Remote control system providing an automatic assertion of a preset selection value concurrent with a submission of a user preferred selection value

• US 6,628,344 B1
• Filed: 07/12/2000
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CDN Innovations, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Harold J. Weber
• Inventors: Weber, Harold J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): YENKE, BRIAN P
• Application Number:
  US09/614,559
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.544, 348/725, 348/731, 348/734
• US Class Current: 348/734
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/33 Remote control using macros, scripts
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/205 with control bus for exchanging commands between units
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver

Abstract

A portable remote controller for use with an accessory television device, such as a cable converter, satellite receiver, VCR, DVD player, delayed playback machine or video camera, particularly when used in conjunction with a televisor. The remote controller includes a provision for enabling a manual entry of a channel selection preference or other user determined command. User entry is usually accomplished through a finger actuated keypad submission, resulting in a command encoded wireless command signal being developed by the remote controller and sent to the controlled accessory device. As a result, the accessory device such as a cable box responds to the user'"'"'s channel selection entry or other command and delivers an intermediate signal on a predetermined channel, commonly channel 3 or channel 4, that couples with the televisor. The remote controller simultaneously sends a preset value encoded wireless command signal directly to the televisor which assures that the televisor input is maintained compatible with the intermediate signal delivered on the predetermined channel by the accessory television device. For example, if the intermediate signal is delivered on channel 3, the televisor must be set to channel 3. The invention'"'"'s essence is to reassert and thereby unequivocally maintain the necessitous intermediate signal compatibility between the televisor and the accessory television device every time the user submits a channel selection change or other command to the accessory television device.

Claims

1. A remote control method enabling a portable remote controller to establish a concurrent submission of a user selected command to a first remote apparatus and a preset command to a second remote apparatus and therefore comprising:

manually entering the user selected command into a portable remote controller;

sending a wireless signal concurrently encoded with the user selected command and the preset command;

interlinking an intercoupling signal between the first remote apparatus and the second remote apparatus;

receiving the wireless signal by the remote apparatus;

first utilizing the user selected command to establish a first setting of the first remote apparatus;

second utilizing the preset command to establish a necessitous setting of the second remote apparatus to effectuate the interlinking of the intercoupling signal;

whereby,

the user selected command signal submitted to the first remote apparatus is ordinarily accompanied by the preset command signal to automatically establish an affirmation that the second remote apparatus is necessarily set to accept the intercoupling signal.

2. The remote control method of claim 1 comprising further steps of:

storing a pluralistic library of unique code pattern selections;

first encoding the user selected command with a first unique code pattern selection;

second encoding the preset command with a second distinctively unique code pattern selection;

finding a command interference in at least one of the first encoding and the second encoding pattern utilized by wireless commands issued by the portable remote controller relative with at least one of the first remote apparatus and the second remote apparatus; and

,

redetermining a change of at least one of the unique code pattern selections to at least minimize the command interference.

3. The remote control method of claim 1 comprising further steps of:

first submitting at least one keybutton entry as the user selected command representing a channel selection value;

temporarily storing the first submitted channel selection value;

manually entering a SEND command subsequent to having first submitted the channel selection value; and

,

initiating the sending of the wireless signal said concurrently encoded with the temporarily stored channel selection value and the preset command in an immediate response to the manually entered SEND command;

wherein,

the sending of the wireless signal is deferred until at least one channel selection value is entered and temporarily stored by the user and the SEND command is manually initiated by the user.

4. The remote control method of claim 1 comprising further steps of:

first submitting the user selection command as a single digit channel selection value;

temporarily storing the first submitted channel selection value;

manually submitting a SEND command as a functionally separate manual entry;

perfecting the user selection command by automatically prefixing the single digit channel selection value with a cipher; and

,

sending the wireless signal concurrently encoded with the perfected said user selection command and the preset command in an immediate response to the manually submitted SEND command;

wherein,

the sending of the first wireless signal is preferably deferred until the SEND command is manually submitted and the user selection command is perfected.

5. The remote control method of claim 1 comprising further steps of:

manually entering the user selection command as a non-cipher single digit channel selection value;

prolonging duration of the manual entry;

automatically executing a SEND command when the prolonged duration exceeds a predetermined period of time;

perfecting the user selection command by automatically prefixing the non-cipher command digit value with a cipher; and

,

sending the wireless signal concurrently encoded with the perfected said user selection command and the preset command in an immediate response to the automatic execution of the SEND command.

6. The remote control method of claim 1 comprising further steps of:

the first remote apparatus to comprise one of a video tape recorder (VCR), a digital video disk player, a cable-TV signal converter, a satellite-TV receiver and a delayed re-player;

the second remote apparatus to include a primary television receiving apparatus intercoupled with the first remote apparatus;

establishing a flow of an intercoupling signal through the interlink usually maintained between the first remote apparatus and the second remote apparatus;

presetting the first remote apparatus to deliver the intercoupling signal in a necessitous band of frequencies and usually established as one of television channel 3 and channel 4;

submitting the user selected command into the portable remote controller as a user preferred channel selection usually determined as one of a number of available program channel selections;

setting a tuner portion of the first remote apparatus to correspond with the user preferred channel selection; and

,

asserting the preset command to automatically affirm that a setting of a tuner portion of the second remote apparatus corresponds with the intercoupling signal and usually one of the television channel 3 and channel 4.

7. The remote control method of claim 1 comprising further steps of:

delaying the sending of the wireless signal;

the manual entering of a manual AFFIRM command by the user;

modifying encoding of the wireless signal to exclude the user selected command;

said sending the wireless signal singularly encoded with the preset command; and

,

said second utilizing the preset command to presently reaffirm the necessitous setting of the second remote apparatus in absence of committing the sending of the user selected command to the first remote apparatus.

8. The remote controller method of claim 1 comprising further steps of:

defining the second remote apparatus as a televisor;

recognizing the user selected command as a preferred channel selection usually singled out as one of several available program channels;

extending the user selected command portion of the wireless signal to include an audio volume level command;

extending the receiving of the user selected command to include a remotely controllable audio volume control responsive to the audio volume level command;

remotely setting a user preferred level of first audio volume level developed by the televisor; and

,

automatically lowering the user preferred level of audio volume level to a substantially reduced second audio volume level concurrent with the sending of the wireless signal;

wherein,

a change in channel selection automatically reduces the audio volume level.

9. The remote controller method of claim 1 comprising further steps of:

defining an auxiliary command representing an auxiliary function state;

the sending of the wireless signal said concurrently encoded with the user selected command and the preset command and further encoded with the auxiliary command; and

,

said receiving the wireless signal and decoding the auxiliary command to assert the auxiliary function state;

whereby,

a reassertion of the auxiliary function state automatically occurs whenever the wireless signal is sent.

10. The remote controller method of claim 1 comprising further steps of:

said manually entering the user command;

maintaining manual activation of a terminative entry step of a manual entry event for an indefinite period of time;

releasing the maintained manual activation subsequent to an elapse of a user determined period of time and usually exceeding one second duration;

automatically executing a SEND command in response to the detected release of the maintained manual activation subsequent to the elapse of the user determined period of time; and

,

initiating the sending of the wireless signal said concurrently encoded with the preferred channel selection value and the preset command in an immediate response to the automatically executed SEND command;

whereby,

the sending of the wireless signal is deferred until the release of the terminative entry step of the manual entry.

11. A remote control method including a portable remote controller operable by a user to submit an encoded wireless command signal to a remotely controlled apparatus and comprising steps of:

establishing the remotely controlled apparatus to first include a program signal tuning device having a first input port selectable between a plurality of television program signals and to output an intercoupling channel signal;

further establishing the remotely controlled apparatus to second include a televisor having a second input port which may be necessitously set to receive the intercoupling channel signal;

manually entering a user preferred program channel selection value into the portable remote controller;

sending a wireless command signal between the portable remote controller to be intercepted by the remotely controlled apparatus;

concurrently modulating the wireless command signal with the user preferred channel selection value for the program signal tuning device and the necessitous channel setting for the setting of the televisor to receive the intercoupling channel signal;

first intercepting the user preferred program channel selection value portion of the wireless command signal and therefrom setting the first input port selection of the program signal tuning device to the user preferred channel; and

,

second intercepting the necessitous channel setting portion of the wireless command signal and therefrom automatically ascertain that the second input port of the televisor is necessitously set to receive the intercoupling channel signal.

12. The remote control method of claim 11 comprising steps of:

configuring the program signal tuning device to include one of at least a cable box, satellite receiver and video recorder embodying a tunable receiver for selecting between the incoming television program signals;

utilizing the program signal tuning device to adapt the user preferred channel selection signals into the intercoupling channel signal;

intercoupling the intercoupling channel signal with the second input of the televisor;

utilizing the user preferred channel selection value portion of the wireless command signal to establish the preferred program channel selection as an immediate setting for the first input of the program signal tuning device; and

,

utilizing the necessitous channel setting portion of the wireless command signal to affirm that the televisor is maintained set to receive the intercoupling channel signal.

13. The remote control method of claim 11 comprising further steps of:

coupling a first input port of the program signal tuning device with a source of at least two separate television program signals;

adapting a selected one of the television program signals into the intercoupling channel signal;

interlinking the intercoupling channel signal with the second input port of the televisor;

utilizing the sending of the user preferred channel selection value to effect the user selection for one of the at least two separate television program channel signals; and

,

utilizing a concurrent sending of the necessitous channel setting to automatically at least one of affirm and set the necessitous channel setting of the second input port of the televisor.

14. The remote control method of claim 13 comprising further steps of:

configuring the televisor to include an audio reproduction portion;

adjusting the audio reproduction for a present level of user preferred audio volume;

extending the concurrent modulation of the wireless command signal to include a volume reduction command at least concurrent with the modulation of the wireless command signal with the user preferred channel selection value; and

,

third intercepting the volume reduction command signal portion of the first wireless command signal and effect an at least partial reduction of the audio volume level usually to a predetermined intermediate level between mute and the user preferred audio volume level;

whereby,

whenever the televisor channel is changed the audio volume is partially quieted to a lower level.

15. The remote control method of claim 11 comprising steps of:

configuring the televisor apparatus to include an audio reproduction portion;

setting a volume level for the audio reproduction portion to a user preferred volume level through a remotely controlled volume adjustor;

coupling the with the television program signals;

utilizing the user preferred program channel selection value to particularly effectuate an immediate selection for one of the television program signals and to concurrently effectuate an automatic change of the user preferred volume level to a reduced volume level;

whereby,

every time a change occurs between the user preferred channel selections the user preferred volume level is automatically lowered to the reduced volume level.

16. The remote control method of claim 15 wherein the remotely controlled volume adjustor enables an incremental adjustment of the volume level in discrete volume steps and comprising further steps of:

incrementally adjusting the volume level in a plurality of discrete volume steps;

obtaining the effectuating of the reduced volume level concurrent with the sending of the user preferred channel selection value by extending the wireless command signal to include sending a succession of audio level setting pulse signal sequences-wherein each component volume setting pulse comprises a portion of an audio volume level command function;

first delivering a first predetermined number of volume setting down-step pulses sufficient to reduce the audio volume to a minimum level; and

,

immediately succeeding the volume setting down-step pulses with a second predetermined number of volume setting up-step pulses sufficient in number to urge an increase of volume level to the reduced volume level as usually determined intermediate between the preferred volume level and the minimum level.

17. The remote control method of claim 11 comprising further steps of:

embodying the portable remote controller with a keypad inclusive of a plurality of manual entry keybuttons;

extending the keypad to include a uniquely designated SEND function keybutton;

admitting the manual entry of the user preferred program selection value usually as a plurality of individually weighted keybutton actions;

temporarily storing data representing the individual weight of each of the keybutton actions;

manually actuating the SEND function keybutton at a time subsequent to a terminal one of the individually weighted keybutton actions;

reading out the temporarily stored data;

applying the temporarily stored data to effectuate the user preferred channel selection value portion of the wireless command signal;

whereby,

the user may complete the entry of a number of the individually weighted keybutton actions precedent to the manual actuation of the SEND function keybutton to urge the sending of the wireless command signal.

18. The remote control method of claim 11 comprising further steps of:

embodying the portable remote controller with a keypad inclusive of a plurality of manual entry keybuttons;

admitting the manual entry of the user preferred program selection value usually as a plurality of individually weighted keybutton actions;

temporarily storing data representing the individual weight of each of the keybutton actions;

actuating and maintaining the actuation of a terminal one of the keybutton actions;

aligning coupling for the wireless command signal traversal between the portable remote controller and the remotely controlled apparatus;

releasing the maintained actuation of the terminal one of the keybutton actions thereupon developing a SEND command;

reading out the temporarily stored data;

applying the temporarily stored data to effectuate the user preferred channel selection value portion of the wireless command signal while urging the sending of the wireless command signal;

whereby,

the user may complete the entry of a number of the individually weighted keybutton actions precedent to the sending of the wireless command signal by maintaining actuation of the terminal entry keybutton until the sending is considered timely.

19. The remote control method of claim 11 comprising further steps of:

embodying the portable remote controller with a keypad inclusive of a plurality of manual entry keybuttons;

admitting the manual entry of the user preferred program selection value usually as a plurality of individually weighted keybutton actions;

temporarily storing data representing the individual weight of each of the keybutton actions;

initiating a timing function of predetermined duration in response to onset of and concurrent with the assertion of the manual entry;

aligning coupling for the wireless command signal traversal between the portable remote controller and the remotely controlled apparatus;

developing a SEND command upon elapse of the predetermined duration of the timing function;

reading out the temporarily stored data in response to the SEND command;

applying the temporarily stored data to effectuate the user preferred channel selection value portion of the wireless command signal while the SEND command urges the sending of the wireless command signal;

whereby,

the user may complete the entry of a number of the individually weighted keybutton actions precedent to a time delayed sending of the wireless command signal and align a coupling path between the remote controller and the remotely controlled apparatus.

20. The remote control method of claim 11 comprising further steps of:

embodying the portable remote controller with a keypad inclusive of a plurality of manual entry keybuttons;

admitting the manual entry of an single integer digit representing the user preferred program selection value usually as an individually weighted keybutton action;

maintaining assertion of the manual entry for a prolonged period of time;

initiating a timing function of predetermined duration in response to onset of and ordinarily concurrent with the assertion of the manual entry of the single integer digit;

aligning coupling for the wireless command signal traversal between the portable remote controller and the remotely controlled apparatus;

developing a SEND command upon elapse of the predetermined duration of the timing function;

perfecting the single integer digit as a preferred channel selection value by prefixing the single integer digit with a cipher in immediate response to the developed SEND command;

applying the perfected, cipher prefixed single integer digit as the user preferred channel selection value portion of the wireless command signal while the SEND command urges the sending of the wireless command signal;

whereby,

the user may merely enter a single digit channel selection as an single integer number and automatically prefixed with a leading cipher prior to sending to the remotely controlled apparatus as a channel selection value.

21. The remote control method of claim 11 comprising further steps of:

embodying the portable remote controller with a keypad inclusive of a plurality of manual entry keybuttons;

admitting the manual entry of an single integer digit representing the user preferred program selection value usually as an individually weighted keybutton action;

aligning coupling for the wireless command signal traversal between the portable remote controller and the remotely controlled apparatus;

manually actuating a uniquely designated keybutton to manually issue a SEND command;

perfecting the single integer digit as the preferred channel selection value by prefixing the single integer digit with a cipher in immediate response to the manually issued SEND command;

applying the perfected, cipher prefixed single integer digit as the user preferred channel selection value portion of the wireless command signal while the SEND command urges the sending of the wireless command signal;

whereby,

the user may merely enter a single digit channel selection as an single integer number and actuate the SEND command whereupon the single integer number is automatically prefixed with a leading cipher prior to sending to the remotely controlled apparatus as a channel selection value.

22. A remote control method including a portable remote controller operable by a user to submit a command encoded wireless control signal to a remotely controlled televisor system and comprising steps of:

configuring the televisor system to include;

a source of television program signals;

an adaptive device comprising at least one of a cable signal converter, a video cassette recorder, a satellite signal receiver and a delayed replayer;

a television set; and

,

interlinking the adaptive device and the television set;

manually entering a user preferred channel selection value into the portable remote controller;

predetermining a necessitous command signal;

sending the wireless control signal concurrently modulated with the preferred channel selection value and the necessitous command signal;

remotely receiving the wireless control signal;

first recovering the preferred channel selection value;

second recovering the necessitous command signal;

urging the adaptive device to select one of a plurality of incoming program signals corresponding with the recovered said preferred channel selection value;

converting the selected said incoming program signal into an interlink signal;

enabling the recovered said necessitous command signal to assert a tuning of the television set to a predetermined channel receptive of the interlink signal therefrom process the interlink signal into an interpretable video signal; and

,

establishing that every time the user selected command state value is first intercepted it may effect a change in a primary television channel signal selection and the preset command state value is concurrently second intercepted to reassert and automatically affirm a necessitous setting for the second signal input portion of the televisor apparatus.