Apparatus and method for confirming remote control command response

• US 5,945,921 A
• Filed: 07/28/1995
• Issued: 08/31/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Jeon, In-Taek, Seo, Seong-Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BEAULIEU, YONEL
• Application Number:
  US08/508,688
• Time in Patent Office: 1,495 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/825.24, 340/825.25, 340/825.22, 348/734, 235/375, 235/383, 359/142, 359/148
• US Class Current: 340/12.55
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

A remote control command response confirming apparatus which includes a remote control command reception device for performing an operation corresponding to a received command signal in response to reception of a first remote control command signal, and for transmitting a second remote control command signal in response to the received remote control command signal. The apparatus also includes a remote controller having at least one or more operable function keys and an light emitting diode (LED) lamp for each function key, for transmitting to the remote control command reception device, the first control command signal according a selected function key, and for turning off the lamp corresponding to the key in response to reception of the second remote control command signal.

Claims

1. A remote control command response confirming apparatus comprising:

a remote control command reception device for performing an operation in response to reception of a first remote control command signal and transmitting a second remote control command signal in response to the received remote control command signal; and

a remote controller having an operable function key and an indicator for transmitting to said remote control command reception device said first control command signal according to selection of said function key and controlling said indicator for said function key in response to reception of said second remote control command signal; and

wherein said second remote control command signal is identical to said first remote control command signal, and wherein if the second remote control command signal is received by the remote controller the indicator is controlled to indicate that the remote control command reception device has accurately received the first remote control command signal.

2. The remote control command response confirming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said indicator is arranged in a lower part of said function key.

3. The remote control command response confirming apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said indicator is an LED lamp.

4. The remote control command response confirming apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said indicator is controlled to turn off said LED lamp in response to reception of said second remote control command signal.

5. A remote control command response confirming apparatus comprising:

a remote control command reception device comprising;

a receiving unit for receiving a remote control command signal, and for converting said remote control command signal into an electrical remote control command signal; and

a first controller unit for receiving said electrical remote control command signal, and outputting a second remote control command signal to an operating device, and for outputting a response command signal, wherein said second remote control command signal and said response command signal are both based on said electrical remote control command signal; and

a response transmitting unit for receiving said response command signal from said first controller unit, converting said response command signal to a transmission response command signal based on said remote control command signal, and transmitting said transmission response command signal; and

a remote controller comprising;

a transmitting unit for converting said remote control command signal, and for transmitting a converted remote control command signal to said receiving unit of said remote control command reception device;

a response receiving unit for receiving said transmission response command signal from said response transmitting unit, converting said transmission response command signal into response data, and outputting said response data to a second controller unit, wherein data of said response command signal is identical to data of said remote control command signal transmitted from the remote controller; and

an indicator indicating, in response to a response command signal generated by said second controller, accurate reception of said electrical remote controller command signal by the first controller unit.

6. A remote control command response confirming apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a control input unit having at least one key.

7. A remote control command response confirming apparatus of claim 6, wherein said key is used to generate a particular remote control command signal.

8. A remote control command response confirming apparatus of claim 6, wherein said key contains a light-emitting diode that is turned off when said response data indicates that a remote control command is accurately received.

9. A remote control command response confirming apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said second controller unit scans said control input unit to determine whether a key of said control input unit has been selected.

10. A remote control command response confirming apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said second controller unit determines whether response data corresponding to said remote control command signal has been received by reading a signal output from the response receiving unit.

11. A remote control command response confirming apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said second controller unit includes a program for driving a light-emitting diode in response to said response data from said response receiving unit.

12. A remote control command response confirming apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said program turns off said light-emitting diode when the response command signal is received.

13. A remote control command response confirming apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said first controller unit includes a memory which includes a program for generating response data corresponding to said received remote control command signal.

14. A remote control command response confirming apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said first controller unit scans the output of said receiving unit to detect whether the remote control command signal is received.

15. A remote control command response confirming apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said response command signal is identical to said remote control command signal from said first controller unit.

16. A method for confirming a response of a remote control response confirming apparatus having a remote controller for transmitting a remote control command signal corresponding to selection of a function key on a keypad and for displaying a remote control state by driving an indicator for indicating reception of a response command signal, and a remote control reception device for performing an operation corresponding to the received remote control command signal and transmitting said response command signal to said remote controller, said method comprising:

(a) outputting a remote control command signal corresponding to a key selected by a user from the remote controller;

(b) outputting a remote control command response signal from the remote control reception device, in response to receipt of said remote control command signal, wherein the remote control command response signal is identical to the remote control command signal; and

(c) driving the indicator corresponding to said selected key in response to reception of the response command signal, to indicate the remote control reception device accurately received the remote control command signal.