Remote control automatic appliance activation
First Claim
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1. A method for remotely activating an appliance, the appliance responding to an activation signal conforming to one of a plurality of radio frequency activation schemes, the method comprising:
- positioning a sensor proximate to the appliance, whereby the sensor can determine whether or not the appliance is activated;
automatically transmitting a sequence of different activation signals, each activation signal in the sequence conforming to one of the plurality of radio frequency activation schemes;
receiving at least one signal from the sensor indicating appliance activation;
determining which of the plurality of radio frequency activation schemes resulted in transmiffing an activation signal in the sequence of activation signals that activated the appliance based on the at least one received sensor signal; and
associating data representing the determined activation scheme with a programmable remote control transmitter activation input;
wherein at least a portion of the sequence of activation signals has an order established by popularity of radio frequency activation schemes, whereby an average time until receiving the at least one sensor signal is decreased.
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Abstract
A programmable remote control automatically learns characteristics necessary to generate an appliance activation signal. A sensor is positioned proximate to the appliance. A sequence of different activation signals is transmitted. A determination as to which signal activated the appliance is made based on a received sensor signal. Data representing the determined activation scheme is associated with an activation input.
295 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for remotely activating an appliance, the appliance responding to an activation signal conforming to one of a plurality of radio frequency activation schemes, the method comprising:
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positioning a sensor proximate to the appliance, whereby the sensor can determine whether or not the appliance is activated; automatically transmitting a sequence of different activation signals, each activation signal in the sequence conforming to one of the plurality of radio frequency activation schemes; receiving at least one signal from the sensor indicating appliance activation; determining which of the plurality of radio frequency activation schemes resulted in transmiffing an activation signal in the sequence of activation signals that activated the appliance based on the at least one received sensor signal; and associating data representing the determined activation scheme with a programmable remote control transmitter activation input; wherein at least a portion of the sequence of activation signals has an order established by popularity of radio frequency activation schemes, whereby an average time until receiving the at least one sensor signal is decreased.
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2. A system for operating a remotely controlled appliance, the appliance responding to a radio frequency activation signal exhibiting characteristics of one of a plurality of activation schemes, the system comprising:
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a sensor operative to generate at least one sensor signal in response to activation of the appliance; a transmitter operative to transmit radio frequency activation signals, each transmitted activation signal based on one of the plurality of activation schemes; memory operative to hold data representing one of the plurality of activation schemes; and control logic in communication with the sensor, the transmitter, and the memory, the control logic controlling the transmitter to transmit a sequence of different activation signals, each activation signal in the sequence based on one of the plurality of activation schemes, the control logic storing data into the memory based on receiving the at least one sensor signal, the data indicating one of the plurality of activation schemes which activated the appliance; wherein the control logic controls the transmitter to transmit at least a portion of the sequence of activation signals in an order based on popularity of radio frequency activation schemes, whereby an average time until the appliance is activated is decreased.
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3. A method for remotely activating an appliance, the appliance responding to an activation signal conforming to one of a plurality of radio frequency activation schemes, the method comprising:
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positioning a sensor proximate to the appliance, whereby the sensor can determine whether or not the appliance is activated; automatically transmitting a sequence of different activation signals, each activation signal in the sequence conforming to one of the plurality of radio frequency activation schemes; receiving at least one signal from the sensor indicating appliance activation, wherein receiving at least one signal from the sensor indicating appliance activation comprises receiving a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal, the second sensor signal confirming appliance activation by one of the plurality of radio frequency activation schemes; determining which of the plurality of radio frequency activation schemes resulted in transmitting an activation signal in the sequence of activation signals that activated the appliance based on the at least one received sensor signal; associating data representing the determined activation scheme with a programmable remote control transmitter activation input; rapidly transmitting the sequence of activation signals prior to receiving the first sensor signal; and slowly transmitting at least a portion of the rapidly transmitted sequence of activation signals prior to receiving the second sensor signal. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for operating a remotely controlled appliance, the appliance responding to a radio frequency activation signal exhibiting characteristics of one of a plurality of activation schemes, the system comprising:
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a sensor operative to generate first and second sensor signals in response to the appliance being activated; a transmitter operative to transmit radio frequency activation signals, each transmitted activation signal based on one of the plurality of activation schemes; memory operative to hold data representing one of the plurality of activation schemes; and control logic in communication with the sensor, the transmitter, and the memory, the control logic controlling the transmitter to transmit a sequence of different activation signals, each activation signal in the sequence based on one of the plurality of activation schemes, the control logic storing data into the memory based on receiving the at least one sensor signal, the data indicating one of the plurality of activation schemes which activated the appliance; wherein the control logic is operative to; rapidly transmit the sequence of activation signals prior to receiving the first sensor signal; and slowly transmit at least a portion of the rapidly transmitted sequence of activation signals prior to receiving the second sensor signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification