Internet downloaded programmable remote control

• US 6,408,435 B1
• Filed: 04/29/1997
• Issued: 06/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sato, Kazuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US08/840,368
• Time in Patent Office: 1,876 Days
• Field of Search: 725/38, 725/61, 725/87, 725/58, 725/100, 348/460, 348/731, 348/734
• US Class Current: 725/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2625 for delaying content or additional data distribution, e.g. because of an extended sport event
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4113 PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• 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 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• 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 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0887 for the transmission of programme or channel identifying signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

In a system, tabulated information on broadcasting programs is supplied through a network. When a user selects information on a desired program from the tabulated information of programs, supplemental information attached to the individual program information is converted into an remote control signal to remote-control a user'"'"'s receiver to receive the desired program.

Claims

1. A remote control device comprising:

receiving means for receiving program information via a predetermined network;

said program information including broadcast schedule information and remote command information related to a plurality of broadcast programs;

display means for displaying a program menu in accordance with the received program information;

selecting means for selecting a desired broadcast program from the displayed program menu;

determining means for determining remote command information corresponding to said desired broadcast program selected by said selecting means;

converting means for converting the determined remote command information into a remote control signal corresponding to an end-user electronic device;

memory means for previously storing remote control signals corresponding to a plurality of said end-user electronic devices from different manufacturers; and

transmitting means for transmitting the remote control signal converted by said converting means to said end-user electronic device.

2. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein said broadcast schedule information includes at least a start time and a reception channel for said desired broadcast program.

3. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein said remote command signal includes remote control commands for at least a start time and a reception channel for said desired broadcast program.

4. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined network is the internet.

5. The remote control device according to claim 1, further comprising register means for registering remote command signals corresponding to an end-user electronic device;

said converting means converting remote command information in accordance with the registered remote command signals.

6. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the remote command information is based upon a program reservation code previously assigned to each broadcast program.

7. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein said enduser electronic device is a recording device for recording said desired broadcast program.

8. A transmitter/receiver device comprising:

first transmitting means for transmitting program information in response to a request via a predetermined network;

said program information including broadcast schedule information and remote command information related to a plurality of broadcast programs;

receiving means for sending said request for program information and for receiving program information transmitted in response to said request via said predetermined network;

display means for displaying a program menu in accordance with the received program information;

selecting means for selecting a desired broadcast program from the displayed program menu;

determining means for determining remote command information corresponding to said desired broadcast program selected by said selecting means;

converting means for converting the determined remote command information into a remote control signal corresponding to an end-user electronic device;

memory means for previously storing remote control signals corresponding to a plurality of said end-user electronic devices from different manufacturers; and

second transmitting means for transmitting the remote control signal converted by said converting means to said end-user electronic device.

9. The transmitter/receiver device according to claim 8, wherein said broadcast schedule information includes at least a start time and a reception channel for said desired broadcast program.

10. The transmitter/receiver device according to claim 8, further comprising register means for registering remote command signals corresponding to an end-user electronic device;

said converting means converting remote command information in accordance with the registered remote command signals.

11. The transmitter/receiver device according to claim 10, wherein the remote command information is based upon a program reservation code previously assigned to each broadcast program.

12. The transmitter/receiver device according to claim 10, wherein said end-user electronic device is a recording device for recording said desired broadcast program.

13. A transmitting and receiving method comprising the steps of:

receiving program information via a predetermined network in response to a transmitted demand;

said program information including broadcast schedule information and remote command information related to a plurality of broadcast programs;

displaying a program menu in accordance with the received program information;

selecting a desired broadcast program from the displayed program menu;

determining remote command information corresponding to said desired broadcast program selected in said selecting step;

converting the determined remote command information into a remote control signal corresponding to an end-user electronic device;

storing remote control signals corresponding to a plurality of said end-user electronic devices from different manufacturers; and

transmitting the remote control signal converted by said converting means to said end-user electronic device.

14. The transmitting and receiving method according to claim 13, wherein said broadcast schedule information includes at least a start time and a reception channel for said desired broadcast program.

15. The transmitting and receiving method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of registering remote command signals corresponding to an end-user electronic device;

said converting step converting remote command information in accordance with the registered remote command signals.

16. The transmitting and receiving method according to claim 15, wherein said predetermined network is the internet.

17. The transmitting and receiving method according to claim 15, wherein said end-user electronic device is a recording device for recording said desired broadcast program.