Receiver module with dual mode capability

The present invention supports the remote control of a controlled device. A hybrid device receives a control signal over an infrared communications channel or a wireless networking channel. The hybrid device can replace an IR receiver module in the controlled device in order to provide backward compatibility as well as provide universal operation with a wireless networking controller. The hybrid device processes a signal received over one of the communications channels. When a signal is received over the infrared communications channel, the processor converts the signal to an output code that is sent to a device controller. When a signal is received over the wireless networking communications channel, the processor converts the signal to a wireless command, converts the wireless command to an output code, and sends the output code to the device controller. All output codes are transparent for the two communications channels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Television and audio/video devices are typically controlled remotely from a remote controller that operates in the infrared (IR) frequency range when a user enters a command. An infrared signal is typically modulated with a modulating signal at approximately 38 KHz. At the receiver side (i.e., at the controlled device), a receiver may be implemented as a metal sealed module with a built-in amplifier and a band pass filter for demodulation. The module typically provides a serial output with demodulated data to the controller of a controlled device (e.g., television or audio/visual device). The controller consequently controls the device in accordance with the command.

However, television and audio/video devices that are manufactured by different manufacturers are typically incompatible with different remote controllers. Even with remote controllers that can be programmed for devices of different manufacturers, a user is typically required to configure the remote controller for a specific device. Thus, there is a market need to provide a universal remote controller that facilitates operation over a spectrum of different manufacturers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides apparatuses, computer readable media, and methods for remotely controlling a controlled device. A hybrid device receives a control signal over an infrared communications channel or a wireless networking channel. The hybrid device can replace an IR receiver module in the controlled device in order to provide backward compatibility as well as provide universal operation with a wireless networking controller.

With another aspect of the invention, a hybrid device includes a first communications interface configured to support a first communications channel, a second communications interface configured to support a second communications channel, and processor to process a signal received over one of the communications channels. When a signal is received over the first communications channel, the processor converts the signal to an output code and sends the output code to a device controller to control a device. When a signal is received over the second communications channel, the processor converts the signal to a wireless command, converts the wireless command to an output code, and sends the output code to the device controller to control the device. All output codes are transparent for the first communications channel and the second communications channel.

With another aspect of the invention, the first communications interface supports an infrared channel and the second communications interface supports a wireless networking communications channel.

With another aspect of the invention, the second communications interface supports two-way communication between the hybrid device and a remote controller. The hybrid device provides a supported command list over the second communications channel to the remote controller.

With another aspect of the invention, the hybrid device and an infrared receiver module have the same hardware pin configuration so that a manufacturer can replace the IR receiver module with the hybrid device to provide compatibility with a wireless networking controller.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With an embodiment of the invention, a hybrid device receives a control signal over an infrared communications channel or a wireless networking channel. The hybrid device can replace an IR receiver module in the controlled device in order to provide backward compatibility as well as provide universal operation with a wireless networking controller.

FIG. 1shows a hybrid device100for controlling controlled device (not shown) in accordance with an embodiment. Hybrid module100comprises wireless networking processor101and infrared (IR) receiver103. With an embodiment, processor101comprises an EM250 ZigBee SoC manufactured by Ember, which is headquartered in Boston, Mass. The EM250 chip is a true ZigBee System-on-Chip that combines a 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.15.4 compliant radio transceiver with a powerful, efficient 16-bit XAP-2 microprocessor with comprehensive hardware supported network-level debugging features to simplify development.

Wireless networking processor101may include a wireless transmitter and receiver to support a two-way communications channel that supports a wireless technology. Wireless networking processor may include a built-in antenna to receive a wireless signal at the desired frequency.

According to an embodiment, low cost, hybrid device100includes low power two-way RF or wireless networking technology, e.g., ZigBee and Z-Wave, to provide networking capabilities to appliances, e.g., televisions and audio/visual (A/V) systems. (While wireless networks typically operate in the 800-900 MHz and the 2.4 GHz range, embodiments support other frequency spectra in the radio frequency, visible light and infrared spectra.) Embodiments facilitate TV and A/V manufacturers to move into wireless technology and to build the capability of wireless networking in their product. Furthermore, embodiments also provide compatibility with IR remote technology to provide backward compatibility.

Hybrid device100addresses the above considerations. With an embodiment, hybrid device100utilizes wireless networking technology to provide a supported command list back to a wireless networking remote controller over a two-way communications channel. With this approach, together with icon based color liquid crystal display (LCD) or organic light emitting diode (OLED) display remote unit, embodiments of the invention can support a truly universal remote controller.

With an embodiment, hybrid device100may send information other than the supported command list to the wireless networking remote controller. For example, hybrid device100may send the specification of the device, e.g., the resolution of the television and the current status of the controlled device, e.g., channel and sound level, to the remote controller for display.

FIG. 2shows system200in which controlled device203is controlled through hybrid device100over an infrared communications channel251or a wireless networking channel253by remote controller205in accordance with an embodiment. A control signal may be received from an IR remote controller (not shown) through IR interface209or from wireless networking remote controller205through wireless networking interface211.

An IR remote controller (not shown) sends an IR modulated signal over IR communications channel251in order to convey a command that is entered by a user. After demodulation by IR interface209, processor207processes the demodulated data and converts it to an output code. The output code is then sent to device controller in order to control device203(e.g., a television). As will be further discussed, the mapping of output codes to demodulated data is the same as with a traditional IR receiver module in order to provide backwards compatibility.

Moreover, for wireless network commands received from remote controller205over wireless networking communications channel253, a set of fixed commands may be used for different controlled devices (e.g., televisions and A/V equipment). Commands may be a single byte (8 bit, 0-255), two bytes (16 bit, 0-65535) or any number of bytes as required defined. For example, as shown in Table 1, wireless command codes may map to commands as follow:

Wireless networking remote controller205may be paired (matched) with the hybrid device100in order to control controlled device203. Once it is paired, hybrid device100may send the commands as defined with the command code and command description to the remote controller205. Wireless remote controller205can form the remote pattern based on the information sent by hybrid device100. The command description can be shown on top of the virtual key displayed by a LCD display in conjunction with a touch-sensing input. If there is no command description, the default command description can be used. However, with the command description, any special newly defined key not in the predefined list can be forwarded to remote controller205.

Once the connection between remote controller205and hybrid device100is established, a user can control device203through remote controller205with the same full keyboard functionality that device203supports with infrared operation. For example, if the user presses Key 0 on the wireless networking remote controller205, a command 0 is sent to hybrid device100. Processor207obtains the demodulated data for “Key 0” from wireless networking interface211and matches the demodulated data to the output code for “Key 0.” Processor207then sends the output code to device controller201. Processor207may match the demodulated data with the output code using a look-up table in memory213that contains the content of Table 1. Applying the same approach to all of the other keys, any key pressed by the wireless networking remote controller205to hybrid device100results in the same output code being sent to device controller201as when signal is sent over IR communications channel251from an IR remote controller. With the installation of hybrid device100, there is no need to change any of the hardware or firmware design of device controller201. Consequently, this approach may reduce the development cycle of television engineering to transform the existing television design into a wireless networking controlled television.

Wireless networking controller205only needs a standard set of commands for different devices (e.g., televisions and A/V equipment) that may be manufactured by different manufacturers. As will be discussed, transparency can be provided by properly configuring a receiver output table (e.g., Table 4). With embodiments of the invention, commands may be from a standard list of a wireless networking definition organization.

The following two examples exemplify aspects of the invention. For example, for brand A TV set, the IR demodulated code is specified as follows.

The association of wireless commands with command keys are as follow:

Combining the content of Tables 2 and 3, one can configure the receiver output table as shown in Table 4.

The receiver output table may be implemented in hybrid device100as a look-up table in memory213. For example, if processor207obtains wireless command 0x20 from a signal received over wireless networking communications253, processor207determines that the corresponding output code is 0x05 and sends command code 0x05 to device controller201. Device controller201consequently instructs device203to increase the volume (Volume Up).

As another example, with brand B TV, the IR demodulated code is specified as follows:

Combining the content of Tables 3 and 5, one configures the receiver output table as shown in Table 6.

For both brand A and brand B televisions, the wireless networked commands are the same but the output codes are different as reflected in different configurations of the receiver output table as implemented in hybrid device100. (One should note that different brand televisions have differently configured receiver output tables configured in corresponding hybrid devices.)

Memory213may include different forms of computer-readable media that can be accessed by processor207. Computer-readable media may comprise storage media and communication media. Storage media include volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, object code, data structures, program modules, or other data. Communication media include any information delivery media and typically embody data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism. With an embodiment, the receiver output table (e.g., Table 4 or 6) may be implemented as a look-up table in memory213. Also, processor207may execute a sequence of computer-executable instructions in memory207in order to process signals received over communication channels251and253.

FIG. 3shows flow diagram300for hybrid device100in accordance with an embodiment. If step301determines that a signal was received over IR communications channel251, then the signal is processed to determine the output code in step303. The output code is then sent to device controller201in step311. If step305determines that a signal was received over wireless networking communications channel253, then processor207processes the signal to obtain the corresponding wireless command in step307. Processor207then converts the corresponding wireless command to the output code in step309. Processor207may use a look-up table (e.g., corresponding to Table 4 or 6) to determine the conversion. The output code is then sent to the device controller in step311.

FIG. 4shows hardware pin configuration400for hybrid device100in accordance with an embodiment. Pin configuration400has the same pin configuration (output pin401, ground403, and Vcc405) as an infrared receiver module. Consequently, a manufacturer can replace the IR receiver module with hybrid device100in order to support wireless networking remote controller205without redesigning device controller201.

FIG. 5shows remote controller205in accordance with an embodiment. Processor501communicates with hybrid device100over wireless networking communications channel551through wireless network interface503.

Processor501interacts with a user through user interface505, which may display virtual keys based on the command list provided by hybrid device100over wireless networking communications channel551and obtain a user input by sensing the user touching a selected virtual key.

Memory507may include different forms of computer-readable media that can be accessed by processor501. Computer-readable media may comprise storage media and communication media. Storage media include volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, object code, data structures, program modules, or other data. Communication media include any information delivery media and typically embody data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism. Processor501may execute a sequence of computer-executable instructions in memory507in order to configure the virtual keys and to send command signals to hybrid device100.

As can be appreciated by one skilled in the art, a computer system with an associated computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling the computer system can be utilized to implement the exemplary embodiments that are disclosed herein. The computer system may include at least one computer such as a microprocessor, digital signal processor, and associated peripheral electronic circuitry.