Method and apparatus for programming a remote control using broadcast data
View Patent ↗A set top box 22 includes a communication module 102 receiving a remote control configuration database having a remote control associated therewith. The set top box 22 further includes a display control module 116 forming a screen display in response to the remote control configuration database. An interface 110 forms selections in response to the screen display and a display control module displays programming instructions for the remote control.
1. A method of programming a remote control associated with a set top box comprising:
continually broadcasting a remote control configuration database;
receiving a first portion of a remote control configuration database at the set top box having a first instruction associated therewith;
forming a first screen display in response to the first portion of the remote control configuration database and the first instruction;
forming a first selection at the set top box in response to the screen display;
thereafter, receiving a second portion of the remote control configuration database at the set top box having a second instruction in response to the first selection;
forming a second screen display in response to the second portion of the remote control configuration database and the second instruction;
thereafter, displaying programming instructions for the remote control; and
operating the set top box with the remote control.
2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein broadcasting comprises broadcasting the database in a carousel format.
3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein further comprising broadcasting content at a first data rate and wherein broadcasting a remote control configuration comprises broadcasting the remote control configuration at a second data rate less than the first data rate.
4. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising prior to broadcasting a remote control configuration database, communicating a notification of changes for configuration updates to the remote control configuration database.
5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein broadcasting comprises broadcasting the remote control configuration database through a satellite.
6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein broadcasting comprises broadcasting the remote control configuration database through a terrestrial communication network.
7. A method as recited in claim 6 wherein the terrestrial communication network comprises an optical fiber.
8. A method as recited in claim 6 wherein the terrestrial communication network comprises a broadband network.
9. A method as recited in claim 6 wherein the terrestrial communication network comprises a telephone network.
10. A method as recited in claim 6 wherein the terrestrial communication network comprises a wireless network.
11. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein prior to receiving a first portion, entering a remote control programming mode.
12. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein forming a first selection at the set top box comprises forming the first selection at the set top box using the remote control.
13. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein displaying comprises displaying a code.
14. A method as recited in claim 13 further comprising entering the code into the remote control prior to operating the set top box with the remote control.
15. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein forming a second screen display comprises forming a second screen display in response to the remote control configuration database and the first selection.
16. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein one of the first screen display or second screen display corresponds to a device type.
17. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein one of the first screen display or second screen display corresponds to a brand type.
18. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein one of the first screen display or second screen display corresponds to a model type.
19. A set top box having a remote control associated therewith comprising:
a communication module receiving a first portion of a continually broadcasted remote control configuration database having a first instruction associated therewith at the set top box;
a display control module forming a first screen display in response to the first portion of the remote control configuration database and the first instruction;
a remote control communication module receiving a first selection signal in response to the first screen display;
said communication module receiving a second portion of the remote control communication database having a second instruction associated therewith after receiving the first selection signal; and
the display control module forming a second screen display in response to the second portion and the second instruction and displaying programming instructions for the remote control configuration database.
20. A system comprising:
the set top box as recited in claim 19 ;
a display in communication with the set top box; and
the remote control device.
21. A system as recited in claim 20 wherein the set top box comprises a satellite television set top box.
22. A system as recited in claim 20 further comprising a head end continually broadcasting the remote control configuration database.
23. A system as recited in claim 20 further comprising a head end broadcasting the remote control configuration database in a carousel format.
24. A system as recited in claim 20 further comprising a remote control vendor database communicating remote control information to a remote control configuration database.