System and method for interleaving infrared command codes with identifier codes

• US 6,774,813 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2001
• Issued: 08/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Home Control Signapore Pte., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Ekkel, Frederik, van Ee, Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shimizu, Matsuichiro
• Application Number:
  US09/823,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20020140569A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 345/717, 348/734, 235/462
• US Class Current: 340/12.23
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/21 Programming remote control devices via third means
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control

Abstract

A universal programmable remote is programmed for being used with a specific apparatus. A sequence of test codes is sent to the apparatus until the apparatus responds. The test codes comprise tags that are sent along. The tags fall all within a same narrow frequency band. An STB that is eavesdropping on the transmission is receptive to that band. The STB identifies the last tag and enables a server to identify the complete set of codes for the apparatus based on the tag. Thereupon the set is downloaded and programmed in the remote.

Claims

1. A method for enabling a user to program a remote control device for remote control of an apparatus, the method comprising:

enabling to send respective interleaved control signals, representative of the respective test control codes, sequentially to the apparatus until the apparatus responds to a specific test control code, the interleaved control signal comprising a control code and an associated, corresponding identifier code wherein;

each respective test control code is representative of a respective set of multiple control codes for controlling the apparatus;

enabling to monitor the sending of the respective interleaved control signals;

enabling to identify a specific set of the multiple control codes corresponding to the identifier code for the interleaved control signal; and

enabling to render the specific set operational on the remote control device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote control device is pre-programmed with the respective test control codes.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective sets are preprogrammed on the remote control device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective test codes are supplied from a remote server via a data network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the specific set is supplied from a remote server via a data network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the enabling to monitor comprises enabling a set-top box to monitor the sending of the identifier codes.

7. A first database comprising a plurality of respective sets of control codes, at least one set for use with a system comprising a programmable remote control device, a programming means, and an apparatus responsive to at least one set of control codes in the database, the first database including control codes representing frequencies that cannot be picked-up by the programming means and the first or a second database comprising identifier codes representing frequencies that can be picked-up by the programming means to enable the generation of an interleaved control signal for the identification of a set of control codes in the database for controlling the apparatus through the remote control device.

8. A plurality of respective test codes for being sent in a sequence of respective interleaved control signals for probing a response of a remote controllable apparatus, the respective interleaved control signals comprising control codes and associated, corresponding identifier codes, wherein at least a portion of the interleaved control signals representing identifier codes are being sent in a predetermined frequency that can be picked-up by a programming means for a programmable remote control device.

9. A programmable remote control device configured for sequentially sending respective interleaved control signals comprising test control codes and associated, corresponding identifier codes to an apparatus until the apparatus responds to a specific one of the interleaved control signals, wherein the device is configured to receive a set of control codes for controlling the apparatus based on a programming means for the device responding to an identifier code in the interleaved control signal following a response by the apparatus to a test control code in the interleaved control signal.

10. Data processing equipment comprising a receiver for wireless input in a specific frequency band, and having software to identify a last one in a sequence of multiple tags received as wireless input, for upon identifying the last one sending a message via a data network to a remote server;

the data processing equipment further comprising an interleaver circuit for associating an identifier code with a respective control code to form an interleaved control signal having a predetermined frequency, the data processing equipment being able to pick-up the frequency of at least a portion of the interleaved control signal representing the identifier code.

11. The equipment of claim 10 comprising a set top box.

12. Software for being installed on data processing equipment, the equipment comprising a receiver for wireless input in a specific frequency band, the software being operational to identify a last one in a sequence of multiple interleaved control signals received as wireless input, and for upon identifying the last one, sending a message via a data network to a remote server;

the data processing equipment including an interleaver circuit for associating an identifier code with a corresponding control code to form an interleaved control signal having a predetermined frequency, the data processing equipment being able to pick-up the frequency of at least a portion of the interleaved control signal representing the identifier code.

13. The software of claim 12, for receiving via the data network a set of control codes in response to the sending of the message, the control codes being suitable for being programmed into a programmable remote control device.