United States Patent [191
`Cohen
`
`USO05235414A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,235,414
`Aug. 10, 1993
`
`[54] NON-OBTRUSIVE PROGRAMMING
`MONITOR
`[75] Inventor:
`Gerald B. Cohen, Gaithersburg, Md.
`[73] Assignee: Control Data Corporation,
`Minncapolis, Minn
`[21] APPL No_. 526,103
`
`Ml)’ 21, 1990
`[22] Filedi
`[51]' Int. c1.5 ........................................... .. HMN 17/00
`[52] US. 01. ........................................ .. 358/84; 455/2‘
`455/1514
`[58] Field of Search .................... .. 358/84, 181; 455/2,
`455/151, 151.4, 151.1, 151.2; 340/825.22,
`82556
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`us PATENT DOCUMENTS
`_
`Jagaémcgg C: :II' """"""""""" "
`1?;
`4,876,736 10/1989 lotus/r1113...“e
`'
`:11‘... 455/2
`4:885:632 12/1989 Mabey et a1.
`358/84
`4,907,079 3/1990 Turner ct a1.
`" 358/131
`4,912,552 3/1990 Allison a a].
`358/84
`4,943,963 7/1990 Waechter et a1. .................... .. 455/2
`
`4,972,503 11/1990 Zurlinden ............................. .. 455/2
`Primary Examiner—Reinhard J. Eisenzopf
`AS51330"! ExamineP-Edward Urban
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`A meter for unobtrusively monitoring the tuning of a
`home entertainment center. The device is able to work
`with remote controls of components of the center. The
`present invention receives signals from the remote con
`‘mm’ deeides ‘° which e°mP°hem the eighal was
`intended’ sends a“ hfhahed signal ‘° ‘he PrePer e°mP°'
`nent, and stores tuning information regarding the cen
`‘Fe The “med ihfer‘hamh may he Fe‘hevedh‘ a late‘
`hme and heed. ‘° make phegrammlhg dee'elehe- The
`present invention includes infrared sensors which re
`ceive the signals from the remote(s), a microprocessor,
`and a transmission device to transmit the signal to the
`intended device. Alternately, the control signal may be
`generated by a touch panel array placed over digital
`keypads of the center’s components. When a key is
`pushed’the c‘mtmlSignalisg‘ineratcdxn‘imuch panel
`amyhs) can Serve may or 1“ combmatm ‘"“h ‘he
`remote control(s) to generate control signals.
`'
`
`40 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`i
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1005 Page 000001
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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 10, 1993
`
`Sheet 1 of 3
`
`5,235,414
`
`ON/ OFF
`SENSE
`DETECTOR
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`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1005 Page 000002
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`

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`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1005 Page 000003
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`

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`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 10, 1993
`
`Sheet 3 of 3
`
`5,235,414
`
`70
`
`z
`
`IDLE F
`
`A
`
`IR SIGNAL
`RECEIVED
`
`(85
`ASCRIBE IR *
`SIGNAL TO TOUCH
`PANEL DATA
`
`80*- L06 EVENT
`
`FIG. 3
`
`84" DATA
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1005 Page 000004
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`1
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`5,235,414
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`NON-OBTRUSIVE PROGRAMMING MONITOR
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Field of the Invention
`This invention relates to the monitoring of home
`entertainment centers having components with either
`digital controls thereon or digital remote controls.
`More particularly, the present invention can monitor
`the programming being enjoyed by an audience
`through an audio/ video receiver (such as a television or
`audio receiver), even though the programming may be
`coming from any of a number of sources such as over
`the air, from a cable or from a video cassette recorder
`(VCR).
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`In the entertainment industry, ratings are all impor
`tant for determining advertising rates and for adjusting
`programming. The viewing habits of an audience must
`be monitored to generate the ratings without altering or
`disturbing such habits. Any monitoring equipment must
`present the same or equivalent ergonomics that the
`viewer had previously enjoyed. Information obtained
`from such monitoring is used by networks and other
`programming sources in making programming deci
`sions, especially since the entertainment industry is
`locked in ?erce competition for larger shares of the
`viewing market.
`Television monitoring systems have recently been
`developed and are described in the patent literature.
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,769,697 to Gilley et al. teaches a passive
`television audience measuring system. This system ac
`cepts viewer responses concerning the programming
`being watched, and can therefore collect viewer as well
`as programming information. However, this informa
`tion must be supplied by the viewer. No suggestion is
`made concerning how to monitor complete home enter
`tainment centers that include cable and VCRs, particu
`larly without viewer input.
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,613,904 to Lurie also discloses a tele
`vision monitoring device. This device monitors a roll
`ing bar code that is displayed when initiating viewing or
`switching channels. This device does not monitor a
`plurality of components nor is it unobtrusive as it re
`quires a photocell to cover a section of the television
`screen so that the rolling bar code can be detected.
`There is no suggestion that this device may be used with
`a plurality of components.
`Another patent to Lurie, U.S. Pat. No. 4,626,904,
`discloses a device for passively logging the presence
`and identity of viewers of a television, and stores chan
`nel information. This device requires that all the view
`ers wear headphones and is therefore not “ergonomic”.
`A final patent to 'Lurie, U.S. Pat. No. 4,779,198, deals
`with an audience monitoring system. This device is
`particularly oriented towards monitoring people enter
`ing and leaving a room. Each entrance to a room is
`?tted with a motion detector. In response to the detec
`tor the monitor records when people come and go and
`further records channel selection from the television.
`There is no mention of monitoring a complete home
`entertainment center.
`Systems for detecting and monitoring the channel to
`which television receiver systems are tuned are known
`in the art. However such systems are not useful with
`entertainment systems having plural components with
`digital controls or digital remote controls. Previous
`monitoring systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.
`
`2
`4,605,958 and 4,816,904 to Machnik et al and McKenna
`et al. respectively.
`Machnik et al. monitor the channel selected by a
`cable converter of a television system and stores infor
`mation pertinent thereto. The cable is attached to the
`device which monitors the signal. The output of the
`device is applied to the cable converter.
`McKenna et al. disclose remote units that are con
`trolled from a central location, each unit being attached
`to a television receiver. The device can store informa
`tion relating to television mode as well as viewer identi
`?cation.
`Previous patents have disclosed a “smart” or recon
`?gurable remote control transmitter which may be used
`with a plurality of remotely controlled products, each
`of which is normally controlled by_signals from an
`associated remote control. Such a device is taught by
`Evans et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,825,200. A similar device,
`which is capable of learning, storing and repeating the
`control codes from any other infrared transmitter, is
`disclosed in both U.S. Pat. No. 4,626,848 to Ehlers and
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,623,887 to Welles, II. Seymour et al. in
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,412 teach a device which can hold
`a plurality of infrared remote controls.
`While all of the devices above have the ability to
`learn the functions of other remote controls, none teach
`or suggest recording the information about channel
`selection or about which device is in use at certain times
`for later retrieval and analysis.
`Dockery, U.S. Pat. No. 4,809,359, teaches a system
`for extending the effective operational range of infrared
`remote control system using a radio signal. A remote
`control transmitter incorporated into a television re
`ceiver is disclosed by Rumbolt et al. in U.S. Patent
`4,841,368. Uehira, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,755,883, discloses a
`removable information inputting device. Uehira is in
`tended to put information into an electronic device so
`that a specific function, such as taping a movie on a
`speci?c day and time, may be carried out. U.S. Pat. No.
`3,641,299 to Mayer discloses a switch having a transpar
`ent area that is suitable for placement over a video
`display.
`Hence, the prior art is deficient in not being able to
`unobtrusively monitor the viewing habits of an audi
`ence with regard to a home entertainment center where
`multiple components can receive signals from multiple
`sources. None of the known prior art can transfer infor-.
`mation from one or more remote controls or on-device
`digital inputs to the appropriate piece of equipment in a
`home entertainment center and at the same time store
`data relating to what piece of equipment was in use at
`what time and what channel of a television was being
`viewed.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention provides a device that can
`receive a digital command, transfer it to the appropriate
`member of an entertainment system, store information
`re?ecting what piece of equipment was in use and what
`channel was the active channel of the television and
`later transmit such information to a central computer.
`The present invention accurately monitors and me
`ters the audio/video (A/V) tuning and channel selec
`tion of a digitally controlled home entertainment center
`in an unobtrusive manner so that control signals are not
`interfered with and there is no requirement for any
`electrical connections to the tuning systems of the com
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`5,235,414
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`ponents of the entertainment system. The present inven
`tion is not utilized in lieu of the A/V receivers of the
`system, rather it cooperates with them. Further, the
`present invention cooperates with any remote control
`devices associated with the entertainment system com
`ponents.
`The present invention collects data concerning usage
`of a programming monitor component of a home enter
`tainment center by monitoring at least one component
`of the center that is controlled by control signals. The
`invention includes sensor means that detect the control
`signals, means that transfer the signal to the component
`for which it was intended, data generating means which
`create data based on the control signals regarding use of
`the programming monitor component, and outputting
`means for outputting the data.
`Therefore, the present invention, without using
`probes or any obtrusive apparatus or methods, presents
`an effective method for monitoring the tuning of enter
`tainment systems. The invention is especially effective
`as today’s A/V equipment has a greater usage of com
`puterized circuitry, modern keypads, infrared remote
`controls and multimedia con?gurations including
`TV/V CR, picture-in-a-picture and other special effects.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`Other objects, features and characteristics of the pres
`ent invention, as well as the methods of operation and
`functions of the related elements will become apparent
`upon consideration of the following description and the
`appended claims with reference to the accompanying
`drawings, all of which form a part of this speci?cation,
`wherein like reference numerals designate correspond
`ing parts in the various ?gures.
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention
`arranged on a home entertainment center that includes
`a television, cable and a VCR;
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the apparatus pictured in
`FIG. 1, with no television, cable or VCR being de
`picted; and
`FIG. 3 is a ?owchart illustrating the remote control
`monitoring performed by the apparatus pictured in
`FIG. 2.
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`falls on receiver 38 which transfers the signal to monitor
`34. Monitor 34 then regenerates or at least passes the
`signal to transmitter 40 which emits an IR beam to
`television 10. Channel selection, using remote control
`16, is stored in monitor 34 for future retrieval. Con
`verter 12 has a sensor 36 similar to that associated with
`television 10. Likewise, VCR 11 has a sensor 36.
`Instead of providing a separate receiver 38 and trans
`mitter 40, each sensor 36 may be transparent. In this
`case, the incoming infrared beam carrying the control
`signal impinges on sensor 36. Information coded into
`the beam is transferred directly to the component for
`which it is intended, and at the same time the informa
`tion is transferred to monitor 34. In a preferred embodi
`ment, each sensor 36 is not transparent. This insures that
`the incoming infrared beam is alwaysintercepted for
`proper detection by monitor 34 and is subsequently
`passed to television 10 by transmitter 40. Such is also
`the case with sensor 36 for the converter 12 and VCR
`11.
`Television 10 may also be controlled through digital
`keypad 18. The present invention provides a touch
`panel array 42 which is mounted over keypad 18. Such
`an array can recognize which key is being pushed and
`relate this information to monitor 34 for storage and
`later retrieval. Keypad 18 on VCR 11 and keypad 18 on
`converter 12 are also provided with touch panel arrays
`42 that relay information to monitor 34.
`Each touch panel array 42 is fabricated of commer
`cially available touch sensitive materials. Alternatively,
`it may be formed as a mechanical assembly designed so
`as to ?t over the digital controls 18 of the component.
`Each time a key or button is depressed, it can be de
`tected by its location within the array. In a preferred
`embodiment, a mechanical assembly is designed so as to
`?t over digital controls 18 of the component such that
`the viewer is denied access to the digital controls.
`Touch panel array 42 is constructed of commercially
`available materials such that it becomes a “substitute”
`keypad having the equivalent ergonomic features of the
`original component’s digital keypad 18. Each time a key
`on touch panel array 42 is depressed, monitor 34 recog
`nizes the key(s) that are pushed and responds accord
`ingly by reconstructing the equivalent which is subse
`quently passed to the television 10 by the transmitter 40.
`The touch panel arrays 42 for VCR 11 and converter 12
`work the same way as does touch panel array 42 associ
`ated with television 10.
`Monitor 34 will now be described with reference to
`FIG. 2. Each of the remote control units 16 emits an
`infrared signal that is received by receiver 38. The IR
`signal is changed to electrical impulses that IR decoder
`52 translates to generate a signal indicating the compo
`nent of the home entertainment center being operated
`on and in what manner. For example, when remote
`control 16 for television 10 is used to change channels,
`IR decoder 52 transfers this command through bus 51 to
`microprocessor 53. Microprocessor 53 decodes the IR
`input and directs a corresponding signal toward trans
`mitter section 40 which is juxtaposed with television IR
`receptor 14.
`Transmitter section 40 is made up of I/R light emit
`ting diodes (LED) that emit I/R signals for receptors
`14. Each LED transmitter 40 is driven by a correspond
`ing IR LED driver 56 which receives a command signal
`from microprocessor 53.
`The input signals that are decoded by I/R decoder 52
`with the assistance of microprocessor 53 are used to
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PRESENTLY PREFERRED EXEMPLARY
`EMBODIMENT
`FIG. 1 illustrates a typical home entertainment center
`including a television 10, a VCR 11 and a cable con
`verter 12. Remote control units 16 are provided for
`controlling television 10, VCR 11 and convertor 12,
`respectively, by selectively emitting infrared control
`signals. Television 10, VCR 11 and converter 12 receive
`the control signals from the remote control units 16
`through infrared receptors 14. Digital keypads 18 can
`also be used to input commands to television 10, VCR
`11 and convertor 12.
`Monitor 34 is coupled with a wall outlet 30 through
`an ON/OFF sense detector 32. Television 10, VCR 11
`and converter 12 are plugged into ON/OFF sense de
`60
`tector 32 which informs monitor 34 when the home
`entertainment center is in use. When the user turns on
`television 10, VCR 11 or converter 12, that information
`is recorded by monitor 34. Receptors 14 in television 10,
`VCR 11 and converter 12 are covered by sensors 36,
`65
`including a receiver 38 and a transmitter 40. When
`television remote control 16 is used to turn on television
`10, the infrared (IR) beam emitted by remote control 16
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`drive the LED drivers 56. In order to effectively route
`volume commands need not be logged in step 80,
`the incoming I/R signal to the intended LED transmit
`whereas an audio mute signal would be logged in step
`ter 40, the microprocessor must go through a “learning
`80. If the code received in step 72 is invalid or is not to
`routine”. As this routine is similar to the learning rou
`be logged in step 80, the system returns to idle at step
`tine that the “smart” or recon?gurable remote controls
`70
`discussed above must undergo, the learning process will
`If the control signal is received from touch panel
`not be described in detail.
`array 42 in step 73, the system in step 76 performs as
`Microprocessor 53 “learns” the various types of sig
`though the control signal originated in step 72.
`nals at the time the invention is installed. “Learning”
`Data pertinent to viewing preference is date and time
`includes recognizing and discerning the corresponding
`stamped and the information is stored in RAM 60 at step
`functions of remote control units 16 associated with the
`80, to be later retrieved and reported to a host system.
`entertainment center and the meaning of each digital
`Such information will be utilized to determine program
`control on each of keypads 18 covered by each of the
`ming preferences at a later time. Information such as
`touch panel arrays 42. The purpose of the learning
`volume level is not pertinent and therefore is not stored
`phase is to enable microprocessor 53 to associate all
`in RAM 60. At certain times, the data is to be transmit
`remote control functions with their meaning. In this
`ted to the host system. This could be at a speci?ed time
`manner, microprocessor 53 can discriminate those func
`and date via a modem, Local Area Network (LAN) or
`tions that are tuning relevant from functions which are
`when the apparatus is disconnected from the entertain
`not tuning relevant such as volume control.
`ment system. If it is determined that the data is to be
`Microprocessor 53 includes a read only memory
`transmitted at that time in step 82, the system continues
`(ROM) 58 in which the system programming is stored.
`with step 84 in which transmission occurs. Communica
`Microprocessor 53 also includes a random access mem
`tion device 44 serves as the interface between the meter
`ory (RAM) 60 that stores both information regarding
`and the outside world in that device 44 serves as the link
`the tuning of the entertainment system for later retrieval
`to the host collection system. If step 82 determines that
`and the functions of the different remote control signals.
`data is not to be reported to the host collection system,
`On/Off sense 31 receives and communicates a signal
`the invention returns to its initial idle state at step 70,
`to the microprocessor 53 via bus 51 whenever a compo
`awaiting another IR signal. After data transmission in
`nent of the system is turned on or off. On/Off sense 31
`step 84, the invention also returns to the idle state.
`passes the information to microprocessor 53 where it is
`If from the idle state at step 70, a signal to be moni
`stored in RAM 60.
`tored is received from a touch panel array in step 73, the
`System function will now be explained with refer
`signal is logged at step 80. In the preferred embodiment,
`ence to FIG. 3. At ?rst, the meter remains idle in step
`if a signal to be monitored is received from a touch
`70. The present invention awaits for a control signal
`panel array 42 in step 73, the system proceeds to step 85
`from any of the remote controls 16 of the source devi
`in which monitor 34 ascribes the appropriate IR signal
`ce(s) such as the television 10, VCR 11, cable converter
`to that received from touch panel array 42. The system
`12, etc. or commands from keypads 18, sensed by touch
`then proceeds to step 76 in which the device for which
`panel arrays 42.
`the signal was intended is selected and then to step 78
`The system proceeds to step 76 in which the device to
`where the IR signal is transmitted to the component.
`which the IR signal is being directed to is selected, or
`If the data is to be transmitted in step 84, such is
`the signal can be broadcast to all devices. This is possi
`transmitted to a central host computer (not shown) that
`ble because all the pieces that could receive the IR
`analyzes the data and determines what viewers are
`signal are constructed so as to only respond to their
`watching/listening to. -
`own signals. That is, the television only responds to
`For example, if the home entertainment center con
`signals from the television remote, the cable to signals
`tained a television, a VCR and cable and a movie was
`from a cable remote, the VCR to signals from a VCR
`being watched on the VCR, the present invention
`45
`remote, etc. Each device will not respond to signals
`would transmit that the television was on and that the
`directed at other remotes, so that it is acceptable to
`VCR was on, while the host computer would interpret
`always drive every LED driver 56 and IR LED 54. The
`this information to mean that the VCR was supplying
`only device which will respond to the LED(s) 54 is the
`the active signal. The state of all components making up
`device for which the signal was intended. Signals for
`the home entertainment system must be considered by
`different devices are coded differently. The infrared
`the host computer to enable it to determine which com
`signals are a combination of short and long pulses and
`ponent is supplying the signal. If the television receiver
`spaces. The idea is comparable to signalling in morse
`is tuned to an empty channel while a cable converter is
`code with a ?ashlight.
`tuned to channel 23, then cable channel 23 is the se
`In step 78, monitor 34 then transmits the IR signal to
`lected A/V source. Alternately, if the television is
`selected devices by energizing LED driver(s) 56 which
`tuned to a non-empty channel, for example channel 5,
`in turn cause LED(s) 54 to emit an IR light beam at
`then channel 5 is the true A/V source. The information
`selected components. It is possible that one driver pow
`transmitted by the present invention to a host computer
`ers all the LEDs rather than using one driver for each
`allows the host computer to determine what device was
`LED as depicted in FIG. 2.
`supplying the signal and to create relevant program
`The system proceeds to step 74 in which micro
`ming data.
`processor 53 checks if the control signal received from
`A device and method have been proposed that are
`a remote control 16 in step 72 is a valid one so that the
`able to meter most, if not all, entertainment systems
`event should be logged in step 80. Step 74 determines if
`with digital controls and/or digital IR remote control.
`the received IR signal is intended for a device that is not
`The method and apparatus are unobtrusive and ergo
`being monitored by the present invention. For example,
`nomic and able to accommodate picture-in-a-picture
`such signals could be generated by children’s toys. Al
`television, HDTV, and multimedia entertainment cen
`ternatively, as volume typically need not be monitored,
`ters. Further, the present invention has the advantage of
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`reducing cost by eliminating duplicative equipment.
`This is achieved by the present invention’s ability to
`monitor the tuning of several devices concurrently
`where normally each piece of equipment would require
`its own individual meter.
`While the present invention has been described in
`connection with what is presently considered to be the
`most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be
`understood that the invention is not limited to the dis
`closed embodiment. On the contrary, the invention is
`intended to cover various modi?cations and equivalent
`arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the
`appended claims.
`What is claimed is:
`1. An apparatus for collecting data concerning usage
`of a programming monitor component of a home enter
`tainment center by monitoring at least one component
`of said home entertainment center provided with a
`control signal receiving device responsive to control
`signal energy produced by a user remote control for
`exercising remote control of said at least one compo
`nent, comprising:
`means for preventing transmission of the control
`signal energy from the user remote control to the
`control signal receiving device;
`sensor means for detecting said control signal energy
`produced by said user remote control to produce
`remote control responsive signals;
`generating means for generating substituted control
`signal energy corresponding with the control sig
`nal energy produced by said user remote control
`and applying said substituted control signal energy
`to said control signal receiving device of said at
`least one component;
`35
`means for producing usage data concerning usage of
`said programming monitor component based on
`said control signal energy detected by said sensor
`means; and
`means for outputting said usage data to enable moni
`toring of the usage of said programming monitor
`component.
`2. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said sensor means
`includes infrared receiving means for receiving said
`control signals energy in the form of infrared light en
`ergy produced by at least one infrared remote control,
`said at least one infrared remote control corresponding
`to at least one component of the home entertainment
`center.
`3. Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said generating
`means comprises:
`means for determining a respective one of a plurality
`of components of the home entertainment center
`which is to receive said control signal energy;
`at least one infrared light emitting means for control
`lably emitting infrared light to a light receiving
`device of said respective one of said plurality of
`components provided for receiving said control
`signal energy; and
`means for energizing said infrared light emitting
`means to emit an infrared light signal correspond
`ing with said control signal energy to said light
`receiving device in response to said determining
`means.
`4. Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said generating
`means comprises means for producing infrared light
`signals corresponding with said infrared light energy
`produced by said at least one infrared remote control.
`
`8
`5. Apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said means for
`preventing transmission of the control signal energy
`comprises blocking means positioned over the control
`signal receiving device of said at least one component
`for blocking transmission of said infrared light energy
`produced by said at least one infrared remote control.
`6. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said sensor means
`and said transferring means include a transparent infra
`red receiver.
`7. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said outputting
`means includes a modem.
`8. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said outputting
`means includes a local area network.
`9. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the usage data
`producing means comprises microprocessor means for
`producing said usage data based on said control signal
`energy and memory means for storing said usage data.
`10. Apparatus as in claim 9, wherein said micro
`processor means includes read only memory means for
`storing system programming data.
`11. Apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising an
`on/off sensor means for determining when said at least
`one component of the home entertainment center is on.
`12. Apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said on/off
`sensor means is operative to determine at least one of
`when a television of said home entertainment center is
`on and when the television and at least one of a VCR
`and a cable converter of said home entertainment center
`are on.
`13. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said usage data
`includes information regarding which of a plurality of
`components of said home entertainment center are in
`use.
`14. An apparatus for collecting data concerning usage
`of a programming monitor component of a home enter
`tainment center by monitoring at least one component
`of said home entertainment center provided with a
`control signal receiving device for receiving control
`signals produced by a user remote control and a digital
`keypad for inputting control commands therefor, com
`prising:
`sensor means for detecting said control signals pro
`duced by said user remote control;
`transferring means for transferring said control sig
`nals from the sensor means to said control signal
`receiving device of said at least one component;
`a touch panel array positioned over said digital key
`pad and operative to provide touch control signals
`upon user actuation thereof;
`said transferring means being operative to produce
`corresponding control signals in response to said
`touch control signals and to provide the corre
`sponding control signals to said control signal re
`ceiving device;
`means for generating usage data concerning usage of
`said programming monitor component based on
`said control signals detected by said sensor means;
`and
`means for outputting said usage data from said gener
`ating means to enable monitoring of the usage of
`said programming monitor component.
`15. Apparatus as in claim 14, wherein said usage data
`generating means is operative to generate usage data
`concerning usage of said programming monitor compo
`nent based on said touch control signals.
`16. Apparatus as in claim 14, wherein said sensor
`means is operative to detect said control signals in the
`form of infrared light control signals and said transfer
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`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1005 Page 000008
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`ring means is operative to produce corresponding infra
`red light control signals in response to each of said
`infrared light control signals and said touch control
`signals and to provide the corresponding infrared light
`control signals to said control signals receiving device.
`17. Apparatus for collecting data concerning usage of
`a programming monitor component of a home enter
`tainment center by monitoring at least one component
`of said home entertainment center controlled by control
`signals, comprising:
`at least one touch sensitive means positioned over a
`digital keypad of the at least one component for
`receiving the control signals;
`means for transferring the control signals form the at
`least one touch sensitive means to the at least one
`component;
`'
`generating means for generating usage data concern
`ing the usage of said programming monitor compo
`nent, said generating means being coupled with the
`at least one touch sensitive means to receive the
`control signals therefrom, said generating means
`being operative to generate said usage data based
`on the control signals received thereby from the
`touch sensitive means; and
`means for outputting said data from said data generat
`ing means to enable monitoring of the usage of said
`programming monitor component.
`18. Apparatus as in claim 17, wherein said transfer
`ring means is operative to transfer said control signals to
`said at least one component in the form of infrared light
`control signals.
`19. An apparatus for collecting data concerning usage
`of a programming monitor component of a home enter
`tainment center by monitoring at least one component
`of said home entertainment center controlled by infra
`red control signal energy received by control signals
`receiving means thereof, comprising:
`at least one infrared remote control unit for generat
`ing said infrared control signal energy;
`sensor means for detecting said infrared control sig
`nals energy from said at least one infrared remote
`control unit;
`means for preventing transmission of said infrared
`control signal energy from said at least one infrared
`remote control unit to said control signal receiving
`means;
`generating means for generating infrared light signals
`corresponding with said infrared control signal
`energy and supplying said infrared light signals to
`said control signal receiving means of said at least
`one component;
`means for generating data concerning usage of said
`programming monitor component based on said
`infrared control signal energy received b