Computer-based universal remote control system

A programmable remote control is implemented using a standard personal computer. The computer controls the output of, for example, an infrared transmitter to control various devices such as televisions, stereos, videocassette recorders or cd players. The computer can alter the type of commands issued from the transmitter based upon a command structure stored on a hard disk within the computer. This database is updatable from a variety of sources.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates generally to the field of wireless communication 
devices. More particularly, this invention relates to a method of 
improving the functionality of universal remote controls for consumer 
electronic devices. An example of such a control is a universal remote for 
televisions, stereos, CD players and the like. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
Various universal remote controls have been proposed by others. However, 
the degree of acceptance and functionality of these devices has been 
limited in that they normally require complex user interaction for 
reprogramming or for use with multiple devices. These universal remotes 
are generally a single device that can be programmed to control one type 
of multiple electronic device such as a type of VCR, type of TV, type of 
laser disc player, type of stereo or the like; or they are designed to 
operate generally one VCR, one TV, one stereo or the like. Generally, 
these universal remotes have internal databases which are stored in ROM 90 
of several different devices in each class. The number of these types are 
limited and may only be in the tens or at most a few hundred devices. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention solves some of the problems of conventional prior art 
universal remotes by having the capability of having an enlarged database 
of possible devices which can be controlled. As an additional benefit of 
this enlarged database and the mechanism for use, this database is stored 
on a hard disk of a personal computer, providing for easier addition of 
new types of devices to control and of specific models of devices which 
are to be controlled. Further, it is possible to easily add new means for 
the communication link to occur between the remote control and the device 
to be controlled. In the past, almost all devices have used an infrared 
link. However, as the number of devices which are controlled by remote 
device increase, it is probable that infrared controls will become more 
cumbersome and accordingly it may be advisable to use radio frequency, 
sonic or other types of communication links to the device to be 
controlled. Alternatively, it may be advisable to use a mix of links. 
Yet another advantage of the architecture of this invention is there is "a 
longer life span" for the remote device as the functionality can be 
upgraded by a simple software upgrade (i.e. such as by popping in a floppy 
disk into the computer). Yet another advantage is the ability to "macro 
program" the device so that a plurality of additional functions can be 
accomplished by a single command from the user. 
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a database that is more 
comprehensive than prior art databases. As most prior art systems use a 
database which is stored in ROM which is of limited size as opposed to a 
fixed disk such as the type that is used in a personal computer, the size 
constraints of conventional remote controls is eliminated in this 
invention. Furthermore, because of reliance on limited ROM databases, most 
prior art systems have to make decisions as to which types of devices and 
the number of devices which will be included in the internal stored 
database and the ROM. This results in user frustration because some 
devices that the user may have may not be fully supported or may not be 
supported at all by the universal remote. This problem is ameliorated in 
this invention. 
A further advantage of this invention is that in most universal remote 
controls only a limited number of devices of a given type may be accessed 
by the universal remote. For example, if a VCR is selected most prior art 
universal remotes will only support a single VCR, or at most, two VCRs. 
This invention allows support of a virtually unlimited number of devices 
(the number is limited only by the size of the user's hard disk in his 
computer) Accordingly, the user may readily control a plethora of devices, 
or a plethora of devices of the same device type but using different 
device codes. Further, systems constructed according to the teachings of 
the present invention may be upgraded for new device types which may not 
even be on the market at the time that the remote is initially marketed by 
using the simple software upgrade path. 
Further, by having the device connected to the computer and as part of the 
computer, the computer may be used to provide additional functionality, 
such as timing control, automatic selection of programming, the switching 
of channels, channel lockout, parental control or the like.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT 
INVENTION 
Referring now to the drawings wherein like or similar elements are 
designated with identical reference numerals throughout the several views, 
and wherein the various elements depicted are not necessarily drawn to 
scale, and, in particular, to FIG. 1, there is shown a personal computer 
10 having an infrared transmitting device 20. Also shown in FIG. 1 is a 
television type receiver that is connected to the personal computer by 
means of a communication link 30 such as a I.sup.2 C link. Via either the 
infrared transmitting device 20 set or the I.sup.2 C link, for example, 
commands can be sent to the television. Additionally, commands can be sent 
from the infrared transmitter 20 to other devices by using a separate 
infrared transmitter or the same transmitter. Further, an RF transmitter 
40 can be added. A microcontroller 50 can also be connected via either an 
I.sup.2 C or an RS232 interface to the computer. This microcontroller can 
convert digital commands into an infrared light stream which can be 
transmitted via the IR transmitter 20. Optionally an infrared receiver 80 
can be provided so as to "learn additional various codes" by conventional 
methods. 
However, as the "system" described above (i.e., the personal computer 10) 
is software controlled, it is likely that a user will prefer updating the 
database stored on the hard disk 60 by way of a software control either 
through a download mechanism or through a floppy diskette update. Such an 
update can include new types of commands which will be accepted by various 
devices. This provides a "plug and play" type of environment. 
The software necessary to control the infrared command generation by the 
computer is a function of the specific design of the system. However, 
using a conventional Windows-based system, a series of commands and a 
blaster type of service protocol has been provided in this invention. A 
simple command structure accessing a database of commands is possible. By 
having a database lookup, a menu based system can be provided so that a 
selection using either a point and click or the pressing of a desired 
function on either a separate wired remote control or a wireless remote 
control that is associated with the personal computer will accomplish the 
appropriate transmission of the infrared command from and to the device. 
This, of course, implies that a command is initially entered by a user; 
for example, from something such as a wireless keyboard 70, which is 
received by the computer and then retranslated or used to execute a series 
of commands which will then generate, via the infrared transmitter at the 
computer, the appropriate commands to the device which the user intends to 
control. By having the computer control this and by using simple software 
commands, a "macro type function" of Applicants' invention can be 
implemented. For example, a command can be issued which is a "chaining" of 
commands which could be, for example, "turn VCR on," "turn cable box on," 
"change cable box to channel X," "put VCR in record mode," "record for X 
number of minutes," "change cable box to channel Y," "record for X number 
of minutes . . . ," and so on. 
Due to the potential power of this type of device, simplification of the 
user interface has been accomplished. As ordinary users who may not be 
fully computer literate may use this type of device, a simplified 
interface is provided to the user. For example, an exemplary remote 
control may have a far greater number of buttons or keys than a 
conventional universal remote. This exemplary remote may be like a full 
blown computer keyboard 70 with additional keys added, such as a video 
mode key, a rewind play, fast forward, record, stop, pause, etc., wherein 
new "types" of keys can be added to the keyboard. Also, or alternatively, 
the exemplary remote may allow use of a menuing system, which is called up 
by a function key on the keyboard, on the computer screen. Furthermore, 
track ball or mouse support may also be provided for the selection of 
individual commands to be executed. This keyboard type of system may be an 
infrared wireless keyboard 70 such as is shown in FIG. 1 or it may be 
wired (not shown). 
The only additional software that is required by this invention is a 
control driver which will receive input from the keyboard driver to 
receive the variety of system codes which might occur, and to translate 
those codes into the proper remote control function codes using a calling 
routine from a database which will select the device type and device code 
and the specific command necessary to operate the specific device. 
An additional feature of this invention is an embodiment in which a 
connection to the Internet or some other type of online services is 
provided. In this embodiment, information as to specific programming 
information can be obtained. Using this programming information the 
computer can do a lookup and use this information to provide control to 
the infrared device to be operated. 
Although a few preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and 
described, it can be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that 
changes may be made from this embodiment without departing from either the 
principles or the spirit of this invention and this invention should only 
be limited in scope by what is defined by the appended claims.