Interactive web-based codeset selection and development tool

• US 7,259,696 B1
• Filed: 02/10/2004
• Issued: 08/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ZiLOG Incorporated (Littelfuse Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lee, Jonathan, Miramontes, Oscar C
• Primary Examiner(s): Holloway, III, Edwin C.
• Application Number:
  US10/777,023
• Time in Patent Office: 1,288 Days
• Field of Search: 34/23, 341/73, 341/76, 340/825.22, 340/825.24, 340/825.25, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 348/734, 398/106
• US Class Current: 341/23
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45533 Hypervisors; Virtual machine monitors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/28 using pulse code
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/21 Programming remote control devices via third means
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42226 Reprogrammable remote control devices

Abstract

An interactive, web-based codeset selection and development tool transmits hypertext documents from a web server to a web browser of a developer of microcontroller code for a new remote control device. The hypertext documents include selection criteria for groups of codesets stored in a central database of codesets. The developer selects the most appropriate codesets for the new remote control device using the selection criteria. The selection and development tool converts each of the selected codesets into a plurality of strings of timing information. The strings are encrypted and transmitted to the developer along with a signal engine. The developer loads the encrypted strings and the signal engine into a new microcontroller that has a factory-programmed decryption key. The microcontroller decrypts the encrypted strings of timing information and uses them and the signal engine to generate operational signals that control various functions of electronic consumer devices.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

(a) transmitting from a web server a hypertext document, the hypertext document including an indication of a selection criterion of a group of codesets, wherein the group of codesets is stored in a central database of codesets;

(b) receiving onto the web server a designation of the selection criterion from a web client; and

(c) selecting a plurality of codesets of the group of codesets using the designation of the selection criterion.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of codesets of the group of codesets in (c) includes all codesets in the group of codesets.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of codesets of the group of codesets in (c) is a subset of the codesets of the group of codesets.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the hypertext document transmitted in (a) is rendered by a web browser executing on the web client.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection criterion is taken from the group consisting of:

a type of electronic consumer device controlled by the group of codesets, a brand of electronic consumer device controlled by the group of codesets, a geographical region where the group of codesets is used, and a memory size required to store the group of codesets.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(d) transmitting the selected plurality of codesets to the web client.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(d) converting one codeset of the selected plurality of codesets into a plurality of strings of timing information; and

(e) transmitting the plurality of strings of timing information to the web client.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising, after (d) and before (e):

(f) encrypting the plurality of strings of timing information, wherein the transmitting the plurality of strings of timing information in (e) involves transmitting the encrypted plurality of strings of timing information.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein one codeset of the selected plurality of the group of codesets is transmitted in (d) in the form of a plurality of strings of timing information, wherein the plurality of strings of timing information is associated with a plurality of functions of an electronic consumer device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the electronic consumer device is taken from the group consisting of:

a television set, a video cassette recorder, a digital video disk player, a stereo equalizer, a radio tuner, a set-top box for receiving programming via a satellite, and a set-top box for receiving programming via a cable.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein one of the plurality of functions of the electronic consumer device is taken from the group consisting of:

volume up, volume down, channel advance, channel back, cursor up, cursor down, cursor right, cursor left, select, play, record, stop, forward, back, pause, play VCR, play DVD, TV power on, and DVD and stereo equalizer power on.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

(f) transmitting a signal engine to the web client; and

(g) loading the signal engine onto a microcontroller, wherein the signal engine generates an operational signal using one of the plurality of strings of timing information, and wherein the operational signal is associated with a function of an electronic consumer device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the function of the electronic consumer device is taken from the group consisting of:

volume up, volume down, channel advance, channel back, cursor up, cursor down, cursor right, cursor left, select, play, record, stop, forward, back, pause, play VCR, play DVD, TV power on, and DVD and stereo equalizer power on.

14. A computer-readable medium comprising program instructions for selecting codeset data by performing the steps of:

(a) transmitting from a web server a hypertext document, the hypertext document including an indication of a selection criterion of a group of codesets, wherein the group of codesets is stored in a central database of codesets;

(b) receiving onto the web server a designation of the selection criterion from a web client;

(c) selecting a plurality of codesets of the group of codesets using the designation of the selection criterion;

(d) converting one of the selected plurality of codesets into a plurality of strings of timing information;

(e) encrypting the plurality of strings of timing information; and

(f) transmitting the encrypted plurality of strings of timing information to the web client.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the plurality of strings of timing information is associated with a plurality of functions of an electronic consumer device.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein one of the plurality of functions of the electronic consumer device is taken from the group consisting of:

volume up, volume down, channel advance, channel back, cursor up, cursor down, cursor right, cursor left, select, play, record, stop, forward, back, pause, play VCR, play DVD, TV power on, and DVD and stereo equalizer power on.

17. A system comprising:

(a) a web server that stores a database of codesets, the database of codesets comprising a first group of codesets, wherein server software is running on the web server, and the server software has access to the first group of codesets;

(b) a computer, wherein a web browser is running on the computer; and

(c) means for transmitting a first hypertext document from the server software to the web browser and for receiving a second hypertext document from the web browser, wherein the first hypertext document includes an indication of a selection criterion for the first group of codesets, and wherein the second hypertext document includes a designation of the selection criterion for the first group of codesets.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the web browser is a mechanism for selecting the first group of codesets and for transmitting the designation of the selection criterion from the web browser to the server software.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the selection criterion is taken from the group consisting of:

a type of electronic consumer device controlled by the first group of codesets, a brand of electronic consumer device controlled by the first group of codesets, a geographical region where the first group of codesets is used, and a memory size required to store first the group of codesets.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the database of codesets comprises a second group of codesets, and the means in (c) allows codesets to be selected that fall within both the first group of codesets and the second group of codesets.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the means is an application layer program running on the web server.

22. A method comprising:

(a) transmitting from a web server a hypertext document, the hypertext document including an indication of a selection criterion of a group of codesets, wherein each codeset of the group of codesets controls an electronic consumer device;

(b) receiving onto the web server from a web client a designation of the selection criterion; and

(c) selecting the group of codesets using the designation of the selection criterion, wherein the selected group of codesets both fits within a memory on a remote control device and controls a group of electronic consumer devices taken from the group consisting of;

the largest number of types of electronic consumer devices, the largest number of brands of electronic consumer devices, the largest number of models of electronic consumer devices, and the group of electronic consumer devices that is used in the most geographical regions.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

(d) transmitting the selected group of codesets to the web client.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

(d) converting the selected group of codesets into a plurality of strings of timing information;

(e) encrypting the plurality of strings of timing information; and

(e) transmitting the encrypted plurality of strings of timing information to the web client.