Non-programmable universal remote system and method

• US 8,189,120 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2009
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Doyle, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Trang U
• Application Number:
  US12/365,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20100195001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: 348/734, 348/725, 348/563, 348/564, 348/569, 348552-555, 340/12.22, 340/13.24, 340/13.25, 340/12.3, 340/12.23, 340/825, 340/825.69, 340/572.1
• US Class Current: 348/734
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/41 Remote control of gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• 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 21/42225 characterized by types of remote control, e.g. universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications

Abstract

A TV detects the capabilities of connected components to respond to various function commands. Subsequently, when a non-programmable remote control is used to select a component and then generate a function command, the TV determines if the component can respond to the command and if not, the TV dynamically alters the commanded function or the selected component.

Claims

1. Method comprising:

at a TV processor associated with a TV, learning capabilities of at least a first audio/video component connected to the TV via a digital communication path to respond to functions represented by respective desired function signals generated by a remote control device;

receiving at the TV processor a component select signal from the remote control device, the component select signal designating the first component as being selected as audio/video input source to the TV;

receiving at the TV processor a desired function signal from the remote control device, the desired function signal representing a desired function;

determining at the TV processor whether the first component can execute the desired function based on the learning act;

if the first component can execute the desired function, sending a signal from the TV to the first component via the digital communication path commanding the first component to execute the desired function;

if the first component cannot execute the desired function, automatically changing, without command from the remote control, the selected component or the desired function.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication path is a consumer electronics control (CEC) bidirectional path.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first component sends audio/video information to the TV via a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) link.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the TV learns capabilities of a second audio/video component communicating with the TV over a bidirectional digital communication link.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired function is a channel change command and the first component does not support the desired function, and the TV processor changes the selected component to the TV to cause the TV to change channel.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired function is a “

jump to last-selected channel”

command and the first component does not support the desired function, and the TV processor automatically changes input source to the TV from the first component to a last-selected component.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote control device is non-programmable.

8. Home system comprising:

non-programmable remote control manipulable to send wireless signals to a TV processor in a TV, the wireless signals including selected component signals and desired function signals;

TV receiving the wireless signals; and

plural audio/video components communicating with the TV over respective digital communication links, the TV presenting audio/video information from a component indicated by a selected component signal, the TV causing the component indicated by the selected component signal to execute a function indicated by a desired function signal if the component indicated by a selected component is capable of executing the desired function, the TV otherwise automatically changing audio/video input to a source other than the selected component.

9. The home system of claim 8, wherein the communication link is a consumer electronics control (CEC) bidirectional path.

10. The home system of claim 8, wherein a selected component sends audio/video information to the TV via a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) link.

11. The home system of claim 8, wherein the desired function is a channel change command and the selected component does not support the desired function, and the TV processor changes the selected component to the TV to cause the TV to change channel.

12. The home system of claim 8, wherein the desired function is a “

jump to last-selected channel”

command and the selected component does not support the desired function, and the TV processor automatically changes input source to the TV to a last-selected component.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium bearing instructions readable by a TV processor to:

without user interaction, learn respective capabilities of audio/video components communicating with the TV processor to undertake commanded functions;

receive a first wireless signal from a remote control designating a first one of the components as input source to a TV display associated with the TV processor;

receive a second wireless signal from the remote control corresponding to a desired function;

if the first component has capability to execute the desired function, relay a signal to the first component to cause the first component to execute the desired function, and otherwise not attempt to cause the first component to execute the desired function.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the remote control is non-programmable.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein if the first component does not have capability to execute the desired function, the instructions cause the TV processor to automatically change, without command from the remote control, the component indicated by the first signal or the desired function indicated by the second signal.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the TV processor communicates with the components over consumer electronics control (CEC) bidirectional paths.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the components send audio/video information to the TV processor via a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) link.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the desired function is a channel change command and if the first component does not support the desired function, the TV processor changes the selected component to the TV to cause the TV to change channel.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the desired function is a “

jump to last-selected channel”

command and if the first component does not support the desired function, the TV processor automatically changes input source to the TV from the first component to a last-selected component.