Abstract:
A TV remote control is powered using RFID principles from an electric field generated by the TV and so the RC requires no batteries. The RC changes the ID field of the data packet it transmits based on what button was pushed so that a first button is associated with a first ID, a second button is associated with a second ID, and so on. In this way, only a single RFID tag need be provided in the RC.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present application is directed generally to RFID-based wireless TV remote controls without batteries that use variable IDs to convey commands. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    TV remote controls (RC) have been provided that use radiofrequency identification (RFID) principles to send commands from a TV RC to a TV. Passive RFID tags in the RC transmit data to the TV receiver through an electric field which is generated by the TV receiver. Typically, such RCs incorporate multiple RFID tags each corresponding to a particular button push, see, e.g., USPP 2008/0094181. As critically recognized herein, it is desirable to minimize the number of RFID tags that must be used in a RC. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    According to present principles, the “ID” field of the RFID tag in a RC changes based upon the particular key pressed of the user. In this way, only a single RFID tag need be incorporated in the RC. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, a TV remote control (RC) is powered using RFID principles from an electric field generated by a controlled component. The RC includes a housing containing no batteries and plural command elements on the housing and manipulable by a person. A processor receives signals indicating manipulation of a command element and establishes an ID field for a data packet based on what command element is indicated as having been manipulated. No more than two command elements are associated with the same ID such that at least a first command element is associated with a first ID and at least a second command element is associated with a second ID different from the first command element. One and only one RFID tag is in the RC to send the packet under control of the processor to the controlled component. 
         [0005]    In some embodiments each and every command element on the RC is associated with a unique ID different from IDs associated with other command elements. In other embodiments a pair of up/down command elements are associated with a single ID unique to the pair. In this latter embodiment the packet can include a data field indicating “up” or “down”. A computer readable storage medium can be in the RC and can be accessible to the processor for storing correlations between IDs and commands. 
         [0006]    In another aspect, a method includes powering, using an electric field generated by a component, a batteryless remote control (RC) having plural keys. At least first and second keys are associated with respective first and second IDs. The method includes receiving a first signal indicating manipulation of the first key and in response to receiving the first signal, configuring a first command packet to have the first ID and a data field. The first command packet is sent to the component to cause the component to execute a command associated with the first command packet. The method further includes receiving a second signal indicating manipulation of the second key and in response to receiving the second signal, configuring a second command packet to have the second ID and a data field. The second command packet is sent to the component to cause the component to execute a command associated with the second command packet. 
         [0007]    In another aspect, a system includes a component to be controlled and an RFID reader assembly in the component to be controlled and generating an electric field. The system further includes a portable remote control (RC) powered by the electric field. Plural command elements are on the RC. In response to manipulation of a command element, a data packet is generated in the RC with an ID field correlated to the command element such that an ID in the ID field depends on what command element is manipulated, such that at least a first command element is associated with a first ID and at least a second command element is associated with a second ID different from the first command element. An RFID tag is in the RC for sending the packet to the controlled component. 
         [0008]    The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an example system in accordance with present principles; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of an example RC RFID data packet; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart of example set up logic; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart of example operating logic. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0013]    Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , a component to be controlled by a remote control (RC) may be instantiated in one implementation by a TV  10  with TV chassis  12  bearing a TV display  14  presenting demanded images under control of a TV processor  16 . The TV processor  16  accesses a tangible computer readable medium  18  such as solid state or disk-based storage to obtain data and to execute code stored on the medium  18 . A TV tuner  20  may also be supported on the chassis  12 . 
         [0014]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , an RFID reader assembly  22  is supported in the chassis  12  or dangles therefrom, but in any case communicates with the TV processor  16 . The RFID reader assembly  22  includes, among other components, an RFID reader and an RFID electric field generator. An RFID antenna  24  may communicate with the RFID reader assembly  22 . 
         [0015]    The electric field generated by the RFID reader assembly  22  powers a remote control (RC)  26  that is sufficiently near the TV  10  such that the RC  26  need contain no battery to function. The RC  26  includes a portable hand-held housing  28  typically holding an RC processor  30  accessing a tangible computer readable storage medium  32  containing data and/or code executable by the RC processor  30 . Also, the RC  26  includes an RFID tag  34  and preferably includes one and only one RFID tag  34  for receiving power from the electric field generated by the RFID reader assembly  22  and for sending RF signals to the RFID reader assembly  22  in accordance with further description below. 
         [0016]    Typically, multiple command elements such as buttons or keys are disposed on the RC housing  28  and can be manipulated by a person to generate commands for execution thereof by the TV processor  16 . In the example non-limiting embodiment shown, volume control up/down keys  36  are provided on the RC as are channel up/down keys  38 . An enter key  40  may also be provided. Other keys may be provided as desired. 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  shows a data packet  42  that is generated by the RC  26  when a key is manipulated. The data packet  42  is sent using RFID principles by the RFID tag  34  to the RFID reader assembly  22  in the TV  10 . 
         [0018]    As shown, the data packet  42  may include a preamble  44  to alert the RFID reader assembly  22  that a command is incoming. The data packet  42  includes an ID field  46  which is the field that conventionally uniquely identifies the RFID tag  34 , but that is used differently in accordance with principles below. A data field  48  may follow the ID field  46 . As set forth further below, the data field  48  may simply include a single bit meaning that the packet  42  represents a command, or it may include a binary one or zero indicating one of two binary states in some implementations, as explained further below. 
         [0019]    Now referring to  FIG. 3 , at block  50  ID-key pairs are established, typically by the manufacturer of the TV  10 /RC  26 . Specifically, in one embodiment, each key  36 - 40  shown on the RC  26  in  FIG. 1  is associated with a respective ID. Thus, in this first embodiment each ID indicates a specific command, e.g., channel up, channel down, volume up, volume down, enter. In another embodiment each key pair  36 ,  38  is associated with a respective ID. Thus, in this second embodiment first and second IDs indicate a channel change or a volume change respectively, and a third ID may indicate “enter”. In this second embodiment the data field  48  binary value is established to indicate the direction of the change. The TV  10  and RC  26  are programmed with the ID-to-key correlations at block  52 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 4  illustrates example operating logic. Commencing at block  54 , a key manipulation is received by the RC processor  30 . Moving to block  56 , the RC processor  30  accesses the RC medium  32  to determine the ID corresponding to the manipulated key. A command packet such as the packet  42  in  FIG. 2  is configured accordingly at block  58 . 
         [0021]    In the first embodiment described above in which every key is correlated to a unique ID, the ID field  46  contains that ID. The data field  48  may be empty or may simply include a dummy signal indicating that the command is active or otherwise in existence, but in any case the data field may be identical for every command regardless of ID. 
         [0022]    On the other hand, in the second embodiment described above in which up/down key pairs are associated with a single ID between them, if the keystroke is one of a pair of keys the ID field  46  contains the ID associated with that pair. The data field  48  then contains a signal, potentially binary only, indicating which key in the pair was manipulated and, thus, which of the two commands associated with ID is to be executed. A binary “zero” for instance can indicate “down” while a binary “one” can indicate “up”. 
         [0023]    In any case, the packet is sent by the RC  26  at block  60  and read by the TV  10  at block  62 . At block  64  in the first embodiment the ID is extracted from the ID field  46  and correlated to the corresponding command at block  66 . For instance, a particular ID might be correlated to “change volume up one setting”. In contrast, at block  64  in the second embodiment the ID is extracted from the ID field and, if it represents a pair of keys, the binary information is extracted from the data field  48 . Then, at block  66  the ID is correlated to a command, e.g., “change volume”, and the binary data from the data field is correlated to a command direction, e.g., “up”. The command is executed at block  68 . 
         [0024]    While the particular RFID-BASED WIRELESS REMOTE CONTROL USING VARIABLE ID FIELD 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.