Relaying key code signals through a remote control device
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A method comprising:
- (a) receiving a keystroke indicator signal from a remote control device, wherein the keystroke indicator signal indicates a key on said remote control device that a user has selected;
(b) generating a key code within a key code generator device using the keystroke indictor signal;
(c) modulating said key code onto a carrier signal, thereby generating a key code signal; and
(d) transmitting said key code signal from said key code generator device to said remote control device.
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Litigations
3 Petitions
Reexaminations
Accused Products
Abstract
Upon receiving a keystroke indicator signal from a remote control device, a key code generator device identifies a codeset usable to communicate with a selected consumer device. The keystroke indicator signal contains an indication of a pressed key, which corresponds to a function of the selected consumer device. Using the identified codeset and the key indication, the key code generator device generates a key code and modulates that key code onto a radio frequency carrier signal, thereby generating a first key code signal. The remote control device receives the first key code signal from the key code generator device and modulates the key code onto an infrared frequency carrier signal, thereby generating a second key code signal. The remote control device relays the key code to the selected consumer device in the second key code signal. The key code causes the selected consumer device to perform the desired function.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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(a) receiving a keystroke indicator signal from a remote control device, wherein the keystroke indicator signal indicates a key on said remote control device that a user has selected; (b) generating a key code within a key code generator device using the keystroke indictor signal; (c) modulating said key code onto a carrier signal, thereby generating a key code signal; and (d) transmitting said key code signal from said key code generator device to said remote control device. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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2. A method comprising:
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(a) receiving a keystroke indicator signal from a remote control device, wherein the keystroke indicator signal indicates a keV on said remote control device that a user has selected; (b) generating a key code within a key code generator device using the keystroke indictor signal; (c) modulating said key code onto a carrier signal, thereby generating a key code signal; and (d) transmitting said key code signal from said key code generator device to an electronic consumer device. - View Dependent Claims (5, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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10. A method comprising:
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(a) receiving a keystroke indicator signal from a remote control device; (b) generating a key code within a key code generator device; (c) modulating said key code onto a carrier signal, thereby generating a key code signal; and (d) transmitting said key code signal from said key code generator device, wherein a codeset comprises a plurality of key codes, each one of said plurality of key codes corresponding to a function of an electronic consumer device, and wherein no more than a single one of said plurality of key codes is present on said remote control device at any given time. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A remote control device comprising:
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a receiver that receives a first key code signal, wherein said first key code signal is generated by modulating a key code onto a first carrier signal, said first carrier signal falling within a radio frequency band; a transmitter that transmits a second key code signal, wherein said second key code signal is generated by modulating said key code onto a second carrier signal, said second carrier signal falling within an infrared frequency band; and a keypad that includes a key that corresponds to said key code, wherein said key code corresponds to a function of an electronic consumer device, and wherein said key code corresponds to a second function of a second electronic consumer device, as well as to said function of said electronic consumer device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A device comprising:
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a receiver that receives a first key code signal, wherein said first key code signal is generated by modulating a key code onto a first carrier signal, said first carrier signal falling within a radio frequency band; a transmitter that transmits a second key code signal, wherein said second key code signal is generated by modulating said key code onto a second carrier signal, said second carrier signal falling within an infrared frequency band; and a keypad that includes a key that corresponds to said key code, wherein said key code corresponds to a function of an electronic consumer device, wherein said keypad includes a second key that corresponds to a second key code, wherein a third key code signal is generated by modulating said second key code onto a third carrier signal, wherein said third key code signal is received by said receiver, and wherein both said first key code and said second key code are not both stored in said device at the same time.
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16. A system comprising:
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a key code generator device that generates a first key code and a second key code, wherein a codeset is stored on said key code generator device, said codeset including said first key code and said second key code, wherein said first key code corresponds to a selected function of a first electronic consumer device, and wherein said second key code corresponds to said selected function of a second electronic consumer device; and means for relaying said first key code and said second key code from said key code generator device through a remote control device to said first electronic consumer device and to said second electronic consumer device without simultaneously storing both said first key code and said second key code on said remote control device. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A remote control device, comprising:
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a keypad; an RF receiver; an IR transmitter; and means for receiving a key code from said RF receiver and for sending said key code to said IR transmitter such that said key code is modulated onto an IR carrier signal, said IR carrier signal with said key code modulated thereon being transmitted from said remote control device by said IR transmitter, wherein said means is a microcontroller.
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20. A method comprising:
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(a) receiving a keystroke indicator signal from a remote control device; (b) using said keystroke indicator signal to generate a key code, wherein a key code generator device generates said key code; (c) modulating said key code onto a carrier signal and thereby generating a key code signal; and (d) transmitting said key code signal from said key code generator device to said remote control device, wherein said remote control device transmits said key code signal to an electronic consumer device. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification