Extended functionally remote control system and method therefore

• US 6,437,836 B1
• Filed: 09/21/1998
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Resource Consortium Limited, LLC
• Original Assignee: Navispace Incorporated
• Inventors: Huang, Eugene, Daley, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NATNAEL, PAULOS M
• Application Number:
  US09/157,594
• Time in Patent Office: 1,429 Days
• Field of Search: 348/10, 348/734, 348/906, 348/134, 345/327, 455/6.2, 455/6.3, 455/5.1, 455/4.2, 725/39-40, 725/131-133, 341/175, 341/176, 340/825.24, 340/825.72, 340/825.69, 340/825.25, 340/825.31
• US Class Current: 348/734
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• 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 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42225 characterized by types of remote control, e.g. universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42226 Reprogrammable remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73

Abstract

An extended functionality remote control (EFRC) provides a hardware/software implementation of an integrated interface for remote control emulation. A PDA or other portable computing device is used as a platform for the EFRC application software and peripheral hardware. The EFRC also merges information services into remote controls. Implementation of these information services takes the form of, e.g., electronic program guides (EPGs) merged with the functioning of remote controls. In addition to the portable computing device, the hardware portion of the invention according to a preferred embodiment includes a keypad and an infrared transmitter subsystem which are managed by a microcontroller. The microcontroller also exchanges data with application software of the computing device via a serial communications link. The EFRC according to a preferred embodiment provides a universal remote control which can remain current by shifting the remote control code functions of a universal remote control from to software. New codes may be made available through the internet and downloaded into an application which can utilize these codes for the targeted consumer electronics device. The preferred embodiment provides the user the ability to select the components of their specific consumer electronic device on the World Wide Web, leading to the download of a data file by the user with all remote control code information preprogrammed into this data file. The preferred embodiment can dynamically construct the user'"'"'s remote control buttons on a graphical touch screen, from information contained within the downloaded data file.

Claims

1. A handheld system for remote program guide viewing and program selection, comprising:

means for receiving and storing program guide data, wherein said program guide data includes a program guide containing a plurality of scheduled programs;

a software application means for implementing each of said plurality of scheduled programs into encoded data;

a touch screen display means for displaying said program guide containing said plurality of scheduled programs;

means for receiving user input indicating a selection of at least one of said scheduled programs through at least said touch screen display means;

a wireless transmitter subsystem for receiving said encoded data corresponding to said selected scheduled program from said software application means, for generating a signal derived from said encoded data for said selected scheduled program, and for transmitting said signal to a remote receiver device, whereby said remote receiver device is caused to tune to said selected scheduled program; and

said means for receiving and storing, means for displaying, means for receiving user input, software application means, and wireless transmitter subsystem each being incorporated into a handheld device.

2. A handheld device for remote program guide viewing and program selection, comprising:

a memory system for receiving and storing program guide data, wherein said program guide data includes a program guide containing a plurality of scheduled programs;

a software application for implementing each of said plurality of scheduled programs into encoded data;

a touch screen display system for displaying said program guide containing said plurality of scheduled programs;

a processor for receiving user input indicating a selection of at least one of said scheduled programs through at least said touch screen display system; and

a wireless transmitter subsystem for receiving said encoded data corresponding to said selected scheduled program from said software application, for generating a signal derived from said encoded data for said selected scheduled program, and for transmitting said signal to a remote receiver device, whereby said remote receiver device is caused to tune to said selected scheduled program.

3. A handheld device for remote program guide viewing and program selection, comprising:

a memory system for receiving and storing program guide data, wherein said program guide data is received over an Internet connection, and wherein said program guide data includes a program guide containing a plurality of scheduled programs;

a software application for implementing each of said plurality of scheduled programs into encoded data;

a touch screen display system for displaying said program guide containing said plurality of scheduled programs;

means for receiving user input indicating a selection of at least one of said scheduled programs through at least said touch screen display means;

a wireless transmitter subsystem for receiving said encoded data corresponding to said selected scheduled program from said software application means, for generating a signal derived from said encoded data for said selected scheduled program, and for transmitting said signal to a remote receiver device, whereby said remote receiver device is caused to tune to said selected scheduled program.

4. A handheld device for remote program guide viewing and program selection, comprising:

a first communications system for receiving program guide data, wherein said program guide data includes a program guide containing a plurality of scheduled programs;

a software application for implementing each of said plurality of scheduled programs into encoded data;

a memory system for storing said program guide data,

a touch screen display system for displaying said program guide containing said plurality of scheduled programs;

means for receiving user input indicating a selection of at least one of said scheduled programs through at least said touch screen display means; and

a second communications system comprising a wireless transmitter subsystem for receiving said encoded data corresponding to said selected scheduled program from said software application means, for generating a signal derived from said encoded data for said selected scheduled program, and for transmitting said signal to a remote receiver device, whereby said remote receiver device is caused to tune to said selected scheduled program.

5. The handheld device of claim 4, wherein said first communications system receives said program guide data over an Internet connection.

6. A handheld system for remote program guide viewing and program selection, comprising:

a handheld device, comprising;

a touch screen display for displaying program guide data, wherein said program guide data includes a program guide containing a plurality of scheduled programs, and for receiving a first user input;

a software application for implementing each of said plurality of scheduled programs into encoded data; and

a first serial port for communicating with a second serial port; and

an attached device comprising;

a keypad subsystem for receiving a second user input;

said second serial port;

a microcontroller for handling communications between said first serial port and said second serial port; and

an infrared transmitter subsystem for receiving said encoded data corresponding to said selected scheduled program from said software application, for generating a signal derived from said encoded data for said selected scheduled program, and for transmitting said signal to a remote receiver device, whereby said remote receiver device is caused to tune to said selected scheduled program.