Remote control apparatus and image display apparatus

• US 6,636,272 B1
• Filed: 03/22/2000
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Noguchi, Fujio, Shiomi, Takayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US09/509,156
• Time in Patent Office: 1,308 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.544, 348/734, 348/552, 348/725, 348/731, 340/825.72, 340/825.69
• US Class Current: 348/734
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4184 providing storage capabilities, e.g. memory stick
• 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 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42208 Display device provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42226 Reprogrammable remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4586 Content update operation triggered locally, e.g. by comparing the version of software modules in a DVB carousel to the version stored locally deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction of the data by redundancy during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/818 OS software

Abstract

A remote control apparatus and an image display apparatus for example, a television receiver and a remote commander for remote controlling the television receiver in which for example, a version-up of a control program can be easily executed. The remote control apparatus 2 can be constructed so that an IC card 3 can be loaded and data recorded in the IC card 3 is transmitted to control-target equipment.

Claims

1. A remote control apparatus for controlling an operation of a control-target equipment by transmitting a remote control signal from a remote control transmitter to said control-target equipment, said remote control apparatus comprising:

a loading member for detachably loading into said remote control transmitter an IC card wherein predetermined data including management data, a control program, and a data file to be transmitted to said control-target equipment has been recorded; and

a first control unit for reading said predetermined data recorded on said IC card and transmitting said predetermined data to said control-target equipment when said IC card is loaded into said remote control transmitter; and

said control-target equipment comprising;

a receiver for receiving said predetermined data transmitted by said remote control apparatus; and

a second control unit for controlling said receiver, for updating an existing program with said control program in a RAM, and for executing said control program so that program steps of said control program are executed to manipulate said data file so that said data file is utilized by said control-target equipment.

2. The remote control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control-target equipment is an image display apparatus.

3. The remote control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said image display apparatus displays a menu picture plane for selecting a function of said image display apparatus and said predetermined data includes data for changing a display of said menu picture plane.

4. The remote control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said data file includes video data and audio data to be reproduced by said image display apparatus.