Remote infrared password key system and methods for controlling the same

• US 6,088,143 A
• Filed: 01/23/1998
• Issued: 07/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Bang, Il-Soon
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascal, Leslie
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIEU, VU T
• Application Number:
  US09/012,691
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 359/142, 359/148, 340/825.31, 379/357
• US Class Current: 398/106
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1141 One-way transmission

Abstract

A remote infrared password key system teaches entering a password with a remote control, conveniently entering a password by pressing one key utilizing a password hot key which also eliminates the need to store the password, and preventing unwanted disclosure of the password, by using a remote infrared password key system. The remote infrared password key system uses a switch for selecting a direct transfer mode or a password input mode and sending out a mode signal; a controller for receiving the mode signal from the switch and sending out a mode change signal; a key selector for entering a password and outputting a password signal; a password signal director for receiving the mode change signal and the password signal and directing the password signal for direct transmittal if the direct transfer mode has been selected by the switch or for indirect transmittal if the password input mode has been selected by the switch; a memory for storing the password signal outputted by the password signal director for indirect transmittal when the password input mode has been selected; a password hot key for outputting the password signal stored in the memory for transmittal; and a transmitter for receiving the password signal outputted by the password hot key is or the password signal directed for direct transmittal by the password signal director under the direct transfer mode and then transmitting the received password signal to the computer.

Claims

1. A remote infrared password key input system, comprising:

a switch selecting one of a direct transfer mode or a password input mode and for sending out a mode signal;

a controller receiving the mode signal from the switch and for sending out a mode change signal;

a key selector enabling entry of a password and outputting a password signal;

a password signal director receiving the mode change signal and the password signal, and directing the password signal for direct transmittal when the direct transfer mode has been selected by the switch and for indirect transmittal when the password input mode has been selected by the switch;

a memory storing the password signal outputted by the password signal director for indirect transmittal when the password input mode has been selected;

a password hot key outputting the password signal stored in the memory for transmittal; and

a transmitter receiving one of the password signal outputted by the password hot key or the password signal directed for direct transmittal by the password signal director under the direct transfer mode and then transmitting the received password signal to the computer.

2. The remote infrared password key input system according to claim 1, further comprising a memory selector for receiving the password signal directed by the password signal director for indirect transmittal and for selecting memory space where the password signal is to be stored and for outputting the password signal.

3. The remote infrared password key input system according to claim 2, further comprising a password counter for receiving the password signal outputted by the memory selector and for counting the number of letters in the password signal and for outputting the password signal to the memory.

4. The remote infrared password key input system according to claim 3, said key selector comprising a key matrix having a plurality of letters.

5. The remote infrared password key input system according to claim 3, said key selector comprising:

a seven segment display for displaying letters which are chosen by a user;

a letter converter for changing the letter being displayed on the seven segment display;

a selector for selecting the letter being displayed on the seven segment display; and

a controller for displaying on the seven segment display letters chosen by the letter converter.

6. The remote infrared password key input system according to claim 1, said key selector comprising a key matrix having a plurality of letters.

7. The remote infrared password key input system according to claim 1, said key selector comprising:

a seven segment display for displaying letters which are chosen by a user;

a letter converter for changing the letter being displayed on the seven segment display;

a selector for selecting the letter being displayed on the seven segment display; and

a controller for displaying on the seven segment display letters chosen by the letter converter.

8. A remote infrared password key system control method, comprising the steps of:

determining whether a password hot key has been entered and outputting a stored password signal in a memory for transmittal to a computer if the password hot key has been entered;

determining whether a direct transfer mode has been selected if the password hot key has not been entered;

directly transmitting a password signal entered by an input means for transmittal to the computer if the direct transfer mode has been selected and the hot key has not been entered;

storing a password signal entered by an input means in a memory if both the direct transfer mode and the password hot key have not been entered; and

transmitting the stored password signal for transmitting to the computer by entering the password hot key.

9. A remote infrared password key system control method, comprising the steps of:

determining whether a computer is in a transfer mode;

determining if a password hot key has been entered if the computer is in the transfer mode;

outputting a password signal previously stored in a memory for transmittal to the computer if the password hot key has been entered;

directly transmitting a password being inputted by an input means for transmittal to the computer if the password hot key has not been entered;

storing a password being inputted by an input means in a memory when the mode is not in the transfer mode; and

changing the mode to the transfer mode after storing the password being inputted by an input means to a memory and returning to the transfer mode determining mode step.