Interactive video distribution systems – Local video distribution system – Multiunit or multiroom structure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-16
2004-07-27
Grant, Chris (Department: 2611)
Interactive video distribution systems
Local video distribution system
Multiunit or multiroom structure
C725S153000, C348S734000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06769129
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to systems and methods for controlling a consumer electronics device using a remote control device. More specifically, the present invention is directed to systems and methods for detecting and resolving interference between two infrared signals, wherein the first infrared signal is emitted from a remote control device to a first consumer electronics device and the second infrared signal is emitted from a signal relay device connected to the first consumer electronics device and sent to a second consumer electronics device.
2. The Prior State of the Art
Remote control devices for controlling functions on consumer electronics devices, such as televisions, have become widely accepted over the years. Remote control devices allow a viewer to change television channels, adjust volume, and control other features of the television without having to have to walk to the television set. As VCRs, cable boxes, and other components of home entertainment systems have proliferated, the value, number of features, and variety of remote control devices have increased.
With the increasing complexity of home entertainment systems, so called universal remote controls have been developed. Universal remote controls are capable of controlling functions of two or more consumer electronic devices. For example, many universal remote control devices can be used with televisions, VCRs, and cable boxes. In order to configure the universal remote control to be compatible with a particular type of VCR, for example, the user may enter an alphanumeric code to the remote control, thereby programming the remote control device to emit the appropriate signals for the particular make and model of the VCR.
Although universal remote controls have been quite popular, they have experienced some limitations. In particular, universal remote controls are typically self-contained devices containing code that is executed to select the particular infrared signal configurations compatible with selected consumer electronic devices. The code contained in the remote control device is generally not upgradable. Thus, when a user obtains a consumer electronic device not supported by the universal remote control there is typically no way of upgrading the remote control device short of purchasing a more sophisticated one. In addition, since remote control devices are typically battery-powered, including too many features and functions therein may cause the batteries to rapidly discharge.
FIG. 1
illustrates a remote control system that has been developed to allow a remote control device to be used with new consumer electronic devices and with electronics equipment produced by new manufacturers. The remote control system of
FIG. 1
provides a degree of flexibility that has not been possible with simple universal remote control devices. One example of the remote control system of
FIG. 1
is seen in WebTV set-top boxes (Internet terminals) manufactured by WebTV Networks, Inc., of Palo Alto, Calif. Internet terminal
10
is connected, by coaxial cable
12
or by another cable system to television
14
. Remote control device
16
emits infrared signals
18
, which are received at an infrared receiver (not shown) at Internet terminal
10
. Infrared signals
18
may control selected functions at Internet terminal
10
and, optionally, at television
14
. Another consumer electronics,device, which in this example is cable box
20
, is connected to Internet terminal
10
. Cable box
20
receives cable television programming via coaxial cable
22
and descrambles the cable television programming if necessary. The cable television programming signals may then be sent from cable box
20
to Internet terminal
10
and in turn to television
14
using coaxial cable
12
and
22
, respectively.
In order for remote control device
16
to control cable box
20
, information encoded in primary IR signals
18
is processed in Internet terminal
10
and sent from the Internet terminal to IR blaster
26
positioned near an IR receiver
28
at the cable box. Occasionally, infrared signals
18
emitted from remote control device
16
interfere with infrared signals
28
emitted from IR blaster
26
. Such signal collision introduces the risk that cable box
20
will not execute the desired function. This risk is especially present when multiple signals are transmitted from remote control display
16
in rapid succession. For example, in order to tune to a selected television channel using cable box
20
, a user may be required to enter three consecutive digits representing the channel number. It is possible that a signal
18
encoding the second digit may collide with a signal
18
encoding the first digit. In this situation, the user cannot be certain that cable box
20
has responded to the first digit because the cable box was simultaneously exposed again to the second digit emitted from remote control device.
In particular situations, such as that described above in reference to
FIG. 1
, IR signal interference and collision present a limitation in what is otherwise a very useful remote control system. The remote control system using infrared blaster
26
illustrated in
FIG. 1
has the advantage of being readily updated to be compatible with consumer electronic devices produced by new manufacturers and with entirely new consumer electronic devices. In particular, the software in Internet terminal
10
for controlling the format, the speed, and other properties of the infrared signals
28
emitted from IR blaster
26
can be updated as needed.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need in the art for systems of resolving interference between two infrared signals in a remote control system. More specifically, it would be an advancement in the art to provide a system for reliably relaying signals to consumer electronic devices using infrared blasters so that multiple consumer electronic devices may be controlled by a single remote control device regardless of any infrared signal collisions.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to systems and methods for detecting interference between two simultaneous infrared signals in a remote control system and for resolving such interference. According to the invention, information encoded in an infrared signal received from a remote control device is not relayed through an infrared blaster to a second consumer electronics device until the first consumer electronics device determines that no more signals are being sent from the remote control device. In this manner, the infrared blaster begins transmitting in the absence of competing signals from the remote control device. If the first consumer electronics device determines that an interfering signal is emitted from the remote control device while the IR blaster is transmitting information to the second consumer electronics device, the method of invention includes provisions for resolving this interference.
When the collision is detected after the IR blaster begins to transmit its signal, the IR blaster is caused to transmit a reset signal to the consumer electronics device. The reset signal places the second consumer electronics device at a known state in preparation for retransmitting the infrared signal. The reset signal may be any signal that causes the consumer electronics device to go to a known state. In one example, the reset signal is a channel up or channel down code that causes the consumer electronics device, such as a cable box, to be set to a selected television channel. This type of reset code is useful when the command that was being sent during the interference was a multi-digit number associated with a television channel.
Once the reset signal has been received at the consumer electronics device, the Internet terminal and the IR blaster retransmit information that was lost at the consumer electronics device by the reset signal and the information encoded in the infrared signal. For example, if the command that was interfered wit
Grant Chris
Microsoft Corporation
Murphy Timothy M.
Workman Nydegger
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