Television – Receiver circuitry – Remote control
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-17
2001-07-17
Eisenzopf, Reinhard J. (Department: 2614)
Television
Receiver circuitry
Remote control
C348S734000, C348S731000, C348S705000, C455S575100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06262780
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a channel selection apparatus that is used to select or tune a television or other receiver to a particular channel/frequency. More particularly, it relates to an improved remote control unit that can more efficiently navigate the available channel selections, particularly when the available channels originate from more than one source.
(b) Description of Related Art
Consumers in the U.S. and elsewhere expect television equipment that can conveniently integrate and display programming from a variety of sources, such as conventional off-the-air channels (a.k.a., “free TV”), or cable, and direct-to-home (DTH) satellite broadcasts. For example, since 1994, DIRECTV® consumers have had access to nearly 200 channels of DTH broadcast programming material and other services, as well as locally broadcast channels. In particular, the manufacturers of the integrated/receiver/decoder (IRD) units that receive and process these DTH broadcasts have also provided convenient access to other programming sources. For example, the typical IRD can receive programming from other sources, e.g., an off-the-air antenna or cable decoder, and selectively route either the DTH programming or the off-the-air/cable (terrestrial) programming to the associated display.
In a typical existing DTH system, the viewer is required to perform multiple operations on their remote control to switch from viewing programming from one source to viewing programming from another source. For example, in switching from DTH to terrestrial viewing, the user may be required to press one button to turn the IRD's “DTH” mode off, press another button to select the IRD's “TV” mode, then enter the number of the desired terrestrial channel. In order to return to DTH, the viewer would have to enter into the television the channel number (e.g., “03”) or input selection (e.g., “line1”) at which the television receives DTH programming from the IRD, press a button to select the IRD's DTH mode rather than TV mode, then enter the number of the desired DTH channel.
Accordingly, there is need for an apparatus and method that simplifies how viewers make programming selections using a simple and inexpensive remote control, particularly when such programming originates from a variety of sources.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention addresses the shortcomings of known programming selection systems by providing an efficient and simple program/channel selection system including an improved remote control unit. According to the present invention, making a single viewer selection is enough to allow the system to identify the source of the selection and automatically switch the system to that source, without requiring the entry of additional information from the user. As an example, the channel assignments for the DIRECTV® and USSB® direct-to-home (DTH) broadcast system are typically distinct from off-the-air or cable sources. In particular, DTH channel assignments for DIRECTV and USSB DTH broadcasts have a number range from 100 to 999, while off-the-air or cable channels typically have a number range from 0 to 99. Accordingly, in the disclosed example, the channel number, the channel up/down buttons, the right/left arrow keys, or the up/down arrow keys may be used as the single viewer selection entry that uniquely identifies both the desired program/channel and its source. The viewer can simply enter the desired channel number or, according to other aspects of the present invention, activate the arrow keys and/or channel up/down keys, and the remote control automatically performs all of the operations necessary to switch to the appropriate source and select and display the desired programming/channel on a standard IRD.
Accordingly, the present invention may be embodied in a method of selecting transmitted programming from a plurality of sources that include at least a first signal source associated with a first range of channel numbers and a second signal source associated with a second range of channel numbers. The method includes the steps of inputting to a selection means information identifying a channel selection, determining whether said channel selection information falls within said first range of channel numbers or said second range of channel numbers; automatically, in response to said determination, generating by said remote control a sequence of standard control commands; and routing the signal source associated with said channel selection to a display and selecting said channel selection. Preferably, the first range of channel numbers does not overlap the second range of channel numbers. For example, the first range of channel numbers may be from 0 to 99, and the second range of channel numbers may be from 100 to 999. The selection means may be the plurality of keys or buttons found on a conventional remote control device.
Alternatively, the present invention may be embodied in a method of selecting transmitted programming including the steps of: assigning a first signal source to a predetermined selection entry; inputting to a selection means information identifying a desired selection entry; determining whether said selection information corresponds to said predetermined selection entry; automatically, in response to determining that said selection information corresponds to said predetermined selection entry, routing the first signal source to a display and selecting a channel associated with said desired selection entry. For example, the predetermined selection entry may be the user activating a selection means, wherein the selection means is the up/down arrow, left/right arrow or channel up/down keys on a remote control or a control panel of a decoder. One or more of these keys may be assigned to a particular source of programming, e.g., off-the-air broadcasts. Upon determining that the user has activated one of these keys, the method automatically places the system in the appropriate mode to receive off-the-air broadcasts then selects the appropriate channel.
The present invention may further be embodied in a remote control for selecting programming at a receiver station, which includes a plurality of receiver station subunits for receiving and processing transmitted programming signals, said subunits comprising at least a programming signal decoder and a display. The remote control including a plurality of selection means, a controller and a transmitter; said plurality of selection means of said remote control capable of being activated by a user to generate one or more selection communications; said controller receiving said selection communications and generating control communications in response thereto; said transmitter receiving said control communications and generating and transmitting to at least one of said receiver station subunits command communications in response to said control communications; and said controller programmed such that a single selection entry made at said plurality of selection means causes more than one of said command communications to be transmitted.
In another embodiment, the present invention is a remote control for selecting programming at a receiver station, which includes a plurality of receiver station subunits including at least a display, a first signal source, a second signal source, and a router for selectively placing said first signal source and said second signal source in communication with said display. The remote control includes a plurality of selection means, a controller and a transmitter; said plurality of selection means of said remote control capable of being activated by a user to generate one or more selection communications; said controller receiving said selection communications and generating control communications in response thereto; said transmitter receiving said control communications and generating and transmitting to at least one of said receiver station subunits command communications in response to said control communications; said command
Godwin John P.
Ho Kesse
Crook John A.
Eisenzopf Reinhard J.
Hughes Electronics Corporation
Natnael Paulos
Sales Michael W.
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