Dynamic linking of codesets in universal remote control devices

• US 7,889,112 B1
• Filed: 01/19/2007
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: UEI Cayman Incorporated (Universal Electronics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vergis, George, Mankame, Sunilkumar
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Jr.; Timothy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Benlagsir; Amine
• Application Number:
  US11/655,419
• Time in Patent Office: 1,488 Days
• Field of Search: 341/176, 341/173, 348/734, 345/169
• US Class Current: 341/176
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/36 using optical means to covert the input signal characterised by optical transfer means G01D5/26; optical analogue digital converters G02F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42225 characterized by types of remote control, e.g. universal remote control

Abstract

A universal remote control device does not include a particular codeset that contains all the keycodes corresponding to all desired functions of a selected consumer electronic device. However, keycodes contained in one codeset in combination with keycodes contained in another codeset correspond to all desired functions of the selected electronic consumer device. A user presses a predefined sequence of keys to link the two codesets. A keycode link routine generates keycode link information and stores the keycode link information in a volatile memory space. The linked codeset is then used to control the selected electronic consumer device. Thereafter, pressing a first key causes a keycode in the first codeset to be used in generating an operational signal, whereas pressing a second key causes the keycode link information to be used to access a keycode in a second codeset such that the second keycode is used in generating the operational signal.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

(a) selecting a first codeset, wherein the first codeset comprises a first keycode associated with a first key on a remote control device;

(b) selecting a second keycode in a second codeset by pressing a predefined sequence of keys on the remote control device, wherein the second keycode is associated with a second key on the remote control device; and

(c) storing keycode link information in the remote control device that links the second keycode in the second codeset to the first codeset.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(d) pressing the first key on the remote control device such that the remote control device transmits a first operational signal that communicates the first keycode; and

(e) pressing the second key on the remote control device such that the remote control device transmits a second operational signal that communicates the second keycode.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the pressing of the second key in (e) causes a processor in the remote control device to access the first codeset, then determine that the second key has been linked to the first codeset, and then use the keycode link information to access the second keycode in the second codeset to generate the second operational signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein (a), (b) and (c) are performed by a user of the remote control device after the remote control device has been manufactured, and wherein the keycode link information is stored in a volatile memory in the remote control device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein storing the keycode link information comprises storing:

a first identifier that identifies the second codeset; and

a second identifier that identifies the second keycode associated with the second key.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second key represents a predefined cluster of keys, and wherein storing the keycode link information comprises storing:

a first identifier that identifies the second codeset; and

a plurality of identifiers that identify the cluster of keys represented by the second key.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(d) pressing the first key on the remote control device such that the remote control device transmits a first operational signal that communicates the first keycode; and

(e) pressing a third key on the remote control device such that the remote control device transmits a second operational signal that communicates the second keycode, wherein the keycode link information comprises;

a first identifier that identifies the second codeset, a second identifier that identifies the second keycode associated with the second key, and a third identifier that identifies the third key.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the pressing of the third key in (e) causes a processor in the remote control device to access the first codeset, then determine that the third key has been linked to the first codeset, and then use the keycode link information to access the second keycode in the second codeset to generate the second operational signal.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the first key is a channel up key on the remote control device, wherein the pressing of the first key in (d) causes a channel up operational signal of the first keycode to be transmitted from the remote control device such that a first consumer electronic device changes channel, and wherein the third key is not a power on/off key on the remote control device, wherein the pressing of the third key in (e) causes a power on/off operational signal of the second keycode to be transmitted from the remote control device such that a second consumer electronic device is powered on/off.

10. A microcontroller, comprising:

a processor;

a read-only memory (ROM) that stores a first codeset and a second codeset, wherein the first codeset comprises a first keycode associated with a first key on a remote control device, and wherein the second codeset comprises a second keycode associated with a second key on the remote control device;

a volatile memory that stores keycode link information; and

a keycode link routine executable on the processor, execution of the keycode link routine storing the keycode link information, the keycode link information linking the second keycode in the second codeset to the first codeset.

11. The microcontroller of claim 10, wherein the keycode link routine is executable in response to user interaction with predetermined keys on the remote control device whereby the keycode link routine is available for execution to store the keycode link information in the volatile memory after the remote control device has been manufactured.

12. The microcontroller of claim 10, wherein the keycode link information comprises:

a first identifier that identifies the second codeset; and

a second identifier that identifies the second keycode associated with the second key.

13. The microcontroller of claim 10, wherein the second key represents a predefined cluster of keys, and wherein the keycode link information comprises:

a first identifier that identifies the second codeset; and

a plurality of identifiers that identify the cluster of keys represented by the second key.

14. A remote control device, comprising:

a transmission circuit that transmits operational signals;

a keypad comprising a plurality of keys;

a processor;

a read-only-memory (ROM) that stores a first codeset and a second codeset, wherein the first codeset comprises a first keycode associated with a first key on the remote control device, and wherein the second codeset comprises a second keycode associated with a second key on the remote control device;

a volatile memory that stores keycode link information; and

a keycode link routine executable on the processor, execution of the keycode link routine storing the keycode link information, the keycode link information linking the second keycode in the second codeset to the first codeset.

15. The remote control device of claim 14, wherein the transmit circuit is caused to transmit a first operational signal that communicates the first keycode if the first key is pressed on the remote control device, and wherein the transmit circuit is caused to transmit a second operational signal that communicates the second keycode if the second key is pressed on the remote control device.

16. The remote control device of claim 14, wherein the keycode link routine stores the keycode link information in the volatile memory after the remote control device has been manufactured.

17. The remote control device of claim 14, wherein the keycode link information comprises:

a first identifier that identifies the second codeset; and

a second identifier that identifies the second keycode associated with the second key.

18. The remote control device of claim 14, wherein the second key represents a predefined cluster of keys, and wherein the keycode link information comprises:

a first identifier that identifies the second codeset; and

a plurality of identifiers that identify the cluster of keys represented by the second key.

19. The remote control device of claim 14, wherein the keycode link information comprises:

a first identifier that identifies the second codeset;

a second identifier that identifies the second keycode associated with the second key; and

a third identifier that identifies a third key.

20. The remote control device of claim 19, wherein the transmit circuit is caused to transmit a first operational signal that communicates the first keycode if the first key is pressed on the remote control device, and wherein the transmit circuit is caused to transmit a second operational signal that communicates the second keycode if the third key is pressed on the remote control device.

21. A device comprising:

a read-only memory that stores a first codeset and a second codeset, wherein the first codeset comprises a first keycode, and wherein the second codeset comprises a second keycode;

volatile memory that stores keycode link information, wherein the keycode link information links the second keycode in the second codeset to the first codeset, and wherein the keycode link information comprises a first identifier that identifies the second codeset and a second identifier that identifies the second keycode; and

means for generating the keycode link information and writing the keycode link information into the volatile memory.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the means for generating the keycode link information and writing the keycode link information into the volative memory further comprises:

a) means for determining that a second key associated with the second keycode has been pressed, and in response to said determining of (a) accessing the keycode link information and using the keycode link information to access the second keycode from the second codeset, and

b) means for determining that a first key has been pressed and in response to said determining of (b) accessing the first keycode in the first codeset.