Remote control relay for wirelessly-controlled devices
First Claim
1. A remote control relay system for wirelessly, remote-controlled devices, the remote control relay system comprisinga plurality of optical receivers, wherein a first optical receiver of the plurality of optical receivers receives a first optical signal from a remote control and derives encoded data from the first optical signal;
- a plurality of optical transmitters each positioned with an optical receiver of the plurality of optical receivers and each configured to generate optical signals; and
a central controller coupled to the plurality of optical receivers and the plurality of optical transmitters through a non-optical communication network, wherein the controller is configured toreceive encoded data from the first optical receiver,analyze the encoded data to identify a corresponding remote-controlled device,identify one optical transmitter from the plurality of optical transmitters that is positioned with an unobstructed line-of-sight to the corresponding remote-controlled device,route the encoded data to the one identified optical transmitter through the non-optical communication network; and
generate a second optical signal only at the one identified optical transmitter, the second optical signal being substantially identical to the first optical signal.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems for relaying an optical signal from a remote control to a remote-controlled device such as a home entertainment device or a security device. Embodiments include at least one optical receiver and a plurality of optical transmitters. The optical transmitter positioned with an unobstructed line-of-sight to the home entertainment device is identified and the data encoded in the optical signal from the remote control is sent to that transmitter. A second optical signal that is substantially identical to the first is then generated at the optical transmitter and communicated to the home entertainment device.
30 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A remote control relay system for wirelessly, remote-controlled devices, the remote control relay system comprising
a plurality of optical receivers, wherein a first optical receiver of the plurality of optical receivers receives a first optical signal from a remote control and derives encoded data from the first optical signal; -
a plurality of optical transmitters each positioned with an optical receiver of the plurality of optical receivers and each configured to generate optical signals; and a central controller coupled to the plurality of optical receivers and the plurality of optical transmitters through a non-optical communication network, wherein the controller is configured to receive encoded data from the first optical receiver, analyze the encoded data to identify a corresponding remote-controlled device, identify one optical transmitter from the plurality of optical transmitters that is positioned with an unobstructed line-of-sight to the corresponding remote-controlled device, route the encoded data to the one identified optical transmitter through the non-optical communication network; and generate a second optical signal only at the one identified optical transmitter, the second optical signal being substantially identical to the first optical signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 19, 20)
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11. A method of controlling a wirelessly, remote-controlled device, the method comprising:
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receiving a first optical signal generated by a remote control associated with the remote-controlled device at a first optical receiver of a plurality of optical receivers; deriving encoded data from the first optical signal; transmitting the encoded data through a non-optical communication network to a central controller connected to a plurality of optical transmitters, wherein each optical transmitter of the plurality of optical transmitters is positioned with an optical receiver of the plurality of optical receivers; identifying one optical transmitter from the plurality of optical transmitters, wherein the one optical transmitter is positioned with an unobstructed line-of-sight to a the home entertainment device; transmitting the encoded data through the non-optical communication network to the one identified optical transmitter; and emitting a second optical signal only from the identified optical transmitter, wherein the second optical signal is substantially identical to the first optical signal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A security system comprising:
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a plurality of security system control panels each including an infrared transmitter and an infrared receiver; and a central security system controller connected to each of the plurality of security system control panels in a non-optical communication network configured to receive the content of a first infrared signal captured by the infrared receiver of one of the plurality of security system control panels, identify one security system control panel from the plurality of security system control panels that is positioned with an unobstructed line-of-sight to a remote-controlled device based on data encoded in the first infrared signal; communicate the content of the first infrared signal to the identified one security system control panel through the non-optical communication network, and emit a second infrared signal from the infrared transmitter of the one identified security system control panel, wherein the second infrared signal is identical to the first infrared signal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification