State-based remote control system

• US 8,026,789 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2004
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chopin Acquisition Company, Inc., Logitech International SA
• Original Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Inventors: Henry, Justin M., Harris, Glen McLean
• Primary Examiner(s): HOLLOWAY III, EDWIN C
• Application Number:
  US10/870,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20050030196A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,659 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/3.2, 340/3.1, 340/825.22, 340/3.7, 340/3.71, 398/1, 398/106, 398/111, 398/112, 398/115, 398/126, 398/127, 455/352, 341/176, 358/734
• US Class Current: 340/3.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• 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: 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: 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 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204

Abstract

A state-based remote control system for providing efficient and simple operation of a plurality of electronic devices as a coordinated system based upon an overall task. The state-based remote control system includes a housing, a keypad in communication with an electronic system contained within the housing, and a communication device in communication with the electronic system for communicating with external electronic devices. The electronic system monitors the buttons selected by a user to determine the state of all external electronic devices that are to be controlled. When the user selects a task (e.g. watch television), the electronic system automatically determines the actions required to achieve the desired task based upon the current state of the external electronic devices. After the task has been fulfilled, the electronic system updates the data to reflect the modified state of the external electronic devices.

Claims

1. A remote control comprises:

control means for storing, calculating, and updating a simulated current state data for a set of home entertainment appliances that includes at least two functionally different home entertainment appliances, wherein the control means is configured for;

receiving a request for transmitting a set of command codes for controlling the set of home entertainment appliances, and the set of command codes is for end state data of the home entertainment appliances subsequent to transmission of the set of command codes to the set of home entertainment appliances, and

comparing the current state data to the end state data to determine if transmission of the set of command codes will put the set of home entertainment appliances in an end state corresponding to the end state data, the end state representing at least the two functionally different home entertainment appliances each being in a corresponding particular state; and

a transmitter configured to transmit command codes to the set of home entertainment appliances, wherein;

if transmission of the set of command codes will not put the set of home entertainment appliances in the end state, the control means is configured for changing at least one command code in the set of command codes to generate a modified set of command codes, and the transmitter is configured to transmit the modified set of command codes to the set of home entertainment appliances to put the set of home entertainment appliances in the end state; and

if transmission of the set of command codes will put the set of home entertainment appliances in the end state, the transmitter is configured to transmit the set of command codes to the set of home entertainment appliances to put the set of home entertainment appliances in the end state.

2. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the control means is configured for removing a command from the set of command codes to generate the modified set of command codes as a part of the operation for changing at least one of the command codes.

3. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the control means is configured for substituting a command from the set of command codes to generate the modified set of command codes as a part of the operation for changing at least one of the command codes.

4. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the control means is configured for calculating a new simulated current state data based on transmission of the set of command codes or the modified set of command codes to the set of home entertainment appliances.

5. The remote control of claim 4, wherein the control means is configured for updating the new simulated current state data based on the calculating operation of the control means.

6. The remote control of claim 4, wherein the control means is configured for calculating the new simulated current state data based on transmission of the set of command codes or the modified set of command codes to the set of home entertainment appliances prior to transmission of a next set of command codes.

7. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the set of command codes is for a task or an action.

8. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the modified set of command codes is for a task or an action.

9. The remote control of claim 6, wherein the control means is configured for storing the simulated current state data in a state machine.

10. A remote control comprises:

an electronic circuit configured to;

store, calculate, and update a simulated current state data relating to a set of home entertainment appliances that includes at least two functionally different home entertainment appliances, and

receive a request for transmitting a set of command codes to control the set of home entertainment appliances, and the set of command codes is for end state data of the home entertainment appliances subsequent to transmission of the set of command codes to the set of home entertainment appliances, and

compare the current state data to the end state data to determine if transmission of the set of command codes will put the set of home entertainment appliances in an end state corresponding to the end state data, the end state representing at least the two functionally different home entertainment appliances each being in a corresponding particular state; and

a transmitter configured to transmit command codes to the set of home entertainment appliances, wherein;

if transmission of the set of command codes will not put the set of home entertainment appliances in the end state, the electronic circuit is configured to change at least one command code in the set of command codes to generate a modified set of command codes, and the transmitter is configured to transmit the modified set of command codes to the set of home entertainment appliances to put the set of home entertainment appliances in the end state, and

if transmission of the set of command codes will put the set of home entertainment appliances in the end state, the transmitter is configured to transmit the set of command codes to the set of home entertainment appliances to put the set of home entertainment appliances in the end state.

11. The remote control of claim 10, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to remove a command from the set of command codes to generate the modified set of command codes as a part of the operation to change at least one of the command codes.

12. The remote control of claim 10, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to substitute a command from the set of command codes to generate the modified set of command codes as a part of the operation to change at least one of the command codes.

13. The remote control of claim 10, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to calculate a new simulated current state data based on transmission of the set of command codes or the modified set of command codes to the set of home entertainment appliances.

14. The remote control of claim 13, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to update the new simulated current state data based on the calculating operation of the electronic circuit.

15. The remote control of claim 13, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to calculate the new simulated current state data based on transmission of the set of command codes or the modified set of command codes to the set of home entertainment appliances prior to transmission of a next set of command codes.

16. The remote control of claim 10, wherein the set of command codes is for a task or an action.

17. The remote control of claim 10, wherein the modified set of command codes is for a task or an action.

18. The remote control of claim 15, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to store the simulated current state data in a state machine.

19. A method of remote control operation for controlling a set of home entertainment appliances comprises:

receiving a request for transmitting a set of command codes for controlling a set of home entertainment appliances that includes at least two functionally different home entertainment appliances, wherein the set of command codes is for end state data of the home entertainment appliances subsequent to transmission of the set of command codes to the set of home entertainment appliances;

comparing a simulated current state data to the end state data to determine if transmission of the set of command codes will put the set of home entertainment appliances in an end state corresponding to the end state data, the end state representing at least the two functionally different home entertainment appliances each being in a corresponding particular state;

if transmission of the set of command codes will not put the set of home entertainment appliances in the end state,

changing at least one command code in the set of command codes to generate a modified set of command codes, and

transmitting the modified set of command codes to the set of home entertainment appliances to put the set of home entertainment appliances in the end state; and

if transmission of the set of command codes will put the set of home entertainment appliances in the end state, transmitting the set of command codes to the set of home entertainment appliances to put the set of home entertainment appliances in the end state.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the set of command codes is for a task or an action.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the set of modified command codes is for a task or an action.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the changing step includes removing a command from the set of command codes to generate the modified set of command codes as a part of the operation to change at least one of the command codes.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the changing step includes substituting a command from the set of command codes to generate the modified set of command codes as a part of the operation to change at least one of the command codes.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising storing, calculating, and updating the simulated current state data for the set of home entertainment appliances based on the step of transmitting the set of command codes or the set of modified set of command codes to the set of home entertainment appliances.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the calculating step is based on transmission of the set of command codes or the modified set of command codes to the set of home entertainment appliances.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the updating step is based on a result of the calculating step.

27. The method of claim 19, further comprising calculating the simulated current state data based on transmission of the set of command codes or the modified set of command codes to the set of home entertainment appliances prior to transmission of a next set of command codes.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein the set of command codes is for a task or an action, and the modified set of command codes is for a task or an action.

29. The method of claim 19, further comprising storing the simulated current state data in a state machine.