Abstract:
The present invention is a method for associating remote controls and televisions. More specifically, the present invention permits delivery of television programming to multiple televisions from a television converter device. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 10/655,641, filed Sep. 5, 2003, titled METHOD AND APPARATUS TO PAIR A REMOTE CONTROL AND A TELEVISION, which application was converted to Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/651,481 under 37 C.F.R.§1.53(c)(2) on Feb. 2, 2004, which application is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to remote controls used with television converter devices. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for pairing several remote controls with several televisions. The televisions being supplied signals from one television converter having several channel selecting resources. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The prior art includes various devices that can receive television signals. These devices may be provided to subscribers of a pay television service. A pay television service may involve, in part, a pay television distributor transmitting television signals to a group of subscribers. Cable television companies are common pay television distributors. More recently, satellite television distributors have begun providing pay television service. 
     Many television converters may send television signals to a single television. More recent television converters may send television signals to several televisions. Each of these separate televisions may use a remote control. Thus, a single television converter may accept commands from several remote controls where each remote control controls the content sent to a specific television. 
     The remote controls may have two functions. First, the remote control may control the television. For instance, the remote control may turn the television on or off and adjust the volume. Second, the same remote control may change channels and command other operations of the television converter such as trick mode functions, EPG navigation, and the display and operation of various menus. Changing the channel may require the remote to operate the television converter. Therefore, the remote control may operate two separate electronic devices—the television and the television converter. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a method for associating a remote control with a television or televisions that they operate. 
     The present invention further provides the user with a method of identifying and associating a remote control with a television. 
     In addition, the present invention provides for an electronic identifier for each remote control. The identifier helps the television converter determine which remote control is associated with which tuner. Thus, the television converter may use the identifier to pair the remote control with a certain television. 
     In particular, the invention is a method for using visual or tactile indicia to identify which remote controls are associated with which televisions. The present invention also includes a method for electronically associating a remote control with a television. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a home entertainment system utilizing a television converter in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a functional block diagram of the logical elements of an embodiment of a television converter in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates one embodiment of the method for attaching visual indicia to remote controls in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates one embodiment of the method for associating remote controls with televisions in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates one embodiment of pattern-like visual indicia in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates one embodiment of alphanumeric visual indicia in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates one embodiment of user created visual indicia in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates one embodiment of combined alphanumeric and pattern-like visual indicia in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates one embodiment of three-dimensionally raised indicia that is both visual and tactile in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates one embodiment of Braille indicia for the seeing-impaired in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates an embodiment for mechanically securing the visual indicia to a remote control. 
         FIG. 12  shows another embodiment of the visual indicia. 
         FIG. 13  shows yet another embodiment of the visual indicia. 
         FIG. 14  shows several embodiments of remote controls distinguishable by shape. 
         FIG. 15  illustrates yet another embodiment of a satellite set top box. 
         FIG. 16  illustrates a method of independently delivering television programming to televisions connected to a set top box. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In this specification, the present invention will be described using methods and systems related to subscriber satellite television service. This specific description is not meant to limit the invention to that one embodiment. The present invention may also be applicable to cable television systems, broadcast television systems or other television systems. The present invention is also described in terms of digital video recording (DVR) devices. The present invention may also be applicable to digital-versatile-disc (DVD) recording devices or other television recording devices. One skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention can apply elsewhere. 
     As a general matter, the disclosure uses the term “signal.” One skilled in the art will recognize that the signal may be any digital or analog signal. Those signals may include, but are not limited to, a bit, a specified set of bits, an A/C signal, or a D/C signal. Uses of the term “signal” in the description may include any of these different interpretations. It will also be understood to one skilled in the art that the term “connected” is not limited to a physical connection but can refer to any means of communicatively or operatively coupling two devices. 
     As another general matter, the disclosure uses the terms “television converter,” “receiver,” “set-top-box,” “television receiving device,” “television receiver,” “television recording device,” “satellite set-top-box,” “satellite receiver,” “cable set-top-box,” “cable receiver,” and “television tuner” to refer interchangeably to a converter device or electronic equipment that has the capacity to acquire, process and distribute one or more television signals transmitted by broadcast, cable, telephone or satellite distributors. “Digital video recorder (DVR)” and “personal video recorder (PVR)” refer interchangeably to devices that can digitally record and play back television signals and that may implement trick functions including, but not limited to, fast-forward, rewind and pause. As set forth in this specification and the figures pertaining thereto, DVR and PVR functionality or devices may be combined with a television converter. The signals transmitted by these broadcast, cable, telephone or satellite distributors may include, individually or in any combination, internet, radio, television or telephonic data or information. One skilled in the art will recognize that a television converter device may be implemented as an external self-enclosed unit, a plurality of external self-enclosed units or as an internal unit housed within a television. One skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention can apply to analog and digital satellite set-top-boxes. 
     As yet another general matter, it will be understood by one skilled in the art that the term “television” refers to a television set or video display that may contain an integrated television converter device (e.g., an internal cable-ready television tuner housed inside a television) or, alternatively, that is connected to an external television converter device (e.g., an external set-top-box connected via cabling to a television). A further example of an external television converter device is the EchoStar Dish PVR 721, Part Number 106525, combination satellite set-top-box and PVR. For the remainder of this disclosure, specific embodiments will be described using a television converter device that implements satellite technology. 
     Finally, as a general matter, it should be understood that satellite television signals may be very different from broadcast television or other types of signals. Satellite signals may include multiplexed, packetized, and modulated digital signals. Once multiplexed, packetized and modulated, one analog satellite transmission may carry digital data representing several television stations or service providers. Some examples of service providers include HBO™, CSPAN™, ABC™, CBS™, or ESPN™. In satellite television, a service provider can also be compared to a “channel.” 
     The term “channel,” as used in this description, carries a different meaning from its normal connotation. In broadcast television, different analog signals of a television station may be carried on a carrier frequency and its sub-channels. A tuner in a television may then acquire and process these signals. In broadcast television, the term channel has thus become synonymous with the sub-channel or the station on that sub-channel. The normal connotation of the term “channel” is therefore not always appropriate to describe satellite television transmissions where multiple stations may be multiplexed onto a single carrier frequency. Satellite television distributors, however, may organize the satellite data into a group of different “virtual channels.” These virtual channels give the impression that the satellite television programs (the service providers) are placed in channels. This impression may assist user operation of the satellite set-top-box since it models an analog television or analog receiving device. The virtual channels may appear in the electronic program guide (EPG) data and the user may choose programming by selecting a virtual channel. For instance, the user can select HBO, which may be on virtual channel  300 , or CSPAN, which may be on virtual channel  210 . These service providers or virtual channels are not necessarily carried in the same signal being sent from the same satellite. EPG data may come from a service provider (e.g., HBO), content provider (e.g., Disney), a third party (e.g., TV Guide) or from another outside entity. 
     Thus, in satellite television service a channel may not be the same as in broadcast television service. Rather, channels may be more properly termed service providers in satellite television service. The term “channel” will be used in this description to describe the service providers and the virtual channels they may occupy. 
       FIG. 1  presents an embodiment of a home entertainment system  102  that includes a television converter device  100  in the form of a satellite set-top-box. Generally, the satellite set-top-box  100  may receive one or more television signals from a cable television distributor (not shown), from a broadcast television distributor (not shown) or from a satellite television distributor  104 . As a preferred embodiment, home entertainment system  102  receives signals from satellite television distributor  104 . One skilled in the art will recognize that set-top-box  100  may also receive video-digital subscriber line (DSL), DSL, Internet, wireless and other signals from content or video distributors. The satellite set-top-box  100  may process television signals and may send the processed signals to peripheral electronic devices, such as a televisions  120 ,  132 . The satellite set-top-box  100  also may accept commands from remote controls  126 ,  134  or other peripheral electronic devices. More detail about the functionality of the satellite set-top-box  100  is provided below. 
     To further describe the home entertainment system, embodiments relating to receiving satellite television signals will be explained in more detail. A satellite television distributor  104  may transmit one or more satellite television signals  128  to one or more satellites  106 . Satellite television distributors may utilize several satellites  106  to relay the satellite television signals to a subscriber. Each satellite  106  may have several transponders. Transponders transmit the signal  130  from the satellite to the subscriber. For example, these signals  130  may be transmitted at a frequency of 2150 Mhz. 
     A transponder may also polarize the transmitted signal  130  in several ways. One form of polarization in satellite transmissions is circular polarization. For example, transponders of satellite  106  may transmit two signals (together as signal  130 ) on the same transponder, one signal that is right-hand polarized and another signal that is left-hand polarized. In other words, two signals may be simultaneously transmitted with opposite polarizations. The opposite polarizations may prevent interference. One skilled in the art will recognize that other ways of polarizing signals are possible. 
     The polarized signals can be received at satellite communication device  108 . The satellite communication device  108  may include one or more of the components that follow. One component of satellite communication device  108  may be a satellite dish. A satellite dish can focus the signal on one or more low-noise block filters (LNBF), also referred to as low-noise block down converters (LNBDC). The LNBFs may de-polarize and initially process the signal. This initial processing may include filtering noise from the signal and down-converting the signal. Down-conversion is sometimes required to transmit the signal  110  through certain cables, such as coaxial cables. The signal  110  arrives at the television converter device  100  via cabling. One skilled in the art will recognize that other methods and other systems of delivering the satellite signal  110  to the satellite set-top-box  100  may be possible. 
     In embodiments of the present invention, the satellite set top box  100  may be connected to two televisions  120  and  132 . One skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention may also apply to a home entertainment system  102  containing three or more televisions. In one embodiment, the user may instruct, with the remote control  126  or  134 , the satellite set top box  100  to display a television program. The selected television program may then be transmitted to the corresponding television  120  or  132  in response to this user command. The television display devices  120  and  132  may be any devices capable of projecting a television program. These devices may include televisions, high definition televisions, computer monitors, or projection television systems. One skilled in the art will recognize that other television display devices are possible. 
     The two televisions  120  and  132  may be collocated in the same room or in different rooms of a building. Regardless of their location, the one satellite set top box  100  may supply television signals to each television  120  and  132 . Each of these televisions  120  and  132  may use a different remote control. The first television  120  may use one remote control  126 . The second television  132  may use a different remote control  134 . Either remote control  126  and  134  may send operating commands to the remote control interface  118 . The remote control interface  118  may recognize that the first remote control  126  may be used only with the first television  120  and the second remote control  134  may be used only with the second television  132 . The remote controls  126  and  134  may not be interchangeable. One skilled in the art will recognize the three or more remote controls are also possible in home entertainment system  102 . 
     If the user is unable to differentiate between the remote controls, he or she may try to operate a television  120  using the wrong remote control  134 . Thus, in embodiments of the present invention, some indicia on the remote control may associate the remote control with its respective television. A second matching indicia may also be placed on the television. The different indicia are explained later. Thus, in one embodiment of the present invention, the user may verify that a remote control is associated with a certain television by checking whether the indicia on the remote control matches the indicia on the television. One skilled in the art will recognize that more than two televisions may be connected to the satellite set top box  100 . In this situation, the problem and need for the indicia may become more important. 
       FIG. 2  provides a high level block diagram for the satellite television converter device  100 ,  200  with DVR functionality in accordance with the present invention. 
     The signal  110 ,  204  that arrives at the satellite set top box  200  may undergo extensive processing. The television converter  200  may include one or more tuner devices  206 ,  246  that may receive a satellite signal  204 . In this embodiment, tuner devices  206 ,  246  acquire a satellite signal  204  from satellite television distributor  104 . Tuner devices  206  and  246  may initially process the satellite signal  204 . Tuner devices  206  and  246  may also receive subscriber commands in the form of signals from control electronics unit  202 . Signals from control electronics unit  202  may include, but is not limited to, a signal to tune to a transponder as part of the process of selecting a certain channel for viewing on a peripheral device. One skilled in the art would recognize that the tuner devices  206  and  246  may include fewer, more, or different components. In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the two tuners  206  and  246  may receive the same signal  204 . One skilled in the art will recognize that tuners may receive different signals, including, but not limited to, two separate signals from two satellites. The first tuner  206  may supply television signals to the first television  230 . The second tuner  246  may supply the second television  244 . Both tuners  206  and  246  can function separately and independently. Commands sent to one tuner may not affect the other tuner. Thus, while each tuner is housed in the same satellite set top box  100 , the satellite set top box  100  may send different television signals to two or more televisions. One skilled in the art will recognize that many ways of tuning television signals are possible, including, but not limited to, band-stacking signals into frequency bands of a single signal. 
     After receiving the signal  204 , one of the first steps may be to demodulate  208  the signal  204 . The signal  204  may arrive as an analog signal that “carries” data (e.g., data is modulated onto the analog signal). Demodulation  208  may be accomplished by reversing the modulation process. Modulation can be done in several ways. Modulation may include amplitude modulation (AM) or frequency modulation (FM). If the carried data is digital, modulation methods include, but are not limited to, biphase-shift keying (BPSK), quadraphase-shift keying (QPSK), or eight-phase shift keying (8PSK). One skilled in the art will recognize that other methods of modulating and demodulating the signal  204  may be possible. Another one of the first steps may also be to error check  208  signal  204 . One example of error checking  208  is forward error checking (FEC). FEC  208  may include, but is not limited to, inspecting parity bit or bits that may accompany signal  204 . One skilled in the art will recognize that many methods for error checking are possible. For the purposes of discussion, an embodiment using digital data will be discussed below. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that systems with analog data or combined analog and digital data are also possible and contemplated herein. One skilled in the art will also recognize that demodulation and FEC unit  208  may accomplish other functions, including, but not limited to, bandstacking two or more signals received by two or more tuners  206 ,  246 . 
     In this embodiment, satellite set-top-box  200  contains control electronics unit  202  that receives satellite signal  204 . One skilled in the art will recognize that control electronics  202  may receive other signals, including, but not limited to, signals from a cable or broadcast television distributor. One example of a control electronics unit  202  is the STMicroelectronics STi5517 Low-Cost Interactive Set-top Box Decoder, Part No. 7424736A. In a preferred embodiment, control electronics unit  202  includes discrete electronic components combined into a single circuit with a shared bus  210 . In other embodiments, control electronics unit  202  may be configured differently. For example, one or more of the control electronics unit  202  components in set-top-box  200  may be combined or omitted. The control electronics unit  202  may use a custom ASIC, such as from the LSILogic G11 family, or FPGA, such as from the Altera Stratix™ family. As a further example, one or more of the control electronics unit  202  components in set-top-box  200  may not share a bus  210 , but may nonetheless be operatively connected by some other means. One skilled in the art will recognize that other configurations of set-top-box  200  and control electronics unit  202  are possible and within the scope of this invention. One skilled in the art will further recognize that some components of set-top-box  200  and control electronics unit  202  may be implemented in hardware or software. The control electronics unit  202  may operate under the control of a software program, firmware program, or some other program stored in memory or control logic. One skilled in the art will also recognize that the control electronics unit  202  may include other electronic components or structures to mediate or process signals. 
     Control electronics unit  202  may contain one or more central-processing-units (CPUs)  212  or processors. A preferred embodiment of control electronics unit  202  contains a single CPU  212  that is operatively connected to the shared bus. In one embodiment, CPU  212  may be used, among other things, for logical operations for set-top-box  200  functions including, but not limited to, channel selection, recording control, EPG display and control and system maintenance. Examples of commercially available CPUs  212  include the STMicroelectronics Enhanced ST20 32-bit VL-RISC, Motorola 68000 or Intel Pentium processors. One skilled in the art will recognize that the CPU  212  may be integrated with memory or other discrete electronics components. 
     Control electronics unit  202  may also contain one or more volatile memory components  214 . Volatile memory components  214  may include, but are not limited to, one or more SDRAM memory chips. Similarly, control electronics unit  202  may contain non-volatile memory components  216 . Non-volatile memory  216  may include one or more memory chips, including, but not limited to, ROM, SRAM, SDRAM and Flash ROM. One skilled in the art will recognize that volatile memory  214  and non-volatile memory  216  may be integrated within other electronics components. One skilled in the art will also recognize that other memory components may be included within set-top-box  200  and control electronics unit  202 . One skilled in the art will recognize that memory  214 ,  216  may be used for many purposes, including, but not limited to, storing EPG data and storing data for use by CPU  212 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, signal  204  is in digital form (e.g., a digital stream) after demodulation and error checking. For example, digital stream  204  may use, but is not limited to using, the digital video broadcasting (DVB) transport standard. The digital stream  204  may be multiplexed and therefore require demultiplexing by XPORT Engine  222 . Demultiplexing, or demuxing, may include separating the bits of data into separate digital data streams. The digital streams may be packetized. Thus, the multiplexing of the separate digital data streams may not be bit-by-bit but packet-by-packet. The packet size may vary or may be constant. After demuxing  222  the packets, the separate digital data streams may be reassembled by placing related packets together in a continuous data stream  204 . 
     Each of the separate digital data streams may also be encoded. Encoding is a method for representing data. Encoding may allow the data to be compressed. Compression can provide the system with increased bandwidth. One skilled in the art will recognize that several different encoding formats are possible. In satellite television, encoding formats may include the MPEG or MPEG2 standards. Beyond the raw data, the separate digital data streams may include forward error correction, headers, checksums, or other information. All of this different information may be included in the digital television signal  204  processed by the satellite set-top-box  100 . Control electronics unit  202  may therefore include one or more video processing units  218  that, among other video processing operations, may decode encoded signal  204 . In a preferred embodiment, video processing unit  218  may include, but is not limited to, a graphics processor, MPEG-2 decoder and a display compositor with separate on-screen display (OSD) control for peripheral devices. One skilled in the art will recognize that video processing unit  218  may also include other electronics, including, but not limited to, alpha blending, antialiasing, antiflutter and antiflicker filters, memory and video-rendering components. 
     Another discrete electronic component of control electronics unit  202  may be a video encoder unit  220 . Video encoder unit  220  may work in combination with or independently from video processing unit  218 . Video encoding unit  220  may encode digital stream  204  for output to one or more peripheral devices, including, but not limited to, a television. For example, video encoding unit  220  may encode digital stream  204  for RGB, CVBS, Y/C and YUV outputs. Encoding may allow program data to be compressed. As a preferred embodiment, video encoder  220  may translate digital stream into a signal using the NTSC, PAL or SECAM standards. One skilled in the art will recognize that video encoder unit  220  may include other functionality, may be integrated into other electronic components of satellite set-top-box  200 , and may encode digital stream  204  using other standards, including, but not limited to, MPEG and MPEG2. 
     Control electronics unit  202  may also include one or more hard drive interfaces  226  and hard drives  232 . In a preferred embodiment, television converter device  200  contains one hard drive interface  226  and hard drive  232 . Hard drive  232  may be used for many purposes, including, but not limited to, storing recorded programs, buffering currently-playing programs (e.g., buffering a program may allow a user to pause or rewind a program), storing EPG data, storing commands or functions for the control electronics unit  202 , storing timers or record events, and storing data for other devices within or connected to the satellite set-top-box  200 . As another example, hard drive  232  may be used to temporarily store data for processing by CPU  212 . In this example, the hard drive  232  may allow the processor  212  to separate EPG data arriving as part of digital stream  208 . One skilled in the art will recognize that other storage devices and interfaces may be substituted for hard drive interface  226  and hard drive  232  and are within the scope of this invention. One skilled in the art will also recognize that hard drive interface  226  and hard drive  232  may separately or together include an integrated memory (e.g., a memory buffer, commonly known referred to as cache) and additional processing components or logic. One skilled in the art will also recognize that hard drive interface  226  may be integrated into peripheral interface  224  (described below). Finally, one skilled in the art will recognize that hard drive  232  may be external and connected to satellite set-top-box  200 . For example, an external hard drive  232  may be connected to satellite set-top-box  200  using USB  2 . 0  or IEEE 1394 (FireWire) connections. Such an external hard drive may include a screen for portable viewing of programming stored on it. 
     An audio processing unit  228  may also be part of the control electronics unit  202 . Audio processing unit  228  may decode the digital stream  204  for output to peripheral devices, including, but not limited to, a stereo, television speakers or portable audio or video players. For example, audio processing unit  228  may decode MPEG-1 layers I/II and layer III, Dolby Digital, Dolby ProLogic, SRS/TruSurround encoded audio in digital stream  204 . Audio processing unit  228  may include one or more processors, memory components or digital to audio converter (DAC) systems. One skilled in the art will recognize that other audio processing components and functionality may be accomplished using audio processing unit  228 . 
     A satellite set-top-box  200  may be connected to one or more peripheral electronic devices through peripheral interface  224 . These peripheral devices may include a stereo (not shown), television  230 , smart card  236 , VCR (not shown), or other devices. In a preferred embodiment, home entertainment system  102  minimally contains, but is not limited to, a television  230  and smart card  236 . Television  230  may serve many purposes, including, but not limited to, displaying television programming, displaying the EPG, displaying timer conflicts, and displaying other types of data, graphics and programming. Peripheral devices may receive and/or send signals from the satellite set-top-box  200 . For instance, the television  230  may receive video and audio signals and a stereo may receive only audio signals. A camcorder (not shown), on the other hand, may send video or audio signals to the satellite set-top-box  100  or receive audio and video signals from the set-top-box to record. As another example, peripheral interface  224  may include a processor or other electronic components to permit an interface to content security devices such as an external “smart card.” In this example, peripheral interface  224  may then encrypt or decrypt content for output to other peripheral devices. Thus, peripheral interface  224  may perform one or more functions for multiple peripheral devices, including, but not limited to, the synchronous or asynchronous transfer of data between different peripheral devices (e.g., decrypting content using a smart card peripheral device and outputting decrypted content to a television at the same time). One skilled in the art will recognize that the peripheral devices may include many types of commercially available electronic devices. 
     As set forth in the preferred embodiment, home entertainment system  102  may also include remote control  126 ,  134 ,  234 ,  242  peripheral devices, also sometimes referred to as a remotes. The remote controls  234 ,  242  may be used to send commands to the satellite set-top-box  200 . The remote controls  234 ,  242  may send commands via a wireless connection using, for example, infrared or UHF transmitters within the remote control  234 ,  242 . One example of an embodiment of a remote controller  234 ,  242  is the EchoStar Technologies Corporation 721 Platinum Plus Remote, Part Number 121150, that includes an IR transmitter and an ultra high frequency (UHF) transmitter. The remote controls  234 ,  242  may be able to send signals to other peripheral electronic devices that form part of the home entertainment system  102 , including, but not limited to, a television, stereo, VCR, or DVD player. The set-top-box  200  may also be able to send signals to remote controls  234 ,  242 , including, but not limited to, signals to configure the remote controls  234 ,  242  to operate other peripheral devices in home entertainment system  102 . In some embodiments, the remote controls  234 ,  242  have a set of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). Some remote controls may include Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) or other screens. The remote controls may include buttons, dials, or other man-machine interfaces. While the remote controls  234 ,  242  may often be the common means for a subscriber to communicate with the satellite set-top-box  200 , one skilled in the art will recognize that other means of communicating with the set-top-box  200  are available, including, but not limited to attached keyboards, front panel buttons or touch screens. 
     The satellite set-top-box  200  may also include a remote control interface  238 . A remote control interface  238  may include any means for the user to communicate to the satellite set-top-box  200 , and may be implemented using the peripheral interface  224  of control electronics unit  202  or by connecting a peripheral remote control interface device. In a preferred embodiment, a remote control interface may receive commands from one or more different remote controls  234 ,  242 . Remote controls  234 ,  242  may use infrared, UHF, or other communications technology. The remote control interface  238  may therefore translate an input from the user into a format understandable by the control electronics unit  202 . The translation systems may include, but are not limited to, electronic receivers and electronic relays. One skilled in the art will recognize that other means to receive and translate user inputs are possible. 
     The remote controls  234  and  242  may each have a separate identifier. In one embodiment, this identifier is an electronic signal that is specific to that remote control. The electronic signal may be analog or digital. An analog identifier may be a signal of a specific frequency, a specific amplitude, or specific waveform. In digital form, the signal may be a bit or set of bits that represent a code specific to the remote control  234  or  242 . The electronic signal may be associated with a certain tuner  206 ,  246 . In other words, the control electronics  202  may store a data table or similar data structure that associates each remote control&#39;s identifier to certain tuners  206 ,  246  and televisions  230 ,  244 . Thus, the data table may indirectly correlate remote controls  124 ,  126  to televisions  120 ,  122 . The remote control interface  238  or the control electronics  202  may recognize the signal coming from a certain remote control  234  or  242 . After recognizing the source, the control electronics  202  may correlate the signal with a television  230  and  242  and send channel selection commands to the appropriate tuner  206  or  246 . 
     Another peripheral device and connection to the satellite set-top-box  200  may include a phone line (not shown) and modem (not shown). Set-top-box  200  may use a modem and phone line to communicate with one or more outside entities or systems (e.g., satellite television distributor  104 ). The phone line may carry local or long-distance telephone service. One skilled in the art will recognize that the phone line may also carry other services, including, but not limited to, DSL service. These communications may include requesting pay-per-view programming, reporting of purchases (for example, pay-per-view purchases), obtaining updates to subscriber programming (e.g., updating EPG data), or receiving updates to software on the satellite set-top-box  200 . For example, the phone line may communicate with the satellite set-top-box  200  using an RJ-11 style telephone connection. One skilled in the art will recognize that there are many other uses for this phone line connection. For example, EPG data may be transmitted to set-top-box  200  via phone line or in the satellite signal  204 . One skilled in the art will recognize that the EPG data may be transmitted to set-top-box  200  by various other methods, systems and outside entities. Also, one skilled in the art will recognize that a phone line connection to satellite distributor  104  may represent other communication connections, including, but not limited to, wireless, Internet, or microwave communications connections. Another function of the phone line may be to periodically receive the EPG data. 
       FIG. 3  describes one embodiment of a method  300  for associating visual indicia with a remote control and television. In accordance with method  300 , the user may make a connection  302  between the first television  230  and the satellite set top box  200 . In more detail, the connection  302  may be made by the peripheral interface  224  of the satellite set top box  200  to the first tuner  206 . The second television  244  may be connected  304  to the peripheral interface  224  in the satellite set top box  200  and, in turn, the second tuner  246 . Thus, two televisions  230  and  244  can be connected to the two tuners  206  and  246  in the same satellite set top box  200 . Thus, operating the control electronics  202  may change the channel being delivered to the first television  230  by the peripheral interface  224  and likewise, the control electronics  202  may change the channel on the second television  244 . It should be noted that channel selection may involve not only tuning but demodulation and demultiplexing. 
     The satellite set top box  200  may associate each television with a tuner. Also, the satellite set top box  200  may associate each remote control with a television output. Thus, the tuner may be associated  306 ,  308  with the remote control, and the remote control may be indirectly associated with the television. Each television  230  and  244  may have a remote control  234  and  242 . The remote control  234  or  242  may operate the television  230  or  244  and also operate the tuners  206  or  246  in the satellite set top box  200 . By sending wireless signals to the television  230 , the remote control  234  may turn the television  230  on or off and adjust the volume. Sending commands to the set top box  200  may change the channel. With multiple televisions, there may also be multiple remote controls, all associated to their respective televisions. This embodiment is explained in more detail in  FIG. 4 . 
     In addition to associating  306 ,  308  the remote controls  234  and  242 , visual indicia may be created  310 ,  312  to associate the remote controls with their respective televisions. Visual indicia may be created by the user or by the supplier of the satellite set top box  200  and provided with the satellite set top box  200 . For instance, the visual indicia may be a set of stickers included with the satellite set top box  200 . In other embodiments, the visual indicia may require the user to make a print out on a home computer. One skilled in the art will recognize that other methods of creating visual indicia are possible. 
     Visual indicia for each remote control  234  or  242  associated with a television  230  or  244  may be created. The indicia may be different. The difference may help the user distinguish between the several indicia. A difference may mean the indicia are different colors or the visual pattern is different. One skilled in the art will recognize that the possible differences between indicia may be varied and abundant. 
     The first indicia may be attached  314 ,  316  to the first remote control  234 . In like manner, the second indicia may be attached to the second remote control  242 . Attaching the indicia may be done in several ways. For example, the visual indicia may be stickers and, in this embodiment, the stickers may be peeled off a contact sheet and stuck to the remote control  234  or  242 . In another embodiment, the indicia may be mechanically attached. Mechanical attachment may encompass any method of securing the indicia to the remote control  234  or  242  with a mechanical apparatus. For instance, the indicia may slide into a set of parallel channels that hold the indicia by friction. A binder clip, similar to the office supply, may be opened and the indicia secured in the clip. In another embodiment, the indicia may be a cover plate that snaps into slots present in the body of the remote control  234  or  242 . One skilled in the art will recognize that other methods of mechanically securing the indicia are possible. 
     In  FIG. 4 , an embodiment is shown of the method  400  for electronically associating remote controls  234  and  242  to televisions  230  or  244 . Again, the first television  230  may be associated  402  to a first tuner  206  in the satellite set top box  200 . The second television  244  may be associated  404  similarly. One remote control  234  may operate the first television  230  and tuner  206 . Another remote control  242  may operate the tuner  246  that may be connected to the second television  244 . Therefore, at least two remote controls  234  or  242  may be correlated to two separate tuners  206  and  246 . The satellite set top box  200  may recognize signals sent from each of the remote controls  234  or  242  and send the commands to the tuner  206  or  246  that may correspond to those remote controls. This recognition may involve the control electronics  202  associating the remote controls  234  or  242  with the tuner  206  or  246  used with a specific television  230  or  244 . 
     The first remote control  234  may be associated  406  with the first television  230 . This process may require the satellite set top box  200  to establish which tuner is attached to the first television  230 . This may be done by a challenge and response session whereby the control electronics  202  may send a prompt through the tuner  206  to the television  230 . The prompt requires the user to respond by using the remote control  234 . If the user returns a response, the control electronics  202  may understand that tuner  206  is connected to the first television  230 . The control electronics  202  may then create a data entry. 
     The data entry may be a table of or a set of correlated data. In other words, the control electronics  202  may match the code or identifier of the remote control  234  or  242  with the tuner  206  or  246  and may store the information. When the remote control  234  or  242  is used, the control electronics  202  may access the data entry and determine to which tuner  206  or  246  to send the command. The data entry may be a table or other data record. 
     Another method for determining which remote control  234  or  242  belongs with which television  230  and  244  may be to determine the method of transmission by the remote control. As explained earlier, one television may be in a room separated from the satellite set top box  200 . In this situation, the remote television may use the UHF transmission band to send commands to the satellite set top box  200 . A remote control located in the same room may use the IR transmission method, the UHF transmission band or both simultaneously. The remote controls may be identified with the televisions on this basis. Programming sent to the remote television may be changed with the UHF remote control. Thus, that television may then always be identified with that remote control. The opposite may be true for the local remote control and television. One skilled in the art will recognize other methods and means of correlating the data are possible. After associating the first remote control to a certain tuner, the second remote control may be associated in similar manner  408 . 
     Once associated  406 ,  408 , the user may use the remote control  234  to control  410  the operation of the television  230  and the tuner  206 . By controlling the television  230 , the user may power the television  230  on or off and may change the volume. The user may also change the channels by controlling the tuner  206  in the satellite set top box  200 . The user also may now use the remote control  242  to control  412  the second television  244  and the second tuner  246 . Both the first remote control  234  and the second remote control  242  operate a television  230  or  244 . 
       FIG. 5  shows one embodiment of visual indicia in accordance with the present invention. Visual indicia may include any type of visual pattern. In the embodiment shown, the visual indicia are a set of lines of different sizes. The lines may be slanted. In one of the visual indicia of this embodiment, the lines are black on a white background. In the other indicia of this embodiment, the lines are white and the background is black. Thus, the shades of the indicia may be transposed. Color may also be used in indicia. One skilled in the art will recognize it is possible to create a multitude of visual patterns for indicia. 
     In  FIG. 6 , the visual indicia are slightly different. In this embodiment, the visual indicia may use alphanumeric designations to identify the remote control. One visual indicia reads “Television 1,” indicating that the remote control  234  goes with the first television  230 . The second remote  242  indicates it is associated with the second television  244 . Any type of alphanumeric characterization may be used for the visual indicia. 
       FIG. 7  is yet another embodiment of the visual indicia. In this embodiment, the user may record on the visual indicia the room to which the television is located. The user recorded that one television  230  is in the “Living Room” and another television  244  is in the “Master Bedroom.” This embodiment reflects the possibility that the user may be involved in the creation of the visual indicia. User involvement may be simple recordation of the room to which the television is located or may require the user to print out the visual indicia using a computer. One skilled in the art will recognize that it is possible to involve the user in numerous ways to create the indicia. One skilled in the art will recognize that other user creations for visual indicia are possible beyond identifying the location of a television. For example, visual indicia may identify a person&#39;s name such that a family may distinguish between remote controls for each family member. 
       FIG. 8  represents another embodiment of the visual indicia. In the embodiment shown, the indicia may be both graphical and visual indicators of the association of the remote control to the television. The numbers “1” and “2” may represent the two televisions with which the remote controls are associated. The different background colors, either white or black, demonstrate that the indicia may use subtle visual indications of the association. 
       FIG. 9  represents another embodiment of the possible indicia. Beyond the visual clues, the indicia may also use tactile indicia to represent the association of the remote controls to their television. A three dimensional indicia may allow the user to both see and feel the indicia. In this embodiment, the letters “TV 1” may use raised lettering. The raised lettering may be molded into the case of the remote control or a cover plate that is placed on the remote control. In other examples, the lettering may be embossed on a sticker. The lettering may also be indented, such as an etching. One skilled in the art will recognize that other methods are possible for creating or representing the indicia as three dimensional lettering or patterns. 
       FIG. 10  shows another embodiment of the indicia. In this example, the indicia may use Braille lettering. In this embodiment, the lettering reads “TV #1.” Such indicia may allow, for example, a seeing impaired individual to recognize the remote control  234  as belonging to a certain television  230 . Since many pay television distributors also provide audio entertainment, the use of Braille indicia may be needed. Several audio receivers or televisions may be connected to the satellite set top box  200 . Thus, seeing impaired individuals with a multitude of televisions or audio receivers using the pay television service may recognize which remote is associated with which television or audio receiver. 
     In the above examples, the visual indicia may be stickers. The stickers may have the indicia on one face of the sticker and an adhesive compound coating the opposing face. To attach the indicia, the user may peel the sticker from a paper and affix the sticker to the remote control. Other methods may be possible for attaching the visual indicia to the remote control. 
     In  FIG. 11 , one embodiment for mechanically securing the visual indicia is shown. The visual indicia  1104  may be a rigid card. For instance, the indicia  1104  may be a plastic or compressed cardboard material. Another embodiment of  1104  may use a laminated paper card. The card may be sufficiently rigid to maintain its planar structure. The indicia  1104  may slide into a channel  1106  created on the remote control  1102 . The channel may have at least two sides that can be parallel to each other. Those sides may be separated by a distance substantially equal to the width of the indicia. The sides may hold the indicia  1104  to the remote control face. Thus, the indicia  1104  may be held in place by friction. 
       FIG. 12  shows another embodiment of the visual indicia. The visual indicia created in accordance with the present invention may be something other than attachable indicia. In  FIG. 12 , two remote controls are shown. The first remote control  1202  may have a certain color. The casing of the remote control may be formed from colored plastic. Coloration may be any color possible, including, but not limited to, opaque or transparent. For instance, the first remote control  1202  may be an opaque red. The second remote control  1204  may have a different color. For instance, the second remote control  1204  may be green. The color of the remote controls may provide the visual indicia to match the remote control to a television. 
       FIG. 13  shows another embodiment of the visual indicia. Instead of placing a sticker or small card on the remote control, the user may place a cover plate  1302  on remote control  1304 . The cover plate may have a specific design or a color. For example, cover plates  1302  and  1306 , respectively for remote controls  1304  and  1308 , use different colors. The differences in the cover plates may provide the visual indicia. The user may identify which television the remote belongs with by associating the look of the cover plate with the television. One skilled in the art may recognize that the cover plates can have different visual differences. 
     To secure the cover plates, the plates may be adhesively attached or secured with a tab the slides into a slot on the remote control. The cover plates may cover the entire face of the remote control, as shown in  FIG. 13 . However, the cover plate may also cover only a portion of the remote control. One skilled in the art will recognize other methods of securing the cover plates. 
     Beyond cover plates and different colored remote controls, the remote control may have different shapes. For instance, as shown in  FIG. 14 , one remote may be round  1402  and another square  1404 . Differences in shapes of the remote control may supply adequate visual indicia to distinguish the remote controls. One skilled in the art may recognize other visual indicia are possible. One skilled in the art will also recognize that combinations of visual indicia are also possible. 
     It should be noted that in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, corresponding indicia can be placed upon both a remote control and a corresponding television. The indicia on the television could be a sticker or any of the other indicia describe in connection with the remotes. In addition, in a preferred embodiment, the indicia can be graphically displayed by the set top box  200  on the television screen itself. For example the EPG that is displayed on a television screen may include either a color or designation, i.e. “REMOTE 1”, which corresponds to a particular remote. 
     In addition to visual and tactile indicia, indicia for some embodiments of the present invention may include physical or electronic indicia that are recognizable by the remote controls  124 ,  126 . In these embodiments, the remote controls may change the identifier that is transmitted to the satellite set top box  200  based on the properties of the indicia. The satellite set top box  200  of these embodiments may allow the user to associate one of the tuners with each indicia. The remote controls  234 ,  242  may include electrical contacts or physical contacts that interface with the indicia when installed. For example, a card like a credit card may contain the appropriate identifiers stored in memory, or a switch may select the appropriate identifier. 
     Yet another embodiment of a means of associating remote controls to tuners in the satellite set top box  200  may be to provide a toggle switch, for example in the battery compartment of the remote controls, that may select the identifier for the remote control to use. 
       FIG. 15  illustrates yet another embodiment of a satellite set top box  100 . The satellite set top box  1500  may include at least two tuners  1520  and  1522  connected to control electronics  1502 . The tuners  1520  and  1522  may also be connected to peripheral interface  1504  and bus  1508 , depending upon the implementation of the tuners. A remote control interface  1518  may also be provided. The satellite set top box  1500  may include more or fewer elements than those displayed. In addition, some of the elements may be combined into a single element. 
     The tuners  1520  and  1522  may be capable of independent operation as described with reference to  FIG. 2 . That is, both tuners may receive the signal provided by the satellite communication device and deliver television programming independent of the other tuner&#39;s status. 
     The satellite set top box  1500  in the embodiment is provided with multiple output ports (three output ports  1536 ,  1538 , and  1540  are shown). The output ports may be one or more physical connectors for connecting the set top box  1500  to a television (not shown), such as through use of a cable or cables that can connect to the output port and a connection on the television. Examples of output ports  1536 ,  1538 , and  1540  include, but are not limited to, audiovisual plugs, s-video receptacles, coaxial cable connectors, and fiber optic connectors. Other connectors are possible and considered within the scope of the invention. 
     In the embodiment shown, the tuners  1520 ,  1522  may be attached to an internal bus  1508  that allows each tuner to deliver television programming to any of the output ports  1536 ,  1538 , and  1540 . The bus  1508  may include electronics that allow the tuners to identify which output port should receive the television programming that the tuners are delivering. The bus  1508  may be as simple as one or more switches between the tuners and the output ports or may be implemented as a more complicated bus such as those found in computer systems. The implementation and use of buses  1508  to transmit data between devices or physical connections is well known in the art and need not be described in detail here. 
     In this embodiment, the satellite set top box  1500  includes a remote control interface  1518 . This remote control interface  1518  may include any means for the user to communicate via a remote control  1524  and  1526  to the satellite set top box  1500 . In a preferred embodiment, this remote control interface  1518  may receive commands from a set of several different remote controls  1524  and  1526 . Remote controls  1524  and  1526  may use, but are not limited to, infrared, UHF, or other communication variants. One example of an embodiment of a remote controller  1524  and  1526  is the EchoStar Technologies Corporation 721 Platinum Plus Remote, part #121150, which has a pair of transmitters, an IR transmitter and an ultra high frequency (UHF) transmitter. One or more of the remote controls  1526  and  1524  may be able to send signals to other peripheral electronic devices that form part of the home entertainment system  102  such as the television, a stereo, a VCR, or a DVD player. In some embodiments, one or more of the remote controls  1524  and  1526  may have a set of Light Emitting Diodes (LED). Some remote controls may include Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD) or other screens. 
     The remote control interface  1518  may include any device to translate an input from the user into a format understandable by the control electronics  1514 . The translation systems may include, but are not limited to, electronic receivers and electronic relays. One skilled in the art will recognize that other means to receive and translate user inputs may be possible. 
     The remote controls  1524  and  1526  may each have a separate identifier. In one embodiment, this identifier is an electronic signal that is specific to that remote control. The electronic signal may be analog or digital. An analog identifier may be a signal of a specific frequency, a specific amplitude, or specific waveform. In digital form, the signal may be a bit or set of bits that represent a code specific to the remote control  1524  or  1526 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 15 , a remote control identifier is associated with the output ports  1536 ,  1538 , and  1540 . This association may be implemented in different ways depending on the design of the set top box  1500 . A predetermined association may exist in the set top box  1500  between identifiers of the remote controls  1524  and  1526  and specific output ports  1536 ,  1538 , and  1540 . Alternatively, one or more of the remote controls  1524  and  1526  may be programmable or alterable in some fashion to cause the remote control to change identifiers. Several such examples of changing the identifier associated with a remote control  1524  and  1526  have been provided above. If the identifiers can be changed, the association may involve the use of a data table or similar data structure that contains data that associates certain remote control identifiers to specific output ports  1536 ,  1538 , and  1540  and therefore to specific televisions. In this case, the data table may be updated to indicate a change in an identifier to be associated with a television. Thus, the data table may indirectly correlate the remote control  1524  or  1526  to a specific television. 
     Using the association described above, the set top box may be able to distinguish or otherwise identify commands from the various remote controls, then execute the commands so that commands from a remote control associated with one output port control the delivery of television programming to that output port. In this way, a single set top box may be independently controlled by different remote controls to independently deliver television programming to multiple televisions. Although the set top box  1500 , described above, was described as including three output ports, one skilled in the art will understand that any number of output ports, and therefore televisions, may be controlled in this fashion simply by providing additional remote controls, output ports and, depending on the implementation, tuners. 
       FIG. 16  illustrates a method of independently delivering television programming to televisions connected to a set top box. The method includes an associating operation  1602  in which each remote control is associated with one of the televisions connected to the set top box. As discussed above, the association may involve determining an identifier used to identify each remote control and associating this identifier with a specific television via an association with the output port that the television is attached to. The association may be predetermined by the manufacturer of the set top box or remote controls, or programmable by the user. In addition, some remote controls may be pre-associated with specific output ports while others may be programmable by the user. The association may include the use of a data table stored in memory on the set top box or one or more of the remote controls, or both. 
     For example, the associating operation  1602  may include providing each remote control with its own identifier unique with respect to the other identifiers used by the other remote controls. Then, during an initial setup of the set top box for example, the user may be asked to associate each remote control with a specific television. The association may involve entering a programming/associating mode on the set top box, receiving an indication that the user wishes to associate a remote control with a specific output port or television, querying the user to issue a command using the remote control the user wishes to have associated with the television, receiving a command from the remote control, and creating an association between that remote control and the specified output port. Such a setup process may be repeated multiple times for each remote control and each output port. 
     Commands from the remote controls are received in a receiving operation  1604 . In the receiving operation, the identifiers may also be received. For example, if the identifier is a digital code transmitted with or as part of the command, then the identifier will be received with the command. Alternatively, the identifier may be a frequency that the command is transmitted on or some other distinguishable feature of the command. In fact, in some cases the distinguishing feature may be the absence of an explicit identifier. 
     Embodiments of the commands are commands that direct the set top box to deliver or stop delivering television programming, such as a channel of television programming, to a television. For example, an embodiment of a command is “display the television programming on channel 152”. As described above, this command may also include or be associated with an identifier that identifies to the set top box what remote control was the source of the command. Note that not all commands issued by a remote control need include the identifier, only those commands that require the set top box to know what television the command should be associated with may require the identifier. 
     In response to the commands (and their associated identifiers, if any) received, the set top box may deliver television programming as directed by the commands in a delivery operation  1606 . For example, if a first remote control is associated with a first output port connected to a first television, then commands to display a specified channel of television programming from the first remote will result in the delivery of the specified programming to the first output port. Likewise, commands from a second remote control associated with a different output port television may control the delivery of television programming to that television. Note that the delivery operation  1606  may involve simultaneously delivering different channels of television programming to each output port on the set top box, if the commands received so direct. 
     In several of the foregoing embodiments, a tuner may deliver  1606  programming to an associated  1602  television or television output port. However, in a preferred embodiment, two tuners, in combination with a demodulator, demultiplexer, control electronics and other set-top-box components, may be regarded as multiple channel selection resources. The previous discussion regarding tuners associated with televisions may therefore apply in its entirety to channel selection resources, and is therefore incorporated by reference. 
     In this preferred embodiment, the tuners may be dynamically allocated as channel selection resources, such that the control electronics  202 ,  1502  may determine which tuner is most appropriate to deliver  1606  programming to a television or television output port. In this preferred embodiment, the association  1602  of a television or televisions and tuner or tuners may be unnecessary. For example, delivery operation  1606  may involve delivering the same channel of television programming from one transponder to two or more of the connected televisions, thus necessitating only a single tuner. In this situation, depending on the embodiment, only one tuner may be in use and the association  1602  of television and tuners may not be necessary since the control electronics  202 ,  1502  may not require any association to deliver the same programming to multiple or all televisions. This embodiment may also allow the control electronics to dynamically allocate idle tuners (e.g., tuners that are not delivering  1606  programming) for other set-top-box operations, including, but not limited to, housekeeping and receiving EPG updates. As another example, the specific association  1602  of a specific tuner to a specific television may be unnecessary where a single tuner may provide different programming to two televisions from the same transponder. One skilled in the art will recognize that many ways of delivering  1606  television programming are possible and within the scope of this invention. 
     It will be clear that the present invention is well adapted to attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those inherent therein. While a presently preferred embodiment in the form of a satellite set top box has been described for purposes of this disclosure, various changes and modifications may be made which are well within the scope of the present invention. For example, the embodiments described could be easily applied to television converter devices having more than two tuners and attached to multiple televisions throughout the subscriber&#39;s location. Numerous other changes may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are encompassed in the spirit of the invention disclosed and as defined in the appended claims.