Audio/video device including an infrared transceiver for transmitting and receiving configuration data, and method for configuring same

• US 6,292,283 B1
• Filed: 07/17/1998
• Issued: 09/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: LSI Logic Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Grandbois, Brett J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Jason
• Assistant Examiner(s): Leung, Christina Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/118,387
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 Days
• Field of Search: 359/142, 359/143, 359/146, 359/147, 359/148, 359/144, 359/145, 359/172, 348/734
• US Class Current: 398/107
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/21 Programming remote control devices via third means
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1143 Bidirectional transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/40 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4222 Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]

Abstract

An audio/video device including an infrared transceiver for transmitting and receiving configuration data is described, along with an associated configuration method. The audio/video device includes audio/video circuitry, a control unit, and an infrared transceiver. The audio/video circuitry receives input presentation data (i.e., video and/or audio data) and performs an audio/video operation (e.g., decoding, filtering, amplification, etc.) upon the input presentation data in order to produce output presentation data. The control unit is coupled to and controls the operations of the audio/video circuitry and the infrared transceiver. The infrared transceiver transmits and receives configuration data via infrared signals, wherein received configuration data is used to configure operation of the audio/video circuitry. The infrared transceiver includes an infrared transmitter and an infrared receiver. The infrared transmitter is used to transmit infrared signals conveying a set of configuration options to an external device (e.g., a portable computer). The infrared receiver is used to receive an infrared signal indicating a selected member of the set of configuration options, either from the external device or a remote control unit of the audio/video device.

Claims

1. An entertainment system comprising:

a plurality of entertainment units including at least one of a television receiver, a video cassette recorder, a digital video disk player, an audio cassette player and a compact disc player,

wherein each of said plurality of entertainment units includes a first infrared transceiver configured to transmit a configuration menu including a plurality of respective entertainment unit configuration options;

wherein each of said plurality of entertainment units is configured to receive, via said respective first infrared transceiver, a particular entertainment unit configuration option selection; and

wherein said particular entertainment unit configuration option selection is used to configure operation of each of said plurality of entertainment units;

a portable computing device, including;

a second infrared transceiver configured to receive said configuration menu;

a display device configured to generate a visual display of said configuration menu; and

an input device configured to receive a user-controlled indication of said particular entertainment unit configuration option selection;

wherein the second infrared transceiver is further configured to transmit the particular entertainment unit configuration option selection; and

a remote control unit including a remote infrared transmitter configured to transmit said particular entertainment unit configuration option selection to said respective first infrared transceiver of said plurality of entertainment units.

2. The entertainment system as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable computing device is further configured to emulate the remote control unit.

3. The entertainment system as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable computing device includes a personal digital assistant (PDA).

4. The entertainment system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said first infrared transceivers include a first transmitter and a first receiver, and wherein each of said first transmitters is configured to transmit said configuration menu encoded into infrared signals and each of said first receivers is configured to receive and decode said particular entertainment unit configuration option selection from said infrared signals.

5. The entertainment system as recited in claim 4, wherein said second infrared transceiver includes a second transmitter and a second receiver, and wherein said second transmitter is configured to transmit said particular entertainment unit configuration option selection encoded into said infrared signals and said second receiver is configured to receive and decode said configuration menu from said infrared signals.

6. The entertainment system as recited in claim 5, wherein the infrared signals comprise modulated infrared light.

7. The entertainment system as recited in claim 6, wherein the infrared light has a wavelength between about 750 nanometers and approximately 3,000 nanometers.

8. A method of configuring an entertainment system including a plurality of entertainment units, the method comprising:

a first infrared transceiver of each of the plurality of entertainment units transmitting a configuration menu including a plurality of respective entertainment unit configuration options to a portable computing device;

a display device of the portable computing device generating a visual display the configuration menu;

an input device of the portable computing device receiving a user-controlled indication of a particular entertainment unit configuration option selection;

a second infrared transceiver of the portable computing device transmitting the particular entertainment unit configuration option selection to the respective entertainment unit;

the first infrared transceiver of each of the plurality of entertainment units receiving the particular entertainment unit configuration option selection; and

a remote infrared transmitter of a remote control unit transmitting said particular entertainment unit configuration option selection to said respective first infrared transceiver of said plurality of entertainment units;

configuring each of the plurality of entertainment units according to the particular entertainment unit configuration option selection;

wherein said plurality of entertainment units including at least one of a television receiver, a video cassette recorder, a digital video disk player, an audio cassette player and a compact disc player.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the portable computing device includes a personal digital assistant (PDA).

10. The method as recited in claim 8 further comprising encoding said configuration menu into infrared signals and transmitting said infrared signals.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 further comprising receiving said infrared signals and decoding said infrared signals into said configuration menu.

12. The method as recited in claim 8 further comprising encoding said particular entertainment unit configuration option selection into infrared signals and transmitting said infrared signals.

13. The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising receiving said infrared signals and decoding said infrared signals into said particular entertainment unit configuration option selection.