Remote control unit code translation

• US 5,436,676 A
• Filed: 06/10/1994
• Issued: 07/25/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Zenith Electronics Corporation (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Pint, Charles S., Zato, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Flynn, Nathan J.
• Application Number:
  US08/258,320
• Time in Patent Office: 410 Days
• Field of Search: 348/734, 348/906
• US Class Current: 348/734
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/0025 in a remote control unit remote control tuning in general H03J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72

Abstract

A television display system having a remote control unit which sends different command codes, upon activation of the same button, dependent upon which mode the remote control unit is in; has a simplified operation by translating a noneffective command code from the transmitter into an effective command at the display unit when the display unit is not in a signal source which can act upon the noneffective command code. Further simplifying the keypad operation of the remote control transmitter by allowing function and adjustment keys to perform double duty depending on the operating mode of the display is also discussed.

Claims

1. An audio-visual display system comprising:

A) a remote control transmitter having means for sending command codes to an audiovisual display unit, including;

1) first and second remote control operating modes for sending respective first and second remote control command codes to operate an audio-visual display unit;

2) the first and second command codes being activated by a first single button on the remote control transmitter;

B) the audio-visual display unit operated by the remote control transmitter, the audio-visual display unit having;

1) means for receiving and acting upon the first and second remote control command codes sent by the remote control transmitter;

2) first and second audio-visual display unit display types responsive to the first and second remote control command codes, respectively;

3) first and second signal source inputs, with the first display type being operable only on the first signal source input;

4) signal source input source selection means operable to determine the signal displayed; and

5) translation means for operating the audio visual display unit in its second display type when the remote control transmitter transmits the first remote control command code and the signal source input selected is other than the first signal source input.

2. The display system according to claim 1 wherein the translation means further comprises:

A) a first microprocessor controlling the first display type;

B) a second microprocessor controlling the second display type; and

C) the second microprocessor having means for determining what signal source the display unit is in and, dependent thereupon, either passing the command code to the first microprocessor for execution or retaining the command code and treating it as a second display type command for execution.

3. The display system according to claim 1 further comprising:

A) third and fourth remote control transmitter command codes activated by a second single button when the remote control transmitter is in the first and second operating modes, respectively;

B) the third command code controlling a first and second aspect of the first display type;

C) the fourth command code controlling a first aspect of the third display type;

D) the third command code further controlling the first aspect of the third display type when the signal source input selected is other than the first signal source input.

4. The display system according to claim 3 further comprising:

A) fifth and sixth remote control transmitter command codes activated by a third single button when the remote control transmitter is in the first and second operating modes, respectively;

B) the fifth command code controlling a third aspect of the first display type;

C) the sixth command code controlling a second aspect of a third display type; and

D) the fifth command code further controlling the second aspect of the third display type when the signal source input selected is other than the first signal source input.

5. The display system according to claim 4 further comprising:

A) seventh and eighth remote control transmitter command codes activated by a fourth single button when the remote control transmitter is in the first and second operating modes, respectively;

B) the seventh command code controlling a fourth aspect of the first display type;

C) the eighth command code controlling a first aspect of the second display type; and

D) the seventh command code further controlling the first aspect of the second display type when the signal source input selected is other than the first signal source input.