Remote controller with programmable favorite keys

• US 6,750,802 B1
• Filed: 02/09/2001
• Issued: 06/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard Olen
• Original Assignee: Richard Olen
• Inventors: Olen, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): DANG, HUNG Q
• Application Number:
  US09/780,226
• Time in Patent Office: 1,222 Days
• Field of Search: 341/176, 341/173, 341/180, 455/151.1, 455/151.2, 455/151.4, 455/158.1, 455/160.1, 348/569, 348/570, 345/169, 340/825.72
• US Class Current: 341/176
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/33 Remote control using macros, scripts
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42226 Reprogrammable remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control

Abstract

A remote controller to control an electronic device has a programmable favorite key which is programmed so that an operation on the favorite key shifts the working channel on the controlled electronic device to a favorite channel associated with the favorite key. The favorite key transmits a sequential string of command signals comprising a number of channel shifting command signals, which number is determined according to a predetermined relation on the basis of a relative index number of the favorite channel in a plurality of indexed channels.

Claims

1. A method of programming a remote controller having a plurality of keys to control a target electronic device, the method comprising:

entering a programming mode;

determining an index number of a favorite channel in a plurality of indexed channels;

programming a programmable favorite key based on the index number of the favorite channel according to a predetermined relation; and

exiting the programming mode, wherein entering a programming mode comprises;

switching the channel of the target electronic device from the initial channel to a predetermined base channel if the target electronic device is already turned on and is at an initial channel before the remote control enters the programming mode.

2. A method of programming a remote controller having a plurality of keys to control a target electronic device, the method comprising:

entering a programming mode;

determining an index number of a favorite channel in a plurality of indexed channels;

programming a programmable favorite key based on the index number of the favorite channel according to a predetermined relation; and

exiting the programming mode, wherein the plurality of indexed channels are preselected on the target electronic device and form an index chain in which each channel is sequentially followed by another channel, the index chain having an upward direction and a downward direction, wherein the step of determining the index number of the favorite channel in the plurality of indexed channels comprises;

counting a net number of moves n from a predetermined base channel to the favorite channel, wherein

a move from one channel to an immediate channel in the upward direction being counted as a plus move and a move from one channel to an immediate channel in the downward direction being counted as a minus move, and the net number of moves n being the algebraic sum of the plus moves and minus moves needed to move the base channel to the favorite channel.

3. A method of programming a remote controller having a plurality of keys to control a target electronic device, the method comprising:

entering a programming mode;

determining an index number of a favorite channel in a plurality of indexed channels;

programming a programmable favorite key based on the index number of the favorite channel according to a predetermined relation; and

exiting the programming mode, wherein the plurality of indexed channels are preselected on the target electronic device and form an index chain in which each channel is sequentially followed by another channel, the index chain having an upward direction and a downward direction;

the remote control has a plus key and a minus key; and

wherein pressing the plus key once briefly moves the present channel to the next channel in the upward direction, while pressing the minus key once briefly moves the present channel to the next channel in the downward direction;

wherein determining an index number of a favorite channel in a plurality of indexed channels comprises;

moving the working channel of the target electronic device from a predetermined base channel to the favorite channel by selectively pressing the plus key and the minus key; and

counting the net increase or the net decrease of a relative channel index number n by increasing n by one each time when the plus key is pressed and decreasing n by one each time the minus key is pressed.

4. A method of programming a remote controller having a plurality of keys to control a target electronic device, the method comprising:

entering a programming mode;

determining an index number of a favorite channel in a plurality of indexed channels;

programming a programmable favorite key based on the index number of the favorite channel according to a predetermined relation; and

exiting the programming mode, wherein the plurality of indexed channels are preselected on the target electronic device and form an index chain in which each channel is sequentially followed by another channel, the index chain having an upward direction and a downward direction;

the remote control has a plus key and a minus key; and

wherein pressing the plus key once briefly moves the present channel to the next channel in the upward direction, while pressing the minus key once briefly moves the present channel to the next channel in the downward direction;

wherein determining an index number of a favorite channel in a plurality of indexed channels comprises;

moving the working channel of the target electronic device from a predetermined base channel to the favorite channel by selectively pressing the plus key and the minus key; and

counting the net increase or the net decrease of a relative channel index number n by increasing n by one each time when the plus key is pressed and decreasing n by one each time the minus key is pressed, and wherein counting is accomplished by a counter in the remote control.

5. A method of programming a remote controller having a plurality of keys to control a target electronic device, the method comprising:

entering a programming mode;

determining an index number of a favorite channel in a plurality of indexed channels;

programming a programmable favorite key based on the index number of the favorite channel according to a predetermined relation; and

exiting the programming mode, wherein the plurality of indexed channels are preselected on the target electronic device and form an index chain in which each channel is sequentially followed by another channel, the index chain having an upward direction and a downward direction;

the remote control has a plus key and a minus key; and

wherein pressing the plus key once briefly moves the present channel to the next channel in the upward direction, while pressing the minus key once briefly moves the present channel to the next channel in the downward direction;

wherein determining an index number of a favorite channel in a plurality of indexed channels comprises;

moving the working channel of the target electronic device from a predetermined base channel to the favorite channel by selectively pressing the plus key and the minus key; and

counting the net increase or the net decrease of a relative channel index number n by increasing n by one each time when the plus key is pressed and decreasing n by one each time the minus key is pressed, the method further comprising;

resetting the relative channel index number n to zero;

starting the counting toward the relative channel index number n upon entering into the programming mode; and

stopping the counting toward the relative channel index number n up exiting the programming mode.

6. A method of programming a remote controller having a plurality of keys to control a target electronic device, the method comprising:

entering a programming mode;

determining an index number of a favorite channel in a plurality of indexed channels;

programming a programmable favorite key based on the index number of the favorite channel according to a predetermined relation; and

exiting the programming mode, wherein the plurality of indexed channels are preselected on the target electronic device and form an index chain in which each channel is sequentially followed by another channel, the index chain having an upward direction and a downward direction;

the remote control has a plus key and a minus key; and

wherein pressing the plus key once briefly moves the present channel to the next channel in the upward direction, while pressing the minus key once briefly moves the present channel to the next channel in the downward direction;

wherein determining an index number of a favorite channel in a plurality of indexed channels comprises;

moving the working channel of the target electronic device from a predetermined base channel to the favorite channel by selectively pressing the plus key and the minus key; and

counting the net increase or the net decrease of a relative channel index number n by increasing n by one each time when the plus key is pressed and decreasing n by one each time the minus key is pressed, and wherein the remote controller has a plurality of programmable favorite keys, the method further comprising;

selecting a programmable favorite key from the plurality of programmable favored keys;

starting counting toward the relative channel number upon entering into programming mode;

assigning the net increase or the net decrease of the relative channel index number n to the selected programmable favorite key; and

stopping counting toward the relative channel index number n upon exiting the programming mode.

7. A method of programming a remote controller having a plurality of keys to control a target electronic device, the method comprising:

entering a programming mode;

determining an index number of a favorite channel in a plurality of indexed channels;

programming a programmable favorite key based on the index number of the favorite channel according to a predetermined relation; and

exiting the programming mode, wherein the plurality of indexed channels are preselected on the target electronic device and form an index chain in which each channel is sequentially followed by another channel, the index chain having an upward direction and a downward direction;

the remote control has a plus key and a minus key; and

wherein pressing the plus key once briefly moves the present channel to the next channel in the upward direction, while pressing the minus key once briefly moves the present channel to the next channel in the downward direction;

wherein determining an index number of a favorite channel in a plurality of indexed channels comprises;

moving the working channel of the target electronic device from a predetermined base channel to the favorite channel by selectively pressing the plus key and the minus key; and

counting the net increase or the net decrease of a relative channel index number n by increasing n by one each time when the plus key is pressed and decreasing n by one each time the minus key is pressed, and wherein the remote controller has a plurality of programmable favorite keys;

the remote controller further has a program for counting and storing relative channel index numbers i, each number i being corresponding to one of the plurality of programmable favorite keys, the method further comprising;

selecting a programmable favorite key from the plurality of programmable favored keys;

resetting the corresponding relative channel index number to zero;

entering into the programming mode; and

assigning the corresponding relative channel index number n to the selected programmable favorite key.

8. A method of programming a remote controller having a plurality of keys to control a target electronic device, the method comprising:

entering a programming mode;

determining an index number of a favorite channel in a plurality of indexed channels;

programming a programmable favorite key based on the index number of the favorite channel according to a predetermined relation; and

exiting the programming mode, wherein the plurality of indexed channels are preselected on the target electronic device and form an index chain in which each channel is sequentially followed by another channel, the index chain having an upward direction and a downward direction;

the remote control has a plus key and a minus key; and

wherein pressing the plus key once briefly moves the present channel to the next channel in the upward direction, while pressing the minus key once briefly moves the present channel to the next channel in the downward direction;

wherein determining an index number of a favorite channel in a plurality of indexed channels comprises;

moving the working channel of the target electronic device from a predetermined base channel to the favorite channel by selectively pressing the plus key and the minus key; and

counting the net increase or the net decrease of a relative channel index number n by increasing n by one each time when the plus key is pressed and decreasing n by one each time the minus key is pressed, wherein counting is accomplished by a counter in the remote control, and wherein the plurality of indexed channels on the target electronic device include a total number of N channels, the step of programming the programmable favorite key comprising;

assigning to the programmable favorite key a repetition of i times the command code for the plus key;

or,

assigning to the programmable favorite key a repetition of N−

i times the command code for the minus key.

9. A method of programming a remote controller having a plurality of keys to control a target electronic device, the method comprising:

entering a programming mode;

determining an index number of a favorite channel in a plurality of indexed channels;

programming a programmable favorite key based on the index number of the favorite channel according to a predetermined relation; and

exiting the programming mode, wherein the plurality of indexed channels are preselected on the target electronic device and form an index chain in which each channel is sequentially followed by another channel, the index chain having an upward direction and a downward direction;

the remote control has a plus key and a minus key; and

wherein pressing the plus key once briefly moves the present channel to the next channel in the upward direction, while pressing the minus key once briefly moves the present channel to the next channel in the downward direction;

wherein determining an index number of a favorite channel in a plurality of indexed channels comprises;

moving the working channel of the target electronic device from a predetermined base channel to the favorite channel by selectively pressing the plus key and the minus key; and

counting the net increase or the net decrease of a relative channel index number n by increasing n by one each time when the plus key is pressed and decreasing n by one each time the minus key is pressed, wherein counting is accomplished by a counter in the remote control, wherein the plurality of indexed channels on the target electronic device include a total number of N channels, the step of programming the programmable favorite key comprising;

assigning to the programmable favorite key a repetition of i times the command code for the plus key;

or,

assigning to the programmable favorite key a repetition of N−

i times the command code for the minus key, and wherein the step of programming the programmable favorite key comprising;

if i<

N−

i assigning to the programmable favorite key a repetition of n times the command code for the plus key on the remote control;

if i>

N−

i assigning to the programmable favorite key a repetition of N−

i times the command code for the minus key on the remote control; and

if i=N−

i assigning to the programmable favorite key a repetition of n times either the command code for the plus key or a repetition of n times the command code for the minus key.

10. A remote controller having a plurality of operating keys for causing predetermined control signals to be transmitted to an electronic device in response to the operation of the operating key to execute respective operations of the electronic device, comprising:

a microprocessing unit including a CPU and a memory;

a keyboard coupled to the microprocessing unit including a set of command keys and a programmable favorite key, the set of command keys including at least one channel shifting key to sequentially shift the working channel of the electronic device;

transmissions circuitry coupled to the microprocessing unit

command codes stored in the memory for creating corresponding command signals which are transmitted by the transmission circuitry to a controlled electronic device to cause the controlled electron device to perform specific command functions; and

a program stored in the memory to accomplish the following operations;

a) determining an index number of a selected indexed channel in a set of indexed channels; and

b) assigning the information about the index number of the favorite channel to a selected favorite key, and wherein the program comprises a counting program which, when activated, counts the number of times the channel shifting key has been operated and outputs a variable i which represents the index number of the channel the user last accessed.

11. A remote controller having a plurality of operating keys for causing predetermined control signals to be transmitted to an electronic device in response to the operation of the operating key to execute respective operations of the electronic device, comprising:

a microprocessing unit including a CPU and a memory;

a keyboard coupled to the microprocessing unit including a set of command keys and a programmable favorite key, the set of command keys including at least one channel shifting key to sequentially shift the working channel of the electronic device;

transmissions circuitry coupled to the microprocessing unit

command codes stored in the memory for creating corresponding command signals which are transmitted by the transmission circuitry to a controlled electronic device to cause the controlled electron device to perform specific command functions; and

a program stored in the memory to accomplish the following operations;

a) determining an index number of a selected indexed channel in a set of indexed channels; and

b) assigning the information about the index number of the favorite channel to a selected favorite key, wherein the program comprises a counting program which, when activated counts the number of times the channel shifting key has been operated and outputs a variable i which represents the index number of the channel the user last accessed, the remote controller further comprising a program stored in the memory for enabling the remote controller to perform the following functions;

detecting a first predetermined input or a sequence of inputs, and upon such a detection, entering into a programming mode, automatically transmitting a command signal to switch the target electronic device to a predetermined base channel, activating the counting program; and

detecting a second predetermined input or a sequence of inputs, and upon such a detection, storing the output of the counting program, and exiting the programmable mode.

12. A remote controller having a plurality of operating keys for causing predetermined control signals to be transmitted to an electronic device in response to the operation of the operating key to execute respective operations of the electronic device, comprising:

a microprocessing unit including a CPU and a memory;

a keyboard coupled to the microprocessing unit including a set of command keys and a programmable favorite key, the set of command keys including at least one channel shifting key to sequentially shift the working channel of the electronic device;

transmissions circuitry coupled to the microprocessing unit

command codes stored in the memory for creating corresponding command signals which are transmitted by the transmission circuitry to a controlled electronic device to cause the controlled electron device to perform specific command functions; and

a program stored in the memory to accomplish the following operations;

a) determining an index number of a selected indexed channel in a set of indexed channels; and

b) assigning the information about the index number of the favorite channel to a selected favorite key, wherein the program comprises a counting program which, when activated, counts the number of times the channel shifting key has been operated and outputs a variable i which represents the index number of the channel the user last accessed, and wherein the first and the second predetermined inputs or sequences of inputs comprise operations on the keyboard.

13. A remote controller having a plurality of operating keys for causing predetermined control signals to be transmitted to an electronic device in response to the operation of the operating key to execute respective operations of the electronic device, comprising:

a microprocessing unit including a CPU and a memory;

transmissions circuitry coupled to the microprocessing unit;

command codes stored in the memory for creating corresponding command signals which are transmitted by the transmission circuit to a controlled electronic device to cause the controlled electron device to perform specific command functions; and

a keyboard coupled to the microprocessing unit including a set of command keys and a programmable favorite key, the set of command keys including at least one channel shifting key to sequentially shift the working channel of the electronic device;

wherein;

each programmable favorite key is programmed to transmit a sequential string of command signals comprising a number of channel shifting command signals so that an operation on the favorite key shifts the working channel on the controlled electronic device to a favorite channel associated with the favorite key the remote controller further comprising a program stored in the memory to determine an index number of a favorite channel relative to a predetermined base channel, wherein;

the sequential string of command signals transmitted by each programmable favorite key further comprises an initial command signal which switches the working channel on the controlled electronic device to the predetermined base channel, the number of channel shifting command signals subsequently transmitted being determined by the index number of the favorite channel relative to the predetermined base channel.

14. A remote controller having a plurality of operating keys for causing predetermined control signals to be transmitted to an electronic device in response to the operation of the operating key to execute respective operations of the electronic device, comprising:

a microprocessing unit including a CPU and a memory;

transmissions circuitry coupled to the microprocessing unit;

command codes stored in the memory for creating corresponding command signals which are transmitted by the transmission circuit to a controlled electronic device to cause the controlled electron device to perform specific command functions; and

a keyboard coupled to the microprocessing unit including a set of command keys and a programmable favorite key, the set of command keys including at least one channel shifting key to sequentially shift the working channel of the electronic device;

wherein;

each programmable favorite key is programmed to transmit a sequential string of command signals comprising a number of channel shifting command signals so that an operation on the favorite key shifts the working channel on the controlled electronic device to a favorite channel associated with the favorite key the remote controller having an operating mode and a programming mode, the remote controller further comprising a program stored in the memory to accomplish the following functions;

in the programming mode, determining an index number of a favorite channel the relative to a predetermined base channel and assigning the information on the index number to a selected favorite key to be associated with the favorite channel;

in the operating mode, determining an index number of a present channel accessed by a user using the remote controller; and

when the favored key is pressed by user, determine a hopping distance from the present channel to the favorite channel on the basis of the index number of the present channel and the index number of the favorite channel.

15. A control circuitry used in a remote controller to remotely control an electronic device which has a plurality of operating channels, the control circuitry comprises:

a CPU and a memory, wherein the CPU is adapted to receive input commands through a matrix encoding portion when connected to a plurality of operating keys including a channel shifting key, and wherein the memory contains a counting program which counts the number of times the channel shifting key has been operated, wherein the CPU is adapted to receive input commands of a CHANNEL UP key 30a and a CHANNEL DOWN, and wherein the accounting program counts an operation on the CHANNEL UP key 30a as a positive number and an operation on the CHANNEL DOWN as a negative number and has an algorithm to determine an index number based on the algebraic sum of the positive number and the negative number, and wherein the counting program has an algorithm to determine a plurality of index numbers, each index number being determined in an associated sequence and once determined, being stored in the memory.