Remote controller for controlling turning appliances on and off

• US 5,539,391 A
• Filed: 09/22/1994
• Issued: 07/23/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gemstar Development Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Yuen, Henry C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILSON JR, WILLIAM HALL
• Application Number:
  US08/310,937
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.72, 340/825.24, 340/825.22, 348/734, 348/335, 307/141, 359/148
• US Class Current: 340/12.53
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23039 Remote programmer
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23075 Control unit can switch load on off or can also go into program mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/114 Indoor or close-range type systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/63 Generation or supply of power specially adapted for television receivers

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling turning on and off appliances. The method for operating a remote controller includes the steps of selecting a first one of a plurality of appliances including a television to control, selecting to send a power toggle command, measuring a time between a user selecting a first one of a plurality of appliances to control and the user selecting to send a power toggle command, comparing the measured time to a predetermined time, and sending the power toggle command to the television, if the measured time is greater than the predetermined time, otherwise, if the measured time is less than the predetermined time, sending the power toggle command to the selected first one of a plurality of appliances to control.

Claims

1. A remote controller comprising:

first means for selecting a first one of a plurality of appliances including a television to control;

second means for selecting to send a power toggle command;

means for measuring a time between a user selecting a first one of a plurality of appliances to control using the first means for selecting and the user selecting to send a power toggle command using the second means for selecting;

means for comparing the measured time with a predetermined time; and

means for sending the power toggle command to the television, if the measured time is greater than the predetermined time, otherwise, if the measured time is less than the predetermined time, sending the power toggle command to the selected first one of a plurality of appliances to control.

2. The remote controller of claim 1 wherein the first means for selecting a first one of a plurality of appliances including a television to control comprises a plurality of keys on the remote controller for selecting one of the appliances to control.

3. The remote controller of claim 1 wherein the second means for selecting to send a power toggle command comprises a power key on the remote controller.

4. The remote controller of claim 1 wherein the means for sending the power toggle command to the television, if the measured time is greater than a predetermined time, otherwise, if the measured time is less than the predetermined time, sending the power toggle command to the selected first one of a plurality of appliances to control comprises an infrared transmitter.

5. The remote controller of claim 4 wherein the predetermined time is approximately between 1 to 5 seconds.

6. A method for operating a remote controller comprising the steps of:

selecting a first one of a plurality of appliances including a television to control;

selecting to send a power toggle command;

measuring a time between a user selecting a first one of a plurality of appliances to control and the user selecting to send a power toggle command;

comparing the measured time to a predetermined time; and

sending the power toggle command to the television, if the measured time is greater than the predetermined time, otherwise, if the measured time is less than the predetermined time, sending the power toggle command to the selected first one of a plurality of appliances to control.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of selecting a first one of a plurality of appliances including a television to control comprises the step of selecting one of a plurality of keys on the remote controller for selecting one of the appliances to control.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of selecting to send a power toggle command comprises the step of pressing a power key on the remote controller.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of sending the power toggle command to the television, if the measured time is greater than a predetermined time, otherwise, if the measured time is less than the predetermined time, sending the power toggle command to the selected first one of a plurality of appliances to control comprises the step of sending the command via an infrared transmitter.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the predetermined time is approximately between 1 to 5 seconds.

11. A remote controller comprising:

first means for selecting a first one of a plurality of appliances including a television to control;

second means for selecting to send a power ON command;

means for measuring a time between a user selecting a first one of a plurality of appliances to control using the first means for selecting and the user selecting to send a power ON command using the second means for selecting;

means for comparing the measured time with a predetermined time; and

means for sending the power ON command to the television, if the measured time is greater than the predetermined time, otherwise, if the measured time is less than the predetermined time, sending the power ON command to the selected first one of a plurality of appliances to control.

12. The remote controller of claim 11 wherein the first means for selecting a first one of a plurality of appliances including a television to control comprises a plurality of keys on the remote controller for selecting one of the appliances to control.

13. The remote controller of claim 11 wherein the second means for selecting to send a power ON command comprises a power ON key on the remote controller.

14. The remote controller of claim 11 wherein the means for sending the power ON command to the television, if the measured time is greater than a predetermined time, otherwise, if the measured time is less than the predetermined time, sending the power ON command to the selected first one of a plurality of appliances to control comprises an infrared transmitter.

15. The remote controller of claim 14 wherein the predetermined time is approximately between 1 to 5 seconds.

16. A method for operating a remote controller comprising the steps of:

selecting a first one of a plurality of appliances including a television to control;

selecting to send a power ON command;

measuring a time between a user selecting a first one of a plurality of appliances to control and the user selecting to send a power ON command;

comparing the measured time to a predetermined time; and

sending the power ON command to the television, if the measured time is greater than the predetermined time, otherwise, if the measured time is less than the predetermined time, sending the power ON command to the selected first one of a plurality of appliances to control.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of selecting a first one of a plurality of appliances including a television to control comprises the step of selecting one of a plurality of keys on the remote controller for selecting one of the appliances to control.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of selecting to send a power ON command comprises the step of pressing a power ON key on the remote controller.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of sending the power ON command to the television, if the measured time is greater than a predetermined time, otherwise, if the measured time is less than the predetermined time, sending the power ON command to the selected first one of a plurality of appliances to control comprises the step of sending the command via an infrared transmitter.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the predetermined time is approximately between 1 to 5 seconds.

21. A remote controller comprising:

first means for selecting a first one of a plurality of appliances including a television to control;

second means for selecting to send a power OFF command;

means for measuring a time between a user selecting a first one of a plurality of appliances to control using the first means for selecting and the user selecting to send a power OFF command using the second means for selecting;

means for comparing the measured time with a predetermined time; and

means for sending the power OFF command to the television, if the measured time is greater than the predetermined time, otherwise, if the measured time is less than the predetermined time, sending the power OFF command to the selected first one of a plurality of appliances to control.

22. The remote controller of claim 21 wherein the first means for selecting a first one of a plurality of appliances including a television to control comprises a plurality of keys on the remote controller for selecting one of the appliances to control.

23. The remote controller of claim 21 wherein the second means for selecting to send a power OFF command comprises a power OFF key on the remote controller.

24. The remote controller of claim 21 wherein the means for sending the power OFF command to the television, if the measured time is greater than a predetermined time, otherwise, if the measured time is less than the predetermined time, sending the power OFF command to the selected first one of a plurality of appliances to control comprises an infrared transmitter.

25. The remote controller of claim 24 wherein the predetermined time is approximately between 1 to 5 seconds.

26. A method for operating a remote controller comprising the steps of:

selecting a first one of a plurality of appliances including a television to control;

selecting to send a power OFF command;

measuring a time between a user selecting a first one of a plurality of appliances to control and the user selecting to send a power OFF command;

comparing the measured time to a predetermined time; and

sending the power OFF command to the television, if the measured time is greater than the predetermined time, otherwise, if the measured time is less than the predetermined time, sending the power OFF command to the selected first one of a plurality of appliances to control.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the step of selecting a first one of a plurality of appliances including a television to control comprises the step of selecting one of a plurality of keys on the remote controller for selecting one of the appliances to control.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein the step of selecting to send a power OFF command comprises the step of pressing a power OFF key on the remote controller.

29. The method of claim 26 wherein the step of sending the power OFF command to the television, if the measured time is greater than a predetermined time, otherwise, if the measured time is less than the predetermined time, sending the power OFF command to the selected first one of a plurality of appliances to control comprises the step of sending the command via an infrared transmitter.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the predetermined time is approximately between 1 to 5 seconds.