Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02326555 2000-09-29
WO 99/50807 PGT/US99/06796
UPGRADEABLE REMOTE CONTROL
BACKG$.~,IUND OF THE INVENTION
Fietd of the Invention
The present invention relates to a remote control and more particularly to a
remote control that can be upgraded through a data transmission system that
inputs
operating software and data into the remote control.
Discussion of the Related Art
Conventional remote controls have been made reconfigurable such that they
have the ability to learn, store, and repeat remote control codes from other
such
remote controls. These conventional remote control devices generally include
an
infrared receiver, a microprocessor, a non-volatile RAM, a scratch pad RAM,
and an
infrared transmitter. Accordingly, these types of remote controls only capture
a "free
format" infrared signal of an existing remote control and then play back that
signal at
a later time.
During the learning process, the infrared receiver decodes transmissions from
another host remote control, associates each transmission with a particular
button or
key or the reconfigurable remote control, and stores the data encoded within
the
transmitted signal in memory. Thus, the user trains the conventional
reconfigurable
remote control by first processing a "learn" button. The button to be
reconfigured in
the remote control is then processed, followed by depression of the associated
button
on the host remote control. The user must accurately gauge successful
transmission,
reception, and data storage between units. The process is conducted separately
to
train each individual button on the remote control, and in some systems, must
be
CA 02326555 2000-09-29
WO 99/50807 PCTNS99/06796
operated at least twice for each button to ensure proper reception and
decoding. For
a conventional, reconfigurable remote control, the learning process to
effectuate
commands from another remote control can be repetitive and tiring.
For the conventional remote control, the operating system software in the unit
remains unchanged, and only the particular data relating to commands
associated
with particular, individual buttons are reconfigured. In other words, the data
received by the remote control during the learning process does not represent
instructions, but is instead the actual transmitted signal from the host
remote control.
Therefore, the conventional remote control stores the transmitted signal
associated
with a particular key or button in order to mimic or repeat that signal later
during
operation.
Another conventional remote control has been made upgradeable by
transmitting control data for operating other devices to a remote control via
a cable
directly to a computer, or via a telephone modem. However, data transmission
is
1 S one-way only, from the computer to the remote control. Further, this
conventional,
upgradeable remote control system requires a physical attachment through
interlocking pieces during the upgrading process. These connecting pieces may
become damaged, and the necessary separate cable may become damaged or lost.
The remote control unit also must have a dedicated portion that allows for
interconnection and engagement with the separate, interlocking components.
This
utilizes spaces on the portable unit, and requires careful designing so as not
to cause
an unattractive appearance for the unit.
2
CA 02326555 2000-09-29
WO 99/50807 PCT/US99/06796
SUN~IARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a remote control that
substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and
disadvantages of the related art.
An object of the present invention is to provide a system for updating the
operating software and data contained in a remote control type device via an
infrared
link.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for updating
the operating software or data contained in a remote control type device via a
radio
frequency link.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for two-way
communication between a receiving remote control type device and a device in
which operating software and code data are stored and sent.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system for
automatically updating the operating software in a remote control type device
through a wireless communication link.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the
description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description,
or may
be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages
of the
invention will be realized and attained by the system and method pointed out
in the
written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of
the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, a remote control
system
3
CA 02326555 2000-09-29
WO 99/50807 PCT/US99/06796
includes a remote device having a CPU, a memory coupled to the CPU for storing
operating software and code data for controlling external devices, and keys
coupled
to the CPU for inputting commands to the remote device; a receiver on the
remote
device being coupled to the CPU for receiving at least one of operating
software and
code data over a wireless communication link and transmitting the at least one
of
operating software and code data to the CPU for decoding; and a transmitter on
the
remote device being coupled to the CPU for transmitting control data to the
external
devices, and for transmitting data to an updater; wherein the updater has an
updater
receiver for receiving data from the transmitter of the remote device and an
updater
transmitter for transmitting the at least one of operating software and code
data to the
receiver on the control device.
In another aspect of the present invention, a remote control system includes a
remote device having a CPU, a memory coupled to the CPU for storing operating
software and code data for controlling external devices, and keys coupled to
the CPU
for inputting commands to the remote device; a receiver on the remote device
being
coupled to the CPU for receiving at least one of operating software and code
data
over a wireless communication link and transmitting the at least one of
operating
software and code data to the CPU for decoding; and a transmitter on the
remote
device being coupled to the CPU for transmitting control data to the external
devices; wherein the updater has an updater transmitter for transmitting the
at least
one of operating software and code data to the receiver on the control device.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of upgrading a
remote control includes the steps of transmitting at least one of operating
software
4
CA 02326555 2000-09-29
WO 99/50807 PCT/US99/06796
and control data from an updater transmitter on an updater device to a
receiver on a
remote device over a wireless communication link; receiving the at least one
of
operating software and code data through the receiver on the remote device and
sending the received at least one of operating software and code data to a CPU
in the
remote device; decoding the received at least one of operating software and
code
data in the CPU; and storing the decoded at least one of operating software
and code
data in a memory in the remote device.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method of communicating
between a remote device and data unit includes the steps of transmitting
communication signals from an updater transmitter on a data. unit to a
receiver on a
remote device over a wireless communication link; receiving the communication
signals through the receiver on the remote device and sending the received
signals to
a CPU in the remote device; decoding the received signals in the CPU;
determining
if the communication signals request that the remote device perform
operations;
performing operations requested by the communication signals; creating data
responses resulting from the performed operations; and transmitting the data
responses from a transmitter on the remote device to an updater receiver on
the data
unit via the communication link.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIQ~1 (~~ THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further
understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part
of this
specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the
description serve to explain the principles of the invention.
CA 02326555 2000-09-29
WO 99/50807 PCT/US99/06796
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a first prefen ed embodiment of the system
for updating the operating software and data contained in a remote control
type
device via an IR communications link.
Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a second preferred embodiment of the
system for updating the operating software and data contained in a remote
control
type device via an RF communications link.
Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing a third preferred embodiment of the system
for updating the operating software and data contained in a keyboard type
device via
an IR communications link.
Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing a fourth preferred embodiment of the
system for updating the operating software and data contained in a keyboard
type
device via an RF communications link.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the
present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
In Fig. 1, the system for updating the operating software and data contained
in a remote control type device includes a handheld remote control device 1.
This
device includes an infrared ("IR") transmitter 2 and an IR receiver 3. The
remote
control device also includes a set of pushbuttons or keys 4, a central
processing unit
("CPIJ") (not shown), and a memory (not shown). The system also includes an IR
updater 10 in which operating software for the remote control device and code
data
for operating a variety of devices are stored. The IR updater 10 has IR
transmitter
6
CA 02326555 2000-09-29
WO 99/50807 PCT/US99/06796
13. The IR updater may also have an IR receiver 12 for two way communication
during updating, although this is not required. The IR updater may be used as
a
stand alone unit or may be attached to an external computer ("PC") 200. The
updater also can be an integrated component of the television, and can itself
be
updated via television signals received through satellite or cable
transmissions.
In the first preferred embodiment, a formatted data stream that is known both
to the remote control device 1 and the IR updater 10 is transmitted between
the two
devices over an IR link. For example, the IR transmitter 13 of the IR updater
10
transmits operating software or code data, and the IR receiver 3 of the remote
control
device 1 receives that information coming in over the IR link. This received
operating software or code data is appropriately processed and decoded in the
CPU
to update the operating software or code data, respectively, and is stored in
the
memory of the remote control device 1.
The data transmitted from the IR updater 10 also may contain commands that
request action from the remote control device 1. For example, the data
transmitted to
the remote control device 1 may require the remote control device to perform
diagnostics and report the results. Thus, after receiving a command through
the IR
receiver 2, the remote control device 1 processes the command, runs the
diagnostics,
and transmits the results through the IR transmitter 2 to the IR receiver 12
of the IR
updater 10.
The signal transmitted from the updater, to the remote control, representing
software or code data, is detected through at least one photodiode in the
remote
control. The photodiode, or plurality of photodiodes, can be placed within the
7
CA 02326555 2000-09-29
WO 99/50807 PCTNS99/06796
vicinity of the diodes that transmit the signals from the remote control to
the
television or other appliances to be controlled by the remote control. The
photodiode(s) is connected to a differentiating capacitor and a threshold
amplifier.
The process for updating the remote control by updating the software is
greatly simplified as compared to reconfiguration of a conventional
reconfigurable
remote control unit. The user first activates the "learning mode" for the
remote
control. This can be done by pressing a single key on the remote control unit.
The user then activates the updater. The remote control is positioned to
facilitate IR communication between the updater and the remote control.
Ideally, the
remote control is placed on a stationary surface with the photodiode facing
the
transmitter in the updater, and approximately five feet from the updater. The
updating process can also be performed while the user holds on to the remote
control. Depending on the complexity of software to be updated, the
communication
time may require only seconds. During this time, commands for every operation
of
the remote control can be modified or altered. Alternatively, the updating
process
may only modify a select portion of features, or add new commands or features.
The remote control device also will transmit signals from the IR transmitter 2
to control external appliances, the signals being based upon commands input
through
the keys 4 of the remote control device.
The remote control according to the present invention can be designed for
one way communication or two way communication with full handshaking. For one
way communication the signal is transmitted from the updater to the remote
control
during the updating process and the remote control only receives the updated
8
CA 02326555 2000-09-29
WO 99/50807 PCT/US99/06796
software or code data. With two-way communication, the remote control sends
signals back to the updater during the updating process. These signals can
include
indicators indicating "ready to receive," "confirmation of receipt," or
"request for
updating." With either one way communication or bidirectional communication,
the
S updating process may conclude with an audible signal or visible signal on
the
updater to indicate completion of transmission, or a comparable signal on the
remote
control itself.
Fig. 2 is a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. The
second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment in some respects;
however,
radio frequency is used as the link between the remote control device and the
updater. Therefore, the remote control 20 has a radio frequency ("RF")
receiver 23
and an RF transmitter 22. The second embodiment also has an RF updater 30,
which
includes an RF transmitter 33 and an RF receiver 32. The transmission of
operating
software and code data in the second embodiment is updated via a radio link,
and
may be performed in a similar manner and in the similar variations as
discussed for
the first embodiment.
Fig. 3 is a third embodiment of the present invention. Instead of a handheld
remote control device, the third embodiment includes a keyboard 40 that has a
CPU
and memory (not shown), an IR transmitter 42, and an IR receiver 43. The
keyboard preferably fimctions in a similar way as that explained for the
remote
control device of the first embodiment, wherein operating software and code
data is
transmitted from an IR updater 10 to the keyboard 40 via an IR link.
9
CA 02326555 2000-09-29
WO 99/50807 PCT/US99/06796
Specifically, the IR receiver 43 of the keyboard 40 receives the information
coming in over the IR link. This received operating software or code data is
appropriately processed and decoded in the CPU to update the operating
software or
code data, respectively, and is stored in the memory of the keyboard 40.
The data transmitted from the IR updater 10 also may contain commands that
request action from the keyboard 4t). For example, the data transmitted to the
keyboard 40 may require the keyboard 40 to perform diagnostics and report the
results. Thus, after receiving a command through the IR receiver 43, the
keyboard
40 processes the command, runs the diagnostics, and transmits the results
through
the IR transmitter 42 to the IR receiver 12 of the IR updater 10.
The keyboard 40 also is capable of transmitting signals from the IR
transmitter 42 to control external appliances, the signals being based upon
commands input through the keys 44 of the keyboard.
Fig. 4 is a fourth embodiment of the present invention. This figure shows a
system for updating data contained in a keyboard 50 using an RF updater 30.
The
keyboard 50, therefore, has an RF receiver 53 and an RF transmitter 52. The RF
updater 30 may be similar to that discussed above with respect to the second
embodiment. The transmission of operating software and code data in the fourth
embodiment is updated via a radio link, and is preferably performed in a
similar
20~ manner and in the similar variations as discussed for the third
embodiment.
As an additional embodiment, the remote device may be automatically
updated as soon as the updater device is powered on, without requiring
additional
CA 02326555 2000-09-29
WO 99/50807 PCT1US99/06796
steps by the user. This feature may be particularly useful if the updater is a
component within a television or another appliance controller.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and
variations can be made in the system and method for updating a remote control
type
device of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of
the
invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the
modification and
variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the
appended
claims and their equivalents.
11
