Method and apparatus for programming a remote control using broadcast data

• US 8,402,501 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2007
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.), Black & Veatch Corporation
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Guzman, Jorge H., Schulze, Kim W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Saltarelli, Dominic D
• Assistant Examiner(s): MONTOYA, OSCHTA I
• Application Number:
  US11/820,532
• Publication Number:
  US 20080320542A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,099 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 725/132
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23617 by inserting additional data into a data carousel, e.g. inserting software modules into a DVB carousel arrangements for broadcast or for distribution of identical information repeatedly in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/16
• 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 21/42226 Reprogrammable remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4349 by extracting from data carousels, e.g. extraction of software modules from a DVB carousel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8186 specially adapted to be executed by a peripheral of the client device, e.g. by a reprogrammable remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite

Abstract

A set top box 22 includes a communication module 102 receiving a remote control configuration database having a remote control associated therewith. The set top box 22 further includes a display control module 116 forming a screen display in response to the remote control configuration database. An interface 110 forms selections in response to the screen display and a display control module displays programming instructions for the remote control.

Claims

1. A method of programming a remote control associated with a set top box comprising:

continually broadcasting a remote control configuration database;

receiving a first portion of a remote control configuration database at the set top box having a first instruction associated therewith;

forming a first screen display in response to the first portion of the remote control configuration database and the first instruction;

forming a first selection at the set top box in response to the screen display;

thereafter, receiving a second portion of the remote control configuration database at the set top box having a second instruction in response to the first selection;

forming a second screen display in response to the second portion of the remote control configuration database and the second instruction;

thereafter, displaying programming instructions for the remote control; and

operating the set top box with the remote control.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein broadcasting comprises broadcasting the database in a carousel format.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein further comprising broadcasting content at a first data rate and wherein broadcasting a remote control configuration comprises broadcasting the remote control configuration at a second data rate less than the first data rate.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising prior to broadcasting a remote control configuration database, communicating a notification of changes for configuration updates to the remote control configuration database.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein broadcasting comprises broadcasting the remote control configuration database through a satellite.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein broadcasting comprises broadcasting the remote control configuration database through a terrestrial communication network.

7. A method as recited in claim 6 wherein the terrestrial communication network comprises an optical fiber.

8. A method as recited in claim 6 wherein the terrestrial communication network comprises a broadband network.

9. A method as recited in claim 6 wherein the terrestrial communication network comprises a telephone network.

10. A method as recited in claim 6 wherein the terrestrial communication network comprises a wireless network.

11. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein prior to receiving a first portion, entering a remote control programming mode.

12. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein forming a first selection at the set top box comprises forming the first selection at the set top box using the remote control.

13. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein displaying comprises displaying a code.

14. A method as recited in claim 13 further comprising entering the code into the remote control prior to operating the set top box with the remote control.

15. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein forming a second screen display comprises forming a second screen display in response to the remote control configuration database and the first selection.

16. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein one of the first screen display or second screen display corresponds to a device type.

17. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein one of the first screen display or second screen display corresponds to a brand type.

18. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein one of the first screen display or second screen display corresponds to a model type.

19. A set top box having a remote control associated therewith comprising:

a communication module receiving a first portion of a continually broadcasted remote control configuration database having a first instruction associated therewith at the set top box;

a display control module forming a first screen display in response to the first portion of the remote control configuration database and the first instruction;

a remote control communication module receiving a first selection signal in response to the first screen display;

said communication module receiving a second portion of the remote control communication database having a second instruction associated therewith after receiving the first selection signal; and

the display control module forming a second screen display in response to the second portion and the second instruction and displaying programming instructions for the remote control configuration database.

20. A system comprising:

the set top box as recited in claim 19;

a display in communication with the set top box; and

the remote control device.

21. A system as recited in claim 20 wherein the set top box comprises a satellite television set top box.

22. A system as recited in claim 20 further comprising a head end continually broadcasting the remote control configuration database.

23. A system as recited in claim 20 further comprising a head end broadcasting the remote control configuration database in a carousel format.

24. A system as recited in claim 20 further comprising a remote control vendor database communicating remote control information to a remote control configuration database.