US007005979B2
`
`(12)
`
`United States Patent
`Haughawout et al.
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,005,979 B2
`Feb. 28, 2006
`
`(54) SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING
`REMOTE CONTROL TRANSMISSIONS
`
`
`(75) Inventors: Joseph Lee HaughaWout,Aliso Viejo, _ ~
`
`CUAS(US)’ Jeremy K‘ Black’ Irvme’ CA
`(
`)
`
`_
`_
`,
`(73) Ass1gnee: Universal Electronics Inc., Cypress,
`CA(Us)
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154 b b 178 d
`.
`( ) y
`ays
`(21) APPL NO-Z 10/603,839
`(22) Filed
`Jun 2 5 2003
`
`.
`
`.
`
`,
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2004/0263349 A1
`
`Dec. 30, 2004
`
`(51) Int C]_
`(200601)
`G08B 1/08
`3405391. 340/825 22,
`(52) us CL
`’ 340/825'72’
`"""""""""""""" "
`340/539 1
`(58) Field of Classi?cation Search
`57 825 5'6?
`340/825 72 825 22
`'
`370/394;
`’
`'
`'
`’
`'
`’
`See a “Cation ?le for Com lete Search histor
`pp
`p
`y'
`References Cited
`
`(56)
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,703,359 A * 10/1987 Rumbolt et a1. .......... .. 348/734
`4,959,810 A
`9/1990 Darbee et a1.
`364/900
`5,235,414 A
`8/1993 Cohen ......... ..
`358/84
`
`.
`
`
`
` - - 301351611 - - - - ar ee e a . ....... ..
`,
`,
`2 *
`341/176
`3/1997 Hayes 6161. .... ..
`5,614,906 A
`359/148
`9/1999 Darbee et a1.
`5,959,751 A
`341/23
`1/2000 Darbee et a1.
`6,014,092 A
`725/152
`4/2001 Hayes et a1‘ ____ __
`6,223,348 B1 *
`341/176
`5/2001 Hayes 6161. ........ ..
`6,225,938 B1
`12/2002 McGrane et a1. ............ .. 713/1
`6,496,927 B1
`6/2004 Teskey ............. .. 340/825.72
`6,747,568 B1 *
`2002/0140571 A1* 10/2002 Hayes et a1. ......... .. 340/825.72
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner—Phung T. Nguyen
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Gary R. Jarosik
`
`57
`(
`)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`_
`_
`_
`_
`A remote control transmission momtormg system. Aremote
`control has programming for transmitting a sequence'of
`command codes and a command receiver has programmmg
`for determining if the transmission from the remote control
`included all of the command codes in the sequence of
`command codes. The programming further functions to
`generate a signal to cause corrective action to be taken
`and/or to notify a user that an unsuccessful transmission of
`the sequence of command codes occurred When the trans
`mission from the remote control is determined to include
`less than all of the command codes in the sequence of
`command codes.
`
`4,623,887 A 11/1986 Welles, II ............ .. 340/825.57
`
`41 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
`
`12
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1010 Page 000001
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 28,2006
`
`Sheet 1 0f 6
`
`US 7,005,979 B2
`
`12
`
`14
`
`FIGURE 1
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1010 Page 000002
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 28,2006
`
`Sheet 2 0f 6
`
`US 7,005,979 B2
`
`E
`
`32
`
`Transmitter
`
`33
`
`Receiver
`
`Non-volatile
`memory
`
`34
`
`26
`
`36
`
`38
`
`\ Batteries
`
`28
`
`‘6
`3
`8 9
`g
`.5
`E
`
`0
`
`Typical key detail
`
`Crysta|
`
`Clock and
`timer logic
`
`24
`
`F|GURE2
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1010 Page 000003
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 28,2006
`
`Sheet 3 0f 6
`
`US 7,005,979 B2
`
`_-|-_ F,
`
`F:
`
`62
`
`64
`
`/
`
`Input
`
`l
`
`55
`
`Transmitter
`
`/ 54
`Recelver
`
`/ .
`
`(0
`
`Q
`8
`9
`g
`9
`.9
`2
`
`Non-volatile
`\ memory
`
`56
`
`'
`I
`
`ROM
`memory
`
`‘
`|
`5 Clock and
`CryStaI l
`timer logic
`//
`‘$7
`53
`
`\
`\
`
`50
`
`' ible
`‘LED
`"
`
`52
`
`58
`
`FIGURE 3
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1010 Page 000004
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 28,2006
`
`Sheet 4 0f 6
`
`US 7,005,979 B2
`
`RECEIVE
`COMMAND
`CODE
`
`FOUND IN
`LIBRARY?
`
`N
`
`ISSUE
`' ALARM
`
`FIGURE 4
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1010 Page 000005
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 28,2006
`
`Sheet 5 0f 6
`
`US 7,005,979 B2
`
`RECEIVE
`MACRO
`
`MACRO IN
`LIBRARY’?
`
`N
`
`ISSUE
`ALARM
`
`I
`
`ALL
`COMMANDS
`RECEIVED?
`
`I
`
`NOTIFY
`__—'__> REMOTE OF
`MISSING
`COMMANDS
`
`ALL
`MISSING
`COMMANDS
`
`FIGURE 5
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1010 Page 000006
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 28,2006
`
`Sheet 6 6f 6
`
`US 7,005,979 B2
`
`After programming a macro,
`user registers it with the
`command receiver device
`
`E.g. "Setup", "Register",
`followed by macro button
`that is to be registered
`
`May include sequence
`number to be used to identify
`macro in future
`
`Enter button
`sequence to intiate
`registration
`
`Remote control
`transmits "enter
`learning"
`command
`
`7
`
`Remote control
`transmits macro
`sequence
`
`Remote control
`transmits "exit
`learning"
`command
`
`(Optional)
`Command reciever
`device transmits
`con?rmation
`
`Macro registered
`
`FIGURE 6
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1010 Page 000007
`
`

`

`US 7,005,979 B2
`
`1
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING
`REMOTE CONTROL TRANSMISSIONS
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`The following relates generally to remote control systems
`and, more particularly, relates to a system and method for
`monitoring remote control transmissions.
`Devices adapted to unobtrusively monitor the tuning of a
`home entertainment center are knoWn in the art. For
`example, US. Pat. No. 5,235,414 describes a device adapted
`to Work With the remote controls of the various appliances
`that comprise the home entertainment center. The device
`functions to receive a signal from the remote controls,
`determine Which appliance Was the intended target of the
`signal, send an infrared signal to the intended target appli
`ance, and store tuning information. In this manner, the stored
`information may be retrieved at a later time and used to
`determine program ratings.
`While the system described in US. Pat. No. 5,235,414
`performs adequately When it is only desired to simply
`monitor the transmission of command codes to a home
`entertainment center, What is needed is a system that func
`tions to provide an indication to a remote control user that
`one or more transmitted command codes Were not properly
`received by the home entertainment center. In this regard,
`remote controls commonly provide for the transmission of a
`sequence of command codes in response to activation of a
`macro key, such as described in US. Pat. No. 5,959,751. By
`Way of example, a macro can be used to transmit a sequence
`of command codes to poWer on all appliances of a home
`entertainment center, to access pay-per-vieW events via a
`set-top box, etc. HoWever, oWing to the length of typical
`command code sequences comprising a macro, it is not
`uncommon for one or more of the command codes Within
`the sequence to fail to reach the home entertainment center.
`The failure to successfully transmit all of the command
`codes from the remote control to the home entertainment
`center may arise from the user pointing the remote control
`aWay from the home entertainment center, from the trans
`mission being temporarily interrupted by a passing person,
`etc. Accordingly, it is desired to provide a system and
`method that functions to signal a remote control and/or
`inform a remote control user that a sequence of command
`codes Was not properly received by the home entertainment
`center to, among other things, alloW the remote control
`and/or user to ensure that the home entertainment center is
`placed into the desired state.
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`40
`
`SUMMARY
`
`In accordance With these needs and desires, a remote
`control transmission monitoring system is hereinafter
`described. Generally, the system receives a transmission
`from a remote control and determines if the transmission
`from the remote control includes a recogniZable command
`code. When the transmission from the remote control is
`determined to not include a recogniZable command code, a
`signal is generated to notify the remote control and/or a user
`that an unsuccessful transmission Was received. More spe
`ci?cally, the system includes a command receiver that has
`programming for determining if the transmission from the
`remote control includes all of the command codes in a
`sequence of command codes.
`A better understanding of the objects, advantages, fea
`tures, properties and relationships of the subject system and
`method Will be obtained from the folloWing detailed descrip
`
`55
`
`65
`
`2
`tion and accompanying draWings Which set forth illustrative
`embodiments Which are indicative of the various Ways in
`Which the principles of the system and method may be
`employed.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`For a better understanding of the system and method
`described hereinafter, reference may be had to preferred
`embodiments shoWn in the folloWing draWings in Which:
`FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary system employing a
`method for monitoring remote control transmissions;
`FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of components of an
`exemplary remote control;
`FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of components of an
`exemplary command receiver;
`FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart diagram of exemplary steps
`for use in monitoring for the successful transmission of a
`remote control command code;
`FIG. 5 illustrates a flow chart diagram of exemplary steps
`for use in monitoring for the successful transmission of a
`sequence of remote control command codes; and
`FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart diagram of exemplary steps
`for registering a macro command code sequence With a
`command receiver.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`With reference to the Figures, a system and method is
`described for use for monitoring remote control transmis
`sions. To this end, the system generally includes a remote
`control 10 that is adapted to transmit command codes to
`control the operation of one or more home appliances 12 as
`is illustrated in FIG. 1. By Way of example only, the
`appliances 12 can include, but are not limited to, televisions,
`VCRs, DVRs, DVD players, cable converter boxes, ampli
`?ers, CD players, game consoles, home lighting, drapery,
`fans, HVAC systems, thermostats, personal computers, etc.
`For use in transmitting command codes to one or more of
`the appliances 12, the remote control 10 may include, as
`needed for a particular application, a processor 24 coupled
`to a ROM memory 26, a key matrix 28 (e.g., physical
`buttons, a touch screen display, or a combination thereof), an
`internal clock and timer 30, transmission circuit(s) 32,
`receiver circuit(s) 33 and/or transceiver circuit(s) (e.g., IR
`and/or RF), a non-volatile read/Write memory 34, a means
`36 to provide feedback to the user (e.g, LED, display,
`speaker, and/or the like), a poWer supply 38, and input
`means 39 (e.g., serial I/O port, Wireless receiver, bar code
`scanner, etc.) as generally illustrated in FIG. 2. As Will be
`understood by those of skill in the art, the ROM memory 26
`may include executable instructions that are intended to be
`executed by the processor 24 to control the operation of the
`remote control 10. In this manner, the processor 24 may be
`programmed to control the various electronic components
`Within the remote control 10, e.g., to monitor the poWer
`supply 38, to cause the transmission of signals, etc. The
`non-volatile read/Write memory 34, for example an
`EEPROM, battery-backed up RAM, Smart Card, memory
`stick, or the like, may be provided to store setup data and
`parameters as necessary. While the memory 26 is illustrated
`and described as a ROM memory, memory 26 can also be
`comprised of any type of readable media, such as ROM,
`RAM, SRAM, FLASH, EEPROM, or the like. Preferably,
`the memory 26 is non-volatile or battery-backed such that
`data is not required to be reloaded after battery changes. In
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1010 Page 000008
`
`

`

`US 7,005,979 B2
`
`3
`addition, the memories 26 and 34 may take the form of a
`chip, a hard disk, a magnetic disk, and/or an optical disk.
`To identify home appliances by type and make (and
`sometimes model) such that the remote control device 10 is
`adapted to transmit recognizable command codes in the
`format appropriate for such identi?ed appliances 12, data
`may be entered into the universal remote control device 10.
`Since methods for setting up a remote control to control the
`operation of speci?c home appliances are Well-knoWn, such
`methods need not be described in greater detail herein.
`Nevertheless, for additional information pertaining to
`remote control setup, the reader may turn to US. Pat. Nos.
`4,959,810, 5,614,906, and 6,225,938. It Will also be appre
`ciated that the remote control 10 may be set up to control an
`appliance 12 by being taught the command codes needed to
`control such appliance as described in US. Pat. No. 4,623,
`887.
`To cause the remote control 10 to perform an action, the
`remote control 10 is adapted to be responsive to events, such
`as a sensed user interaction With the key matrix 28, receipt
`of a transmission, etc. In response to an event appropriate
`instructions Within the memory 26 may be executed. For
`example, When a command key is activated on the remote
`control 10, the remote control 10 may retrieve a command
`code corresponding to the activated command key from
`memory 26 and transmit the command code to a device in
`a format recogniZable by the device. It Will be appreciated
`that the instructions Within the memory 26 can be used not
`only to cause the transmission of command codes and/or
`data to the appliances 12 but also to perform local opera
`tions. While not limiting, local operations that may be
`performed by the remote control 10 include displaying
`information/data, favorite channel setup, macro button
`setup, function key relocation, etc. Examples of local opera
`tions can be found in US. Pat. Nos. 5,481,256, 5,959,751,
`and 6,014,092. Additional examples of remote controls 10
`may be found in commonly oWned, US. Pat. No. 6,225,938
`and US. application Ser. Nos. 60/264,767, 09/905,423,
`09/905,432, and 09/905,396.
`In keeping With the subject system and method, the
`remote control 10 preferably includes programming such
`that activation of a macro key causes the transmission of a
`sequence of command codes that have been assigned to the
`macro key. In the case Where macros are user programmable,
`the macro programming Will also alloW a user to assign one
`or more command codes to the macro key. By Way of
`example only, the assignment of command codes to the
`macro key may be made by the user interacting With the keys
`of the remote control 10 in the manner described in US. Pat.
`No. 5,959,751. Alternatively, the remote control can be
`preprogrammed to transmit one or more command codes in
`response to activation of the macro key. Still further, one or
`more command codes may be assigned to the macro key by
`means of being doWnloaded to the remote control, for
`example after an interactive session With a netWork site that
`maintains a database of command codes.
`For use in monitoring for the successful transmission of
`command codes from the remote control 10 to one or more
`of the appliances 12, especially a sequence of command
`codes transmitted in response to activation of a macro key,
`the subject system and method includes a command receiver
`14. The command receiver 14 may be a device separate and
`apart from the appliances 12 or may be integrated into one
`or more of the appliances 12 as is illustrated in FIG. 1. In
`either case, the command receiver 14 may include, as
`needed for a particular application, a processor 50 coupled
`to a ROM memory 52, an internal clock and timer 53,
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
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`25
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`30
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`35
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`40
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`60
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`65
`
`4
`receiver circuit(s) 54, transmission circuit(s) 55 and/or trans
`ceiver circuit(s) (e.g., IR and/or RF), a non-volatile read/
`Write memory 56, a means 58 to provide feedback to the user
`(e.g., LED, display, speaker, and/or the like), a poWer supply
`62, and input means 64, (e.g., serial I/O port, Wireless
`receiver, bar code scanner, etc.), as is generally illustrated in
`FIG. 3. The ROM memory 52 includes executable instruc
`tions that are intended to be executed by the processor 50 to
`control the operation of the command receiver 14. In this
`manner, the processor 50 may be programmed to control the
`various electronic components Within the command receiver
`14, e.g., to monitor the poWer supply 62, to cause the
`transmission of signals, to provide audio or visual prompts
`to a user, etc. The non-volatile read/Write memory 56, for
`example an EEPROM, battery-backed up RAM, Smart
`Card, memory stick, or the like, is provided to store setup
`data and parameters as necessary. While the memory 52 is
`illustrated and described as a ROM memory, memory 52 can
`also be comprised of any type of readable media, such as
`ROM, RAM, SRAM, FLASH, EEPROM, or the like. Pref
`erably, the memory 56 is non-volatile or battery-backed such
`that data is not required to be reloaded after battery changes.
`In addition, the memories 52 and 56 may take the form of
`a chip, a hard disk, a magnetic disk, and/or an optical disk.
`It Will also be appreciated that in cases Where command
`receiver capability is integrated into an appliance, some or
`all of the functional elements described above in conjunction
`With FIG. 3 may be combined With similar elements already
`present in the appliance for other purposes.
`As Will be appreciated, especially in the case of IR
`transmissions, numerous activities may interrupt the trans
`mission of command codes from the remote control 10 to the
`appliances 12. For example, a user may move the remote
`control such that an IR signal transmission is misdirected
`aWay from the appliances, an individual may Walk in front
`of the remote control and inadvertently block an IR signal
`transmission, etc. Thus, as further illustrated in FIG. 4, the
`programming Within the command receiver 14 preferably
`includes instructions for monitoring for the transmission of
`command codes by the remote control 10 and for determin
`ing, especially in the case of a macro Where a plurality of
`commands are to be transmitted in sequence, if all of the
`command codes in the sequence Were received by the
`command receiver 14.
`For determining if a command code Was properly
`received at the command receiver 14, a command code
`received by the receiver circuit(s) 54 may be compared
`against a library of command codes stored in the memory 52
`or 56 of the command receiver 14. The library of command
`codes may be stored in the memory 52 or 56 at the time of
`manufacture and/or be doWnloaded into the command
`receiver Which, for example, alloWs the library of command
`codes to be upgradeable. DoWnloading may be performed
`by means of Wired or Wireless connection and may include
`doWnloading the command codes via a netWork connection
`as described in US. Pat. No. 4,959,810, doWnloading the
`command codes via learning circuitry as described in US.
`Pat. No. 4,623,887, or the like.
`In the case Where the command receiver 14 is to evaluate
`the reception of a macro, i.e., a series of the command codes
`Where the sequence may (or may not) be important to the
`operation of the intended target appliances, the command
`receiver 14 may additionally be programmed to recogniZe
`the sequence of command codes. To this end, the sequence
`of command codes that comprise a macro may be taught to
`the command receiver 14 in same manner as described in
`US. Pat. No. 4,623,887. More speci?cally, the command
`
`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1010 Page 000009
`
`

`

`US 7,005,979 B2
`
`5
`receiver 14 may be placed into a macro de?nition mode, the
`command codes that Will comprise the macro may be
`transmitted to the command receiver 14 (for example, by the
`remote control 10), and the command receiver 14 may be
`caused to exit the macro de?nition mode as a means to
`inform the command receiver 14 that the entirety of the
`command sequence has been transmitted. It Will be appre
`ciated that the sequence of command codes that Will com
`prise a macro may also be programmed into the command
`receiver 14 by interacting With a keypad (not illustrated) of
`the command receiver 14 in the same manner that Would be
`used to program the remote control 10 to transmit the macro.
`Still further, the sequence of command codes that Will
`comprise a macro may be doWnloaded into the command
`receiver 14 via a netWork connection (for example if the
`remote control macro is set up via interaction With a Web
`site—the same macro can be doWnloaded into the command
`receiver 14), by means of being read from a barcode, by
`being read from a smart card, etc.
`By Way of further example, the remote control 10 and
`command receiver 14 may be adapted to cooperate to
`facilitate the learning of command codes by the command
`receiver 14. To this end, With reference to FIG. 6, the remote
`control 10 may be adapted to respond to a user input that
`functions to signify a desire to request registration of a
`macro With the command receiver 14. In response to this
`user input, the remote control 10 may transmit a prede?ned
`“enter learning state” command to the command receiver 14
`(e.g., using a standard infrared format recogniZable by the
`command receiver 14) folloWed by the macro command
`code sequence to be taught to the command receiver 14. The
`end of the macro command code sequence may be signi?ed
`by the remote control 10 transmitting an “exit learning state”
`command to the command receiver 14. It Will be appreciated
`that the command receiver 14 should respond to the “exit
`learning state” command so as to stop the recording of
`transmissions from the remote control 10.
`Once the command codes that are to be monitored by the
`command receiver 14 have been stored and made accessible
`to the command receiver 14, the command receiver 14 is
`capable of comparing received command codes to determine
`if one or more received command codes has a counterpart
`Within the library command codes accessible to the com
`mand receiver 14. The command receiver 14 may be pro
`grammed to commence the monitoring of command codes in
`response to a receipt of a “start monitoring” command code.
`The “start monitoring” command code may, for example, be
`transmitted from the remote control 10 as a pre?x to a
`command code sequence that is transmitted from the remote
`control 10 in response to activation of a macro key. In this
`manner, if a counterpart to the received command code is
`determined to be missing from the library of command
`codes, it may be assumed that the received command code
`Was corrupted during transmission. In such a case, the
`command receiver 14 may issue an alarm, visible or audible,
`to inform the user that they should attempt to resend the
`command code.
`In the case Where the command receiver 14 receives a
`series of commands transmitted as a macro transmission
`from the remote control 10, the sequence of command codes
`received by the receiver circuit(s) 54 of the command
`receiver 14 may also be compared against one or more
`stored sequences of command codes made accessible to the
`command receiver 14. In this manner, if a sequence of
`command codes received by the receiver circuit(s) 54 of the
`command receiver 14 fails to be found in the stored
`sequence(s) of command codes made accessible to the
`
`10
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`40
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`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`6
`command receiver 14, e.g., one or more command codes are
`missing from the received transmission, the command
`receiver 14 may issue an alarm to inform the user that they
`should attempt to resend the macro command sequence.
`It may also be desirable to have the command receiver 14
`notify the remote control 10 as to Which command codes
`from a macro command code sequence Were not properly
`received by the command receiver 14 to thereby alloW for
`the retransmission of just those command codes. To this end,
`as illustrated in FIG. 5, the command receiver 14 may
`compare a received sequence of command codes against the
`macro command code sequences stored in memory, discern
`Which macro stored in its memory is most likely to be the
`one that Was intended to be transmitted by the remote control
`10 (if more than one macro has been programmed into the
`command receiver 14), discern Which command codes from
`that stored macro Were not received, and issue a transmis
`sion (e.g., an event) to the remote control 10 that noti?es the
`remote control 10 Which commands Were discerned to be
`missing from the intended macro transmission.
`The transmission from the command receiver 14 to the
`remote control 10 may include data indicative of the missing
`command codes, e.g., a pointer into the memory of the
`remote control 10, or the missing command codes them
`selves. When the transmission includes the missing com
`mand codes, the command codes may be temporarily stored
`in the memory of the remote control 10 for easy retrans
`mission back to the appliances 12. In either instance, it is
`preferred that the user be provided With an indication, such
`as a visible or audio alarm, that the remote control 10 has
`received a transmission from the command receiver 14 and
`is in a state for retransmitting command codes to the
`appliances 12, either using the received data or received
`command codes. The retransmission from the remote con
`trol 10 may be initiated by using a key that has been
`provided for that purpose, by activating the macro key again
`(in Which case the remote control 10 Would temporarily
`override the original programming of that macro key), etc.
`The command receiver 14 may additionally be programmed
`to look for the successful retransmission of those command
`codes that Were previously determined to be missing. An
`appropriate timeout may be utiliZed in such a case to prevent
`the command receiver from becoming locked in a state
`Where it is looking for the speci?c transmission of such
`command codes.
`The system may also be con?gured such that the com
`mand receiver 14 is programmed to monitor the transmis
`sion of each command code as a sequence of command
`codes is received from the remote control 10. In this case,
`the command receiver 14 may con?rm and acknoWledge the
`receipt of that command code With the remote control 10.
`The remote control 10 may then Wait for the acknoWledge
`ment before issuing the next command code in the sequence.
`If an acknoWledgement is not received Within a predeter
`mined time, the remote control 10 may cause the command
`code from the sequence to be retransmitted.
`In certain instances, it may also be desirable to provide
`labels to the macro transmissions to facilitate recognition of
`sequences of command codes by the command receiver 14.
`This Would be particularly useful in the case Where the
`command code sequence of one macro might be include as
`a subset of the command code sequence of another macro.
`To this end, the command receiver 14 may be taught a macro
`label by, for example, having the “enter learning state”
`command include a designator, eg a number, Which has
`been assigned to the macro command code sequence to be
`learned by the command receiver 14. The designator
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`Universal Remote Control Exhibit: 1010 Page 000010
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`US 7,005,979 B2
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`7
`assigned to a macro command sequence and included in the
`“enter learning state” command may be user programmable
`or may be, for example, pre-programmed by being repre
`sentative of a key of the remote control 10 to Which the
`macro command code sequence has been assigned. The
`command receiver 14 may then be informed of Which
`command code sequence it is expected to receive by, for
`example, including the macro designator as part of a “start
`monitoring” command code transmitted from the remote
`control 10.
`It may also be desired, in the case Where the command
`receiver 14 is integrated Within an appliance 12, to perform
`further steps Whereby the command receiver 14 also func
`tions to discern if all of the command codes of a macro
`intended to be transmitted from the remote control 10 Were
`intended for the appliance 12 having the command receiver
`14. If all of the command codes of the macro Were intended
`for the appliance 12 having the command receiver 14, the
`appliance 12 may include a further feature that prohibits the
`appliance 12 from acting upon the received command codes
`until such time as the command receiver 14 discerns that all
`of the command codes in a macro Were correctly and
`completely received. Alternatively, the appliance 12 may be
`programmed to simply perform all of the operations indi
`cated by the command codes in a macro despite the fact that
`certain commands Were not received, for example if a
`predetermined number of commands from a programmed
`macro are received by the command receiver 14.
`It Will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the
`command receiver 14 need not be capable of completely
`decoding and understanding command codes that it receives.
`Rather, the command receiver 14 may only need to capture
`and store a representation of the transmissions received from
`the remote control 10 that Would be sufficient to subse
`quently identify if the same transmission has been resent in
`the future by the remote control 10. Accordingly, differences
`in receiver bandWidth, response time, sampling interval,
`etc., betWeen the command receiver hardWare 54 and that of
`the other appliances for Which signals are destined are not
`critical provided the detected and stored signal data is
`consistent and repeatable, i.e., the stored representation need
`not be an exact representation of the transmitted command
`code sequence.
`For instance, it Will be understood and appreciated by
`those skilled in the art that the remote control 10 of the
`present invention may be any portable control device (in
`cluding but not limited to IR and/or RF based remotes,
`portable phones, Wireless capable PDAs, etc) capable of
`transmitting and/or receiving command codes remotely to
`and from the command receiver 14. LikeWise, the command
`receiver 14 of the present invention may be any home
`control device (including but not limited to STB’s, media
`center PC’s, home automation systems, etc) capable of
`receiving signals representing command codes from the
`portable control device, determining Whether the complete
`set of command codes Was received, and effectuating state
`changes in one or more appliances (either directly, or
`through further operation and interaction With the portable
`control device or other control devices).
`While described in the context of monitoring command
`transmissions using a command receiver 12 associated With
`a home appliance, it Will also be appreciated that a home
`control device, such as a personal computer, may also
`include instructions for performing, for example, the pro
`cesses described as being performed by the command
`receiver 12. To this end, the home control device may
`comprise machine-readable instructions loaded in an acces
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`sible memory such as a hard disk drive or other non-volatile
`memory. Still further, the machine-readable instructions
`may be adapted to perform pre-programmed logic process
`ing on an incoming command code set(s) such that an
`accurate determination of the completeness of the received
`command codes may be made Without pre-con?guring,
`learning, or otherWise notifying the home control device of
`the incoming command codes sets prior to receiving the
`command codes. The softWare to implement such a system
`is Well Within the routine skill of a programmer, and may
`include for instance, reference to a comparative database of
`command codes types, frequently used or desirable com
`mand code sets, determination of a particular command code
`scheme (such as a particular type of IR command encoding
`scheme), etc. It Will also be appreciated that a combination
`of learned, programmed, or pre-loaded command codes sets
`used in conjunction With softWare based logic operations in
`the home control device may serve to further enhance the
`accuracy of determined missing command codes, While not
`necessarily requiring a user to program or teach every
`desired command code set to the home control device.
`The home control device may also be connected to a
`netWork (such as a LAN, WAN, or the Internet) such that it
`may receive close range command codes (such as via an IR
`or RF base remote control) and/or long range command
`codes (such as from a remote user sending command codes
`from a portable phone, Wireless enabled PDA, etc via the
`Internet), in each case the home control device being able to
`determine Whether a complete set of command codes Was
`received, and initiate a corrective measure via a signal back
`to the user and/or portable control device, or directly to the
`appliance(s) affected by the missing or incomplete command
`codes. By Way of example, a remote user may send com
`mand codes (for instance representing commands to turn on
`the house lights and the home stereo) from a user interface
`on a Wireless enabled PDA via the Internet to the home
`cont