Digital interconnect of entertainment equipment

• US 6,784,804 B1
• Filed: 06/03/2002
• Issued: 08/31/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Conway, James N. Jr., Hayes, Patrick H., Johns, Gregory L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dalencourt, Yves
• Application Number:
  US10/161,396
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.22, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/3.5, 340/825.25, 345/169, 348/734, 348/164, 341/176, 398/106
• US Class Current: 340/12.23
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/21 Programming remote control devices via third means
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/41 Remote control of gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/205 with control bus for exchanging commands between units
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/281 indicating a format for calling an appliance service function in a home automation network for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2814 Exchanging control software or macros for controlling appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving configuration of the network and network elements H04L41/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2836 Protocol conversion between an external network and a home network controlling appliance services of a home automation network from a device located outside the home and the home network H04L12/2818; protocol conversion H04L69/08; adaptation of digital video signals for transport over a specific home network H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40117 Interconnection of audio or video/imaging devices home automation networks H04L12/2803; bitstream network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances

Abstract

A control unit is set up to operate a target device by receiving a first input for selecting from a plurality of protocols stored in the control unit a protocol that is appropriate for communicating with the target device. The control unit is then caused to transmit to the target device, using the selected protocol, a request for configuration information. In response to the receipt of the request, the target device returns to the control unit a function indicator and the control unit selects from a plurality of commands appropriate for the target device stored in the control unit a command corresponding to the function indicator. The selected command is mapped to a function key of the control unit such that activation of the function key results in communication of the selected command using the selected protocol to the target device to thereby control a function supported by the target device that is represented by the function indicator. The function indicator may alternatively be a code that indicates to the control unit that data following the code is a definition of a new infrared code and a corresponding key annotation.

Claims

1. A method in a control unit for setting up the control unit to operate with a target device, the method comprising:

receiving by said control unit a first input for selecting from a plurality of protocols stored in said control unit a protocol that is appropriate for communicating with said target device;

transmitting from said control unit to said target device using said selected protocol a request for configuration information;

receiving by said control unit from said target device in response to said request a function indicator selecting from a plurality of commands appropriate for said target device stored in said control unit a command corresponding to said function indicator; and

mapping said selected command to a function key of said control unit such that activation of said function key results in communication of said selected command using said selected protocol from said control unit to said target device to thereby control a function supported by said target device that is represented by said function indicator.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising displaying on said control unit an icon corresponding to said function indicator, said icon serving as said function key.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said function indicator groups related available functions under a single designator.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said function indicator is transmitted to said control unit utilizing an extension of the infrared transmission protocol.

5. A method of setting up a control unit for operation with a device to be controlled comprising:

transmitting from said control unit to said device a request for configuration information;

receiving from said device a set of function indicators;

utilizing said function indicators to configure said control unit, wherein at least one of said function indicators corresponds to at least one function to be controlled from a list of controllable functions and at least one of said function indicators comprises a code for indicating to said control unit that data following said code is a definition of a new infrared code and a corresponding key annotation; and

storing the resulting configuration in said control unit for use in controlling said device.

6. A method of setting up a control unit for operation with a device to be controlled comprising:

transmitting to said control unit from said device to be controlled a set of function indicators provided to allow said control unit to automatically configure itself to control functions of said device; and

wherein at least one of said function indicators corresponds to at least one function to be controlled from a list of controllable functions and at least one of said function indicators comprises a code for indicating to said control unit that data following said code is a definition of a new infrared code and a corresponding key annotation.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein said set of function indicators are stored in a memory of said device.

8. The method as recited in claim 6, comprising transmitting said set of function indicators using IR transmissions.