Alternate command signal decoding option for a remotely controlled apparatus

• US 6,747,590 B1
• Filed: 02/12/2001
• Issued: 06/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2001
• 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): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US09/779,992
• Time in Patent Office: 1,212 Days
• Field of Search: 348/725, 348/734, 341/173, 341/176, 359/245, 340/825.52, 340/825.72, 340/825.69
• US Class Current: 341/176
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/12 in which the signal transmitted is frequency or phase of ac
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

A portable remote controller for use with several remotely controlled entertainment devices which enables their concurrent usage in shared proximity without random interference between remotely submitted and individually directed encoded device commands. Discusses a provision for user accessible preselection between more than one alternative encoding and decoding data format when a command sent to one device appears to cause undesirable random interference with another device'"'"'s functions. A user'"'"'s preemptive selection of an alternate remote control encoding format assures the proximal, concurrent use of two substantially identical devices, such as two VCR-machines, without command interference. When a user finds objectionable command interference caused by mutual remote controller coupling, the user may select and preset a distinctly different code format for at least one of the remotely controlled devices.

Claims

1. A remote control method for allowing a plurality of related entertainment appliances to operate in the same environment, comprising the steps of:

immutably storing in a remote controller a first alpha encoding data set, a second alpha encoding data set, and a first beta encoding data set, wherein the signals corresponding to the first alpha encoding data set are different from the signals corresponding to the second alpha encoding data set, and wherein the remote controller is selected to send only the signals from one of the encoding data sets;

immutably storing in a first remotely controlled apparatus a first alpha decoding data set;

immutably storing in a second remotely controlled apparatus a second alpha decoding data set and a first beta decoding data set, wherein the second remotely controlled apparatus is selected to use one of the decoding data sets;

wherein the decoding data sets are used to decode the signals from their respective encoding data sets;

utilizing a keypad to enter a command to cause the remote controller to send a first alpha encoded data signal to the first and the second remotely controlled apparatus;

using the first and the second remotely controlled apparatus to receive the encoded data signal;

using the first and the second remotely controlled apparatus to decode and to execute the command corresponding with the signal if the decoding data set is compatible with the first encoding data set;

observing that the second remotely controlled apparatus improperly decodes and executes the first alpha encoded data signal; and

switching the second remotely controlled apparatus to an alternative decoding data set.

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

submitting the user command into the keypad as a plurality of individual keystrokes;

accumulating and storing keystroke data;

manually actuating a designated send key;

retrieving the stored keystroke data; and

sequentially sending the stored keystroke data as a first or second alpha encoded wireless signal or a first or second beta encoded wireless signal.

3. The remote control method of claim 1:

wherein the switching is performed by a local switch on one of the remotely controlled apparatus.

4. The remote control method of claim 3:

wherein the remote controller has a switch for switching between coding sets.

5. The remote control method of claim 1:

wherein the code sets represent the commands associated with a particular make and model of remotely controlled apparatus.

6. A remote control method comprising the steps of:

integrally coupling a first remotely controlled device with a second remotely controlled device;

storing a first alpha decoding set and a first beta decoding set in the first remotely controlled device, wherein only one decoding set is selectively active;

storing a second alpha decoding set in the second remotely controlled device;

storing a first alpha encoding data set, a second alpha encoding data set, and a first beta encoding data set in a portable remote controller, wherein the encoding data sets correspond with the decoding data sets and only one encoding data set is selectively active;

causing the remote controller to send at least one command as a first alpha encoded signal to be received and decoded by the remotely controlled devices;

causing the remote controller to send at least one command as a first beta encoded signal to be received and decoded by the remotely controlled devices;

observing the operational response by the remotely controlled devices from the first alpha encoded signal and the first beta encoded signal to determine which encoded signal results in better control of the devices; and

selecting in the first remotely controlled device the decoding set that respond to the signal with better control.

7. The remote control method of claim 6:

wherein the remote controller is a universal remote controller.

8. The remote control method of claim 6:

wherein the switching between encoding sets is achieved by a user actuated switch on the remote controller.

9. The remote control method of claim 6:

wherein the switching between decoding sets is achieved by a user actuated switch on the first remotely controlled device.

10. The remote control method of claim 6 further comprising:

entering at least one non-zero digit value into a keypad of the remote controller to form a channel command;

storing the channel command;

entering a send command;

retrieving the stored channel command;

prefixing a leading zero to the channel command if the channel command is a single digit value; and

transmitting the leading zero and the channel command as a first alpha encoded signal.

11. The remote control method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

storing the first alpha decoding data set and the first beta decoding data set in separate storage banks of the first remotely controlled device; and

switching between the storage banks to select the decoding data set during initial setup of the first remotely controlled device.