.
`
`Unlted States Patent
`
`[19]
`
`Levine
`
`USOOS365282A
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`5,365,282
`
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`Nov. 15, 1994
`
`[54] TELEVISION SYSTEM MODULE WITH
`REMOTE CONTROL CODE
`DETERMINATION
`
`Iijima .................................... 358/86
`5,065,235 11/1991
`5,123,046 6/1992 Levine .................................. 380/10
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`'
`
`[75]
`
`Inventor: Michael R' Levine, Boca Raton, Fla.
`
`Radio Shack Owner’s Manual for Universal Remote
`
`[73] Assignee:
`
`Smart VCR Limited Partnership, Ann
`Arbor, Mlch‘
`[21] Appl. No.2 5,727
`
`Jan. 19, 1993
`[22] Filed:
`[51]
`Int. Cl.5 ............................................... H04N 5/44
`
`[52] U35 Cl-
`---------------- 348/734; 353/335
`[58] Field of Search ..................... 358/ 194.1, 335, 139,
`358/3355 359/1423 340/825-69’ 82575;
`381/110; 348/734“ 731i455/4'1’ 6’1’ 186'1’ 352;
`H04N 5/44
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,509,211 4/ 1985 Robbins ............................... 455/603
`4,703,350 10/1987 Rumbolt et a1.
`358/194.1
`
`4,802,114 1/1989 Sogame ................ 364/900
`
`4,908,713 3/1990 Levine .......
`358/335
`
`4,963,994 10/ 1990 Levine ............ 358/335
`
`Control, Realistic Cat No. 15-1901.
`Primary Examiner—Victor R. Kostak
`Assistant Examiner—Nathan J. Flynn
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Krass & Young
`
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`A video recorder, adapted for use in conjunction with a
`remotely controllable unit associated with television
`recording and/Or viewing, contains a remote-control
`signal transmitter to transmit control codes to the asso-
`ciated unit, and means to analyze the operation of the
`associated unit in response to the control codes. An
`electromc controller causes the transmitter to transmit
`test codes to the assocmted unit, then analyzes the re-
`sulting operation Of the associated unit to determine its
`.
`-
`.
`control codes, which it stores in a memory for later use.
`
`15 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`26
`
`
`
`AUDIO
`AMP /
`
`SHAPER
`
`
`MESSAGE
`
`CODE
`MEMORY
`
`
`
`CONTROLLER
`
`SYNC.
`SEPARATOR
`
`MEMORY
`
`
`
`Roku EX1020
`
`US. Patent No. 9,911,325
`
`Roku EX1020
`U.S. Patent No. 9,911,325
`
`

`

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`5,365,282
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`

`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 15, 1994
`
`Sheet 2 of 3
`
`5,365,282
`
`POWER ON
`
`FIG-2
`
`124
`
`NO
`SIGNALS
`
`YES
`
`
`
`120
`
`IS
`CODE
`
`MEMORY 106
`
`LOADED
`
`
`
`PRESENCE & STORE
`
`122
`
`NO
`
`STEP TUNER THROUGH
`CHANNELS AND
`DETECT TV SIGNAL
`
`130
`
`MULTIPLE
`CHANNELS
`
`
`
`
`
`DISABLE
`
`CABLE BOX
`
`CONTROL
`
`
`GIVE ON
`ROUTINE
`
`COMMAND
`
`FOR BRAND X
`
`
`
`
`STEP THROUGH
`CHANNEL UP AND
`
`ON/OFF CODES FOR
`
`DIFFERENT CABLE
`BOX BRANDS AND
`
`DETECT VERT. SYNC
`
`
`CHANGES TO
`
`
`
`GIVE ON
`DETERMINE CABLE
`
`SCREEN
`BOX BRAND
`
`
`
`BRAND X
`MESSAGE
`
`IS CABLE
`TO TELL
`
`BOX
`HOOKUP
`
`INCORRECT
`
`133
`
`
`
`
`
`MODULATE CH. 3/4 WITH
`AUDIO TONE AND STEP
`THROUGH ON, CH. 3/4 AND
`
`
`VOL. UP CODES FOR DIFFERENT
`
`
`TV RCVR BRANDS AND DETECT
`
`
`AUDIO PICKUP
`
`
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 15, 1994
`
`Sheet 3 of 3
`
`5,365,282
`
`
`
`TURN ON ALL BRANDS
`GIVE 10 VOL. DNS TO
`ALL POSSIBLE TV
`BRANDS
`
`
`
`200
`
`
`
`204;
`
`TURN ON 2000 H2
`GIVE 10 VOL. UPS FOR
`BRAND Y
`
`
`
`
`
`
` HEAR
`2003 HZ
`
`
`YES
`
`208
`
`
`
`BRAND Y IS
`TV SET
`
`210
`
`
`
`FIG—3
`
`

`

`1
`
`5,365,282
`
`TELEVISION SYSTEM MODULE WITH REMOTE
`CONTROL CODE DETERMINATION
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates generally to television viewing
`systems employing modules such as VCR’s, cable boxes
`or the like, which are remotely controllable, and more
`particularly to modules incorporating transmitters for
`remotely controlling associated modules, and having
`the capability of automatically determining the remote
`control codes of the associated modules.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`A typical consumer-oriented television viewing and
`recording system may include several modular units
`addition to a television receiver or monitor. A video
`recorder (VCR) is commonly used for the recording of
`broadcast programming and the playback of pre-
`recorded cassettes. When the broadcasts are received
`over a cable system, a separate cable tuner/descrambler
`or “cable box” is commonly employed to decipher
`premium or “pay” channels. Other associated units may
`further be included, such as a receiver to tune and de-
`scramble programs broadcast via satellite.
`These units typically incorporate an infrared receiver
`which allows the operator, through use of a hand-held
`transmitter, to turn the unit on and off, control the
`channel setting of the units’ tuner, etc. My US. Pat. No.
`5,123,046 discloses a VCR with a built-in transmitter for
`sending remote control codes to an associated unit such
`as a cable box. This allows the future, unattended re-
`cording system of the VCR to energize the cable box
`and properly set its tuner at the time of a programmed
`recording. It also allows the control of both units from
`a single remote transmitter since the VCR can relay
`control commands to the cable box. The same type of
`control can be exercised over a remotely controllable
`T.V. receiver. Alternatively, either the cable box or the
`T.V. receiver could incorporate the transmitter and the
`VCR could act as a “slave.”
`At the present time there is no industry standard for
`remote control codes so it is necessary for the operator
`of a multi-unit system of a master and one or more slave
`units to perform an initializing routine of the same type
`required with so—called “universal” remote control
`transmitters. This routine allows the transmitter to de-
`termine the control codes for the slave units and store
`the codes in a memory for future use. These initializa-
`tion routines are difficult for the average consumer to
`perform unless they carefully follow the instructions
`which accompany the unit.
`In view of these problems, there is a need for a T.V.—
`related piece of equipment which can serve as a central
`receiver of operator commands, and control associated
`units accordingly. To ease installation, such a device
`should be able to “learn” the control codes of an associ-
`ated unit to facilitate VCR and T.V. set control in ac-
`cordance with operator recording/viewing requests.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention is directed toward a modular
`unit adapted for use in conjunction with one or more
`remotely controllable units associated with television
`recording and/or viewing. In a preferred embodiment
`of the invention, which will subsequently be disclosed
`in detail, the “master” modular unit constitutes a video
`recorder and the following description will refer to a
`
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`Video recorder with the understanding that another
`unit, such as the cable box, could act as the master. The
`video recorder “master” contains a remote—control sig-
`nal transmitter to transmit control codes to one or more
`associated “slave” units, and means to analyze the oper-
`ation of the associated units in response to the control
`codes. During an initialization routine, an electronic
`controller causes the master transmitter to send test
`codes to the associated unit, then analyzes the resulting
`operation of the associated unit to determine its control
`codes, which it stores in a memory for later use in con-
`trol of the associated unit.
`
`In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the asso-
`ciated unit contains a multi—channel
`tuner, another
`video recorder is adapted to receive and analyze the
`R.F. output signal from the tuner to determine its opera-
`tion in reSponse to the test control codes. When the
`associated unit is a cable tuner/descrambler, the video
`recorder derives a video signal from the R.F. output of
`the tuner/descrambler and analyzes the synchroniza-
`tion of the video signal to identify the tuned channel.
`When the associated unit is a television receiver, the
`video recorder is adapted to receive and analyze an
`acoustic signal generated by the T.V.
`Before the video recorder can analyze the control
`codes of associated units it must make a determination
`as to whether it is receiving a signal source from an
`auxiliary unit which provides output on only a single
`channel or if it is connected directly to a multi-channel
`signal source such as a cable. The preferred embodi-
`ment to the invention includes means for automatically
`analyzing the nature of its input signal to make this
`determination as the first operation in its initialization
`routine.
`
`Other objects and advantages of the present invention
`will be made clear by the following detailed description
`of a preferred embodiment to the invention and an alter-
`native embodiment. The description makes reference to
`the accompanying drawings in which:
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment
`of the present invention incorporating a VCR con—
`nected in series with a cable box and a T.V. set;
`FIG. 2 is a flow chart used to illustrate how the VCR
`of the system of FIG. 1 .ascertains the control codes of
`the related cable tuner/descrambler; and
`FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a subroutine of the
`chart of FIG. 2.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`Referring to FIG. 1, a video recorder (VCR) 22
`forming a preferred embodiment of the present inven-
`tion is illustrated in block-diagram form connected to
`receive the R.F. output of a typical cable tuner/de-
`scrambler or “cable box” 24 and to provide an R.F.
`output to a television receiver (T.V.) 26. All units are
`preferably remotely controllable via infrared signals. A
`multi—program signal source, such as that provided over
`CATV cable 30, is connected to the cable box 24.
`This arrangement
`for interconnection between a
`cable box, VCR and T.V. receiver is one of several
`possible arrangements. It has the virtue of simplicity,
`but does not allow the user to view one channel while
`recording another channel. Other arrangements are
`possible.
`
`

`

`5,365,282
`
`3
`The cable box 24 contains a tuner 44, which feeds a
`descrambler 50, operative to decipher premium or
`“pay” channels. The output of the descrambler 50 is fed
`to a modulator 52 which modulates the video signal
`derived by tuner 44 and reconstructed by descrambler
`50 onto an unused VHF channel, typically channel 3.
`The modulated signal from the cable box 24 is provided
`to the VCR 22.
`Control signals for the cable box 24 are received by
`an infrared (IR) receiver 60. A hand-held remote-con-
`trol transmitter (not shown) is ordinarily used by an
`operator to transmit the codes. The output of IR re-
`ceiver 60 is interfaced to a cable box control unit 62,
`which typically takes the form of a programmed micro—
`processor. In response to control codes received by IR
`receiver 60, control unit 62 directs overall cable box
`operations, including energization and deenergization
`and causing the tuner 44 to tune to a specified channel.
`The output signal from VCR 22 is delivered to T.V.
`26. The input signal V.C.R. is fed to a tuner 70, which
`interfaces to a control unit 78, such as a programmed
`microprocessor, which in turn interfaces to a display 80,
`typically a cathode-ray-tube (CRT). Remotely trans-
`mitted control codes for the T.V. receiver 26 are picked
`up by an infrared receiver 82, which feeds control sig-
`nals to control unit 78. The audio portion of the tuned
`channel is delivered to the user by a loud speaker 84,
`also interfaced to controller 78.
`
`The output of cable box 24 feeds a multi-channel
`tuner 46 within the VCR 22, which demodulates the
`incoming RF signal to a video signal for presentation to
`a video record/playback unit 92, typically a cassette
`tape recorder/player, though any form of video stora-
`ge/retrieval mechanism may alternatively be utilized.
`The output of record/playback unit 92 is delivered to
`an RF modulator 94, which modulates the video signal
`onto a typically unused RF channel such as channel 3.
`The demodulated video output of tuner 46 is also
`routed to a sync separator 56, which extracts the verti-
`cal synchronization signal from the video signal and
`provides it to a central controller 100, preferably a
`programmed microprocessor. Central controller 100
`also receives operator commands generated by a remote
`control hand—held transmitter 101 through an LR. re-
`ceiver 102 which interfaces to and/or directs the opera-
`tion of various functional units within the VCR, includ-
`ing record/playback unit 92, an audio detector/am-
`plifier 114 and an infrared remote-control transmitter
`108 used to energize and tune the cable box 24 and T.V.
`26. Control codes associated with the cable box and
`T.V. are stored in memory 106, which also interfaces to
`controller 100.
`FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating the steps of the
`initialization routine which the controller 100 of the
`VCR 22 uses to ascertain the control codes of a related
`
`piece of equipment, in this case, the cable. tuner/de-
`scrambler 24, for storage in memory 106 and subsequent
`usage. This routine is followed each time the VCR is
`energized.
`The first step is to determine if code memory 106 is
`loaded, as indicated at box 120. If the code memory is
`loaded,
`indicating that the initialization routine has
`previously been performed, and there has been no
`power outage which causes a loss of memory, the rou-
`tine ends. If the code memory 106 is not loaded, the
`controller 100 then undergoes a routine to determine
`the nature of the signal source being fed to the tuner 46.
`This routine, indicated at block 122, involves stepping
`
`4
`the tuner 46 of the V.C.R. 22 through each of the chan-
`nels and analyzing the resulting sync signals, if any, by
`using the sync separator 56, to determine whether a
`T.V. channel is present on the channel being tuned. The
`sync signals can be analyzed in a variety of ways, but
`preferably the vertical sync signal is stripped and the
`time until the occurrence of the next vertical sync signal
`is measured. Sync signals are 16.6 milliseconds apart,
`and the presence of repetitive vertical sync signals with
`the appropriate delay indicates the presence of a tuned
`channel.
`
`During this routine the controller 100 stores the iden-
`tities of those channels which contain T.V. signals. If no
`signal has been found by this routine, as indicated by
`box 124, the system must then determine whether it is
`connected to the output of a cable box which is deener-
`gized. To make this determination a variable “X” is first
`set to the value one, as indicated in block 125. “X”
`refers to the designator for each of a list of cable box
`brands. The code memory 106 contains a read only
`memory section storing the remote control codes for
`the popular cable box brands, such as General Instru-
`ment, Scientific Atlantic, Pioneer, etc. Going to box
`127, the cOntroller 100 causes the infrared transmitter
`108 to transmit an “On” or energization control code
`for the first brand of cable box in the list. Controller 100
`then analyzes the output of the sync separator 56 to
`determine if a video signal is now present in the input to
`the tuner 56. If no signal is present, the value of X in box
`125 is incremented by one, as indicated in block 131, and
`the “On” control code for the next brand of cable box in
`the list is transmitter transmitted by block 127.
`This routine is continued until a video signal is de-
`tected, in which case the box 133 causes storage in a
`non-volatile section of the code memory 106, of a code
`signifying the identity of the detected cable brand and
`the routine proceeds to block 134, which will be subse-
`quently described. Alternatively,
`if the list of cable
`brand codes is exhausted, without the recognition of
`any video signal, the block 135 causes the controller 100
`to use a signal from a memory 126 to cause the genera-
`tion of a message on channel 3, for display by the re—
`ceiver 26, indicating that no signal source is connected
`to the V.C.R., and the initialization routine is ended. If
`the routine of box 122 determines that there are multiple
`channels being provided to the tuner 46, this indicates
`that the V.C.R. 22 is connected to a multi-channel sig-
`nal source rather than to a cable box. Block 130, detect-
`ing this condition, stores a marker signal in the control-
`ler 100 which disables the subsequent cable box control
`routine during later use of the system. This is indicated
`by box 132. The system then goes into a routine to
`determine the control codes for the associated televi-
`sion memory receiver or monitor 26, indicated in box
`134. The code 106 contains a read only memory storing
`the remote control codes for all brands T.V. receivers.
`Each brand has its own unique set of control codes. Box
`134 determines the brand of the associated T.V. re-
`ceiver 26 and thus its control codes in the manner illus-
`trated in detail in FIG. 3 which is a detailed version of
`box 134. In block 200, the controller 100 first sequen-
`tially transmits the “On” or energization codes for all
`brands of T.V.’s stored in the code memory 106. It then
`generates infrared control codes consisting of a se-
`quence of 10 “volume down” pulses for each of the
`T.V. brands stored in memory 106. This routine ensures
`that the associated T.V. is energized and its volume
`setting is at a very low level. Next, a value “Y”, identi-
`
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`

`5,365,282
`
`5
`fying a particular brand of T.V. receiver as stored in the
`memory 106, is set to a value of 1 in box 202. Next, as
`indicated in box 204, a 2000 hertz audio signal is modu-
`lated at 94 and provided to the tuner 70 of the T.V.
`receiver 26. Then the controller 100 causes the transmit-
`ter 108 to transmit codes selecting channel 3, and a
`series of ten “volume up” control codes for T.V. re-
`ceiver brand Y. During this process, the controller 100
`analyzes the output of the microphone 112, as amplified
`and shaped by box 114, to detect a .2000 hertz audio
`signal. If the signal is detected during the generation of
`the volume up codes for a brand Y, as indicated in block
`206, block 210 recognizes the associated T.V. receiver
`as a brand Y, and this information is stored in the code
`memory 106. If no 2000 hertz audio signal is detected by
`the microphone 112, the value of Y in box 202 is incre-
`mented by one as signified by box 208, and the routine
`is repeated. The identity of the T.V. brand is stored in
`non-volatile code memory 106. Non—volatile memory
`may constitute flash memory or the like or volatile
`memory backed up by a battery.
`In the event that routine 122 detects only a single
`T.V. signal as the tuner 46 is stepping through the vari-
`ous channels, that is indicative of the fact that a cable
`box or satellite receiver tuner are providing signals to
`the tuner 46, as indicated by box 136. In that event, the
`controller 100 continues with the routine indicated in
`box 138 to determine the brand of cable box or satellite
`receiver. Block 138 operates in a routine similar to box
`125, 127, 129, 131 and 135. In that routine, the controller
`100 chooses the infrared transmitter 108 to transmit
`“channel up” and then “on” codes for different cable
`brands. During this routine the controller detects the
`vertical sync signals provided by the tuner 46 and the
`sync separator 56 to detect a shift in the timing between
`vertical sync signals and synchronism with the “channel
`up” signal. While the timing between consecutive verti-
`cal sync signals will be constant for a given channel, the
`sync signals for any one channel will inherently be out
`phased with the sync signals for any other channel, so
`that when the appropriate channel up code is sent for
`the cable box in this system there will be a phase shift in
`the vertical sync signals. When this shift is detected, the
`system has determined the cable box (or satellite tuner)
`brand and sends appropriate control signals to the code
`memory 106. The controller then shifts to the routine of
`box 134 to determine the brand of the T.V. receiver.
`At this point the system has determined the nature of
`the RF input of the tuner 46, has identified the brand of
`cable box 24 and thus its control codes if a cable box
`provides input to the tuner 46, and has determined the
`control codes of the associated T.V. receiver 26. The
`system is now ready for normal operation using the
`single remote control transmitter 101 to control the
`associated cable box 24, and the T.V. receiver 26 as well
`as the VCR. 22. The controller 100 is programmed to
`contain routines for transmitting appropriate control
`codes received from the remote transmitter 101 to the
`cable box and the T.V.
`
`Having thus described my invention I claim:
`1. A T.V. module adapted for use in conjunction with
`a remotely controllable associated unit, comprising:
`a remote-control signal transmitter adapted to trans—
`mit signals representative of control codes to the
`associated unit;
`means adapted to analyze the operation of said associ—
`ated unit in response to said control codes;
`a memory operative to store remote-control codes;
`and
`
`6
`an electronic controller means operative to perform
`the following functions:
`cause said remote-control signal transmitter to trans-
`mit test control signals to said associated unit,
`cause said means adapted to analyze the operation of
`said associated unit to determine control codes
`related to the associated unit in response to said test
`control codes, and
`cause the control codes determined to be related to
`the associated unit to be stored in said memory.
`2. The invention of claim 1 in which the T.V. module
`is a video recorder.
`3. The T.V. module of claim 1 wherein the associated
`unit is a cable tuner/descrambler.
`4. The T.V. module of claim 1 wherein the associated
`unit is a satellite receiver.
`5. The T.V. module of claim 1 wherein the associated
`unit is a video recorder.
`6. The T.V. module of claim 1, further including
`means adapted to receive an output signal from the
`associated unit, said controller being operative to ana-
`lyze the output signal in order to determine the opera-
`tion of the associated unit in response to said test con-
`trol-code signals.
`7. The T.V. module of claim 6 wherein said output
`signal is a video signal.
`8. The T.V. module of claim 7 wherein said control-
`ler is operative to analyze the synchronization of said
`video signal.
`9. The T.V. module of claim 1, further comprising a
`connected T.V. receiver, means to receive an output
`signal from the receiver, wherein the controller is oper-
`ative to cause the transmitter to transmit test control-
`code signals to the receiver; analyze the resulting opera-
`tion of the receiver in order to determine control codes
`for the receiver; and store the control codes for the
`receiver in said memory.
`10. The T.V. module of claim 9 wherein said control-
`ler is further connected to an audio sensor operative to
`receive an acoustic signal from said receiver, and to
`detect a variation in said acoustic signal.
`11. In a T.V. module adapted for use in conjunction
`with a remotely controllable associated unit, the T.V.
`module including a remote—control signal transmitter
`adapted to transmit control signals to the associated
`unit; means for analyzing the operation of the associated
`unit; and a memory adapted to store remote-control
`codes, the method of determining control codes for the
`associated unit, comprising the steps of:
`transmitting test control codes to the associated unit;
`analyzing without operator intervention the resulting
`operation of the associated unit in order to deter-
`mine its control codes; and
`storing the control codes in a memory.
`12. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of elec-
`tronically analyzing the resulting operation of the asso-
`ciated unit in order to determine its control codes in-
`cludes the step of analyzing an output signal from the
`associated unit.
`13. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of ana-
`lyzing said output signal includes the step of analyzing
`a video signal.
`14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of ana—
`lyzing a video signal includes the step of analyzing the
`synchronization of said video signal.
`15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of ana-
`lyzing said output signal includes the step of analyzing
`an acoustic signal.
`*
`*
`*
`*
`*
`
`5
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`

`

`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION
`
`PATENT NO.
`
`: 5 , 365 , 282
`
`DATED
`
`: November 15, 1994
`
`INVENTOR(S): Levine, Michael R.
`
`It is certified that error appears in the above-indentified patent and that said Letters Patent is hereby
`conededasshmunbebw:-
`
`lines 16-17: Replace "units addition" with
`Column 1,
`——units
`in addition--.
`
`Column 2,
`
`line 14: Replace "another" with --and the——.
`
`Column 4,
`T.V.-—.
`
`line 56: Replace "brands T.V." with ——brands of
`'
`
`
`
`Signed and Sealed this
`
`Twenty-fifth Day ofApril, 1995
`
`MW
`
`BRUCE LEHMAN
`
`Attesting Ofiicer
`
`Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks
`
`
`
`