`Mui
`
`(10) Patent N0.2
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,589,642 B1
`Sep. 15, 2009
`
`US007589642B1
`
`(54) RELAYING KEY CODE SIGNALS THROUGH
`A REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE
`
`('75) Inventor: Daniel Saul?“ Mui’ San Jose, CA (Us)
`
`(73) Assignee: UEI Cayman Inc. (KY)
`
`( * ) Notice?
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term Ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 1076 days.
`
`(21) App1.N0.: 10/737,029
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Dec- 16: 2003
`
`(51) Int‘ Cl‘
`(200601)
`G08C 19/00
`(52) US. Cl. .......................... .. 340/825.69; 340/825.72;
`340/825~22; 340/561; 340/564; 340/574;
`340/825-29; 345/168
`0f Classi?cation Search .......... ..
`340/82572, 82522, 551, 554, 5-74; 345/172,
`345/168; 348/734
`See application ?le for Complete Search history
`References Cited
`
`(56)
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`l/l997 McNair etal. .............. .. 236/51
`5,595,342 A *
`9/1997 August et a1.
`455/420
`5,671,267 A *
`5,963,624 A * 10/1999 Pope ................... .. 379/11001
`
`6/2004 Teskey ................ .. 340/825.72
`6,747,568 B1 *
`6,819,259 B2 * 11/2004 Yamaguchi .......... .. 340/82569
`2002/0130803 A1* 9/2002 Conway et a1.
`..... .. 341/176
`2005/0151726 A1* 7/2005 Wouters ................... .. 345/172
`
`* .
`
`.
`
`cued by exammer
`Primary ExamineriVernal U BroWn
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firmilmperium Patents Works;
`Darien 1(_ Wallace
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Upon receiving a keystroke indicator signal from a remote
`control device, a key code generator device identi?es a
`codeset usable to communicate With a selected consumer
`device. The keystroke indicator signal contains an indication
`of a pressed key, Which corresponds to a function of the
`Selected Consumer device_ Using the identi?ed codeset and
`the key indication, the key code generator device generates a
`key code and modulates that key code onto a radio frequency
`carrier signal’ thereby generating a ?rst key Code signaL The
`remote control device receives the ?rst key code signal from
`the key code generator device and modulates the key code
`onto an infrared frequency carrier signal, thereby generating
`a second key code signal. The remote control device relays
`the key code to the selected consumer device in the second
`key code signal. The key code causes the selected consumer
`device to perform the desired function.
`
`25 Claims,4DraWing Sheets
`
`39
`
`DATABASE OF
`CODESETS
`
`10\\
`
`TRANS
`
`KEY CODE
`GENERATOR
`
`DEYZICE
`
`:;//"“‘—— ’
`HIGHLIGHT DEVICE I
`P
`I
`
`KEYSTROKE
`INDICATOR
`
`RF
`TRANSMITTER
`17
`
`19
`FIRST
`KEY CODE
`SIGNAL
`
`IR
`RECEIVER
`
`13
`ELECTRONIC
`CONSUMER
`DEVICE
`
`33
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1001 Page 000001
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`
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`US. Patent
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`Sep. 15, 2009
`
`Sheet 1 of4
`
`US 7,589,642 B1
`
`10
`
`F O E S A m T A D
`S T E S E D O C
`
`NETWORK
`
`38
`
`RF
`RECEIVER
`18\
`
`RF GKEY CODg
`TRANS_ ENERAT R
`DEVICE
`MITTER
`12
`H
`2,0
`
`has VIDEO IN
`
`KEYSTROKE
`INDICATOR
`SIGNAL
`16
`
`RF
`TRANSMITTER
`
`REMOTE
`CONTROL
`DEVICE
`
`22
`SECOND
`KEY CODE
`SIGNAL
`
`24
`IR
`RECEIVER
`
`Kw
`13
`ELECTRONIC
`CONSUMER
`DEVICE
`
`FIG. 1
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1001 Page 000002
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`US. Patent
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`Sep. 15, 2009
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`Sheet 2 of4
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`US 7,589,642 B1
`
`@)
`
`A CODESET USABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH AN ELECTRONIC
`CONSUMER DEVICE IS IDENTIFIED TO A KEY CODE GENERATOR
`DEVICE (FOR EXAMPLE, BY A USER USING A REMOTE CONTROL
`DEVICE AND AN ON-SCREEN DISPLAY)
`I
`THE USER PRESSES A KEY ON THE REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE, AND A
`CORRESPONDING KEYSTROKE INDICATOR SIGNAL IS SENT TO THE N101
`KEY CODE GENERATOR DEVICE, THE KEY CORRESPONDS TO A
`DESIRED FUNCTION OF THE ELECTRONIC CONSUMER DEVICE
`I
`THE KEY CODE GENERATOR DEVICE USES THE IDENTIFIED CODESET N102
`TO GENERATE A KEY CODE CORRESPONDING TO THE PRESSED KEY
`I
`THE KEY CODE GENERATOR DEVICE MODULATES THE KEY CODE
`ONTO A FIRST CARRIER SIGNAL (FOR EXAMPLE, AN RF SIGNAL),
`THEREBY GENERATING A FIRST KEY CODE SIGNAL
`I
`THE FIRST KEY CODE SIGNAL IS TRANSMITI'ED FROM THE KEY CODE N104
`GENERATOR DEVICE AND TO THE REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE
`I
`THE REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE RECEIVES THE FIRST KEY CODE
`SIGNAL AND RELAYS THE KEY CODE BY TRANSMITTING THE KEY
`CODE IN A SECOND KEY CODE SIGNAL, THE SECOND KEY CODE
`SIGNAL USES A SECOND CARRIER SIGNAL (FOR EXAMPLE, AN IR
`SIGNAL) TO CARRY THE KEY CODE
`I
`THE SECOND KEY CODE SIGNAL IS RECEIVED ONTO THE ELECTRONIC
`CONSUMER DEVICE
`
`~100
`
`~103
`
`~105
`
`1 6
`~ 0
`
`I
`THE KEY CODE CAUSES THE ELECTRONIC CONSUMER DEVICE TO
`PERFORM THE DESIRED FUNCTION
`
`[in
`
`N107
`
`FIG. 2
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`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1001 Page 000003
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`US. Patent
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`Sep. 15, 2009
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`Sheet 3 of4
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`US 7,589,642 B1
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`010100011100
`
`WW4
`SYSTEM
`CODE
`KEY DATA
`
`KEY CODE
`FIG. 3
`
`MARK
`LENGTH
`
`394 BURSTS
`
`SPACE
`LENGTH
`
`2000
`
`3000
`
`4000
`5000
`DIGITAL “1"
`FIG 6A
`
`6000
`
`psec
`7000 i
`
`6
`4
`psec psec
`II
`II
`lNTERMEDlARY-H I<-
`+1 H-INTERMEDIARY
`SIGNAL ON TIME
`SIGNAL OFF TIME
`
`MARK SPACE
`LENGTH LENGTH
`
`I
`
`I
`!
`
`‘—~—J
`1000
`I DIGITAL “0"
`49
`
`:
`
`:
`
`490 psec
`49 BURSTS
`
`MARK LENGTH
`OF DIGITAL "0"
`
`FIG. 6B
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`US 7,589,642 B1
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`1
`RELAYING KEY CODE SIGNALS THROUGH
`A REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`The present invention relates generally to remote control
`devices and, more speci?cally, to relaying key code signals
`through a remote control device to operate an electronic con
`sumer device.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`Most households today possess multiple types of elec
`tronic consumer devices, such as televisions, stereo radios,
`digital video disk players, video cassette recorders, set-top
`cable television boxes and set-top satellite boxes. Manufac
`turers of such electronic devices typically supply a remote
`control device along With each electronic device. It is, there
`fore, common for a consumer Who has multiple electronic
`devices to have multiple remote control devices.
`A remote control device typically controls a selected elec
`tronic consumer device by transmitting infrared key code
`signals to the selected electronic consumer device. The infra
`red signals contain key codes of a codeset associated With the
`selected electronic consumer device. Each key code corre
`sponds to a function of the selected electronic device, such as
`poWer on, poWer off, volume up, volume doWn, play, stop,
`select, channel up, channel doWn, etc. In order to avoid the
`situation Where a remote control device unintentionally oper
`ates an electronic consumer device that is associated With a
`different remote control device, manufacturers sometimes
`use distinct codesets for the communication betWeen various
`electronic consumer devices and their associated remote con
`trol devices. The codesets can differ from each other not only
`by the bit patterns assigned to various functions of the asso
`ciated electronic consumer device, but also by the timing
`information that describes hoW the key codes should be
`modulated onto carrier signals to generate key code signals.
`Consumers may ?nd it inconvenient to operate their elec
`tronic devices using multiple remote control devices. Thus, a
`consumer may Wish to operate multiple electronic consumer
`devices using a single remote control device. A single remote
`control device can store many codesets so that the remote
`control device can control a corresponding large number of
`different electronic consumer devices. There are, hoWever,
`thousands of codesets in use in electronic consumer devices
`today. Manufacturers of remote control devices, hoWever,
`may Wish to limit the memory on their remote control devices
`to a siZe that is insu?icient to store the thousands of existing
`codesets.
`A system is sought for enabling a remote control device to
`control a selected one of multiple different electronic con
`sumer devices Without requiring the codeset associated With
`the selected electronic consumer device to be stored on the
`remote control device.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`A system for relaying a key code through a remote control
`device to an electronic consumer device alloWs the electronic
`consumer device to be controlled Without storing the associ
`ated codeset on the remote control device. Upon receiving a
`keystroke indicator signal from a remote control device, a key
`code generator device, such as a set-top box, identi?es the
`particular codeset usable to communicate With the selected
`electronic consumer device. The keystroke indicator signal
`contains an indication of a key on the remote control device
`
`2
`that Was pressed, Which corresponds to a function of the
`selected electronic consumer device. Using the identi?ed
`codeset and the indication of the pressed key, the key code
`generator device generates a key code and modulates that key
`code onto a radio frequency carrier signal, thereby generating
`a ?rst key code signal. The remote control device receives the
`?rst key code signal from the key code generator device and
`modulates the key code onto an infrared frequency carrier
`signal, thereby generating a second key code signal. The
`remote control device relays the key code to the selected
`electronic consumer device in the second key code signal.
`The key code causes the selected electronic consumer device
`to perform the desired function. The key code is not stored on
`the remote control device in a permanent manner, but rather
`the key code is relayed through the remote control device.
`In another embodiment, a third key code signal (Which
`may, for example, be a radio frequency signal) is communi
`cated directly from the key code generator device to an elec
`tronic consumer device. A key code contained in the third key
`code signal causes the electronic consumer device to perform
`a desired function.
`In yet another embodiment, the system automatically
`determines Which codeset is usable to communicate With a
`selected electronic consumer device. The key code generator
`device sends key codes for one particular function from
`among a series of codesets one-by-one to the selected elec
`tronic consumer device. When the key code from one of the
`codesets causes the electronic consumer device to perform
`the desired function, electromagnetic noise is introduced into
`electrical poWer Wiring through Which both the electronic
`consumer device and the key code generator device receive
`poWer. When the key code generator device detects this noise
`on the electrical poWer Wiring, the key code generator device
`identi?es the codeset corresponding to the last transmitted
`key code to be the codeset usable to communicate With the
`selected electronic consumer device.
`Other embodiments and advantages are described in the
`detailed description beloW. This summary does not purport to
`de?ne the invention. The invention is de?ned by the claims.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The accompanying draWings, Where like numerals indicate
`like components, illustrate embodiments of the invention.
`FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system for relaying key
`code signals through a remote control device.
`FIG. 2 is a ?owchart of a method for relaying key code
`signals through a remote control device.
`FIG. 3 is an illustration of a key code transmitted Within a
`key code signal.
`FIG. 4 is a Waveform diagram of a ?rst example of a key
`code signal transmitted by a remote control device in the
`system of FIG. 1.
`FIG. 5 is a Waveform diagram of a second example of a key
`code signal transmitted by a remote control device in the
`system of FIG. 1.
`FIG. 6A is an illustration of a modulated digital Zero and
`digital one Within the key code signal of FIG. 5.
`FIG. 6B is a more detailed illustration of a mark of a
`modulated digital Zero Within the key code signal of FIG. 5.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
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`Reference Will noW be made in detail to some embodi
`ments of the invention, examples of Which are illustrated in
`the accompanying draWings.
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`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1001 Page 000006
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`25
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`3
`FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system 10 for relaying a key code
`through a remote control device 11 to an electronic consumer
`device in accordance With the present invention. FIG. 2 is a
`?owchart that illustrates a method of operation of system 10.
`System 10 includes a key code generator device 12, remote
`control device 11, a ?rst electronic consumer device 13 and a
`second electronic consumer device 14. In this example, sec
`ond electronic consumer device 14 is a television set.
`In a ?rst step (step 100), key code generator device 12
`determines the appropriate codeset that controls the type,
`brand and model of the particular electronic consumer device
`that is to be controlled. A user uses remote control device 11
`to respond to an on-screen display 15 on the screen of televi
`sion set 14 to step through a sequence of menu screens to
`identify the codeset corresponding to the device that is to be
`controlled. The user does this by identifying, on on-screen
`display 15, the type, brand and model of the particular elec
`tronic consumer device. In this example, the user is identify
`ing ?rst electronic consumer device 13, Which is a video
`cassette recorder (VCR) manufactured by Sony With model
`number 8000. In FIG. 1, the user is identifying the device type
`by highlighting the choice “VCR” on the on-screen display.
`In another example, subsequent to controlling VCR 13, the
`user may Wish to control television set 14, Which is a “Gold”
`model manufactured by RCA. In that case, the user begins
`identifying television set 14 by highlighting the choice “TV”.
`In the present example, key code generator device 12 is a
`set-top box. Key code generator device 12 generates the on
`screen displays and communicates With television set 14 such
`that key code generator device 12 identi?es one of a plurality
`of codesets that corresponds to one of the electronic con
`sumer devices identi?ed by the user, such as VCR 13 or
`television set 14. System 10 uses the appropriate codeset to
`enable remote control device 11 to communicate With VCR
`13 and television set 14.
`35
`Next (step 101), the user presses a key on remote control
`device 11. This key is associated With a function that the user
`Wants performed by an electronic consumer device. For
`example, the function may be to turn on the poWer ofV CR 13.
`When the user presses the “VCR poWer-on” key on remote
`control device 11, remote control device 11 transmits a key
`stroke indicator signal 16 from a radio frequency (RF) trans
`mitter 17 on remote control device 11. Alternatively, tWo or
`more keys on remote control device 11 may be associated
`With a single function, such as turning on the poWer of VCR
`45
`13. In that case, the user presses a “VCR” key and then a
`“poWer-on” key to cause remote control device 11 to transmit
`keystroke indicator signal 16. Keystroke indicator signal 1 6 is
`transmitted as a signal in a radio frequency band to an RF
`receiver 18 on key code generator device 12.
`There are multiple forms in Which an indication of the
`pressed key, as Well as the identity of the electronic consumer
`device that is to perform the associated function, can be
`communicated in keystroke indicator signal 16 from remote
`control device 11 to key code generator device 12. In one
`embodiment, the indication of the pressed key is a key code
`comprised of a standardiZed system code and standardiZed
`key data. In the present example, the standardiZed system
`code identi?es the type of electronic consumer device that is
`to be controlled, such as a TV, a VCR, a DVD player, a stereo
`ampli?er, a satellite receiver or a cable receiver. The standard
`iZed system code and key data are part of a commonly used
`codeset that is stored on remote control device 11. Remote
`control device 11 uses any one of a number of commonly used
`modulation techniques to modulate the system code and key
`data to form keystroke indicator signal 16. For example, a
`microcontroller on remote control device 11 uses timing
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`information associated With the commonly used codeset to
`generate a pulse Width modulated keystroke indicator signal
`16.
`In another embodiment, the indication of the pressed key
`includes a proprietary identi?cation code identifying the
`pressed key, as Well as a proprietary identi?cation code cor
`responding to the type of the electronic consumer device that
`is to be controlled. The proprietary identi?cation codes are
`understood by key code generator device 12, but are not
`standardiZed codes that are understood by electronic con
`sumer devices. Remote control device 11 uses any one of a
`number of commonly used modulation techniques to modu
`late the proprietary identi?cation codes onto keystroke indi
`cator signal 16.
`Whether remote control device 11 communicates With key
`code generator device 12 through a standardiZed codeset or
`through proprietary identi?cation codes, codes may be
`included that do not correspond to pressed keys or functions
`that are to be performed on electronic consumer devices. For
`example, in response to receiving any signal from remote
`control device 11, key code generator device 12 may return a
`code to remote control device 11 causing a light emitting
`diode (LED) display on remote control device 11 to turn on.
`Next (step 102), key code generator device 12 determines
`Which key code of the codeset previously identi?ed in step
`100 corresponds to the pressed key.
`FIG. 3 illustrates one example of a key code from a com
`monly used codeset. The key code is comprised of a standard
`iZed system code and standardiZed key data. Both the system
`code and the key data are digital values. The 12-bit key code
`includes a 4-bit system code [0101] and 8-bit key data
`[00011100]. In the present example, the key code is the key
`code in the identi?ed codeset that corresponds to the “VCR
`poWer-on” key of remote control device 11.
`Next (step 103), key code generator device 12 modulates
`the key code for the poWer-on function of VCR 13 onto a ?rst
`carrier signal, thereby generating a ?rst key code signal 19. In
`this example, the ?rst carrier signal is an RF signal. An RF
`signal for purposes of this patent document is an electromag
`netic signal having a frequency betWeen thirty hertz and three
`hundred gigahertZ.
`FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 illustrate key code signal 19 in tWo
`speci?c embodiments. In both embodiments, the key code is
`transmitted as a stream of digital values 010100011100,
`Where the system code is transmitted ?rst immediately fol
`loWed by the key data Without any place holders betWeen
`them. The standardiZed system code determined in step 102
`need not identify the brand or model of VCR 13, but only the
`fact that ?rst electronic consumer device 13 is aVCR. The key
`code is modulated in step 103 using timing information asso
`ciated With the codeset for VCR 13 . Thus, the particular brand
`and model of VCR 13 is able to understand the key code
`modulated using the appropriate timing information.
`In the embodiment of FIG. 4, key code signal 19 is a 15-bit
`binary transmission Whose bit pattern appears as a universal
`asynchronous receiver and transmitter (UART) type commu
`nication. The binary transmission begins With a start bit and
`ends With a parity bit and a stop bit. The parity bit is calculated
`based on the 12-bit key code Within the binary transmission.
`In this example, the value of the parity bit is a digital Zero. An
`intermediary signal is transmitted over the ?rst carrier signal
`at an intermediary frequency (for example, 100 kHZ) to com
`municate a digital one. The absence of the intermediary signal
`indicates a digital Zero. The intermediary signal has a loWer
`frequency than the ?rst carrier signal.
`In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the 12-bit key code is modu
`lated onto key code signal 19 using pulse Width modulation.
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`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1001 Page 000007
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`US 7,589,642 B1
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`5
`Digital ones and Zeros are characterized by pairs of marks and
`spaces. The period between successive leading edges of the
`bursts in a mark is the period of an intermediary signal. The
`intermediary signal has an intermediary frequency. In a space,
`there are no bursts.
`FIG. 6A shoWs a digital Zero and a digital one in key code
`signal 19 of FIG. 5 in more detail. A “mark/space” pair
`represents a digital Zero and another “mark/space” pair rep
`resents a digital one. The marks and spaces of each pair have
`predetermined lengths. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the
`mark length of a digital Zero is 490 microseconds, and the
`mark length of a digital one is 3940 microseconds. The space
`length of a digital Zero is 950 microseconds, and the space
`length of a digital one is 2000 microseconds.
`FIG. 6B shoWs the bursts of the ?rst carrier signal that
`comprise the intermediary signal in more detail. In the
`embodiment of FIG. 5, the bursts that comprise the interme
`diary signal occur every ten microseconds, resulting in an
`intermediary frequency of 100 kilohertZ. The duty cycle of
`the intermediary signal is characteriZed by an “on time” of
`four microseconds and an “off time” of six microseconds.
`There are forty-nine bursts of the carrier signal Within each
`mark length of 490 microseconds.
`Timing information other than that shoWn in the embodi
`ment of FIG. 5 can also be used. For example, one common
`form of pulse Width modulation uses an intermediary signal
`having a frequency of about 38.5 kilohertZ. Eachperiod of the
`intermediary signal has an “on time” often microseconds and
`an “off time” of sixteen microseconds. If such an intermedi
`ary signal Were used to generate a 490 microsecond mark
`length of a digital Zero shoWn in FIG. 6A, there Would be 19
`bursts of the intermediary signal in the mark. Similarly, if
`such an intermediary signal Were used to generate a 3940
`microsecond mark length of a digital one shoWn in FIG. 6A,
`there Would be 151 bursts of the intermediary signal in the
`mark.
`Next (step 104), an RF transmitter 20 of key code generator
`device 12 transmits ?rst key code signal 19 in the form of an
`RF transmission to an RF receiver 21 on remote control
`device 11.
`Next (step 105), remote control device 11 receives ?rst key
`code signal 19 and relays the key code communicated by ?rst
`key code signal 19 to VCR 13 in the form of a second key code
`signal 22. Remote control device 11 is a slave to key code
`generator device 12. Remote control device 11 relays the key
`code by receiving ?rst key code signal 19 in RF form and
`translating the communicated key code so that the key code is
`modulated onto a second carrier signal resulting in second
`key code signal 22. In this example, the second carrier signal
`is an infrared signal With a frequency in the range betWeen
`three hundred gigahertZ and three hundred terahertZ. Second
`key code signal 22 is transmitted by an IR transmitter 23 on
`remote control device 11 to VCR 13. In the embodiment of
`FIG. 5, key code signal 19 is converted into key code signal 22
`by forming the bursts of the intermediary signal using the
`second carrier signal With an infrared frequency in the place
`of the ?rst carrier signal With a radio frequency. For both key
`code signal 19 and key code signal 22, digital ones and digital
`Zeros are modulated using the same timing for “mark/space”
`pairs. The Waveform diagram of key code signal 22 appears
`the same as the Waveform diagram shoWn in FIG. 5 for key
`code signal 19; only the frequency of the carrier signal that
`forms the bursts is different.
`Next (step 106), second key code signal 22 is received onto
`electronic consumer device (VCR) 13 by an IR receiver 24.
`Next (step 107), IR receiver 24 onVCR 13 recovers the key
`code from second key code signal 22. VCR 13 is thereby
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`instructed to perform the function desired by the user. In this
`example, the function is to poWer on VCR 13. Other key
`codes, hoWever, correspond to other functions, such as poWer
`off, channel advance, channel back, volume up, volume
`doWn, cursor up, cursor doWn, cursor right, cursor left, select,
`play, record, stop, forWard, reWind and pause.
`In a second example, an electronic consumer device is
`controlled by an RF key code signal transmitted from key
`code generator device 12. Subsequent to controlling VCR 13,
`the user Wishes to control second electronic consumer device
`14, Which is a “Gold” model RCA television set. In the second
`example, the useruses the on-screen display 15 to identify the
`type (TV), brand (RCA) and model (Gold) of second elec
`tronic consumer device 14. Key code generator device 12
`determines the appropriate codeset that controls television set
`14. The user then presses a key on remote control device 11
`associated With a function that the user Wants performed by
`television set 14. For example, the function is to advance the
`channel of television set 14. When the user presses the chan
`nel advance key on remote control device 11, an indication of
`the pressed key is transmitted in an RF keystroke indicator
`signal from remote control device 11 to key code generator
`device 12.
`Key code generator device 12 then determines Which key
`code of the identi?ed codeset corresponds to the pressed key.
`Key code generator device 12 modulates the key code for the
`channel advance function onto an RF carrier signal, thereby
`generating a third key code signal 25. Key code generator
`device 12 uses the same modulation technique to generate
`both third key code signal 25 and ?rst key code signal 19.
`Third key code signal 25 is modulated using timing informa
`tion associated With the codeset that controls RCA Gold
`television set 14.
`In this second example, television set 14 has an RF receiver
`26 and is capable of receiving RF key code signals. RF trans
`mitter 20 of key code generator device 12 transmits third key
`code signal 25 directly to television set 14. Third key code
`signal 25 is received onto television set 14 by RF receiver 26,
`and RF receiver 26 recovers the key code from third key code
`signal 25. Television set 14 is thereby instructed to advance
`the channel.
`Although remote control device 11 in the ?rst example
`stores either a proprietary codeset or a standardized codeset
`and uses that codeset to generate keystroke indicator signal
`16, remote control device 11 stores only that single codeset.
`This codeset is the codeset used by key code generator device
`12 to receive communications from remote control device 11.
`Remote control device 11 can therefore be made inexpen
`sively and may contain a relatively small amount of memory.
`The memory may, for example, be read only memory (ROM)
`on a microcontroller integrated circuit (for example, a Z8
`microcontroller available from Zilog, Inc. of San Jose, Calif.)
`Even though remote control device 11 stores only a single
`codeset, system 10 of FIG. 1 nevertheless alloWs remote
`control device 11 to control the desired electronic consumer
`device 13, Which may use any one of thousands of different
`codesets. Key code generator device 12 may, for example,
`include a hard disk or other mass storage device that stores
`thousands of possible codesets. The user may use remote
`control device 11 to select any one of those codesets for
`communication With the particular electronic consumer
`device 13. In comparison to some conventional systems
`Where codesets are doWnloaded into a universal remote con
`trol device from a personal computer or other device that is
`not normally part of an entertainment system, system 10 uses
`preexisting hardWare of the entertainment system (such as the
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`US 7,589,642 B1
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`on-screen display functionality, data storage capability, and
`Wireless communication ability of the set-top box) to source
`and identify codesets.
`Although the speci?c embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2 are
`explained above in connection With the codesets being iden
`ti?ed to the key code generator device 12 using an on-screen
`display, the codeset usable to communicate With an electronic
`consumer device may be identi?ed to key code generator
`device 12 in other Ways in other embodiments. In one
`embodiment, for example, the key code generator device
`includes autoscan functionality. Key code generator device
`12 includes an EMI detector 27 that detects electromagnetic
`interference (EMI) or noise on poWer cord 28. PoWer cord 28
`is a poWer cord through Which key code generator device 12
`receives electrical poWer from a Wall socket 29. Similarly,
`television set 14 receives poWer from another Wall socket 30
`via a poWer cord 31. VCR 13 receives poWer from a Wall
`socket 32 via another poWer cord 33. In accordance With the
`autoscan functionality, key code generator device 12 identi
`?es the codeset used to communicate With a particular elec
`tronic consumer device by generating and transmitting a
`sequence of key code signals relayed through remote control
`device 11 to the electronic consumer device to be controlled
`(in this caseVCR 13). Each of these key code signals contains
`a different key code corresponding to the same desired func
`tion on different device types, brands and models.
`In one example, the desired function is the function of
`poWering onVCR 13. The key code generator device 12 sends
`the poWer-on key codes for each of a series of codesets one
`by-one to VCR 13. When the key code for one of the codesets
`causes VCR 13 to perform the desired function (in this case,
`to poWer on), VCR 13 introduces noise or other electromag
`netic interference via cord 33 into Wall socket 32. The poWer
`terminal Within Wall socket 32 is connected through Wiring 34
`to the poWer terminal in Wall socket 29. The noise generated
`by VCR 13 is therefore communicated through Wiring 34, the
`poWer terminal of Wall socket 29 and poWer cord 28 to EMI
`detector 27 on key code generator device 12. When key code
`generator device 12 detects the electromagnetic interference
`onpoWer cord 28, key code generator device 12 automatically
`identi?es the codeset used by VCR 13 as the codeset used to
`communicate the last key code signal for the poWer-on func
`tion.
`Multiple electronic consumer devices may have the same
`key data for a particular function, for example, the poWer-on
`function. A key code, hoWever, also contains a system code
`(see FIG. 3) that corresponds to a particular type of electronic
`consumer device. For example, the system code used for a
`television set Will typically be different than the system code
`used for a video cassette recorder. Thus, different device types
`that use the same key data for the poWer-on function Will not
`respond to a key code containing an incorrect system code.
`Each of the poWer-on key codes transmitted in this example
`by key code generator device 12 contains the system code for
`a video cassette recorder, so television set 14 does not recog
`niZe the key codes. Because key code generator device 12 is
`aWare of the system code communicated, key code generator
`device 12 determines that it Was VCR 13 that Was poWered on
`and not television 14.
`In another example, the codeset usable to communicate
`With VCR 13 is identi?ed to key code generator device 12
`using autoscan functionality that does not involve key code
`generator device 12 having a specialiZed EMI detection cir
`cuit. In that case, the user may be prompted by successive
`screens of on screen display 15 to push the poWer-on key on
`remote control device 11 multiple times. Each time the
`poWer-on key is pressed, keystroke indicator signal 16 com
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`municates this to key code generator device 12. Key code
`generator device 12 in turn generates and transmits a key code
`signal containing a poWer-on key code using a different
`codeset. Each key code signal is relayed through remote
`control device 11 to the particular electronic consumer device
`to be controlled. One by one the user is prompted to push the
`poWer-on key, and key code generator device 12 in turn gen
`erates key codes using different codesets until the electronic
`consumer device performs a desired function. In this case,
`?rst electronic consumer device 13 turns on. The user is
`prompted not to press the poWer-on key once the user sees the
`desired function being performed by ?rst electronic con
`sumer device 13. In the present example, light emitting diodes
`(LEDs) on the face of VCR 13 may be illuminated to indicate
`to the user that VCR 13 has poWered on. When the user stops
`pressing the poWer-on key, then the