Synchronizing a media center on a correct channel

• US 8,079,056 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2004
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Jutzi, Curtis, Shinsel, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beliveau, Scott
• Assistant Examiner(s): STANLEY, MARK P
• Application Number:
  US10/928,318
• Publication Number:
  US 20060048195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,661 Days
• Field of Search: 725/119
• US Class Current: 725/119
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• 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 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4221 Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/38 Transmitter circuitry for the transmission of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence

Abstract

A media center and an audio visual (AV) unit may be remotely synchronized on the same remodulation channel. A system may include a media center connected to an audio visual (AV) unit; and a remote control unit to activate the media center. The remote control unit may receive signals from the media center to indicate a transmission channel for the AV unit, and the remote control unit may send the received signals to the AV unit to independently cause the AV unit to switch to the indicated transmission channel.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a media center with first and second television tuners, said media center to control first and second audio visual units; and

first and second remote control units to activate said media center, said remote control units to receive a signal from said media center that indicates a transmission channel used by said media center and said remote control units to automatically send a control signal to an audio visual unit to cause the audio visual unit to switch to the indicated transmission channel, each remote control unit to record the last channel selected by the remote control unit for the first audio visual unit, and to automatically tune the second audio visual unit to the last channel selected by said remote control unit when said remote control unit communicates with said second audio visual unit.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the indicated transmission channel comprises one of the group consisting of a transmission remodulation channel and a received channel of a particular audio visual program.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said remote control units comprise a central control unit of said system.

4. A method comprising:

using a media center with first and second television tuners, said media center to control first and second audio visual units;

enabling at least two different remote controls to register with said media center, said remote controls to communicate with said media center and said audio visual units;

recording the last channel selected by each of said controls; and

automatically tuning a second audio visual unit to the last channel selected by one of said remote controls on said second audio visual unit when said remote control communicates with said second audio visual unit.

5. The method according to claim 4, including pressing a button on a remote control, wherein the remote control sends the signal to an audio visual unit, and wherein the signal represents the prior remodulation channel of the media center.

6. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

sending data from the media center to an audio visual unit.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said sending data occurs simultaneously with receiving a signal that indicates a current remodulation channel of the media center.