Two way communication using light links
View Patent ↗Two-way communications between a video system and a control device is disclosed. The communications links comprise visible light, IR light, or a combination of visible and IR light. The communications link provide a convenient route to capture data or lock system features or various combinations thereof.
1. A method of editing a favorite channel table in a remote control, the method comprising:
transmitting from the remote control to a video system a channel identification request;
receiving through an optical receiver in the remote control a series of video screen flashes that function to specify to the remote control via a predetermined serial protocol an identity of a single channel that was determined as currently being displayed on a video screen when the channel identification request was transmitted;
decoding the series of video screen flashes to determine the identity of the channel; and
modifying the favorite channel table in the remote control using the determined identity of the channel.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the favorite channel table comprises deleting from the favorite channel table a channel corresponding to the determined identity of the channel.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the favorite channel table comprises adding to the favorite channel table a channel corresponding to the determined identity of the channel.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the channel identification request is transmitted using an IR protocol.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the favorite channel table is modified as a function of a key activated to cause a transmission of the channel identification request.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the key activated to cause a transmission of the channel identification request functions to cause a channel corresponding to the determined identity of the channel to be added to the favorite channel table.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the key activated to cause a transmission of the channel identification request functions to cause a channel corresponding to the determined identity of the channel to be deleted from the favorite channel table.
8. For use in a remote control having a memory, a method for storing and using channel identification information, comprising:
receiving a signal that functions to specify to the remote control an identity of a single channel that is determined as currently being tuned to by an appliance;
converting the signal to an electrical signal;
decoding the electrical signal to obtain the channel identification information;
storing the obtained channel identification information in a favorite channel table of the memory; and
in response to actuation of a favorite channel key, retrieving from the favorite channel table of the memory the obtained channel identification information and using the obtained channel identification information to cause a transmission of a command adapted to tune an appliance to a channel corresponding to the obtained channel identification information.
9. The method of claim 8 , comprising transmitting a request to receive the signal.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the signal comprises a visible light pattern flashed on a video display.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the signal comprises a serial transmission of data.