Method for generating and transmitting/receiving input codes in universal input device and apparatus thereof

• US 6,822,602 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2001
• Issued: 11/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kang, Mun-hyuk, Beck, Chang-kyu
• Primary Examiner(s): EDWARDS JR, TIMOTHY
• Application Number:
  US09/867,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20020080044A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,272 Days
• Field of Search: 341/173, 341/176, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 345/169, 348/734, 359/142, 359/146, 386/83
• US Class Current: 341/173
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code

Abstract

A method for generating and processing universal input codes, for which a universal remote control protocol is applied, and an apparatus thereof are provided. The method includes the steps of (a) setting a type code for indicating the type of an input device, and universal input codes which are mapped with local input codes according to the type of the input devices; (b) forming a data format by adding the type code and universal input codes set in step (a) and operation parameters for operating the type code and universal input codes. According to the method and apparatus, by unifying diverse input devices, manufacturing costs and developing time can be reduced, and user convenience can be provided.

Claims

1. A method for generating an input code of a universal input device, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) setting a type code for indicating the type of an input device, and universal input codes which are mapped with local input codes according to the type of the input device;

(b) forming a data format by adding the type code and universal input codes set in step (a) and operation parameters for operating the type code and universal input codes.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation parameters include a connection related parameter for connecting a channel for transmitting the data format, a flag for determining whether or not the universal input code is converted into a local input code, and a key state parameter corresponding to the type of a key event.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the type code includes a code which further divides one input device into a plurality of types.

4. A method for transmitting input codes, wherein universal input codes, into which the local input codes of a plurality of input devices are mapped, is set and the universal input codes are transmitted, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving ones of the universal input codes, which can be processed among the universal input codes, and forming a mapping table between the universal input codes which can be processed and local input codes, which are already used; and

if an input event occurs, converting the local input codes into the corresponding ones of the universal input codes, with reference to the mapping table formed in the above step, and transmitting the converted local input codes in a predetermined format.

5. A method for receiving input codes, wherein universal input codes, into which local input codes of a plurality of input devices are mapped, are set, and the universal input codes received in a client are processed, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving the universal input codes from the client, selecting universal input codes which can be processed, forming a mapping table between the selected universal input codes and the local input codes, and then transmitting the selected universal input codes to the client; and

(b) if the universal input codes, which are mapped into the local input codes according to the generation of an input event from the client are received, converting the universal input codes into the local input codes, with reference to the mapping table formed in the step (a), and then generating a corresponding processing event.

6. A method for transmitting and/or receiving universal remote control codes, using a client and server, wherein universal input codes, into which local input codes of a plurality of input devices are mapped, are set, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) if the client connects the server to a channel and transmits a series of universal input codes, the server selecting, from among the universal input codes, universal input codes which can be processed, generating a receiving conversion table, which is mapped into the local input codes, and then transmitting the selected universal input codes to the client, and at the same time generating a transmitting conversion table by mapping the selected universal input codes into the local input codes;

(b) if the local input codes are generated through the input device, the client converting the local input codes into universal input codes by use of the transmitting conversion table generated in the step (a), putting the converted universal input codes into a data format, and then transmitting the data format; and

(c) if the server receives the universal input codes, the server converting the universal input codes into corresponding local input codes by use of the receiving conversion table generated in the step (b), and processing the event corresponding to the local input codes.

7. A transmitting apparatus for controlling a universal input device by transmitting universal input codes, into which local input codes of a plurality of input devices are mapped, the transmitting apparatus comprising:

a key input unit for generating an event corresponding to a key input in the form of local input codes;

a transmitting code conversion table for storing mapping data between the universal input codes and the local input codes;

a transmitting code processing unit for forming a conversion table unit with universal input codes, which can be processed in the universal input device, and local input codes, which are already used, and if local input codes corresponding to an event are generated from the key input unit, converting the generated local input codes into converted universal input codes referring to the conversion table; and

a transmission network driving unit for transmitting the converted universal input codes converted in the transmitting code processing unit.

8. A receiving apparatus for receiving universal input codes, into which local input codes of a plurality of input devices are mapped, the receiving apparatus comprising:

a reception network driving unit for receiving the universal input codes from the network;

a reception conversion table for storing mapping data between the universal input codes and the local input codes;

a receiving code processing unit for forming the mapping table unit with the universal input codes received from the reception network driving unit and local input codes, which are already used, and if the universal input codes, into which the local input codes are mapped according to the occurrence of an input event, are received, converting the universal input codes into local input codes with reference to the conversion table, and then processing a processing event corresponding to the local input codes.

9. A system for transmitting and/or receiving universal input codes, wherein universal input codes, into which the local input codes of a plurality of input devices are mapped, are set, the system comprising:

a client unit for forming a mapping table between local input codes, which are already used, and universal input codes, which are received and can be processed, if an input event occurs, converting the local input codes into universal input codes with reference to the mapping table, and transmitting the converted universal input codes in a predetermined format; and

a server unit for receiving the universal input codes from the client unit, selecting universal input codes, which can be processed, forming a mapping table for local input codes, which are already used, transmitting the selected universal input codes to the client unit, if the universal input codes from the client unit are received according to the occurrence of an input event, converting the universal input codes into local input codes with reference to the mapping table, and then generating the corresponding processing event.