Star cluster codeset database for universal remote control devices

• US 8,909,676 B1
• Filed: 10/06/2006
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: UEI Cayman Incorporated (Universal Electronics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Miramontes, Oscar C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuddus, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US11/544,147
• Time in Patent Office: 2,986 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/795
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9024 Graphs; Linked lists G06F16/9027 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/70 Device selection
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

A codeset database for a universal remote control device includes a device index table, a key index table, protocol tables, and a set of keycode data structures. A keycode data structure includes a plurality of keycode data structure pointers (KDSPs) and one or more optional keycodes. In a star linking method, a keycode data structure is linked to multiple keycode data structures by pointing to those keycode data structures using multiple KDSPs. In a cluster linking method, a keycode data structure is linked to multiple keycode data structures by being pointed by those keycode data structures. A keycode data structure may not contain any actual keycodes, but a plurality of keycode data structure pointers and other information. A special value inside the keycode data structure is used to indicate whether and how keycode data structures are linked together.

Claims

1. A controlling device having a memory in which is stored a first device keycode data structure, the first device keycode data structure stored in the memory of the controlling device comprising:

a first keycode associated with a first key of the controlling device;

a second device keycode data structure pointer pointing to a second device keycode data structure; and

a third device keycode data structure pointer pointing to a third device keycode data structure;

wherein the second device keycode data structure comprises a second keycode associated with a second key of the controlling device and the third device keycode data structure comprises a third keycode associated with a third key of the controlling device and wherein each of the first, second, and third keycodes comprise data used to generate an operational signal to be transmitted by the controlling device.

2. The controlling device of claim 1, wherein the second device keycode data structure pointer is a relative offset.

3. The controlling device of claim 1, wherein the second device keycode data structure pointer is an absolute address.

4. The controlling device of claim 1, wherein the data used to generate an operational signal to be transmitted by the controlling device comprises a sequence of indices, wherein the indices identify mark times and space times characterizing digital ones and zeros in an operational signal.

5. The controlling device of claim 1, wherein the first keycode data structure stored in the memory of the controlling device further comprises a flag, the flag being indicative of whether a keycode associated with a particular key on the controlling device is present in the first keycode data structure.

6. The controlling device of claim 1, wherein the first keycode data structure stored in the memory of the controlling device further comprises an protocol pointer that points to a protocol table, wherein the protocol table comprises timing and modulation information for an operational signal.

7. A method performed in response to an activation of a key of a controlling device;

comprising;

(a) accessing a first device keycode data structure stored in the memory of the controlling device, wherein the first device keycode data structure includes a second device keycode data structure pointer pointing to a second device keycode data structure and a third device keycode data structure pointer pointing to a third device keycode data structure;

(b) using the second device keycode data structure pointer to access the second device keycode data structure;

(c) determining that a keycode corresponding to the key is absent from the second device keycode data structure;

(d) using the third device keycode data structure pointer to access the third device keycode data structure; and

(e) using a keycode corresponding to the key present in the third device keycode data structure to generate an operational signal to be transmitted by the controlling device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the second device keycode data structure pointer is a relative offset to the second device keycode data structure.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the second device keycode data structure pointer is an absolute address of the second device keycode data structure.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the keycode corresponding to the key comprises a sequence of indices, wherein the indices identify mark times and space times characterizing digital ones and zeros in an operational signal.

11. A controlling device having a memory in which is stored a first device keycode data structure, the first device keycode data structure stored in the memory of the controlling device, comprising:

a system code;

a second device keycode data structure pointer, wherein the second device keycode data structure pointer points to a second device keycode data structure, wherein the second device keycode data structure comprises a first keycode associated with a first key of the controlling device and comprising first data; and

a third device keycode data structure pointer, wherein the third device keycode data structure pointer points to a third device keycode data structure, wherein the third device keycode data structure comprises a second keycode associated with a second key of the controlling device and comprising second data;

wherein the system code of the first device keycode data structure is used in connection with at least one of the first data of the first keycode of the second device keycode data structure and the second data of the second keycode of the third device keycode data structure to generate an operational signal to be transmitted by the controlling device.

12. The controlling device of claim 11, wherein the memory stores

a fourth device keycode data structure, wherein the fourth device keycode data structure comprises a first device keycode data structure pointer that points to the first device keycode data structure.