System and method for measuring and presenting memory size of a universal remote control

• US 7,221,306 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2003
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Young, Jeffrey J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass; Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yacob; Sisay
• Application Number:
  US10/665,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20050062614A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.11, 340/825.57, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/815.45, 340/815.4, 340/815.6, 341/175, 341/173, 341/174, 341/176, 341/172, 369/24.01, 455/151.1, 455/352, 455/353, 348/14.05, 348/734
• US Class Current: 341/173
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control

Abstract

A system and method for measuring and presenting a size of a memory within a universal remote control. The described system and method allows a user to place a universal remote control into an operational mode wherein it measures a size of memory and reports the measured memory by means of an audio or visual indication.

Claims

1. A method for presenting a size of a writeable memory within a universal remote control, comprising:

invoking a diagnostic routine within the universal remote control which measures a size of the writeable memory; and

causing an LED of the universal remote control to blink one of a predetermined number of times each being correlated to a different measurable memory size to thereby present an indication of the size of the writeable memory as measured by the diagnostic routine.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the memory size measured is an overall size of the writeable memory.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the memory size measured is an amount of available memory in the writeable memory.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the diagnostic routine is automatically invoked in response to a request to download data into the writeable memory.

2. A method for presenting a size of a writeable memory within a universal remote control, comprising:

invoking a diagnostic routine within the universal remote control which measures a size of the writeable memory; and

causing an LED of the universal remote control to be blinked in at least one group of blinks, the group of blinks corresponding to one or more digits representative of measured memory size, to thereby present an indication of the size of the writeable memory as measured by the diagnostic routine.

15. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the memory size measured is an overall size of the writeable memory.

16. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the memory size measured is an amount of available memory in the writeable memory.

17. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the diagnostic routine is automatically invoked in response to a request to download data into the writeable memory.

3. A method for presenting a size of a writeable memory within a universal remote control, comprising:

invoking a diagnostic routine within the universal remote control which measures a size of the writeable memory; and

causing a speaker of the universal remote control to emit a sound one of a predetermined number of times each being correlated to a different measurable memory size to thereby present an indication of the size of the writeable memory as measured by the diagnostic routine.

18. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the memory size measured is an overall size of the writeable memory.

19. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the memory size measured is an amount of available memory in the writeable memory.

20. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the diagnostic routine is automatically invoked in response to a request to download data into the writeable memory.

4. A method for presenting a size of a writeable memory within a universal remote control, comprising:

invoking a diagnostic routine within the universal remote control which measures a size of the writeable memory; and

causing a speaker of the universal remote control to emit at least one group of sounds, the group of sounds corresponding to one or more digits representative of measured memory size, to thereby present an indication of the size of the writeable memory as measured by the diagnostic routine.

21. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the memory size measured is an overall size of the writeable memory.

22. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the memory size measured is an amount of available memory in the writeable memory.

23. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the diagnostic routine is automatically invoked in response to a request to download data into the writeable memory.

8. A readable medium carrying processor executable instructions for presenting a size of a writeable memory within a universal remote control, the instructions performing steps comprising:

invoking a diagnostic routine within the universal remote control which measures a size of the writable memory; and

causing an LED of the universal remote control to blink one of a predetermined number of times each being correlated to a different measurable memory size to thereby present an indication of the size of the writeable memory as measured by the diagnostic routine.

12. The readable medium as recited in claim 8, wherein the measured memory size is an overall size of the writeable memory.

13. The readable medium as recited in claim 8, wherein the measured memory size is an amount of available memory in the writeable memory.

14. The readable medium is recited in claim 8, wherein the diagnostic routine is automatically invoked in response to a request to download data into the writeable memory.

9. A readable medium carrying processor executable instructions for presenting a size of a writeable memory within a universal remote control, the instructions performing steps comprising:

invoking a diagnostic routine within the universal remote control which measures a size of the writable memory; and

causing an LED of the universal remote control to be blinked in at least one group of blinks, the group of blinks corresponding to one or more digits representative of measured memory size, to thereby present an indication of the size of the writeable memory as measured by the diagnostic routine.

24. The readable media as recited in claim 9, wherein the memory size measured is an overall size of the writeable memory.

25. The readable media as recited in claim 9, wherein the memory size measured is an amount of available memory in the writeable memory.

26. The readable media as recited in claim 9, wherein the diagnostic routine is automatically invoked in response to a request to download data into the writeable memory.

10. A readable medium carrying processor executable instructions for presenting a size of a writeable memory within a universal remote control, the instructions performing steps comprising:

invoking a diagnostic routine within the universal remote control which measures a size of the writable memory; and

causing a speaker to emit a sound one of a predetermined number of times each being correlated to a different measurable memory size to thereby present an indication of the size of the writeable memory as measured by the diagnostic routine.

27. The readable media as recited in claim 10, wherein the memory size measured is an overall size of the writeable memory.

28. The readable media as recited in claim 10, wherein the memory size measured is an amount of available memory in the writeable memory.

29. The readable media as recited in claim 10, wherein the diagnostic routine is automatically invoked in response to a request to download data into the writeable memory.

11. A readable medium carrying processor executable instructions for presenting a size of a writeable memory within a universal remote control, the instructions performing steps comprising:

invoking a diagnostic routine within the universal remote control which measures a size of the writable memory; and

causing a speaker to emit at least one group of sounds, the group of sounds corresponding to one or more digits representative of measured memory size, to thereby present an indication of the size of the writeable memory as measured by the diagnostic routine.

30. The readable media as recited in claim 11, wherein the memory size measured is an overall size of the writeable memory.

31. The readable media as recited in claim 11, wherein the memory size measured is an amount of available memory in the writeable memory.

32. The readable media as recited in claim 11, wherein the diagnostic routine is automatically invoked in response to a request to download data into the writeable memory.