Patent ID: 8094875
Filing Date: 2012-01-10
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
1. A method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a digital image of a particular control device; (b) maintaining a database of information, the database storing pieces of information about a plurality of remote control devices including: a shape of each of the plurality of remote control devices, a location of buttons on each of the plurality of remote control devices, a shape of the buttons on each of the plurality of remote control devices, and characters that appear on each of the plurality of remote control devices; (c) performing optical recognition on the digital image by analyzing a shape of the particular control device, analyzing a location of buttons on the particular control device, analyzing the shape of the buttons on the particular control device, and analyzing characters that appear on the particular control device; and (d) comparing the optical recognition results to said information in said database so that possibilities of which of the plurality of remote control devices the particular control device is can be narrowed down.