storing said instructions to be performed by said controller;

(c) a multiple-day function flag associated with said at least one operating event that, when set, signifies that said at least one operating event is to be executed on more than one day at said preselected time,

(d) a multiple-week function flag associated with said at least one operating event for indicating whether said at least one operating event is to be executed only once or weekly;

(e) a clock for tracking real time;

(f) comparison means coupled to said clock, said keyboard, and said memory for comparing a current time stored in said memory and for issuing a start signal when said current time is equal to said at least one selected execution time stored in said memory and for issuing a start signal when said current time is equal to said at least one selected execution time;

(g) means for wireless transmission of a particular set of said instructions stored in said memory to at least one of said plurality of remotely controllable devices in response to said start signal;

(h) means for detecting said state of said multiple-day function flag so that said at least one operating event is automatically repeated by said controller only on week days at said selected execution time if said multiple-day function flag is set to a first state and only on weekend days at said preselected execution time if said multiple-day function flag is set to a second state; and

(i) means for detecting if said multiple-week function flag is set and for executing said at least one operating event weekly if said multiple-week function flag is set and executing said at least one operating event only once if said multiple-week function flag is not set.

6. The invention according to claim 5 further comprising a control signal detector coupled to the control signal storage location for detecting the received control signals.

7. The invention according to claim 5 further comprising a signal decoder coupled to the signal storage location for decoding the received control signals before storage in the signal storage location.

8. A handheld controller for controlling a plurality of remotely controllable devices by transmitting instructions to the plurality of remotely controllable devices and for receiving and storing a schedule of at least one operating event input by a user to be executed at a preselected time, the remote controller comprising:

(a) a user interface for inputting instructions by a user;

(b) a memory for storing instructions to be performed by said remote controller;

(c) a multiple-day function flag that, when set, signifies that said at least one operating event is to be executed on more than one day at said preselected time,

(d) a multiple-week function flag associated with said at least one operating event for indicating whether said at least one operating event is to be executed only once or weekly;

(e) a clock for tracking real time;

(f) a comparator connected to said clock and said memory for comparing a current time tracked by said clock to said preselected time stored in said memory and for issuing a start signal when said current time is equal to said preselected time;

(g) means for wireless transmission of a particular set of said instructions to at least one of said plurality of remotely controllable devices in response to said start signal;

(h) a detector for detecting if said multiple-day function flag is set to indicate week day operation and enabling said remote controller to repeat said at least one operating event only on week days at said preselected time if said multiple-day function flag is set to indicate week day operation and for detecting if said multiple-day function flag is set to indicate weekend operation and enabling said remote controller to repeat said at least one operating event only on weekend days at said preselected time if said multiple-day function flag is set to indicate weekend operation; and

(i) means for detecting if said multiple-week function flag is set and for executing said at least one operating event weekly if said multiple-week function flag is set and otherwise executing said at least one operating event only once.