Methods and apparatus for communication program data signals via a remote control unit

• US 5,455,570 A
• Filed: 10/07/1994
• Issued: 10/03/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta LLC (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alex M. Cook, Curt M. Kuban, Emory L. Mcginty, Jeffrey C. Ting, Luis A. Rovira, Rueenguang A. Shyu
• Inventors: Rovira, Luis A., Cook, Alex M., Kuban, Curt M., Ting, Jeffrey C., McGinty, Emory L., Shyu, Rueenguang A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Application Number:
  US08/320,107
• Time in Patent Office: 361 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.22, 340/825.25, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/825.37, 455/4.2, 455/6.2, 359/43, 348/734, 371/37.2
• US Class Current: 340/3.71
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/0025 in a remote control unit remote control tuning in general H03J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 2200/24 Remote control device with display showing program content
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18523 Satellite systems for providing broadcast service to terrestrial stations, i.e. broadcast satellite service arrangements specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving H04H40/90; picture transmission via satellite H04N1/00103; television transmission via satellite H04N7/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/28 Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/63 to plural spots in a confined site, e.g. MATV [Master Antenna Television]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/78 CATV [Community Antenna Television] systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/79 using downlink of the CATV systems, e.g. audio broadcast via CATV network
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/81 combined with telephone network over which the broadcast is continuously available
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/84 combined with power distribution network
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/91 broadcasting computer programmes
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/23 using cryptography, e.g. encryption, authentication, key distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/74 using programme related information, e.g. title, composer or interpreter
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4221 Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42225 characterized by types of remote control, e.g. universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4363 : Adapting the video stream to a specific local network, e.g. a Bluetooth® network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 : comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 : Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 : Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 : Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 : Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A remote control system including a hand held remote control unit with an alphanumeric information display, for controlling and communicating with a first controlled device, such as a digital music tuner connected to a community antenna television (CATV) cable, and for controlling a selected one of a plurality of second controlled devices, such as CATV set-top units, VCRs, or television sets. A first, high speed, error free display information communications protocol is utilized for transmitting program content or other information from a device, such as the CATV-connected music tuner, to the remote control unit for display. A second or control communications protocol is utilized by the remote control unit for controlling the first controlled device and a selected one of the second controlled devices. The CATV cable-connected music tuner utilizes the 44.1 kHz Compact Disk (CD) clock signal embedded in digital music signals provided via the cable to derive clocking signals for implementing the display information communications protocol, resulting in an efficient, low cost electronic design.

Claims

1. An improved, hand-held remote control apparatus for communicating with and selectively controlling at least one remotely located device, said at least one remotely located device being operative to carry out controllable function upon receipt of a command delivered by a control signal from the remote control apparatus, comprising:

a receiver responsive to a display information signal transmitted by said at least one remotely located device, said display information signal comprising alphanumeric character information;

a keypad circuit receiving an operator input corresponding to a selected command for delivery to said at least one remotely located device and providing a command signal;

a transmitter transmitting a control signal corresponding to said selected command to said at least one remotely located device in response to said command signal; and

a display displaying alpha-numeric characters associated with said display information signal, and providing an indication that the remote control is waiting for display information to be received.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said display provides said indication in response to the command signal.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said display includes the LCD that displays one or more symbols to indicate that the remote control is waiting for information to be received while data is being transmitted to said at least one remotely located device.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said display displays an alpha-numeric symbol to indicate that the remote display control is waiting for display information to be received.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said display displays said alpha-numeric characters after displaying one or more symbols in response to the alphanumeric character information being received.