EP2124208A2 - Programmable remote control and method for programming same - Google Patents

Abstract

The programmable remote control has a receiving unit for receiving coded signals, a keypad, a microprocessor and a memory, in which codes are stored. The codes are assigned to individual keys or key combinations of the keyboard. A database is provided in which multiple code-combinations are stored and the remote control is assigned to a receiver of a coded signal. The code or the code combination is selected in the database. The received coded signal of the predetermined key or key combination is assigned by the database. An independent claim is included for a method for programming a remote control.

Description

The invention relates to a programmable remote control according to the preamble of claims 1 and 7 and to a method for programming a remote control according to the preamble of claims 6 and 8.

Remote controls and methods of this kind are from the US Pat. No. 4,626,848 known. There, a programmable universal remote control is proposed which receives, decodes and stores remote control codes transmitted from an original remote control so that the remote control to be programmed "learns" the corresponding codes of the original remote control. The programmable remote control is then functionally a copy of the original remote control.

Today's remote controls for electronic devices, such as television receivers, satellite receivers, video recorders, CD players, music systems, etc., have a large number of keys and keyboard shortcuts, each associated with a specific code, usually transmitted as a coded infrared signal becomes. Remote controls with more than 40 buttons are quite common.

The remote-controlled device receives the code and triggers certain functions on it.

Normally, a separate remote control is supplied with each device, in which the code combinations suitable for the associated device are stored. In practice, therefore, in a household are various remote controls for controlling various devices, which is a lot of users overwhelmed and impractical.

It is therefore desirable to operate a variety of different devices with a single remote control. For this one must in the known programmable remote controls, such as in the above US 4,626,848 described which read to learning codes for each key or key combination, which is tedious and time consuming.

For years, universal remote controls have been commercially available that hold a variety of code combinations in memory. The user can then look up a code in a printed table for his device, which identifies the corresponding code combination. Entering this code activates the corresponding code combination and assigns an appropriate code to each key. With the large number of devices available on the market, it is hardly possible to keep all code combinations in hand, especially Also often one and the same manufacturer uses a variety of different code combinations. In this case, the only possibility for the user is to try out a variety of code combinations and to hope that the code combination expected from his device will be present in the universal remote control. Also this "trying out" is extremely time consuming.

It is already known to perform a code search automatically. In doing so, the universal remote control successively sends various codes for the on / off function of devices. If the device then switches on or off accordingly, the other functions of the other buttons must then be checked, since the same code is used for the on / off function of many devices, but the codes for the other buttons are different. This method is therefore time consuming and tedious.

The object of the invention is therefore to improve the known programmable remote control to the extent that their programming is much easier. This object is achieved by the features specified in the patent claims 1, 6, 7 and 8. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims.

The basic idea of the invention lies in the fact that in a first step the remote control to be programmed learns the code of only one specific key (eg the on / off key), then in a second step checks in a database which code combinations assigned this learned code to the corresponding key. These "matching" code combinations are then selected for further programming. In a possible further step, the user is prompted to read in another code of another key, which in turn is checked in the database, which code combinations have the two codes read in for the two key functions. It is particularly advantageous if, in this second and possibly further subsequent steps, that function is queried in which the previously selected code combinations differ from one another. Matching functions of the selected code combinations are thus skipped and not queried. This process is repeated until a unique "correct" code combination has been determined. Despite the enormous variety of code combinations available on the market, in practice the correct code combination is found after two to three learning steps.

The database of all common code combinations can be stored on a memory chip in the universal remote control. It is also possible to keep the database on a PC and to provide the customer with all codes on a CD-Rom. Finally, it is also possible to query the database via the Internet.

Figur 1

eine Prinzipskizze einer programmierba- ren Fernsteuerung mit integrierter Datenbank;

Figur 2

eine Prinzipskizze einer programmierba- ren Fernsteuerung mit externer Daten- bank;

Figur 3

eine Tabelle von Code-Kombinationen zur Erläuterung der Erfindung; und

Figur 4

eine Flußdiagramm zur Erläuterung der Arbeitsschritte der Erfindung.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to embodiments in conjunction with the drawings. It shows:

FIG. 1

a schematic diagram of a programmable remote control with integrated database;

FIG. 2

a schematic diagram of a programmable remote control with external database;

FIG. 3

a table of code combinations for explaining the invention; and

FIG. 4

a flow chart for explaining the steps of the invention.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a universal remote control 1 to be programmed, which is to learn the corresponding codes from an existing original remote control 2. The original remote control 2 has a plurality of keys 3, to each of which a specific code is assigned, which is emitted as a coded infrared signal via a transmitting diode 3. The entirety of all the keys assigned to the keys for an individual original remote control 2 is referred to as a code combination stored in a memory 4 of the original remote control. Via a microprocessor 7 ', the operation of the original remote control 2 is controlled.

The universal remote control 1 to be programmed contains a receiving diode 5 of known design, a receiving and decoding unit 6, a microprocessor 7 and a memory 8 and a keyboard 10. In this respect, it is a conventional programmable Remote control. Incidentally, the receiving diode 5 can also be the transmitting diode used in the later use of the universal remote control 1, with the microprocessor 7 controlling the switching between transmitting and receiving operation.

According to the invention is in the embodiment of FIG. 1 in the programmable remote control 1, a database 9 is present in which a plurality of code combinations is stored, which are covered as far as possible all remote controlled devices on the market. Finally, the programmable remote control 1 may also include a display 11 through which instructions or information can be presented to the user. Instead of a display but can also be used with cheaper variants, a light emitting diode (LED), which gives corresponding signals by flashing. It is also possible to output acoustic signals.

The embodiment of FIG. 2 is different from that of FIG. 1 essentially in that the database 9 is arranged externally, ie outside the remote control 1 to be programmed, and that the remote control 1 has an interface 12 via which the remote control 1 can be connected to a computer 13.

This can be, for example, a USB interface via which the remote control 1 is connected to the computer 13 with a cable 14. The database 9 can then be stored in the computer 13 or queried via a CD-ROM from the computer 13. Also can a part of the receiving and decoding unit 6 are moved into the computer 13, namely, for example, the decoding function and / or an analysis function. In this case, the receiving unit 6 then only has the task of converting the received infrared signal into a digitized bit stream, which is sent under control of the microprocessor 7 via the interface 12 to the computer 13 where it is analyzed and decoded. This function can also be moved via the Internet to an external area, such as the manufacturer.

The analysis is, in principle, that from characteristics of the bit stream, e.g. Carrier frequency, times between different frames is detected, which infrared system it is, from which then the actual "code" is extracted as a digitized beamer signal.

The database 9 can also be stored externally at a manufacturer and be queried by the computer 13 via an Internet connection 16.

The programming of the remote control 1 is as follows: The remote control 1 is set by a switch or by pressing a specific key combination in the operating state "program". Then the user is prompted, for example via the display 11, to press a predetermined key on the original remote control 2 and thereby trigger a predetermined function. This can be, for example, the on / off function. The original remote control 2 then sends via the transmitter diode 3 a corresponding coded Infrared signal which is received by the receiving diode 5 of the remote control 1 and is supplied to the microprocessor 7 after decoding in the receiver / decoder 6 as a digital signal. The microprocessor 7 checks whether there are stored in the database 9 one or more code combinations in which the previously received code is assigned to the corresponding function. As a rule, with this first code, there will still be several code combinations in the database 9 for which this condition applies. If so, under the control of the microprocessor 7, the user is prompted via the display 11 to press another predetermined key on the original remote control 2, for example, the "channel forward" button on a television. If this is done by the user, the second code is transmitted and processed in the same way and under control of the microprocessor 7 is checked in the database 9, if one or more code combinations are present, in which the previously received two codes the two predetermined functions are assigned. If several matching code combinations are also found in this step, a third, fourth, etc. code is requested in the same way until a unique code combination in the database 9 is selected. If this is the case, all codes of this selected code combination are adopted, for example by these codes are then read into the memory 8. But it is also possible that only the memory address of the selected code combination of the database 9 is stored in the memory 8 and during later operation, the corresponding codes from the database 9 are queried.

If a unique code combination has been selected in the manner described above, the programming operation is completed and the universal remote control 1 can be set to the normal operating mode either automatically or by pressing a predetermined key combination.

In practice, it has been found that despite a very large number of a few thousand conventional code combinations with two to three steps each correct code combination is found. As a result, the programming is much easier and is carried out in practice in a few seconds.

The sequence of programming in the embodiment of FIG. 2 takes place in an analogous manner by the external database 9 is queried via the interface 12 and the computer 13. If the appropriate code combination in the database 9 is determined in this way, it is written into the memory 8 and the interface 12 can be disconnected. The sequence control can in the embodiment of FIG. 2 be done by the computer 13 by a corresponding program is stored, instructions for the steps to be taken can also be displayed on a screen 15 of the computer 13.

FIG. 3 schematically shows the organization of the database 9. Each by a button of the remote control 1 retrievable Function F1 to Fn are assigned certain codes, which are designated here by letters A to Z. Of course, these are digital codes with bit sequences that represent logical 1 or logical 0. In the database, a large number of different code combinations CK1, CK2 to CKn is stored. Thus, for example, the function F1 in the code combinations CK1 and CK2 is occupied by the code A, in the code combinations CK3 and CK4 by the code J and in the code combination CKn by the code G. The function F2 is in the case of Code combinations CK1 and CK2 with the code B, with the code combinations CK3 and CK4 with the code K and with the code combination CKn with the code G, etc. It is further assumed that the code combination CK1 and CK2 are identical in terms of the codes for the functions F1 to F7 and differ only in the function F8.

It is now assumed that in the first programming step, the function F1 is called and the original remote control 2 transmits the code A. Thus, the code combinations CK1 and CK2 are selected, while all other code combinations can be eliminated. The codes CK1 and CK2 are identical in the codes F1 to F7 and differ only in the function F8 and possibly other functions. In a particularly advantageous manner, therefore, the function is called in the next step, in which the codes of the code combinations CK1 and CK2 no longer match, ie in the embodiment of FIG. 3 the function F8. The matching functions F2 to F7 therefore need not be queried. If the user presses the key assigned to function F8, it will In this case, for example, the code H emitted, the code combination CK1 is uniquely identified, of course, on condition that all other functions F9 to Fn are again identical.

Analogously, the programming proceeds with respect to the code combinations CK3 and CK4. If the code J is recognized in the first function F1, the first non-matching function is called in the second step, that is to say in the exemplary embodiment of FIG FIG. 3 the function F6.

If more "matching" code combinations are selected in the second step, then a third function is queried and, if appropriate, further functions are requested until a unique code combination has been identified.

It can be seen that in this way the "correct" code combination is selected in just a few steps.

FIG. 4 shows again in the form of a flow chart the steps. In a first step S1, the first code is sent from the original remote control 2, received and decoded by the remote control 1 to be programmed in step S2. In step S3, the database is queried and those code combinations are selected which have assigned the received code to the corresponding function. In step S4, it is checked whether only a single code combination is contained in the database, in which the received code is assigned to the corresponding function. If this is the case, then in step S5 taken over the selected code combination and stored in the remote control 1 to be programmed. If the check in step S4 indicates that a plurality of code combinations are selected, the user is prompted in step S6 to press another predetermined key and the process moves on to step S1. The further predetermined key is followed by the selected code combinations determines the criterion that the codes of the corresponding function (or key) differ from each other. The loop thus formed is run through until the test in step S4 selects only a single code combination.

The programmable remote control described so far and the method described assume that there is an original remote control with which the programmable remote control is programmed. The programmable remote control learns, so to speak, the right code combination from the original remote control.

It may happen that the original remote control is not available and a programmable remote control has to be reprogrammed. Previously, in this less favorable case, one had to pick a number from a table identifying the code combination for the corresponding device. However, it is more common that newer devices from different manufacturers are not yet listed in the appropriate table, so that there was only left to try out the entire stock of code combinations, which took up to a few hours in the worst case. Was started as a rule with the On / off function, ie, for example, a TV was switched on and then the remote control sequentially called all code combinations and the power button pressed until the TV responded accordingly. But not all other key assignments were programmed correctly. With the invention, this case can be significantly simplified. As soon as the assignment of a key, such as the on / off key, is identified when "trying out" the various code combinations, the stock of stored code combinations is substantially restricted and the further "trying out" of code combinations only becomes provided the limited number of code combinations. In this case, for example, the code combinations CK1 and CK2 in the embodiment of FIG. 3 is identified, the user is prompted to press the F8 key and to check the response on the TV. If, for example, the code combination CK1 is initially selected and the code I is received when the function F8 is called, then no or an incorrect function is called up on the television set. The remote control switches to the next matching code combination, in this case the code combination CK2, and the user again presses the key for the function F8, whereupon the appropriate code I is sent. At the corresponding reaction of the television, the user recognizes that the appropriate code has been received and thus the code combination CK2 has been uniquely identified.

This variant can be analogous FIG. 1 with an internal database 9 or analog FIG. 2 with an external database. In both variants, instead of the original remote control 2 of the transmitter diode 5, an infrared signal to an associated device, such as a TV, sent and waits for its response to a corresponding signal and confirmed at the correct function by a button, then what for the next steps the stock of queried code combinations is restricted.

Claims (8)

Programmable remote control (1) having a receiving unit (5, 6) for receiving coded signals, with a keyboard (10), a microprocessor (7) and a memory (8) in which codes can be stored, the individual keys or keyboard shortcuts (10), characterized by a database (9) in which a plurality of code combinations are stored, wherein the remote control is responsive to receipt of a coded signal associated with a predetermined key or key combination of the keyboard (10) the database (9) selects that code combination or combinations of codes in which the received coded signal is assigned to the predetermined key or key combination, checks whether a single or several code combinations have been selected and another coded depending on this review Request signal for another key or key combination, as long as there is only one code combination is read, in which case all codes of the selected code combination are accepted as valid codes for predetermined keys or key combinations. Programmable remote control according to Claim 1, characterized in that the database (9) is integrated in the remote control (1). Programmable remote control according to Claim 1, characterized in that the remote control (1) has an interface (12) for connection to an external database (9). Programmable remote control according to Claim 3, characterized in that the external database (9) is stored in a computer (13). Programmable remote control according to claim 3, characterized in that the external database (9) is accessible via the Internet. Method for programming a remote control with the following sequential steps: a) receiving a coded signal associated with a predetermined function of the remote control; b) decoding the received signal to form a digital code; c) querying a database by selecting one or more code combinations in which the previously determined code is associated with the predetermined function; d) Check if only one code combination or several code combinations were selected in the database; e) if several code combinations have been selected, requesting another coded signal associated with another key or key combination and after decoding querying the database and selecting one or more code combinations in which the previously received codes are assigned to the predetermined keys or key combinations; f) repeating the above steps a) to e), until only a single code combination has been selected and g) assigning all codes to predetermined keys or key combinations according to the selected code combination. Programmable remote control (1) with a transmitting unit (5, 6) for transmitting coded signals, with a keyboard (10), a microprocessor (7) and a memory (8) in which codes can be stored, the individual keys or keyboard shortcuts (10), characterized by a database (9) in which a plurality of code combinations are stored, which are individually callable, the remote control on a confirmation key in the database (9) that code combination or those code Combinations selected in which the last transmitted coded signal is assigned to the predetermined key or key combinations, checks whether a single or multiple code combinations have been selected and in response to this check sends another coded signal for another key or key combination, until only a single code combination is selected, in which case all codes of the selected code Ko combination as valid codes for predetermined Keys or keyboard shortcuts. Method for programming a remote control with the following sequential steps: a) transmitting a coded signal of a predetermined code combination, which is assigned to a predetermined function of the remote control; b) checking that the transmitted signal triggers the assigned function on the device to be remotely controlled; c) optionally, in response to such verification, calling further code combinations until the transmitted coded signal triggers the assigned function on the device to be remotely controlled; d) querying a database by selecting one or more code combinations in which the previously transmitted code is associated with the predetermined function; e) Check if only one code combination or several code combinations were selected in the database; f) if several code combinations have been selected, emitting another coded signal that is associated with another key or key combination and optionally switching to next selected code combinations selected until the other emitted signal has triggered the predetermined function on remotely controlled device ; g) repeating the above steps a) to f), until only a single code combination has been selected and h) assigning all codes to predetermined keys or key combinations according to the selected code combination.

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