Remote control method and system using one remote controller to control more than one apparatus

• US 5,631,652 A
• Filed: 05/04/1995
• Issued: 05/20/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Sang-su
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US08/433,641
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.24, 340/870.25, 340/870.72, 341/176
• US Class Current: 341/176
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 9/06 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. light
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/205 with control bus for exchanging commands between units
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence

Abstract

A remote control method and apparatus for controlling more than one apparatus using one remote control. The method includes the steps of: (a) storing a menu for controlling the plurality of AV apparatuses, the menu being categorized into a main menu level, a sub-menu level and a controlling menu level, and coding a signal corresponding to each of the menu levels; (b) displaying one of the menu levels stored in step (a) on a display device; (c) selecting one of the menu items from the level displayed in step (b); (d) transmitting the signal corresponding to the menu item selected in step (c) to a receiver of one of the AV apparatuses determined by recognizing the menu item selected in step (c) and generating the code of the corresponding menu item stored in step (a); and (e) executing the menu item selected in step (c) in response to the signal transmitted in step (d).

Claims

1. A method which enables a plurality of AV apparatuses to be remotely controlled using only one remote controller, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) storing a menu for controlling said plurality of AV apparatuses, said menu being categorized into a main menu level, a sub menu level and a regulating menu level, and coding a signal corresponding to each of said menu levels;

(b) displaying said main menu level on a predetermined display device;

(c) selecting a first menu entry from said main menu level displayed in said step (b);

(d) displaying the sub menu associated with the main menu entry selected in step (c);

(e) selecting a second menu entry from said sub menu displayed in step (d);

(f) displaying the regulating menu associated with the second menu entry selected in step (e);

(g) selecting a third menu entry from said regulating menu displayed in step (f);

(h) transmitting a signal corresponding to the third menu entry selected in said step (g) to a receiver of said one of the plurality of AV apparatuses determined by recognizing the third menu entry selected in said step (g) and generating the code of the corresponding menu entry stored in said step (a); and

(i) executing a function corresponding to the menu entry selected in said step (g) in response to the signal transmitted in said step (h).

2. A remote control system for remote-controlling a plurality of AV apparatuses with one remote controller, the remote control system comprising:

a remote controller having;

a menu selecting key for displaying a menu on a display device, said menu being categorized into a main menu representing each of said plurality of AV apparatuses, a sub menu of the main menu and a regulating menu of the sub menu;

cursor moving means for moving a cursor to select and adjust the main menu, the sub menu and the regulating menu displayed on the display device;

an enter key for executing a menu in which the cursor is currently located;

a plurality of keys including said menu selecting key and said enter key; and

first transmitting means for transmitting signals corresponding to each of said plurality of keys and for transmitting signals corresponding to said cursor moving means;

a remote control repeater having;

first receiving means for receiving one of the signals corresponding to each of said plurality of keys and the signals corresponding to said cursor moving means transmitted from first transmitting means of said remote controller;

displaying means for displaying the main menu corresponding to each of said plurality of AV apparatuses, the sub menu of the main menu and the regulating menu of the sub menu in response to a user touching the menu selecting key of said remote controller, and for displaying the cursor;

memory means for storing a plurality of code signals after coding each of said plurality of code signals to respectively correspond to each of the main menu, the sub menu, and the regulating menu;

second transmitting means for transmitting the corresponding code signal of one of the main menu, the sub menu, and the regulating menu in which the cursor is located to a corresponding AV apparatus in accordance with a user touching the enter key of said remote controller; and

control means for controlling operations of recognizing said one of the signals corresponding to each of said plurality of keys and the signals corresponding to said cursor moving means received by said first receiver, displaying at least one of the main menu, the sub menu, the regulating menu and the cursor in response to the recognizing, storing the plurality of code signals in the memory means, and transmitting the corresponding code signal via second transmitting means; and

wherein each of said plurality of AV apparatuses has a second receiving means for receiving the corresponding code signal transmitted from said remote control repeater.

3. A remote control system for remote-controlling a plurality of AV apparatuses with one remote controller, the remote control system comprising:

a remote controller comprising;

a) a menu selecting key for causing a menu to be displayed, said menu being categorized into a main menu representing each of said plurality of AV apparatuses, a sub menu of the main menu and a regulating menu of the sub menu;

b) cursor moving means for moving a cursor to select an entry from the displayed main menu, the displayed sub menu and the displayed regulating menu;

c) an enter key for executing a menu in which the cursor is currently located;

d) a plurality of additional keys including said menu selecting key and said enter key; and

e) first transmitting means for transmitting signals corresponding to each of said plurality of keys and for transmitting signals corresponding to said cursor moving means;

a remote control repeater comprising;

a) first receiving means for receiving the signal transmitted from first transmitting means of said remote controller;

b) displaying means for displaying the main menu corresponding to each of said plurality of AV apparatuses, the sub menu of the main menu and the regulating menu of the sub menu in response to a user touching the menu selecting key of said remote controller, and for displaying the cursor;

c) memory means for storing a code signal after coding the code signal corresponding to each of the main menu, the sub menu, and the regulating menu;

d) second transmitting means for transmitting the corresponding code of one of the main menu, the sub menu, and the regulating menu in which the cursor is located;

e) control means for controlling operations of recognizing the signal received by said first receiver, displaying at least one of the menu, the sub menu, the regulating menu and the cursor, storing the code signal in the memory means, and transmitting the corresponding code signal via second transmitting means;

wherein said remote control system further comprises;

third receiving means for receiving the corresponding code transmitted from said second transmitting means of the remote control repeater; and

signal converting means for converting the corresponding code received by said third receiving means and supplying the converted signal to said first transmitting means which transmits said converted signal to a corresponding AV apparatus.

4. A remote control system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said signal converting means converts the signal received by said third receiving means to a signal which is substantially free from interference by the signal transmitted from said second transmitting means of said remote control repeater.