Method and system for assigning unique identity codes to remote controllers and conserving power based on detecting the unique identity codes

• US 6,570,507 B1
• Filed: 11/18/1998
• Issued: 05/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Choi, Jeong-Soo, Lee, Jae-Kyung
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shimizu, Matsuichiro
• Application Number:
  US09/195,241
• Time in Patent Office: 1,651 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 340/825.22, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/539, 340/10.52, 455/38.3, 455/343, 348/180, 348/134
• US Class Current: 340/12.29
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/0025 in a remote control unit remote control tuning in general H03J9/00

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for a remote-controllable electronic appliance and a remote controller. A unique call identification code is assigned to each remote controller. The remote-controllable electronic appliance may then call a remote controller based on the unique call identification code. The call identification code may continuously varied after a predetermined period of time. The call identification code may be reset based on a request by the remote controller. Power consumption by the remote controller may also be conserved based on detecting the call identification code.

Claims

1. A method for assigning a remote controller identification code, wherein a remote controller responds to a remote controller call in accordance with a remote controller identification code from an electronic appliance which is operable by a remote control manipulation comprising:

setting a first remote controller identification code for the remote controller in the electronic appliance;

setting a second remote controller identification code different from the first remote controller identification code;

receiving a demand for a reset by the remote controller having the first remote controller identification code; and

replacing the first remote controller identification code in the electronic appliance with the second remote controller identification code in response to the demand.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein setting the second remote controller identification code different from the first remote controller identification code comprises:

reading a remote controller identification code from a memory when the electronic appliance is initialized;

setting the second remote controller identification code by varying the first remote controller identification code based on a predetermined time period; and

storing in the memory the second remote controller identification code set at the time point when the demand for the reset is received.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein replacing the first remote controller identification code in the electronic appliance with the second remote controller identification code in response to the demand comprises:

decoding and storing the second remote controller identification code received from the electronic appliance; and

identifying the second remote controller identification code.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein setting the second remote controller identification code comprises sequentially increasing the second remote controller identification code up to a set threshold value based on a predetermined time period.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein setting the second remote controller identification code comprises randomly generating the second remote controller identification code based on a predetermined time period.

6. A method for assigning a remote controller identification code and calling the remote controller, wherein a remote controller responds to a remote controller call in accordance with a remote controller identification code from an electronic appliance which is operable by a remote control manipulation comprising:

setting a first remote controller identification code for the remote controller in the electronic appliance;

setting a second remote controller identification code different from the first remote controller identification code;

receiving a demand for a reset by the remote controller having the first remote controller identification code;

replacing the first remote controller identification code in the electronic appliance with the second remote controller identification in response to the demand;

setting a call identification code based on the second remote controller identification code;

calling the remote controller by transmitting a remote controller call signal based on the call identification code from the electronic appliance;

comparing whether the call identification code detected from the remote controller call signal corresponds to the second remote controller identification code; and

generating an answer sound when the call identification code corresponds to the second remote controller identification code.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein calling the remote controller further comprises interrupting the remote controller call signal based on a user'"'"'s manipulation from the remote controller in response to the answer sound.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein calling the remote controller further comprises interrupting the remote controller call signal based on when a predetermined time has lapsed.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein further comprising interrupting the answer sound based on when a lockup key is inputted or based on when a predetermined time has lapsed.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

reading a remote controller call identification code from a memory when the electronic appliance is initialized;

setting a second call identification code by varying the remote controller call identification code based on a predetermined time; and

storing the second call identification code in the memory demand for a reset is received from the remote controller; and

transmitting the second call identification code to the remote controller.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

decoding and storing the call identification code received from the electronic appliance; and

confirming the call identification code.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein receiving the remote controller call signal is periodically activated based on a time period to identify the call identification code of the remote controller call signal from the electronic appliance.

13. A system comprising an electronic appliance and a remote controller wherein the remote controller responds to a remote controller call including a remote controller identification code from the electronic appliance, said electronic appliance comprising:

a rewrite memory for storing a first remote controller identification code;

a memory for generating and temporarily storing a second remote controller identification code different from the first remote controller identification code;

a transmission means for transmitting the first remote controller identification code when calling the remote controller, and transmitting the second remote controller identification code to the remote controller based on when the electronic appliance has received a demand for a reset from the remote controller;

an electronic appliance control means for replacing the first remote controller identification code with the second remote controller identification code, storing the second remote controller identification code in the rewrite memory; and

wherein said remote controller comprises;

reception means for receiving a remote controller call signal;

a means for transmitting the demand for the reset when the remote controller is initialized;

a memory means for storing the first remote controller identification code, and replacing the first remote controller identification code with the second remote controller identification code when the second remote controller identification code is received from the electronic appliance after transmission of the demand for the reset; and

a remote controlling means for comparing the first remote controller identification code stored in the memory means of the remote controller with the first remote controller identification code transmitted by the electronic appliance, and generating an answer sound when the first remote controller identification code stored in the memory means of the remote controller matches the first remote controller identification code transmitted by the electronic appliance.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said electronic appliance further comprises a means for activating the call signal reception means based on a time period for transmission by the remote controller, and for periodically activating the call signal reception means.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein said remote controller call signal transmission means of the electronic appliance further comprises a control means for activating the remote controller call transmission means during the a signal transmission time period for calling the remote controller.

16. A remote controller having an assigned remote controller identification code, wherein the remote controller responds to a remote controller call including a remote controller identification code from an electronic appliance, the remote controller comprising:

a call signal reception means for detecting a remote control call signal transmitted from the electronic appliance having the remote controller identification code;

transmission means for transmitting the remote controller identification code reset request signal when the remote controller is initialized;

a memory means for storing a first controller identification code, and storing a second remote controller identification code instead of the first remote controller identification code when the second remote controller identification code is received from the electronic appliance through the call signal reception means after being requested to reset the remote controller identification code;

a remote-controller control means for determining when the remote controller identification code stored in the memory means and a remote controller identification code which is received from the electronic appliance are identical to each other, controlling generation of an answer sound, and controlling the transmission means and the memory means in response to the remote controller call; and

a means for selectively providing power to the call signal reception means based on detection of the remote control call signal by the call signal reception means during a periodic activation period.

17. The remote controller of claim 16, wherein a duration of the periodic activation period is approximately 40-60 ms.

18. An electronic appliance capable of assigning a remote controller identification code, wherein a remote controller responds to a remote controller call including the remote controller identification code, the electronic appliance comprising:

a rewritable memory means for storing a first remote controller identification code;

a memory means for storing a second remote controller identification code instead of the first remote controller identification code;

a remote controller call signal transmission means for transmitting the first remote controller identification code when calling the remote controller, and transmitting the second remote controller identification code to the remote controller when the remote controller having the first remote controller identification code has requested a reset of the remote controller identification code; and

an electronic appliance control means for replacing the first remote controller identification code in the electronic appliance with the second remote controller identification code to reset the same into the remote controller as its identification code, and selectively providing power to the remote controller call signal transmission means.