Remote control dedicated keybutton for confirming tuner setting of a TV set to a specific channel setting

• US 6,636,273 B1
• Filed: 02/01/2001
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CDN Innovations, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Savvy Frontiers Patent Trust
• Inventors: Weber, Harold J.
• Primary Examiner(s): HSIA, SHERRIE Y
• Application Number:
  US09/774,529
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.544, 348/734, 348/725, 348/552, 348/553, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/825.56, 340/825.22, 340/5.1, 340/5.2, 340/5.8, 455/352, 455/355, 455/92, 455/3.03, 455/3.04, 455/151.2, 455/186.2, 725/37, 725/38, 379/102.03, 341/176
• US Class Current: 348/734
• 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 21/4221 Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence

Abstract

Portable remote controller for accessory television devices for program channel selection and other operating functions. A single uniquely identified keybutton enables the viewer to remotely reset a televisor'"'"'s video input to an “unused” channel such as channel 3. After a reset, the remote controller'"'"'s functions revert to whatever device was previously selected. A variation provides that intentional pressing of a a “device selection” button, such as a CBL “cable box select” button, for a few seconds implements the input reset mode to automatically urge a specific video input selection. Another variation senses an extent of a TV or other device'"'"'s “select” keybutton action. A partial depression of the TV keybutton may merely initiate the usual device selection function. By further depressing the TV keybutton a preceptive wireless signal is automatically sent to remotely affirm the appropriate video input selection.

Claims

1. A remote controller method including a keypad entry for device selection and functional instruction and comprising steps of:

presently selecting a command mode for one of at least two remotely controlled devices;

first entering a user preferred functional instruction command into the keypad;

sending the user preferred functional instruction command to the presently selected said remotely controlled device;

manually actuating a first dedicated keybutton switch;

overriding the presently selected remotely controlled device with a priority selection of a predesignated device in a measured response to the manual actuation of the first dedicated keybutton;

sending a preceptive setup command to the predesignated device; and

,

returning the presently selected command mode preexisting the manual actuation of the first dedicated keybutton.

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

intercoupling a first video signal interlink between a first video signal output of a first said remotely controlled device and a first video signal input of a second said remotely controlled device;

first pretuning the first video signal output tuning to the preset channel;

first setting the first video signal input tuning to match the preset channel; and

,

affirming the first setting of the first video signal input tuning to coincide with a preset channel selection defined by the preceptive setup command urged by the remote controller.

3. The remote controller method of claim 1 comprising a further step of:

maintaining data representing the preceptive setup command in a preceptive data memory; and

,

reading the preceptive setup command stored in the preceptive data memory in immediate response to the manual actuation of the first dedicated keybutton.

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

intercoupling a first video signal interlink between a first video output of a first remotely controlled device and the first video input of a second remotely controlled device;

pretuning the first video signal output to a predetermined interlink channel defined by the user preferred functional instruction command; and

,

said sending the preceptive setup command to establish tuning of the first video signal input to the interlink channel.

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

intercoupling a first video signal interlink between a first video output of a first remotely controlled device and the first video input of a second remotely controlled device;

pretuning the first video signal output to a predetermined interlink channel;

said sending the preceptive setup command to establish a tuning of the first video signal input to the interlink channel;

assigning the first dedicated keybutton switch for manual actuation to assert the sending of the preceptive setup command;

first asserting the preceptive setup command to comprise a selection of the second remotely controlled device and affirming the first video input tuning to the predetermined interlink channel; and

,

whereby manual actuation of the dedicated keybutton switch serves to submit the interlink selection command, as usually one of channel 3 and channel 4, with exclusive priority to the second remotely controlled device.

6. The remote controller method of claim 5 comprising further steps of:

overriding an immediate device selection upon the actuation of the dedicated keybutton switch concurrent with the exclusive priority selection of the second remotely controlled device;

said submitting the preceptive setup command to the second remotely controlled device; and

,

immediately returning to the device selection preexisting the submission of the preceptive setup command to the second remotely controlled device.

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

establishing the predesignated device selection to include actuation of a televisor selection or TV selection key;

predefining setup of the remote controller to define the TV selection key actuation to include the automatic sending of the preceptive setup command as a preset channel selection command to the televisor; and

,

ordering affirmative tuning of the first video signal input port comprising the televisor to be set to conform with the preset channel selection command usually as one of channel 3 and channel 4.

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

said entering the user preferred functional instruction command as usually a plurality of individually selected keypad entries;

temporarily accumulating the individually selected keypad entries as a sequence of selection data stored in a register;

manually actuating a second dedicated keybutton switch;

retrieving the stored sequence of selection data from the register in subsequential response to the manual actuation of the second dedicated keybutton switch;

said sending the user preferred functional instruction command characterized by the retrieved sequence of stored selection data in further response to the manual actuation of the second dedicated keybutton; and

,

whereby the user may complete an entry sequence for the several individually selected keypad entries prior to actuation of the second dedicated keybutton and the sending of the user preferred functional selection command to the presently selected said remotely controlled device.

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

configuring the keypad to include at least two user actuatable device selection keybuttons;

assigning one of the device selection keybuttons as the first designated keybutton to functionally select the predesignated device;

obtaining a momentary user actuation of the designated keybutton to immediately select and enable the sending of the user preferred functional instruction commands to the predesignated device; and

,

maintaining user urged actuation of the designated keybutton in excess of a finite period of time and usually at least one second whereupon the preceptive setup command is automatically sent to the predesignated device.

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

defining the first dedicated keybutton switch as comprising a device selection keybutton;

said selecting the command mode for the predesignated device determined by the manual actuation of the device selection keybutton;

commencing a first timing interval with an onset of the manual actuation of the first dedicated keybutton;

said sending the preceptive setup command to the predesignated device in an automatic response to a maintaining of the manual actuation of the device selection keybutton for a time period measurably exceeding the first timing interval; and

,

whereby each of the device selection entries may include a provision for sending a preceptive instruction to a corresponding device.

11. A remote controller method comprising steps of:

first associating a remotely controlled apparatus comprising a televisor and an ancillary device;

first linking an intermediate video signal coupled between the ancillary device'"'"'s output port and the televisor'"'"'s input port;

first presetting a carrier frequency of the intermediate video signal delivered by the ancillary device to a predetermined channel and usually selected as one of channel 3 and channel 4;

configuring a portable remote controller to include a keypad port enabling a user to manually enter and first send device selection and channel tuning commands to at least one of the devices comprising the remotely controlled apparatus;

configuring the portable remote controller to include a user actuatable first dedicated keybutton operated switch to enable the user to particularly send a preceptive function signal to the televisor for affirming an immediate tuning of the televisor'"'"'s input port to preferably match the first preset carrier frequency of the intermediate video signal.

12. The remote controller method of claim 11 wherein the predetermined channel selection command comprises further steps of:

first encoding the preceptive function signal to particularly select the televisor; and

,

second encoding the preceptive function signal to effect an immediate tuning of the televisor'"'"'s input port to match the intermediate video signal'"'"'s said first preset carrier frequency.

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

designating the first dedicated keybutton as a preferably singular keybutton actuated switch privately assigned to affirming an interlink setup mode and interlink channel selection compliance between a source of interlink signal delivered by the ancillary device and the televisor'"'"'s input port.

14. The remote controller method of claim 11 further comprising steps of:

temporarily storing the device selection and the channel tuning commands that are said manually entered by the user as first command data in a register;

configuring a user actuatable second keybutton operated switch;

subsequently retrieving the first command data in immediate response to a user urged actuation of the second keybutton operated switch;

immediately sending a command signal sequence to at least one of the devices comprising the remotely controlled apparatus, thereby conveying the device selection and the channel tuning commands temporarily stored in and subsequently retrieved from the register.

15. The remote controller method of claim 11 further comprising steps of:

configuring the portable remote controller to include a plurality of separate manually actuatable device selection keybuttons including one designated for selecting the televisor;

momentarily actuating the device selection keybutton assigned to selection of the televisor thereby enabling a sending of user preferred channel tuning commands to the televisor; and

,

maintaining user urged actuation of the televisor designated device selection keybutton for a finite period of time usually exceeding one second thereby enabling a sending of the predetermined channel command to the televisor.

16. A remote controller apparatus comprising:

a first keypad data entry means comprising a first switch means including a plurality of individually operable user accessible keybutton switches which may be manually actuated in concert to select and to initiate an immediate and usually multi-digit command function to implement control at least one of a televisor and an ancillary device ordinarily coupled with the televisor; and

,

a manually actuatable second switch means which may initiate translation of a preceptive function signal to the televisor;

a wireless sender means first modulated by a first set of uniquely encoded command signals comprising the immediate command function and operational to link a first set of wireless commands with at least one of the televisor and the ancillary device; and

,

the wireless sender means second modulated by a second set of uniquely encoded command signals comprising the preceptive function signal and operational to link a second set of wireless commands exclusively with the televisor to assert an immediate extent of interface signal compatibility between the televisor video signal input port and the ancillary device'"'"'s video signal output port.

17. The remote controller apparatus of claim 16 adapted to overcome data entry failure caused by a lapse of excessive time delay between individual digits submitted using the first keypad data entry means to enter the multi-digit command function and further comprising:

a memory means for temporarily storing the multi-digit command data as an ordered representation of the first set of uniquely encoded command signals;

a manually actuatable third switch means;

a memory readout means responsive to a user entered manual actuation of the third switch means and effective for encouraging an orderly retrieval of the temporarily stored multi-digit command data from the memory means;

a combinatorial means for formatting the retrieved said temporarily stored multi-digit command data into the first set of uniquely encoded command signals;

the wireless sender means said first modulated by the retrieved and formatted said first set of uniquely encoded command signals; and

,

whereby the user may deliberately enter two or more selection digits comprising the multi-digit command function which are immediately accumulated in a temporary memory and upon completion of the entry of the digits, a separate keybutton is manually actuated which operates the third switch, commencing an ordered readout of the temporarily stored data and an immediately urging of a sending of the temporarily stored data as a rapid-fire multi-digit sequential wireless transmission to establish the multi-digit command function relative with the remotely controlled ancillary device.

18. The remote controller apparatus of claim 16 further comprising:

the second switch means identified for particularly selecting the televisor and usually marked TV and to include a first extent of actuation and a second extent of actuation exceeding the first;

a first signal processor receptive to the first extent of actuation to first deliver a televisor selection signal;

a second signal processor receptive to the second extent of actuation to second deliver the second set of uniquely encoded command signals to said second modulate the wireless sender means; and

,

wherein a manual partial actuation of the second switch means solely selects the televisor and enables the user to utilize the first keyboard means to subsequently further select and urge wireless linking of the first set of wireless commands with the televisor, and the manual full actuation of the second switch means automatically links the second set of wireless commands with the solely selected televisor.

19. The remote controller apparatus of claim 16 further comprising:

the second switch means identified for particularly selecting the televisor and usually marked TV;

a first timer means initiated concurrent with an actuation of the second switch means and configured to define elapse of a finite period of time;

a first signal processor receptive to actuation of the second switch means to first deliver a televisor selection signal;

a second signal processor responsive to a maintained actuation of the second switch means for an indefinite period of time, at least exceeding the finite period of time defined by the first timer means, to second deliver the second set of uniquely encoded command signals to said second modulate the wireless sender means; and

,

wherein a manual actuation of the second switch means for a first period of time measurably less than the finite period of time solely selects the televisor and enables the user to utilize the first keyboard means to subsequently further select and urge wireless linking of the first set of wireless commands with the televisor, and a maintained manual actuation of the second switch means for a second period of time measurably exceeding the finite period of time automatically links the second set of wireless commands with the solely selected televisor.

20. The remote controller apparatus of claim 16 further comprising:

a first logic means responsive to a selection of an ancillary device and for automatically initiating the wireless sending of preceptive function signal to the televisor in automatic response to the manual actuation of at least one of the individual keybutton switches comprising the first switch means; and

,

wherein an assertion of the immediate correspondence in channel selection tuning between the televisor video signal input port and the ancillary device'"'"'s video signal output port is automatically affirmed concurrent with every first set of wireless commands sent to the selected ancillary device.