Patent ID: 7508456
Filing Date: 2009-03-24
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A remote control system for adjusting a volume level of a television, comprising: a handheld remote control device having a partial mute switch, a wireless signal transmitter, and a first microprocessor, the first microprocessor being operably coupled to the partial mute switch and to the wireless signal transmitter, the first microprocessor configured to induce the wireless signal transmitter to transmit a first wireless signal having an engage partial mute command to the television when the partial mute switch is depressed at a first time; the television having a wireless signal receiver, a memory device, and a second microprocessor coupled to the wireless signal receiver and the memory device, the wireless signal receiver configured to receive the first wireless signal, the second microprocessor configured to access a partial mute volume multiplier value in a range of 10-90% from the memory device and to multiply the partial mute volume multiplier value by a first current volume level value to obtain an updated volume level value, the first current volume level being indicative of a current volume level of a speaker in the television, the second microprocessor further configured to adjust the volume level of the speaker to an updated volume level corresponding to the updated volume level value; the first microprocessor of the handheld remote control device further configured to induce the wireless signal transmitter to transmit a second wireless signal having a disengage partial mute command to the television when the partial mute switch is depressed at a second time after the first time; and the wireless signal receiver of the handheld remote control device further configured to receive the second wireless signal, the second microprocessor further configured to adjust the volume level of the speaker in the television to the first current volume level in response to the disengage partial mute command.