Apparatus for implementing universal remote controller and method thereof

• US 7,345,593 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2004
• Issued: 03/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Joo Won, Park, Sun Bock
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass; Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): AU, SCOTT D
• Application Number:
  US10/980,872
• Publication Number:
  US 20050119770A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,230 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.72, 340/825.24, 340/825.69, 700/65, 700/66, 700/70
• US Class Current: 340/4.37
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus for implementing a universal remote controller and method thereof, by which a multitude of electronic products can be controlled by one remote controller. In a system including an electronic product module storing each remote controller control information of at least one or more products to output the stored remote controller control information according to an external request signal and a remote controller module receiving remote controller control information from the electronic product module and controlling a specific product selected by a user using the received remote controller control information, the present invention receives the remote controller control information from the electronic product module to display a key arrangement plan of the product to be controlled by a user'"'"'s selection based on the received control information and then outputs key information by selecting a key of the displayed key arrangement plan. Therefore, the present invention facilitates to control a plurality of the electronic products using one remote controller.

Claims

1. An apparatus for implementing a universal remote controller in a system including:

a remote controller module; and

an electronic product module,

wherein the electronic product module stores remote controller control information for controlling the electronic product module and automatically outputs the stored remote controller control information to the remote controller module when a product coupled to the electronic product module is booted up.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic product module comprises:

a receiving circuit receiving at least one remote controller control information request signal and at least one key code from a remote controller module;

a transmitting circuit transmitting the remote controller control information for controlling the electronic product module to the remote controller module, the remote controller control information including at least one of product code information, key code data, or key arrangement state information;

a memory circuit storing the remote controller control information; and

a system control circuit connected to the receiving, transmitting, and memory circuits to output the stored remote controller control information according to the request signal and controlling the system to perform an operation corresponding to the received key code.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the remote controller control information stored in the electronic product module is simultaneously outputted based on an external request.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic product module is linked to an external network to update the remote controller control information thereof.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the remote controller module receives the remote controller control information from the electronic product module and controls the electronic product module using the received remote controller control information.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the remote controller control information includes at least one of product code information, key code data or key arrangement state information.

7. A remote controller module comprising:

a transmitting circuit performing at least one transmission of a remote controller control information request signal or a key code according to an electronic product module;

a receiving circuit receiving remote controller control information including key arrangement state information for controlling the electronic product module;

a memory circuit storing the remote control information for at least one or more electronic products;

a display performing at least one display of the electronic products or a key arrangement plan corresponding to the remote controller control information of the electronic product; and

a control circuit receiving the remote controller control information from the receiving unit to store in the memory circuit, changing a current key code and key arrangement plan based on the remote controller control information of the product selected, and then outputting the key code corresponding to a key input to the electronic product module, wherein the control circuit automatically receives the remote controller control information when a product coupled to the electronic product module is booted up.

8. The remote controller module of claim 7, wherein the remote controller control information is received in response to a request by a predefined specific key input or in response to booting the system.

9. The remote controller module of claim 7, wherein the display unit of the remote controller comprises a touch-screen type display means.

10. The remote controller module of claim 7, wherein the display means includes at least one of LED, EL, and LCD.

11. The remote controller module of claim 7, wherein the display unit comprises a plurality of keys set up according to operations or control characteristics of a plurality of usable products, respectively.

12. The remote controller module of claim 7, wherein the at least one or more products are grouped to be selected in receiving the remote controller control information or controlling the at least one or more products.

13. A method, comprising:

automatically receiving remote controller control information from an electronic product module when a product coupled to the electronic product module is booted up;

displaying a key arrangement plan of the electronic product module to be controlled by a selection based on the received remote controller control information; and

outputting key information to the electronic product module when a key of the displayed key arrangement plan is selected, the output key information causing a function to be performed by the product.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the remote controller control information includes at least one of product code information, key code data or key arrangement state information.

15. A method, comprising:

automatically receiving, in a remote controller module, remote controller control information sent from an electronic product module when a product coupled to the electronic product module is booted up;

storing the received remote controller control information;

displaying the key arrangement plan based on the remote controller control information received from the electronic product module; and

outputting a key code corresponding to an input of a key displayed on the key arrangement plan.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

controlling the electronic product remotely based on the outputted control information.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

by operating a predefined specific key, outputting a remote controller control information request signal to the electronic product module;

if the request signal is received from the remote controller module, transmitting the remote controller control information by frame unit to the remote controller module from the electronic product module; and

receiving the remote controller control information transmitted from the electronic product module in the remote controller module.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving remote controller control information by pressing an update key on the remote controller module.

19. A method, comprising:

automatically receiving, in a remote controller module, remote controller control information including key arrangement state information from an electronic product module when a product coupled to the electronic product module is booted up;

deciding whether the received remote controller control information exists in a memory unit of the remote controller module;

if the received remote controller control information fails to exist in the memory unit, updating the remote controller control information outputted from the electronic product module; and

informing the electronic product module of completion of updating the remote controller control information.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

after the completion of updating the remote controller control information, deciding whether to control electronic products via the remote controller;

if a specific one of the electronic products is decided to be controller as a result of the deciding, displaying a plurality of the electronic products on a display unit by the operation of the predefined specific key;

selecting the specific electronic product from a plurality of the displayed electronic products;

outputting a display image by the remote controller control information of the selected electronic product; and

controlling the corresponding electronic product by pressing a key to be controlled on a key arrangement plan of the outputted display image.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

if the remote controller control information received from the electronic product module exists in the memory unit, deciding whether to update the remote controller control information currently stored; and

if the remote controller control information is decided to be updated as a result of the deciding step, displaying and updating the corresponding electronic product at least once.