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`
`USOO79443TOBI
`
`US 7,944,370 Bl
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(12) Ulllted States Patent
`
`Harris et al.
`(45) Date of Patent:
`May 1?, 2011
`
`(15)
`
`(73) Assigncc: Logitech Europe 8A.. Morges (Cl-l)
`
`l-largcrelal.
`1.-'I986
`4.566.034 A
`(54) CONFIGURATION METHOD FORA
`“MM . s,
`' """""
`ENTRY FOR A CONTROLLED DEVICE
`4:832:62? .\
`6: I989 Mcngct
`4.918.439 A
`4.51990 W '. a]: ‘t
`|.
`lnventors: Glen McLean [Ian-is. Auckland (NZ):
`4.959.310 A
`9 I990 [3:13; era]?
`Justin M. Henry. Mississauga (CA)
`5.109.222 A
`4-1992 Welly
`Contiuu =d
`L )
`(
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`I‘t)9444 A
`22003
`_
`"
`‘
`'
`'
`(C ummued)
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer. the term oi'this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.(‘. [54(b) by a days.
`
`(‘\'
`"'
`
`“‘ '
`
`(2]) AppLNo: 11,967,528
`
`(22}
`
`_
`1..
`ltlcd.
`
`.
`Nov. 3, 2005
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`[63} Continuation of application No.
`1 ”199.922. filed on
`Aug. 3. 2005. now Pat. No. 7.436.319. which is a
`continuation of application No. 10t839,970. tiled on
`May 5. 2004. now Pat. No. 7.6I2.685. which is a
`continuation of application No. 098114.623. filed on
`Mar. [2. 2001. now abandoned.
`
`[60)
`
`Provisional application No. 61]” 39437. filed on Mar.
`15_ 2000'
`'
`
`(51 }
`
`Int. (fl.
`(2006.01)
`G053 19/05
`340182522: 340t825.692 341nm
`(52) us. (II.
`(58)
`Field ol'Classificatiorl Search
`340325.69.
`3403325 72 325 22 5 73 426 1,. 825 29
`I 3-404’8é5 g7. 3411'17-6: '198If] 07';
`‘Sce application file for compleie scitrchhisiory
`‘
`
`'
`
`(56 }
`
`References Cited
`
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`Ciarcia. 8.. “Build a 'I‘rainablc Infrared Master Controller." Byte.
`12t_3):ll3-123 {[982}.
`
`(Continued)
`
`.
`y
`y
`PromoExaminer—Venn]U Brown
`[74] Attorney Agent. or Firm — Kilpalrick Townsend 8;
`SIGCkIOIl UP
`
`[57}
`
`‘
`ABSTRACT
`
`An ouline remote control configuration system for cth‘cicntly
`progranuning a remote control to recognize a pluralityr of
`external electronic devices. The online remote control con-
`
`figuration system includes a remote control having a housing.
`a keypad. and an electronic system for receiving configura-
`“011d“ “0'11 a “0mm Station Via a 810')“ °°“191'ier new“
`(53% Imam“ The “3‘” Preferably “samples".m‘e or more
`Signals from a remote control 11110 the electronic system and
`Lhcn uploads the samples to the control station. The control
`station analyzes the uploaded samples and transmits the
`appropriate configuration data to properly configure the elec-
`Ironic system. The user may also access a web site of the
`control station and manually select each of the external elec-
`tronic devices that the remote control is to operate after which
`the control station sends the appropriate configuration data to
`the electronic system.
`
`25 Claims, 16 Drawing Sheets
`
`112
`
`1 11¢
`
`104
`
`108
`
`Roku EX1013
`
`US. Patent No. 9,716,853
`
`Roku EX1013
`U.S. Patent No. 9,716,853
`
`

`

`US 7,944,370 B]
`Page 2
`
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`aeeeaaeeeeeeaaeeaeeaaeeeaeeazeeeaz»»
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`

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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 17, 2011
`
`Sheet 1 of 16
`
`US 7,944,1370 Bl
`
`v:
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May17,2011
`
`Sheet 2 of 16
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`US 7,944,370 Bl
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`FIGE
`
`f,
`
`114
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 17, 2011
`
`Sheet 3 of 16
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`US 7,944,2370 Bl
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`2
`
` v:
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 1?, 2011
`
`Sheet 4 of 16
`
`US 7,944,2370 Bl
`
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`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 17, 2011
`
`Sheet 5 of 16
`
`US 7,944,370 Bl
`
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`May17,2011
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`Sheet 6 of 16
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`US. Patent
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`May 17, 2011
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`Sheet 7 of 16
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`US. Patent
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`May 17, 2011
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`Sheet 9 ofl6
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`US 7,944,2370 Bl
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`Sample Signal oF Remote
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`US. Patent
`
`May17,2011
`
`Sheet 10 of 16
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`US 7,944,370 Bl
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`US. Patent
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`May17,2011
`
`Sheet 11 of 16
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`US 7,944,370 Bl
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`

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`US. Patent
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`May 17, 2011
`
`Sheet 12 of 16
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`US 7,944,370 Bl
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`US. Patent
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`May 17, 2011
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`US. Patent
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`May 17, 2011
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`US 7,944,370 Bl
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`1
`CONFIGURATION METHOD FOR A
`REMOTE CONTROL VIA MODEL NUMBER
`ENTRY FOR A CONTROLLED DEVICE
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE T0 RELATED U.S. PATENT
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is a continuation ofand claims priority
`front U .S. patent application Ser. No. 117199.922. filed Aug.
`8, 2005. which is a continuation. of U .S. patent application
`Ser. No. 107839.970. filed May 5. 2004. which is a continu-
`ation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 097804.623, filed
`Mar. 12, 2001, now abandoned, which claims the benefit of
`US. Provisional Patent Application No. 607189.487, filed
`Mar. 15. 2000. all ol‘which are incorporated herein by refer-
`ence in their entirety for all purposes.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`l. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates generally to universal remote
`control devices and more specifically it relates to an online
`remote control configuration system for efficiently programi-
`ming a remote control to control a plurality of external elec-
`tronic devices.
`2. Description of tlte Prior Art
`Remote control devices have been in use for years. Remote
`control devices are utilized to operate various external elec-
`tronic devices including but not limited to televisions, stereos,
`receivers. VC‘Rs. DVD players. CD players. amplifiers.
`equalizers. tape players. cable uttits. lighting. window shades
`and other electronic devices. A conventional remote control is
`
`It]
`
`20
`
`I.) 1):
`
`3t]
`
`35
`
`typically comprised ofa housing structure. a keypad within
`the housing structure for entering commands by the user.
`electronic circttitry within the ltousing structure connected to
`the keypad, and a transmitter electrically connected to the
`electronic circuitry for transmitting a control signal to art
`electronic device to be operated.
`The user depresses one or more buttons upon the keypad
`when a desired operation of a specific electronic device is or
`desired. For example, if the user desires to turn the power off
`to a V'CR. the user will depress the power button upon the
`remote control which transmits a “power oil" control signal
`that is detected by the VCR resulting in the VCR tuming olT.
`Because of the multiple electronic devices currently avail- 45
`able within ntany homes and businesses today. a relatively
`new type of remote control is utilized to allow for the control
`of a plurality of electronic devices conunonly referred to as a
`“universal remote control." Most universal remote controls
`
`have “selector buttons" that are associated with the specific
`electronic device to be controlled by the remote control (cg.
`television. VCR. DVD player, etc.). Universal remote control
`devices allow for the control of a plurality of external elec-
`tronic devices with a single remote control thereby eliminat-
`ing the need to have a plurality of remote controls physically
`present within a room.
`Conventional universal remote controls are typically pro-
`grammed using two methods: (1] entering an “identifier
`code“ directly into the remote control, or (2) santpling the
`control signal transmitted by another remote control device.
`Neither method of programming a universal remote control is
`ellicient and causes many consumers to either ttot purchase a
`universal remote control or abandon the usage of an already
`purchased remote control.
`Entering identifier codes into a remote control can be time
`constu'ning and difficult for many users. if the user loses the
`“code book" that comes with the universal remote control
`
`5th
`
`55
`
`till]
`
`55
`
`2
`
`they are often times left with a useleSs universal remote con-
`trol that they are unable to reprogram. Often times a consumer
`is given 4-8 different “possible" identifiercodes for a particu-
`lar brand of electronic device thereby requiring the user to.
`through trial and error. detemtine the correct identifier code.
`Sometimes an individual believes they have entered the
`proper identifier code since one or two of the commands on
`the keypad work only to find out later that one or more
`conmtands do not work with the electronic device since the
`
`proper identifier code was not entered.
`Also. sampling of control signals is very time consuming
`and difficult to ensure proper sampling. An individual must
`expend significant amounts oftinre sampling infrared signals
`from another remote control and “saving“ these signals
`within the universal remote control thereafter assigning the
`particular signal to a button on the keypad. This is very labor
`intensive and the results are only as stable as the infrared code
`sampled.
`There are tnany problems with conventional universal
`remote controls. For example. many universal remote con-
`trols have a plurality of buttons wherein many are never
`utilized since the manufacturer attempts to [rave physical
`btrttons for each possible command of each possible elec-
`tronic device. Another problem conventional universal
`remote controls is that the electronic components within these
`devices is relatively complex and expensive to manufacture
`resulting in an increased cost to the consumer.
`While these devices may be suitable for the particular
`purpose to which the ' address. they are not as suitable for
`efficiently pmgramming a remote control to recognize a pin-
`rality of external electronic devices. Conventional universal
`remote control devices do not allow for easy and quick pro-
`gramming thereof. In addition. conventional universal remote
`controls are not always properly programmed thereby caus-
`ing consumer dissatisfaction.
`In these respects. the online remote control configuration
`system according to the present
`invention substantially
`departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the
`prior art. and in so doing provides art apparatus primarily
`developed for the purpose of efficiently programming a
`remote control to recognize a plurality of extental electronic
`devices.
`
`SUMMARY OF ’fl Ili INVENTION
`
`In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the
`known types of universal remote controls now present in the
`prior art. the present invention provides a new online remote
`control configuration system oonstntction wherein the same
`can be utilized for efficiently programming a remote control
`to recognize a plurality of external electronic devices.
`The general purpose ofthe present invention. which will be
`described subsequently in greater detail. is to provide a new
`online remote control configuration system that has many of
`the advantages of the universal remote control devices men-
`tioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new
`online remote cotitro} configuration system which is not
`anticipated. rendered obvious. suggested, or even implied by
`arty of the prior art remote controls. either alone or in any
`combination thereof.
`
`To attain this. the present invention generally comprises a
`remote control having a housing, a keypad. and an electronic
`system for receiving co nfigttration data from a control station
`via a global compttter network (e.g. Internet]. The user pref—
`erably “samples“ one or more signals from a remote control
`into the electronic system and then uploads the samples to the
`control station. The control station analyzes the uploaded
`
`

`

`US 7,944,370 Bi
`
`4
`
`erencc characters designate the same or similar parts through-
`out the several views. and wherein:
`
`FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of the present inven-
`tion.
`
`FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention.
`FIG. 3 is a side view of the present invention illustrating
`electronic circuitry within.
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the communications
`between the present invention and a plurality of external
`electronic devices.
`
`FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the electronic system
`of the present invention electrically connected to the power
`source and in communication with the external electronic
`devices.
`
`FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the electronic system
`along with a plurality of accessory devices connected to
`thereof.
`FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the present invention in com-
`munication with the control station via a global computer
`network wherein the electronic system is directly connected
`to an intermediary computer system.
`FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the present invention in com—
`munication with the control station directly via a global com-
`puter network without utilizing an intermediary computer
`system.
`FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the overall operation of the
`present invention from sampling the signal code of each
`remote control to downloading the configuration data.
`I’ G. 10 is a llovvchart illustrating the functionality within
`the control station for identifying each electronic device.
`F.G. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the usage ofa web page
`to allow a user to directly enter the identity ofeach electronic
`device into the control station.
`
`
`
`F G. 12 is an illustration of a web page for entering elec-
`tronic device information into.
`FIG. 13 is an illustration of a web page displaying the
`connection of extemal electronic devices.
`FIG. 14 is an illustration of a web page displaying the
`selection of channels to include and exclude from the elec-
`tronic system configuration.
`FIG. 15 is an illustration of a web page showing the key
`mappings upon the keypad as configured.
`17 (i. 16 is an illustration ofa web page showing the setup
`of various tasks such as “Watch Television“ and “Watch
`. DV'
`
`3
`samples and transmits the appropriate configuration data to
`properly configure the electronic system. The user may also
`access a web site of the control station and manually select
`each ofthe external electronic devices that the remote control
`
`is to operate after which the control station sends the appro-
`priate configuration data to the electronic system.
`There has thus been outlined. rather broadly. the more
`important features of the invention in order that the detailed
`description thereof may be better understood. and in order
`that the present contribution to the art may be better appreci-
`ated. There are additional features of the invention that will be
`described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of
`the claims appended hereto.
`In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment
`of the invention in detail,
`it
`is to he understood that the
`invention is not limited in its application to the details of
`construction and to the arrangements of the components set
`forth, in the following description or illustrated in the draw-
`ings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of
`being practiced and canin out in various ways. Also. it is to
`be understood that
`the phraseology and terminology
`employed herein are for the purpose of the description and
`should not be regarded as limiting.
`A primary object ofthe present invention is to provide an
`online remote control configuration system that will over-
`come the shortcomings of the prior an devices.
`A second object is to provide an online remote control
`configuration system for efficiently progamming a remote
`control to recognize a plurality of external electronic devices.
`Another object is to provide an online remote control con-
`figttration system that allows for a simple electronic configu-
`ration.
`
`An additional object is to provide an onl inc remote control
`configuration system that does not require a universal remote
`control to store hundreds of different signal codes that are
`never utilized.
`
`A further object is to provide an online remote control
`configuration system that allows an individual to quickly
`configure a universal remote control.
`A fttrther object is to provide an online remote control
`configuration system that is able to upload a relatively com~
`plex configuration (e.g. ‘Watch television") than is currently
`possible with current universals.
`A further object is to provide an online remote control
`configuration system that allows customization of a remote
`control but for the specific system in which they are intercon-
`nected (cg. so that they are effectively a system).
`A further object is to provide an online remote control
`configuration system that can be configured to how the user
`desires to utilize electronic devices.
`
`Other objects and advantages of the present invention will
`become obviotts to the reader and it is intended that these
`
`objects and advantages are within the scope of the present
`invention.
`
`To the accomplishment of the above and related objects,
`this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the
`accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact.
`however.
`that the drawings are illustrative only. and that
`changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated
`and described within the scope ol‘the appended claitns.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`It]
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`I.) 1):
`
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`5th
`
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`
`Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of
`the present invention will become fitlly appreciated as the
`same becomes better ttnderstood when considered in con-
`
`55
`
`junction with the accompanying drawings. in which like ref-
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`
`The following description is presented to enable any per—
`son skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and is
`provided in the context of a particular application mid its
`requirements. Various modifications to the disclosed embodi-
`ments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the an. and
`the general principles defined herein may be applied to other
`embodiments and applications without departing from the
`spirit and scope of the present invention. ’lhus. the present
`invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments
`shown. but is to be accorded tlte widest scope consistent with
`the principles and features disclosed herein.
`The data structures and code described in this detailed
`
`description are typically stored on a computer readable stor-
`age medium, which may be any device or medium that can
`store code andr‘or data for use by a computer system. This
`includes. but is not limited to. magnetic and optical storage
`devices such as disk drives, magnetic tape. CDs (compact
`discs) and DVDs (digital video discs). and computer instruc-
`
`

`

`US 7,944,370 B1
`
`5
`
`5
`tion signals embodied in a transmission medium (with or
`without a carrier wave upon which the signals are modulated).
`For example. the transmission meditun may include a com-
`munications network. such as but not limited to the Intemet or
`wireless comunmications.
`Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which simi-
`lar reference characters denote similar elements throughout
`the several views. FIGS. 1 through 16 illustrate an online
`remote control configuration system 10. which comprises a
`remote control having a housing. a keypad. and an electronic in
`system for receiving configuration data from a control station
`via a global computer network (e.g. Internet]. The user pref-
`erably “samples" one or more signals from a remote control
`into the electronic system and then uploads the samples to the
`control station. The control station analyzes the uploaded to
`samples and transmits the appropriate configuration data to
`properly configure the electronic system. The user may also
`access a web site of the control station and manually select
`each ol‘the external electronic devices that the remote control
`
`6
`processor 116 as a general storage area and as scratch-pad
`memory. and can also be used to store input data and pro-
`cessed data. ROM 122 can be used to store instructions or
`program code followed by microprocessor 116 as well as
`other data.
`
`Peripheral bus 124 is used to access the input. output and
`storage devices used by the electronic system 100. In the
`described embodiment(s}. these devices include a display
`screen 104. an accessory device 106. a speaker 102. a com-
`munications device 108. and a network interface 112. A key-
`pad controller 126 is used to receive input from the keypad
`114 and send decoded symbols for each pressed key to micro-
`processor 116 over bus 128.
`The display screen 104 is an output device that displays
`images of data provided by the microprocessor 116 via the
`peripheral bus 124 or provided by other components in the
`electronic system 100. Other output devices such as a printer.
`plotter. typesetter. etc. can be utilized as an accessory device
`106.
`
`2o
`
`The microprocessor 1 16 together with an operating system
`operate to execute computer code and produce and use data.
`The computer code and data may reside on RAM 120. ROM
`122. or other storage mediums. The computer code and data
`could also resideon a removable program medium and loaded
`I.) J:
`. or installed onto the electronic system 100 when needed.
`Removable program mediums
`include.
`for
`example.
`PC-CARD. flash memory. and floppy disk.
`The network interface 112 is utilized to send and receive
`data over a network connected to other electronic systems.
`The network interface may also be comprised of a Universal
`Serial Bus (USB), alt external bus standard that supports data
`transfer rates of 12 Mbps (12 million hits per second). A
`single USB port can be used to connect up to l2? peripheral
`devices, such as mice. modems. and keyboards. An interface
`card or similar device and appropriate software implemented
`by microprocessor 116 can be utilized to connect the elec—
`tronic system 100 to an existing network and transfer data
`according to standard protocols including data over a global
`computer network such as the [ntemct The electronic system
`1 00 may connect to the Internet 130 via a computer system 60
`or directly as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 respectively.
`The keypad 114 is used by a user to input commands and
`other instructions to the electronic system 100. Other types of
`user input devices can also be used in conjunction with the
`present invention. For example. pointing devices such as a
`computer mouse. a jog switch 22, a track ball. a stylus, or a
`tablet to manipulate a pointer on a screen of the electronic
`sy