Remote control with direct TV operation

• US 6,219,109 B1
• Filed: 01/21/1998
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Original Assignee: Evolve Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Raynesford, Steve, Darbee, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Natnael, Palo
• Application Number:
  US09/010,088
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 348/734, 348/10, 348/12, 348/134, 340/825, 340/825.15, 340/825.25, 341/176, 455/5.1
• US Class Current: 348/734
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 the inserted signal being digital

Abstract

The remote control is constructed and arranged for direct TV operation and includes; a keyboard having keys for selecting a television channel; structure and circuitry for coupling a data storage unit or signal source to said remote control; structure and circuitry for retrieving raw data or a video signal from said data storage unit; and, circuitry for directing signals containing raw data or a video signal to a signal receiving device associated with a television set.

Claims

1. A remote control constructed and arranged for direct TV operation and including:

a keyboard having keys for selecting a television channel;

means for coupling a data storage unit to said remote control;

said data storage unit being a CD ROM or DVD player for mounting a compact disc and said coupling means including a serial port in said remote control and a jack or cable extending from the CD ROM or DVD player for coupling with said serial port;

means for retrieving raw data or a video signal, representing a complete video presentation to be displayed and/or broadcast, from said data storage unit;

means for directing signals containing the raw data or the video signal to a signal receiving device associated with a television set for causing the video presentation to be displayed or broadcast.

2. The remote control of claim 1 wherein said data storage unit is a smart card and said means for coupling said smart card to said remote control, includes a smart card receiving slot in said remote control and smart card reading circuitry in said remote control adjacent to said slot and adapted to read said smart card.

3. The remote control of claim 1 including decoding circuitry in said remote control for decoding encoded or encrypted data received from said data storage unit.

4. The remote control of claim 1 combined with said signal receiving device associated with a television set.

5. The remote control of claim 4 wherein said raw data or video signal in said data storage unit is encoded or encrypted.

6. The remote control of claim 5 wherein said raw data or video signal is encoded or encrypted with WINK communications protocol.

7. The remote control of claim 5 wherein said raw data or video signal is encoded or encrypted with ICAP protocol.

8. The remote control of claim 5 wherein said raw data or video signal is encoded or encrypted with MPEG protocol.

9. The remote control of claim 5 wherein said complete video presentation represented by said raw data or video signal is a movie.

10. A remote control constructed and arranged for direct TV operation and including:

a keyboard having keys for selecting a television channel;

a receiver or transceiver mounted in said remote control for receiving raw data or a video signal, representing a complete video presentation to be displayed and/or broadcast, from a tap antenna unit; and

,

means for directing signals contains the raw data or the video signal to a signal receiving device associated with a television set for causing the video presentation to be displayed and/or broadcast.

11. A remote control constructed and arranged for direct TV operation and including:

a keyboard having keys for selecting a television channel;

means for mounting a data storage unit within said remote control;

means for retrieving raw data or a video signal, representing a complete video presentation to be displayed and/or broadcast, from said data storage unit, said data storage unit being a smart card and said means for mounting said smart card within said remote control including a smart card receiving slot in said remote control and smart card reading circuitry in said remote control adjacent to said slot and adapted to read said smart card; and

,

means for directing signals containing the raw data or the video signal to a signal receiving device associated with a television set for causing the video presentation to be displayed or broadcast.

12. The remote control of claim 11 including decoding circuitry in said remote control for decoding encoded or encrypted raw data or video signal received from said data storage unit.

13. The remote control of claim 11 combined with said signal receiving device associated with a television set.

14. The remote control of claim 11 wherein said raw data or video signal in said data storage unit is encoded or encrypted.

15. The remote control of claim 14 wherein said raw data or video signal is encoded or encrypted with WINK communications protocol.

16. The remote control of claim 14 wherein said raw data or video signal is encoded or encrypted with ICAP protocol.

17. The remote control of claim 14 wherein said raw data or video signal is encoded or encrypted with MPEG protocol.

18. The remote control of claim 14 wherein said complete video presentation represented by said raw data or video signal is a movie.

19. A remote control constructed and arranged for direct TV operation and including:

a keyboard having keys for selecting a television channel;

means for coupling a data storage unit to said remote control;

means for retrieving raw data or a video signal, representing a complete video presentation to be displayed and/or broadcast, from said data storage unit said raw data or video signal being encoded or encrypted with WINK communications protocol; and

means for directing signals containing the raw data or the video signal to a signal receiving device associated with a television set for causing the video presentation to be displayed or broadcast.

20. A remote control constructed and arranged for direct TV operation and including:

a keyboard having keys for selecting a television channel;

means for coupling a data storage unit to said remote control;

means for retrieving raw data or a video signal, representing a complete video presentation to be displayed and/or broadcast, from said data storage unit said raw data or video signal being encoded and encrypted with ICAP protocol; and

means for directing signals containing the raw data or the video signal to a signal receiving device associated with a television set for causing the video presentation to be displayed or broadcast.

21. A remote control constructed and arranged for direct TV operation and including:

a keyboard having keys for selecting a television channel;

means for coupling a data storage unit to said remote control;

means for retrieving raw data or a video signal, representing a complete video presentation to be displayed and/or broadcast, from said data storage unit said raw data or video signal being encoded and encrypted with MPEG protocol; and

means for directing signals containing the raw data or the video signal to a signal receiving device associated with a television set for causing the video presentation to be displayed or broadcast.

22. A remote control constructed and arranged for direct TV operation and including:

a keyboard having keys for selecting a television channel;

means for coupling a data storage unit to said remote control;

means for retrieving raw data or a video signal, representing a complete video presentation to be displayed and/or broadcast, from said data storage unit;

said raw data or video signal in said storage unit being encoded and encrypted and said complete video presentation represented by said raw data or video signal being a movie, and

means for directing signals containing the raw data or the video signal to a signal receiving device associated with a television set for causing the video presentation to be displayed or broadcast.

23. A remote control constructed and arranged for direct TV operation and including:

a keyboard having keys for selecting a television channel;

means for mounting a data storage unit within said remote control;

means for retrieving raw data or a video signal, representing a complete video presentation to be displayed and/or broadcast, from said data storage unit;

said raw data or video signal in said storage unit being encoded or encrypted;

decoding circuitry in said remote control for decoding encoded or encrypted raw data or video signal received from said data storage unit; and

means for directing signals containing the raw data or the video signal to a signal receiving device associated with a television set for causing the video presentation to be displayed or broadcast.

24. A remote control constructed and arranged for direct TV operation and including:

a keyboard having keys for selecting a television channel;

means for mounting a data storage unit to said remote control;

means for retrieving raw data or a video signal, representing a complete video presentation to be displayed and/or broadcast, from said data storage unit;

said raw data or video signal in said data storage unit being encoded or encrypted with WINK communications protocol; and

means for directing signals containing the raw data or the video signal to a signal receiving device associated with a television set for causing the video presentation to be displayed or broadcast.

25. A remote control constructed and arranged for direct TV operation and including:

a keyboard having keys for selecting a television channel;

means for mounting a data storage unit to said remote control;

means for retrieving raw data or a video signal, representing a complete video presentation to be displayed and/or broadcast, from said data storage unit;

said raw data or video signal in said data storage unit being encoded or encrypted with ICAP communications protocol; and

means for directing signals containing the raw data or the video signal to a signal receiving device associated with a television set for causing the video presentation to be displayed or broadcast.

26. A remote control constructed and arranged for direct TV operation and including:

a keyboard having keys for selecting a television channel;

means for mounting a data storage unit to said remote control;

means for retrieving raw data or a video signal, representing a complete video presentation to be displayed and/or broadcast, from said data storage unit;

said raw data or video signal being encoded or encrypted with MPEG protocol; and

means for directing signals containing the raw data or the video signal to a signal receiving device associated with a television set for causing the video presentation to be displayed or broadcast.

27. A remote control constructed and arranged for direct TV operation and including:

a keyboard having keys for selecting a television channel;

means for mounting a data storage unit to said remote control;

means for retrieving raw data or a video signal, representing a complete video presentation to be displayed and/or broadcast, from said data storage unit;

said raw data or video signal in said data storage unit is encoded or encrypted and said complete video presentation represented by said raw data or video signal being a movie; and

means for directing signals containing the raw data or the video signal to a signal receiving device associated with a television set for causing the video presentation to be displayed or broadcast.