Translation module to facilitate control of TV using home network controller

A module interconnects a home network controller and a TV and translates signals from the controller into a non-infrared (IR) protocol understandable by the TV. The module is also useful to send software updates to the TV, and/or to query the TV for diagnostic information.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to translation modules to facilitate control of a TV using a home network controller.

BACKGROUND OF THIS INVENTION

It is desirable for custom installers of home entertainment systems to provide system-wide interfaces so that a user can easily and conveniently control system components using a single interface. For example, a system-wide control interface might be a touch-screen LCD controller that is capable of operating all components in a home theater such as lighting, curtains, TV, video disk player, audio video (AV) receiver, etc. Typically, however, each component may be designed with its own unique communication interface, e.g., infrared (IR) for a TV, RS-232 interfaces for other components, radiofrequency (RF) interfaces for yet other components, and so on.

Accordingly, a custom installer must use any and all of these interfaces to control a system or systems of disparate components within the home entertainment system. To control IR devices like a TV, add-on transmitters such as so-called “IR blasters” have been provided which are taped to the front of the TV and other components, an inelegant solution at best, since something has to be taped to the TV or other components with a wire visibly leading elsewhere. Also IR blasters are strictly a unidirectional communication scheme only. Communication electronic control (CEC)-enabled components alleviate some of the difficulties implicated by heterogeneity within the system but not all components are CEC-enabled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an interface module includes plural controller-side ports to one of which a home network controller may be connected, and plural TV-side ports to one of which a TV may be connected. If signals are received in a first protocol from a controller connected to one of the controller-side ports and the TV is connected to one of the TV-side ports requiring a second protocol different from the first protocol, the module translates the signals from the first protocol to the second protocol. The controller-side ports may include an Ethernet port, an RS-232 port, and a wired IR port (referring to a port receiving IR codes as electrical signals as opposed to optical signals). The controller-side ports may also include a radiofrequency (RF) transceiver module port that may be connected to a RF transceiver module, with a module output port of the controller being connectable to whichever of the controller-side ports matches the output port. Also, the TV-side ports may include a universal serial bus (USB) port and an Ethernet port, with a TV input port being connectable to whichever TV-side port matches the input port such that information is exchanged between the TV and controller through the module when the TV and controller are connected to the module.

An IR transmitter may be provided in some implementations to establish a TV-side port. Without limitation the RF transceiver port may receive input from a ZigBee® module, a Z-wave® module, or a radiofrequency for consumer electronics module.

In example implementations, should the controller employ an Ethernet protocol and correspondingly be connectable to the controller-side Ethernet port of the module, and the TV employ a USB protocol and correspondingly be connected to the TV-side USB port, the module translates Ethernet protocol commands from the controller to USB protocol commands that are conveyed to the TV. If both the controller and TV use Ethernet protocols, no translation is undertaken by the module. Signals from the TV back to the controller likewise are reverse-translated by the module.

Or, when the controller employs an RS-232 protocol and correspondingly is connected to the controller-side RS-232 port of the module, and the TV employs an Ethernet protocol and correspondingly is connected to the TV-side Ethernet port, the module translates RS-232 protocol commands from the controller to Ethernet protocol commands that are conveyed to the TV. On the other hand, when the controller employs an RS-232 protocol and the TV employs a USB protocol, the module translates RS-232 protocol commands from the controller to USB protocol commands that are conveyed to the TV.

Yet again, when the controller employs a wired IR protocol and correspondingly is connected to the controller-side wired IR port of the module, and the TV employs an Ethernet protocol and correspondingly is connected to the TV-side Ethernet port, the module translates wired IR protocol commands from the controller to Ethernet protocol commands that are conveyed to the TV. When the controller employs a wired IR protocol and the TV employs a USB protocol, the module translates wired IR protocol commands from the controller to USB protocol commands that are conveyed to the TV.

And still further, when the controller employs an RF protocol and correspondingly is connected to the controller-side RF port of the module, and the TV employs an Ethernet protocol and correspondingly is connected to the TV-side Ethernet port, the module translates RF protocol commands from the controller to Ethernet protocol commands that are conveyed to the TV. When the controller employs an RF protocol and the TV employs a USB protocol, the module translates RF protocol commands from the controller to USB protocol commands that are conveyed to the TV.

In some embodiments a control port is provided on the module for connection to a source of software upgrades to upgrade the software within the TV. A TV manufacturer service center can remotely contact the module via the control port and query the TV for diagnostic information.

In another aspect, an apparatus includes a microcontroller accessing plural controller-side ports and plural TV-side ports, and a tangible computer readable storage medium accessible to the microcontroller to enable the microcontroller to translate between a first protocol used by a home network controller and a non-infrared (IR) second protocol used by a TV to afford an installer of a home network the opportunity to control the TV by means other than only IR.

In another aspect, a method includes using a module to interconnect a home network controller and a TV, and using the module to translate signals from the controller into a non-infrared (IR) protocol understandable by the TV. The method also includes using the module to send software updates to the TV, and/or to query the TV for diagnostic information.

The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawing, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The FIGURE shows a home network10that includes one or more TVs12(only one TV12shown for clarity). The TV12includes a TV processor14accessing a computer readable storage medium16such as but not limited to solid state storage and/or disk-based storage to present TV signals on a TV display18, such as a flat panel LCD display or other type of matrix display or a plasma display or other suitable type of TV display. The signals are received through a TV tuner20that may be connected to or even contained in a set-top box, satellite receiver, terrestrial TV antenna, cable head end, etc.

The TV12typically includes a wireless receiver22such as an infrared receiver for receiving user command signals from a remote control24. Additionally, the TV12includes an auxiliary input port26that is connectable to at least one of the below-described TV-side ports of a translation module28.

The network10also includes a network controller30that in one non-limiting embodiment has a touch screen display32receiving user tactile input signals and sending the signals to a controller processor34accessing a computer readable medium36such as solid state and/or disk-based storage. A user may manipulate the controller30as appropriate to send control signals to other network components38such as but not limited to home theater systems, curtains, lights, disk players, etc., as well as to the TV12via the module28in accordance with disclosure below. To this end, the controller30has at least one module output port40connectable to at least one of the controller-side module ports described further below.

Indeed and turning now to the module28, as shown the module28includes plural controller-side ports and plural TV-side ports, so that a controller30may be connected to whatever controller-side port matches the communication protocol used by the controller30and likewise the TV12may be connected to whatever TV-side port matches the protocol used by the TV. In the embodiment shown, the controller-side ports include an Ethernet port42, an RS-232 port44, a wired IR port46, and a radiofrequency (RF) transceiver module port48that may be connected to a RF transceiver module50that may be implemented separately from or integrally with the module28. Without limitation the RF transceiver module50may be a ZigBee® module, a Z-wave® module, or a radiofrequency for consumer electronics module. The module output port40of the controller30is connected to whichever of the controller-side ports42,44,46,48/50matches the output port40so that the controller30sends and receives data through one of the controller-side ports.

The TV-side ports of the module28include, in the embodiment shown, a universal serial bus (USB) port52and an Ethernet port54. For legacy purposes an IR transmitter56may also be provided to establish a TV-side port. The TV input port26is connected to whichever TV-side port52,54,56matches the input port26.

Additionally, in example embodiments the module28may include a control port58such as a universal serial bus (USB) port. The control port58may be connected to a source60of software upgrades such as a USB memory device, e.g., a Sony Memory Stick®. Or, the source60may be the controller30itself, or the Internet.

In accordance with present principles, the module28includes a microcontroller60accessing a computer readable storage medium62such as random access memory (RAM) or flash memory to execute logic to translate control data protocol from the controller30via one of the controller-side ports to a protocol corresponding to the TV-side port to which the TV12is connected and understands. Thus, for example, if the controller30employs an Ethernet protocol and correspondingly is connected to the controller-side Ethernet port42of the module28, and the TV employs a USB protocol but not an Ethernet protocol and correspondingly is connected to the TV-side USB port52, the microcontroller60translates Ethernet protocol commands from the controller30to USB protocol commands that are conveyed to the TV12. Translation between protocols such as Ethernet-to-USB and vice-versa may be in accordance with principles in the art. If both the controller30and TV12use Ethernet protocols, no translation is required.

Likewise, if the controller30employs an RS-232 protocol and correspondingly is connected to the controller-side RS-232 port44of the module28, and the TV employs an Ethernet protocol and correspondingly is connected to the TV-side Ethernet port54, the microcontroller60translates RS-232 protocol commands from the controller30to Ethernet protocol commands that are conveyed to the TV12. Yet again, if the controller30employs an RS-232 protocol and the TV12employs a USB protocol, the microcontroller60translates RS-232 protocol commands from the controller30to USB protocol commands that are conveyed to the TV12.

It may now be readily appreciated that if the controller30employs a wired IR protocol and correspondingly is connected to the controller-side wired IR port46of the module28, and the TV employs an Ethernet protocol and correspondingly is connected to the TV-side Ethernet port54, the microcontroller60translates wired IR protocol commands from the controller30to Ethernet protocol commands that are conveyed to the TV12. Yet again, if the controller30employs a wired IR protocol and the TV12employs a USB protocol, the microcontroller60translates wired IR protocol commands from the controller30to USB protocol commands that are conveyed to the TV12.

If the controller30employs an RF protocol and correspondingly is connected to the controller-side RF port48of the module28, and the TV employs an Ethernet protocol and correspondingly is connected to the TV-side Ethernet port54, the microcontroller60translates RF protocol commands from the controller30to Ethernet protocol commands that are conveyed to the TV12. Yet again, if the controller30employs an RF protocol and the TV12employs a USB protocol, the microcontroller60translates RF protocol commands from the controller30to USB protocol commands that are conveyed to the TV12.

Similarly, TV signals are converted from their native protocol to the protocol corresponding to the controller-side port to which the controller30is connected.

As discussed above, the module28may also provide a means (e.g., the control port58connected to the upgrade source60) to upgrade the software within the TV12and/or module28to add functionality or capability. Using the control port58metadata and/or applications can be exchanged from the TV12to, e.g., the system controller30and vice versa.

As understood herein, the metadata exchange can accomplish a desired one of many purposes. For example, the module28can act as an agent between a remote network facility and the TV12. A TV manufacturer service center, for instance, can remotely contact the module28via the control port58and query the TV12for diagnostic information pertaining to a particular customer call. The service center may download a script or widget to the module28via the control port58and then the microcontroller60of the module28can execute the software to enable the module28to upload all the diagnostic information stored on the storage medium16of the TV12.

In another example, a network10installer may remotely connect to the module28via the control port58to download the latest configuration or calibration settings or upload the current configuration or calibration settings to determine if any changes are necessary.

In addition to using the control port58for upgrading/metadata exchange, the controller-side Ethernet port42may be connected to the Internet so that a remote terminal also communicating with the Internet can download updates and upload metadata such as diagnostic information.

Thus, the module28affords the custom installer the opportunity to control TVs by means other than just IR.

While the particular TRANSLATION MODULE TO FACILITATE CONTROL OF TV USING HOME NETWORK CONTROLLER is herein shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that the subject matter which is encompassed by the present invention is limited only by the claims.