Television program record scheduling and satellite receiver control using compressed codes

• US 6,549,719 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2001
• Issued: 04/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gemstar Development Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gemstar Development Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Mankovitz, Roy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chevalier, Robert
• Application Number:
  US09/846,071
• Publication Number:
  US 20010024566A1
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.591, H04/N.544, 386/83, 386/92, 386/109, 386/111, 386/112, 386/46-52, 386/4, 725/86, 725/87, 725/88, 725/101, 725/102, 348/14.05, 348/734
• US Class Current: 386/200
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7755 the recorder being connected to, or coupled with, the antenna of the television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape

Abstract

A code converter is provided in a satellite remote controller for converting commands from an instant programmer or universal remote into commands recognizable by a satellite receiver. The commands are sent to a satellite receiver to command the satellite receiver on and off and to select the proper channel in the satellite receiver. Communication between the satellite remote controller and the satellite receiver can be either via infrared or radio frequency (RF) signals. In an embodiment of the invention, encoded video recorder/player timer programming information listed in a television calendar, which allows a timer programming feature on a video cassette recorder VCR to be programmed using a compressed code of as few as 1 to 8 digits, is decoded by a decoder built into an instant programmer to convert the compressed code into channel, date, time and length information. At the appropriate time the instant programmer transmits the proper commands to a VCR to command the recording of the selected program. To allow the instant programmer to command the satellite receiver to turn on and tune to the proper channel for recording the selected program, the instant programmer sends commands to the satellite receiver remote controller and the code converter in the satellite remote controller converts the commands from the instant programmer into commands recognizable by the satellite receiver. Then the commands are sent to the satellite receiver to command the satellite receiver on and off and to select the proper channel in the satellite receiver.

Claims

1. A satellite remote controller used with a cable box channel selector that transmits a remote control cable box channel change command signal intended for a cable box, and a satellite receiver that tunes to a satellite broadcast television signal and includes a satellite remote control receiver for receiving remote control signals for satellite receivers and a means for controlling the tuning of the satellite broadcast television signal based upon the remote control signals for satellite receivers received by the satellite remote control receiver, the satellite remote controller comprising:

a receiver that receives and decodes the remote control cable box channel change command signal for the cable box;

a converter that converts the remote control cable box channel change command signal intended for the cable box into a remote control satellite channel change command signal intended for a satellite receiver; and

a transmitter that transmits to the satellite receiver the remote control satellite channel change command signal intended for the satellite receiver.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the receiver receives radio frequency remote control signals.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter transmits radio frequency remote control signals.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the converter further comprises a memory for storing channel mapping information for mapping a cable channel number contained in the remote control cable box channel change command signal intended for the cable box to a satellite channel number for inclusion in the corresponding remote control satellite channel change command signal intended for the satellite receiver.

5. A satellite television system comprising:

a device wirelessly transmitting a first type of channel command;

a satellite remote controller including;

a receiver wirelessly receiving the first type of channel command from the device;

a memory storing mapping information for mapping the first type of channel command to a satellite receiver channel command;

a converter converting the first type of channel command to the satellite receiver channel command based on the mapping information stored in the memory; and

a transmitter wirelessly transmitting the satellite receiver channel command; and

a satellite receiver wirelessly receiving the satellite receiver channel command from the satellite remote controller.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the device is a television apparatus.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the device is a recording apparatus.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the device is a cable box.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the device is a satellite receiver.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein the device is a remote controller.

11. The system of claim 5, wherein the device includes a decoder for decoding compressed codes representing channel, time-of-day, and length commands.