Apparatus and methods for generating codes for controlling appliances from a remote controller

• US 6,204,796 B1
• Filed: 03/09/1998
• Issued: 03/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gemstar Development Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gemstar Development Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Chan, Philip W., Sin, Kwong Sang, Ng, Yee Kong
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edwards, Jr., Timothy
• Application Number:
  US09/036,852
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 341/176, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 348/734, 345/169, 379/102.01, 379/102.03, 455/557
• US Class Current: 341/176
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for generating codes for controlling appliances from a remote controller. One method includes the steps of entering a compressed pointer for accessing a stored protocol and for accessing stored key data corresponding to appliance command keys on the remote controller, decompressing the entered pointer, and storing the decompressed pointer, entering a compressed protocol for generating codes for controlling an appliance, the protocol comprising a pattern fragment for a zero and a one, a zero timing, a one timing, and a carrier frequency, decompressing the entered protocol, storing the decompressed protocol, entering compressed key data, the key data corresponding to appliance command keys on the remote controller, decompressing the entered key data, storing the decompressed key data, accessing the protocol and the key data using the pointer, and generating a code using the pattern fragment for a zero and a one, the zero timing, the one timing, the carrier frequency, and the key data.

Claims

1. A method for generating codes for controlling appliances from a remote controller, the method comprising the steps of:

storing in ROM a protocol for generating codes for controlling an appliance, the protocol comprising a pattern fragment for a zero and a one, a zero timing, a one timing, and a carrier frequency;

storing in ROM key data corresponding to appliance command keys on the remote controller;

entering a compressed pointer for accessing a stored protocol and for accessing stored key data corresponding to appliance command keys on the remote controller;

storing in RAM the entered pointer;

decompressing the stored pointer;

accessing the protocol and the key data in ROM using the pointer; and

generating a code using the pattern fragment for a zero and a one, the zero timing, the one timing, the carrier frequency, and the key data.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of generating a code using the pattern fragment for a zero and a one, the zero timing, the one timing, the carrier frequency, and the key data further comprises the steps of:

generating a form for a zero and a form for a one using the pattern fragment for a zero and a one, the zero timing, and the one timing;

generating a message using the fonnat, the zero form, the one form, and the key data; and

mixing the carrier frequency with the message.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of entering a compressed pointer comprises the step of using a keypad.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of decompressing a pointer comprises the step of using a microcomputer.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the pattern fragment for a zero and a one comprises a pattern fragment pointer and the step of generating a code comprises a step of using the pattern fragment pointer for accessing a pattern fragment for a zero and a one from a set of stored pattern fragments.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the stored protocol further comprises a format for generating codes and wherein the step of generating the code using the pattern fragment for a zero and a one, the zero timing, the one timing, the carrier frequency, and the key data comprises the step of generating the codes using the format.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the stored protocol further comprises a format pointer and the step of generating the code comprises the step of accessing a format from a set of stored formats.

8. A method for generating remote control codes which are transmitted by for controlling appliances from a remote control, the method comprising the steps of:

storing in ROM, for each of a plurality of protocol building block types, a plurality of protocol building blocks for generating remote control codes for controlling an appliance;

storing in ROM key data corresponding to appliance command keys on the remote controller;

entering a progrmming code representative of one of the protocol building blocks for each of the protocol building block types, and stored key data corresponding to appliance command keys on the remote controller;

storing in RAM a pointer to each of the protocol building blocks represented by the programming code and a pointer to the key data represented by the programming code

accessing the protocol building blocks and the key data in ROM using the pointers; and

generating a remote control code using the accessed protocol building blocks and key data.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the protocol building block types includes pattern fragments and formats for generating remote control codes.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the programming code is further representative of zero timing, one timing and carrier frequency for generating remote control codes.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the programming code is a compressed code.

12. A remote control for tramitting remote control codes for controlling appliances, the remote control comprising:

a ROM storing, (a) for each of a plurality of protocol building block types, a plurality of protocol building blocks for generating remote control codes for controlling an appliance and (b) sets of key data corresponding to appliance command keys on the remote control;

means for receiving a programming code representative of (a) one of the protocol building blocks for each of the protocol building block types and (b) key data corresponding to appliance command keys on the remote controller

a RAM storing a pointer to each of the protocol building blocks represented by the programming code and a pointer to the key data represented by the programming code; and

means for generating a remote control code using the protocol building blocks and the key data in ROM using the pointers in RAM.

13. The remote control of claim 12 wherein the protocol building block types includes pattern fragments and formats for generating remote control codes.

14. The remote control of claim 12 wherein the programming code is further representative of zero timing, one timing and carrier frequency for generating remote control codes.

15. The remote control of claim 12 wherein the programming code is a compressed code.