System for transmitting control commands to electronic devices

• US 7,877,588 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2002
• Issued: 01/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Harman International Industries Incorporated (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Harman International Industries Incorporated (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Gharapetian, Ara H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Du; Thuan N
• Application Number:
  US10/037,208
• Publication Number:
  US 20020101357A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,308 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 713/100, 341/173, 341/174, 341/176, 398/106, 398/107, 398/111, 398/112, 348/734
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/33 Remote control using macros, scripts
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control

Abstract

This invention provides a remote control capable of automatically sending signals to a variety of electronic devices so that a user does not have to send signals to each of the electronic devices individually. The remote control may include a dedicated button that when activated may send signals to a plurality of electronic devices to perform one or more operations. The remote control may send the signals simultaneously or sequentially. The signals may be also encoded with the specific address for each of the plurality of electronic devices. This way, only the electronic device with the matching address may receive the signal. The signals may be also encoded with any number of commands such as turn “on” or turn “off” so that each electronic device may perform a similar or different operation as other electronic devices. The remote control may be any type of device that may be distinct from the electronic device such as a hand-held device. The electronic devices may be any type of electronic device that may be controlled remotely either through a hardwire or wirelessly.

Claims

1. A remote control, comprising:

a memory pre-programmed with addresses and commands for a plurality of electronic devices for a home theatre system;

a processor configured for communicating with the memory to access the addresses and commands for the plurality of electronic devices, and for storing in the memory a plurality of signals encoded with the respective addresses and commands;

an initiation device capable of communicating with the processor so that when the initiation device is activated the processor encodes an address and a command into a respective one of the signals for each electronic device in the plurality of electronic devices; and

a plurality of transmitters capable of communicating with the processor where the processor directs the transmitters to simultaneously and automatically send the respective signals to the plurality of electronic devices.

2. The remote control according to claim 1, further including an input device capable of receiving an address and a command for an electronic device from a memory storage area.

3. The remote control according to claim 1, further including an output device capable of communicating with the processor and displaying information about a status of the remote control.

4. The remote control according to claim 1, where the plurality of electronic devices includes a TV.

5. The remote control according to claim 1, where the plurality of electronic devices includes a DVD player.

6. The remote control according to claim 1, where the plurality of electronic devices includes an amplifier.

7. The remote control of claim 1, where the initiation device includes a dedicated button capable of communicating with the processor so that when the dedicated button is activated the processor encodes an address and a turn on or off command into a signal for each respective electronic device.

8. The remote control of claim 1, where the initiation device includes a dedicated on button capable of communicating with the processor so that when the dedicated on button is activated the processor encodes an address and a turn on command into a signal for each respective electronic device, and a dedicated off button capable of communicating with the processor so that when the dedicated off button is activated the processor encodes an address and a turn off command into a signal for each respective electronic device.

9. The remote control of claim 1, where the processor is further configured for:

cycling through a plurality of addresses in the memory to ascertain an address pre-programmed for a corresponding one of the plurality of electronic devices;

if the ascertained address is found for the corresponding electronic device in the plurality of electronic devices, then encoding the address and a command into a turn on or off signal for the corresponding electronic device; and

repeating the cycling and encoding steps for each, of the plurality of electronic devices to encode a plurality of respective turn on or off signals.

10. The remote control of claim 9, where the processor is further configured for:

if the address for electronic device is not available in the memory, then determining if a default address is available for the electronic device;

if a default address is available for the electronic device, then encoding the default address and a command into a signal for the electronic device; and

if a default address is not available for the electronic device, then cycling to a next electronic device in the plurality of electronic devices.

11. A method for controlling electronic devices, comprising:

activating a dedicated button;

cycling through a plurality of addresses in a memory to ascertain an address pre-programmed for a corresponding one of a plurality of electronic devices for a borne theatre system;

if the ascertained address is found for the corresponding electronic device in the plurality of electronic devices, then encoding the address and a command into a turn on or off signal for the corresponding electronic device;

repeating the cycling and encoding steps for each of the plurality of electronic devices to encode a plurality of respective turn on or off signals; and

simultaneously transmitting the respective turn on or off signals to the plurality of electronic devices via a plurality of transmitters.

12. The method according to claim 11, further including:

if the address for electronic device is not available in the memory, then determining if a default address is available for the electronic device;

if a default address is available for the electronic device, then encoding the default address and a command into a signal for the electronic device; and

if a default address is not available for the electronic device, then cycling to a next electronic device in the plurality of electronic devices.

13. A system for controlling a plurality of electronic devices, the system comprising:

a plurality of electronic devices for a home theatre system where each of the plurality of electronic devices is associated with a corresponding one of a plurality of addresses; and

a remote control including;

a memory pre-programmed with respective addresses and commands for the plurality of electronic devices;

a processor configured for communicating with the memory to access the addresses and commands for the plurality of electronic devices, and for storing in the memory a plurality of signals encoded with the respective addresses and commands;

an initiation device capable of communicating with the processor so that when the initiation device is activated the processor encodes an address and a command into a respective one of the signals for each electronic device in the plurality of electronic devices; and

a plurality of transmitters capable of communicating with the processor where the processor directs the transmitters to simultaneously and automatically send the respective signals to the plurality of electronic devices.

14. The system of claim 13, further including an input device capable of receiving an address and a command for an electronic device from a memory storage area.

15. The system of claim 13, further including an output device capable of communicating with the processor and displaying information about a status of the remote control.

16. The system of claim 13, where the initiation device includes a dedicated button capable of communicating with the processor so that when the dedicated button is activated the processor encodes an address and a turn on or off command into a signal for each respective electronic device.

17. The system of claim 13, where the initiation device includes a dedicated on button capable of communicating with the processor so that when the dedicated on button is activated the processor encodes an address and a turn on command into a signal for each respective electronic device, and a dedicated off button capable of communicating with the processor so that when the dedicated off button is activated the processor encodes an address and a turn off command into a signal for each respective electronic device.

18. The system of claim 13, where the processor is further configured for:

cycling through a plurality of addresses in the memory to ascertain an address pre-programmed for a corresponding one of the plurality of electronic devices;

if the ascertained address is found for the corresponding electronic device in the plurality of electronic devices, then encoding the address and a command into a turn on or off signal for the corresponding electronic device; and

repeating the cycling and encoding steps for each of the plurality of electronic devices to encode a plurality of respective turn on or off signals.

19. The system of claim 13, where the processor is further configured for:

if the address for electronic device is not available in the memory, then determining if a default address is available for the electronic device;

if a default address is available for the electronic device, then encoding the default address and a command into a signal for the electronic device; and

if a default address is not available for the electronic device, then cycling to a next electronic device in the plurality of electronic devices.