Method and apparatus for updating universal remote databases through TV VBI processing

• US 6,956,496 B1
• Filed: 01/18/2000
• Issued: 10/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ZiLOG Incorporated (Littelfuse Incorporated)
• Inventors: Herz, William
• Primary Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, BRIAN A
• Application Number:
  US09/484,088
• Time in Patent Office: 2,100 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.22, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 398/107, 348/734, 379/88.13
• US Class Current: 340/4.33
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• 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 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4586 Content update operation triggered locally, e.g. by comparing the version of software modules in a DVB carousel to the version stored locally deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction of the data by redundancy during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0882 for the transmission of character code signals, e.g. for teletext circuits for the digital non-picture data signal H04N7/035
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/162 Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing

Abstract

Universal remote control device database is updated through television video blanking interval (TV VBI) or sub-picture signal processing. As relayed through TV receiver, remote control database(s) is placed in VBI or sub-picture of video signal of specialized program. Data is decoded by VBI slicer or controller (e.g., MPEG decoder), then extracted and stored temporarily in memory. Upon request, data is transmitted via infra-red (IR) or radio-frequency (RF) emitter to learning remote control device, which downloads data to update remote programming protocol.

Claims

1. A method of updating data of plurality of signal protocols stored in a memory within a universal remote control adapted to communicate with a video display system and a plurality of other electronic devices, comprising:

receiving within the video display system an update to data of a signal protocol for communicating with an electronic device, wherein the data update is encoded in a video blanking interval of a video signal received by the video display system,

in response to a request from the remote control, transmitting the received data update from the video display system to the remote control, and

determining, within the remote control, whether the received data are for updating data of a signal protocol stored within the remote control memory for one of the plurality of electronic devices, and,

if the received data are for updating data of a signal protocol stored within the remote control memory for one of the plurality of electronic devices, updating or replacing the data for the signal protocol of that one of the plurality of electronic devices, but,

if the received data are not for updating data of a signal protocol stored within the remote control memory for one of the plurality of electronic devices, sending a desist command to the video display system.

2. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising, after updating or replacing the data, sending confirmation thereof to the video display system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the universal remote control is adapted to communicate through a television receiver as the video display system.