United States Patent (19)
`Pope
`
`USOO5963624A
`Patent Number:
`11
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`5,963,624
`Oct. 5, 1999
`
`54) DIGITAL CORDLESS TELEPHONE WITH
`REMOTE CONTROL FEATURE
`
`75 Inventor: Steven M. Pope, Los Gatos, Calif.
`
`73 Assignee: Zilog, Inc., Campbell, Calif.
`
`5,128,987 7/1992 McDonough et al..
`5,542,102 7/1996 Smith et al..
`5,570,415 10/1996 Stretton et al..
`5,671,267 9/1997 August et al. .......................... 455/420
`5,802.467 9/1998 Salazar et al. .......................... 455/420
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`21 Appl. No.: 08/986,273
`1-1.
`Dec. 5, 1997
`22 Filed:
`(51) Int. Cl. ............................................... H04M 11/00
`52 U.S. Cl. ...................... 379/110.01; 455/420; 348/734
`58 Field of Search ............................ 379/110.01, 90.01,
`379/102.01-102.03; 455/420, 462, 402;
`348/734
`
`56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,508,935 4/1985 Mastromoro ............................ 455/420
`4,771,283 9/1988 Imoto ...............
`... 348/734
`4,995,053
`2/1991 Simpson et al. ........................ 375/200
`5,014,125
`5/1991 Pocock et al..
`
`90-7064 9/1990 Rep. of Korea.
`Primary Examiner Wing F. Chan
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm Majestic, Parsons, Siebert &
`HSue
`57
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Storing a variety of appliance control codes in a cordless
`digital telephone handset has the advantage that the cordless
`digital telephone handset can be used as a universal remote
`for a variety of electrical appliances. The cordless digital
`telephone handset need not be in the direct “line-of-sight” of
`the appliances in order to work. The appliance control data
`can be sent along with Voice data in a method Such as digital
`Spread spectrum communications.
`
`68 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
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`San
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`SaS
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`San
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`TV
`
`CABLE
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`CD
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`14
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`16
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`18
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`LINE
`SIGNALS
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`APPLIANCE
`
`Universal Electronics Inc., Exhibit 2004
`Roku, Inc. v. Universal Electronics Inc., IPR2019-01612
`
`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 5, 1999
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`Sheet 1 of 3
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`5,963,624
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`y
`2 Es
`n O
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`CC
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`5 :
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`A 8
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`Universal Electronics Inc., Exhibit 2004
`Roku, Inc. v. Universal Electronics Inc., IPR2019-01612
`
`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 5, 1999
`
`Sheet 2 of 3
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`5,963,624
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`50
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`52
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`54
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`TRANSMITTER
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`RECEIVER
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`58
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`56
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`6O
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`SPEAKER
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`64
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`62
`SPEAKER
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`PROCESSOR
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`70
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`68
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`FIG.2 KEY PAD
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`DISPLAY
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`66
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`MEMORY
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`71
`72
`I
`HDECODER HIR RECEIVER
`|
`-----------------
`- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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`80
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`94
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`82
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`TRANSMITTER
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`RECEIVER
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`84
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`POWER LINE
`SIGNAL
`CONTROLLER
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`CONTROL /
`DATA
`OVER HEAD
`----
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`FIG.4
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`N--
`FRAME
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`Universal Electronics Inc., Exhibit 2004
`Roku, Inc. v. Universal Electronics Inc., IPR2019-01612
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 5, 1999
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`Sheet 3 of 3
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`5,963,624
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`
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`PROVIDING ADIGITAL HANDSET
`WITH A VARIETY OF STORED
`APPLIANCE CONTROL CODE
`
`RECEIVING DIGITAL VOICE DATA
`AT THE HANDSET
`
`SELECTING AN APPLIANCE
`CONTROL CODE
`
`TRANSMITTING DIGITAL DATA TO
`THE BASE UNIT, THE DIGITAL DATA
`INCLUDING THE APPLIANCE
`CONTROL CODE
`
`100
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`102
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`104
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`106
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`108
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`DOES
`THE APPLANCE
`CONTROL CODE
`INDICATE AN IR SIGNAL
`OR ANAPPLIED AC
`POWER SIGNAL
`2
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`
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`IR SIGNAL
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`110
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`APPLIED POWER
`SIGNAL
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`112
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`TRANSLATE APPLIANCE
`CONTROL CODE TO
`IR CONTROL CODE AND TRANSMIT
`FROM BASE UNIT TO APPLIANCE
`
`TRANSLATE APPLIANCE
`CONTROL CODE INTO
`CONTROL SIGNAL AND INSERT
`ONTO AC POWER SIGNAL
`
`FIG.5
`
`
`
`114
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`DECODER ATTACHED TO
`APPLIANCE CONTROLS
`APPLIANCE BASED ON CONTROL
`SIGNAL
`
`Universal Electronics Inc., Exhibit 2004
`Roku, Inc. v. Universal Electronics Inc., IPR2019-01612
`
`

`

`1
`DIGITAL CORDLESS TELEPHONE WITH
`REMOTE CONTROL FEATURE
`
`5,963,624
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention relates to telephones used in con
`junction with electrical appliances, Such as televisions, com
`pact disc players, cable controllers, and the like.
`Some prior telephone Systems have used a base unit to
`automatically mute a television Set and other devices when
`a telephone call is received. McDonough U.S. Pat. No.
`5,128,987 describes a controller responsive to an off-hook
`condition which automatically mutes the television set. The
`controller Sends infrared Signals to the television.
`Smith, et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,102 describes a telephone
`base unit that can be programmed to mute a television Set or
`other electronic device in response to a speakerphone at the
`base unit Switching on, or a call being received at the base
`unit.
`Another reference, Korea Patent No. 90-7064, describes
`an infrared transmitter positioned on a telephone handset to
`be used to mute a television Set or the like by transmitting
`an infrared signal from the handset to the electronic device.
`This allows the electronic device in the line of sight of the
`handset to be muted.
`It is desired to have an improved System for use of a
`telephone in conjunction with other electrical appliances.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention uses a digital cordless telephone
`handset to Store a variety of appliance control codes. These
`appliance control codes can be transmitted to a base unit.
`The base unit can translate the appliance control codes to
`control Signals. Such as infrared control Signals, to control an
`electrical appliance.
`The advantage of this System is that the use of a number
`of appliance control codes can allow different features on
`one or more electrical appliances to be controlled through
`the digital cordless telephone handset. The digital cordless
`telephone can use digital Spread spectrum communication
`between the handset and the base unit. This allows the
`handset to be in a different room or a significant distance
`away from the base unit and still control the electrical
`device. That is an advantage over a universal infrared remote
`and the system of Korea Patent No. 90-7064. The handset
`does not need to be in the line-of-Sight of the appliance. In
`this manner, the telephone can be used as a type of universal
`remote controlling different electrical appliances even when
`the user is in another room.
`The digital cordless telephone handset is likely to be
`carried by the user into different rooms or kept in the room
`used most often. With the remote control feature of the
`present invention, when a call is received, the user can mute
`a television or compact disc player. This does not occur
`automatically. Thus, if the music is playing Softly and/or
`Someone else is listening to music or watching television,
`the mute feature will not automatically be activated when a
`call is received. Additionally, the telephone handset can be
`used to Send appliance control Signals other than just
`60
`"mute.” These other appliance control codes include com
`pact disc player track Select, television channel Select, and
`Volume controls.
`The advantage of using a digital telephone in the present
`invention is that the digital telephone allows control infor
`mation to be multiplexed with the voice data transmitted to
`the base unit. Control information is already Sent in an
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`overhead portion of the digital transmission of most digital
`telephones. The appliance control code can “free-ride' on
`this overhead portion. In this manner, the required modifi
`cations to current digital telephones is minimized. In one
`embodiment, the appliance control codes are Sent in an
`overhead portion of a data frame. The existing data structure
`need not be modified to allow the appliance control codes to
`be sent. The overhead or control portion of the frame
`typically has undefined overhead codes which can be
`defined as the appliance control codes.
`Additionally, a display on the handset can Set up a menu
`pointing to different appliance controls which can be
`Selected. The handset can Store a number of codes indicating
`different vendors for compact disc players, television Sets,
`etc.
`One embodiment of the present invention uses control
`Signals placed on a house's power line. These control signals
`can be used to control appliances attached to the System,
`Such as the house lights.
`Optionally, a universal remote decoder of the type used
`for universal remotes can be attached to the handset or to the
`base unit. This can be used So that the devices can learn the
`infrared control Signals associated with the different electri
`cal appliances.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`The above and other features and aspects of the present
`invention will become more apparent upon reading the
`following detailed description in conjunction with the
`accompanying drawings.
`FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the System of the present
`invention including a handset, a base unit, and asSociated
`electrical appliances.
`FIG. 2 is a diagram of a handset of the present invention.
`FIG. 3 is a diagram of a base unit of the present invention.
`FIG. 4 is a diagram of a data Structure used with one
`embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating the method of the present
`invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a handset 10, a base unit 12,
`and electrical appliances 14-22. The handset 10 is a cordless
`digital telephone handset. It includes Speakers 24 and 26, an
`antenna 28, a keypad 30, and a display 32. The cordless
`digital telephone handset includes a memory 66 shown in
`FIG. 2, which can be used to Store the appliance control
`codes. Preferably, the appliance control codes can be trans
`mitted to the base unit 12 along with digital voice data. In
`a preferred embodiment, the Voice data and the appliance
`control codes are Sent by digital spread spectrum commu
`nication. Spread Spectrum communication uses a broad
`bandwidth to transmit data in order to reduce the errors in
`the data transmission. The Selection of the appliance control
`codes can be done through the keypad 30 or there can be
`dedicated keys for Some or all of the appliance control
`functions.
`Keypad 30 includes the numbers 1-9, the “star” and the
`“pound' key. Additionally, “up arrow” key 30a and “down
`arrow” key 30b can be used to scroll through a menu. A
`“transmit' key 30c can be used to transmit the appliance
`control code once the appliance control has been Selected. In
`one embodiment, the user gets into the menu by pressing an
`“up arrow' or a “down arrow” key. Alternately a “menu.”
`
`Universal Electronics Inc., Exhibit 2004
`Roku, Inc. v. Universal Electronics Inc., IPR2019-01612
`
`

`

`3
`button (not shown) is used. The keys for numbers 1-9 can
`have different meanings once the user is in the menu. Menu
`functions can be printed above the normal telephone control
`keys. FIG. 1 shows compact disc, television, cable and AC
`Signal control menu-function buttons. The Setup menu can
`be entered, one of these buttons pressed, and then using the
`up and down arrows, the Specific controls for a given
`electrical appliance can be Scrolled through. The different
`appliance controls can be listed in the order of frequency of
`use. For example, the “mute” function could be the first
`function listed in each menu Selection.
`Alternately, individual functions can be mapped with the
`asSociated buttons of the keypad, and a display 32 need not
`be used. Buttons similar to a “shift,” “alt,' and “control” on
`a normal computer keypad can be used to change the
`meanings of buttons “0” to “9,” “star,” and “pound.” The
`different meanings associated with different buttons can be
`printed in different colors, which are the same colors of the
`associated buttons “shift,” “alt,' or “control.”
`A “set up” button can be used to set up the handset to
`display only the appliance control codes for the appliances
`that the user owns.
`In a preferred embodiment, the handset 10 communicates
`with the base unit 12 by digital spread spectrum communi
`cations. This means that the handset can be in a different
`room and/or a significant distance away from the base unit
`12.
`The base unit 12 is used to transmit and receive voice data
`to and from the handset. The base unit 12 is connected to the
`telephone line 34 to receive the analog telephone signal,
`convert it to a digital Signal, and transfer it to the handset, as
`well as receiving the digital Signal from the handset and
`converting it to an analog signal Sent on the telephone line
`34. These activities of a digital telephone are conventional.
`Base unit 12 also translates the appliance control code to
`control the appliance. For example, an appliance control
`code can be converted into an infrared control code, and
`transmitted through outer window 36 to the electrical appli
`ances 14–22. The infrared control code is a pulse train used
`to control the infrared transmitter.
`In a preferred embodiment, the infrared transmitter is a
`conventional transistor attached to an infrared bulb. When
`the Signal at the base of the transistor is high, the bulb draws
`current and glows in an infrared region. The infrared code is
`typically a train of pulses, each pulse being 1.6 microSec
`onds long, indicating a high or low bit.
`One advantage of having the infrared transmitter attached
`to the base unit 12 is that the base unit 12 can be typically
`powered by house current. Since no battery is used, the
`infrared transmitter can draw more power than is used in
`battery-type Systems. For example, if a button is continu
`ously pressed in a battery-type System, in order to conserve
`power the infrared signal is not continuously sent, but is sent
`intermittently. The base unit 12 connected to AC power need
`not be limited in this fashion. Additionally, it is also possible
`to have the base unit 12 Supply a greater amount of power
`to the infrared transmitter to transmit a greater amount of
`infrared energy. In this manner, it may be possible for the
`infrared bulb to not be focused directly towards the appli
`CC.
`The base unit 12 is typically pointed so that the window
`36 faces the appliance to be controlled. In one embodiment,
`on top of the antenna 38 an infrared bulb 40 is positioned
`which can be tilted toward the appliance. The bulb 40 can be
`used for transmitting the infrared controls. The bulb 40 can
`have an associated directing mirror (not shown).
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`Appliances that are controlled by the infrared signals
`include television 14, cable controller 16, and compact disc
`player 18. Additionally, a power line signal controller 20 can
`be used. The power line signal controller 20 is attached to a
`power line which puts a high frequency control Signal on the
`AC power Supply. Different receivers can be connected to
`the house's AC power lines, and the electrical appliance
`attached to the receiver is controlled by the high-frequency
`control Signal placed on the AC power line. Each receiver is
`asSociated with a different receiver code. In an alternate
`embodiment, the base unit 12 can be connected by a power
`cord 42 to the power line 44. The base unit 12 can use similar
`logic to that described above to put a high-frequency control
`Signal upon the power line 44. These types of Systems are
`commercially available. One example of Such a System is a
`universal remote available from Universal Electronics.
`FIG. 2 is a diagram of a handset 50 of the present
`invention. Handset 50 includes the transmitter 52 for send
`ing digital data, Such as voice data and the appliance control
`codes, to the base unit as well as a receiver unit 54.
`Typically, the received data is Sent from the receiver to the
`processor, which Sends the Voice data to a digital/analog
`converter 56 and off to the speaker 58. Speaker 62 produces
`an analog Signal of the user's voice, converts it with an
`analog-to-digital converter 64, and Sends the digitized data
`to the processor 60. Processor 60 can treat the digitized data
`to be sent over the transmitter 52. The appliance control
`codes are stored in a memory 66. Memory 66 can be a
`read-only memory (ROM), or can be a random-access
`memory (RAM). Display 68 and keypad 70 can be used to
`Select an appliance control code out of the memory 66. The
`appliance control code can be transmitted through the trans
`mitter 52 to the base unit.
`FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a data structure which can
`be used with the present invention. FIG. 4 illustrates a frame
`of data, including a control/overhead portion and a data
`portion. In one embodiment, the frame is a 142-bit frame
`with 16 bits used for the control/overhead, Sometimes called
`a Signaling Multiplexer (SMUX) control word. In a pre
`ferred embodiment, the appliance control code is Sent to the
`base unit from the handset within the control?overhead
`portion of the frame of data. This has the advantage that the
`digital telephone need not be drastically changed. The base
`unit already checks the valve of the control/overhead portion
`against a table to aid in the data transmission. The overhead
`portion has 16 possible bits for the control word, and only
`a relatively Small number of the possible combinations are
`used to control the data transmission. Other possible com
`binations can be defined as appliance control codes. Once an
`appliance control code is received by the base unit, the base
`unit will know to transfer the control code to an appliance.
`Looking again at FIG. 2, optionally an infrared receiver
`70 and decoder 72 are used to receive an infrared signal from
`a controller, Such as a television remote control, and Send
`this signal to the processor 60. Processor 60 can assign an
`appliance control code corresponding to this control
`information, and store this code in memory 66. The decoded
`infrared control Signal can then be transmitted to the base
`unit. In this way, the handset can be used to learn different
`control codes. This is similar to what is done in
`commercially-available universal infrared remotes.
`FIG. 3 illustrates a base unit 80 used with the present
`invention. The receiver 82 receives the digital data from the
`handset. This data is then sent to the processor 84. Voice data
`can be sent out through the digital analog converter 76 and
`multiplexer 88 to the telephone line 90. Data from the
`telephone line can be sent to the multiplexer 88 and analog
`
`Universal Electronics Inc., Exhibit 2004
`Roku, Inc. v. Universal Electronics Inc., IPR2019-01612
`
`

`

`S
`to-digital converter 92 to the processor 84. The digital voice
`data is then sent from the processor 84 to the transmitter 94.
`The processor 84 and the processor 60 shown in FIG. 2 can
`construct the data in the frames to digitally multiplex the
`data between the control information and the Voice data
`information. A control word is Stripped from the received
`digital data at the base unit by the processor. If the control
`word is an appliance control code, the processor looks at the
`memory 86 to get the control code, Such as an infrared
`control code. This control code is then sent to the infrared
`transmitter, which has the infrared transmitter 88.
`Optionally, the memory 86 can store the code for the power
`line Signal, which can be sent to the optional power line
`signal controller 96, and then onto the AC power line 98.
`FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating the present invention. In
`step 100, the digital handset is provided with a variety of
`Stored appliance control codes. AS discussed above, appli
`ance control data can be Stored in a ROM containing a
`variety of electronic devices. Alternately, as shown in FIG.
`3, the digital handset can decode information from an
`infrared decoder and Store it in memory. In Step 102, digital
`Voice data is received at the handset from the base unit. In
`Step 104, the appliance control code is Selected by the user
`from keyboard Selections. Optionally, a displayed menu can
`be used. In step 106, the digital data is transmitted to the base
`unit. The digital data includes the appliance control code.
`The digital data can be multiplexed So that an appliance
`control code can be in the same frame as digital voice data,
`or the appliance control code can be sent at a different time
`than the digital voice data. In step 108, if the appliance
`control code indicates an infrared Signal, in Step 110 the
`appliance control code is translated to an infrared control
`code and transmitted from the base unit to the appliance.
`If the appliance control code indicates an applied AC
`power Signal, in Step 112, the appliance control code is
`35
`translated into a control signal and inserted onto the AC
`power Signal. In Step 114, a decoder attached to the appli
`ance controls the appliance based upon the control Signals
`which were placed upon the AC power line.
`In an alternate embodiment, the appliance control code
`Stored in the handset can correspond to the entire infrared
`control Signal or the power line control Signal. This alternate
`method has the advantage that the base unit need not use the
`appliance control code as a pointer to the actual code, but
`can directly output the codes from the handset through the
`45
`infrared transmitter or the power line Signal controller. A
`disadvantage of this method is that, for the Systems that use
`transmittal frames of digital data, the overhead control
`portion of the frame of data is only 16 bits long and may not
`be Sufficient to completely code the infrared control data or
`the AC power line signal data.
`Various details of the implementation and method are
`merely illustrative of the invention. It will be understood that
`various changes in details may be made within the Scope of
`the invention, which is to be limited only by the appended
`claims.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A System comprising a cordless digital telephone hand
`Set adapted to receive and transmit digital data, the handset
`further comprising a memory to Store a variety of appliance
`control codes, the handset having an input device allowing
`the Selection of one of the appliance control codes Such that
`the one of the appliance control codes is transmitted to a
`base unit, wherein the base unit translates the one of the
`appliance control codes to produce an infrared control code
`to Send to an appliance, and wherein the digital data is
`transmitted from the handset to the base unit in frames of
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`bits, the frames including an overhead portion and a data
`portion, wherein the handset is adapted to Send the one of the
`appliance control codes to the base unit within the overhead
`portion of one of the frames.
`2. The system of claim 1, wherein the handset includes a
`device to read infrared control codes from an infrared
`controller to memorize the infrared control codes.
`3. The system of claim 1, wherein the base unit has an
`antenna for receiving and transmitting the digital data and
`wherein an infrared bulb is positioned on the antenna.
`4. The System of claim 1, wherein the appliance control
`codes correspond to infrared instruction codes to Send to an
`appliance.
`5. The system of claim 1, wherein the base unit includes
`a memory Storing multiple infrared control codes including
`the infrared control code and wherein the one of the appli
`ance control codes is a pointer to the infrared control code
`Stored in the memory.
`6. The System of claim 1, wherein digital data is trans
`mitted from the handset to the base unit by digital spread
`Spectrum communication.
`7. The system of claim 1, wherein the base unit includes
`an infrared transmitter to Send the infrared control code to
`the appliance.
`8. The System of claim 1, wherein the appliance comprises
`a compact disc player.
`9. The System of claim 1, the appliance comprises a
`television.
`10. The system of claim 1, wherein the base unit is
`adapted to translate the one of the appliance control codes
`into a signal placed on an alternating current power signal of
`a power line to control the appliance.
`11. The system of claim 1, wherein the base unit is
`adapted to translate the one of the appliance control codes
`into an infrared Signal transmitted to a converter that con
`verts the infrared signal to a signal placed on an alternating
`current power Signal of a power line to control the appliance.
`12. The system of claim 1, wherein the handset includes
`a display.
`13. A System comprising the Steps of:
`providing a cordless digital telephone handset having a
`Variety of appliance control codes Stored in a memory;
`receiving digital data in the telephone handset from a base
`unit,
`transmitting digital data to the base unit, the digital data
`including voice data and one of the appliance control
`codes, wherein the digital data is transmitted from the
`handset to the base unit in frames of bits, the frames
`including an overhead portion and a data portion,
`wherein the handset Sends the one of the appliance
`control codes to the base unit within the overhead
`portion of one of the frames, and
`controlling the operation of an appliance by transmitting
`control information from the base unit to the appliance
`as indicated by the one of the appliance control codes.
`14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step
`of Selecting the one of the appliance control codes.
`15. The method of claim 13, wherein the controlling step
`comprises translating the one of the appliance control codes
`to produce an infrared control code and transmitting the
`infrared control code to the appliance.
`16. The method of claim 13, wherein the controlling step
`comprises translating the one of the appliance control codes
`into a signal placed on an alternating current power signal of
`a power line to control the appliance.
`17. The method of claim 13, wherein the translating step
`comprises translating the one of the appliance control codes
`
`Universal Electronics Inc., Exhibit 2004
`Roku, Inc. v. Universal Electronics Inc., IPR2019-01612
`
`

`

`7
`to produce an infrared control code and transmitting the
`infrared control code to a device that converts the infrared
`control code into a signal placed on an alternating current
`power Signal of a power line to control the appliance.
`18. A method comprising the Steps of
`providing a cordless digital telephone handset having a
`variety of appliance control codes Stored in a memory;
`receiving digital data in the telephone handset from a base
`unit,
`transmitting digital data to the base unit, the digital data
`including voice data and one of the appliance control
`codes, wherein the digital data is transmitted from the
`handset to the base unit in frames of bits, the frames
`including an overhead portion and a data portion,
`wherein the handset Sends the one of the appliance
`control codes to the base unit within the overhead
`portion of one of the frames, and
`controlling the operation of an appliance by transmitting
`control information from the base unit to the appliance
`as indicated by the one of the appliance control codes,
`wherein the controlling Step translates the one of the
`appliance control codes to produce an infrared control
`code and thereby sends the infrared control code to the
`appliance.
`19. The method of claim 18, wherein the translating step
`comprises translating the one of the appliance control codes
`to produce an infrared control code and transmitting the
`infrared control code to a device that converts the infrared
`control code into a signal placed on an alternating current
`power Signal of a power line to control the appliance.
`20. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step
`of Selecting the one of the appliance control codes.
`21. The method of claim 18, wherein the controlling step
`comprises translating the one of the appliance control codes
`into a signal placed on an alternating current power signal of
`a power line to control the appliance.
`22. The method of claim 18, wherein the transmitting step
`transmits the digital data to the base unit by digital spread
`Spectrum communication.
`23. A telecommunication System comprising:
`a base unit having a base memory for Storing infrared
`control Signals, and
`a cordless digital telephone handset having a handset
`memory for Storing appliance control codes,
`wherein the handset transmits digital data, including voice
`data and one of the appliance control codes, in frames
`of bits to the base unit, the frames having an overhead
`control portion and a data portion, the one of the
`appliance control codes located within the overhead
`control portion of one of the frames,
`wherein the base unit translates the one of the appliance
`control codes to produce one of the infrared control
`Signals when the base unit receives the one of the
`appliance control codes, and
`wherein the base unit as a result Sends the one of the
`infrared control Signals to an appliance to control the
`appliance.
`24. The telecommunication system of claim 23, wherein
`the digital data is transmitted from the handset to the base
`unit by digital spread spectrum communication.
`25. The telecommunication system of claim 23, wherein
`the base unit includes an infrared transmitter to Send the one
`of the infrared control signals to the appliance.
`26. The telecommunication system of claim 23, wherein
`the appliance is a compact disc player.
`27. The telecommunication system of claim 23, wherein
`the appliance is a television.
`
`1O
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
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`
`55
`
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`
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`
`5,963,624
`
`8
`28. The telecommunication system of claim 23, wherein
`the base unit translates the one of the appliance control codes
`into a control Signal placed on an alternating current power
`Signal of a power line to control the appliance.
`29. The telecommunication system of claim 23, wherein
`the base unit transmits the one of the infrared control signals
`to a converter that converts the one of the infrared control
`Signals to a control Signal placed on an alternating current
`power Signal of a power line to control the appliance.
`30. The telecommunication system of claim 23, wherein
`the handset includes a display.
`31. The telecommunication system of claim 23, wherein
`the handset further has a device for receiving an infrared
`control Signal from an infrared controller and for Sending the
`infrared control Signal to a processor, the processor thereby
`assigns an appliance control code corresponding to the
`infrared control Signal and Stores the appliance control code
`in the handset memory.
`32. The telecommunication system of claim 23, wherein
`the base unit has an antenna for receiving and transmitting
`the digital data, the antenna has an infrared bulb positioning
`thereon.
`33. The telecommunication system of claim 31, wherein
`the infrared controller is a television remote control.
`34. The telecommunication system of claim 23, wherein
`the appliance control codes correspond to power line control
`Signals to Send to the appliance.
`35. The telecommunication system of claim 23, wherein
`the handset further has an input device for Selecting the one
`of the appliance control codes.
`36. The telecommunication system of claim 23, wherein
`the one of the appliance control codes is a pointer to the one
`of the infrared control signal Stored in the base memory.
`37. The telecommunication system of claim 23, wherein
`the appliance control codes correspond to the infrared con
`trol Signals.
`38. A System comprising a cordless digital telephone
`handset adapted to receive and transmit digital data, the
`handset further comprising a memory to Store a variety of
`appliance control codes, the handset having an input device
`allowing the Selection of one of the appliance control codes
`Such that the one of the appliance control codes is transmit
`ted to a base unit, wherein the base unit translates the one of
`the appliance control codes to produce an infrared control
`code to Send to an appliance.
`39. The system of claim 38, wherein the digital data is
`transmitted from the handset to the base unit in frames of
`bits, the frames including an overhead portion and a data
`portion, wherein the handset is adapted to Send the one of the
`appliance control codes to the base unit within the overhead
`portion of one of the frames.
`40. The system of claim 38, wherein the digital data is
`transmitted from the handset to the base unit by digital
`Spread spectrum communication.
`41. The system of claim 38, wherein the base unit includes
`an infrared transmitter to Send the infrared control code to
`the appliance.
`42. The system of claim 38, wherein the appliance com
`prises a compact disc player.
`43. The system of claim 38, the appliance comprises a
`televisio