Method and apparatus for programming a remote control using a device identifier received through an interface
View Patent ↗A method of programming a remote control and a set top box to control the same includes a network communication module at the set top box receiving a device identifier from an electronic device through an interface. The set top box also includes a communication module obtaining remote control programming code based on the device identifier. A controller controls programming a remote control to control the electronic device based on the remote control programming code.
1. A method of programming a remote control to control an electronic device coupled to a set top box, said set top box having a display associated therewith, said method comprising: communicating a device identifier comprising a model identifier of the electronic device and a manufacturer identifier of the electronic device from the electronic device to the set top box through an interface; thereafter, obtaining a remote control programming code at the set top box in response to model identifier and the manufacturer identifier from a remote control configuration database through a terrestrial communication network, said remote control programming code comprises a unique set of numbers or letters for both the model identifier and manufacturer identifier; displaying the remote control programming code on the display associated with the set top box; entering the remote control programming code into the remote control by pressing buttons corresponding to the unique set of numbers or letters; and programming the remote control to control the electronic device based on the remote control programming code.
2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein obtaining a remote control programming code comprises obtaining the remote control programming code from a memory of the set top box.
3. A method as recited in claim 2 further comprising broadcasting a remote control configuration database having the remote control programming code to the set top box.
4. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein broadcasting comprises continually broadcasting the remote control configuration database.
5. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein broadcasting comprises broadcasting the remote control configuration database from a satellite.
6. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein broadcasting comprises broadcasting the remote control configuration database through a terrestrial communication network.
7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein programming a remote control comprises communicating the remote control programming code between the set top box and the remote control.
8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein programming a remote control comprises communicating the remote control programming code between the set top box and the remote control through a receiver/transmitter module of the set top box.
9. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising initiating a remote control programming process by selecting a selection at a user interface of the set top box.
10. A method as recited in claim 9 further comprising, after initiating, communicating a query signal from the set top box to the electronic device and wherein the step of communicating the device identifier is performed in response to the step of communicating.
11. A system comprising: a set top box comprising a network communication module receiving a device identifier from an electronic device comprising a model identifier of the electronic device and a manufacturer identifier of the electronic device through an interface; a communication module, after the network communication module receives the device identifier, obtaining a remote control programming code from a remote control configuration database through a terrestrial communication network in response to the model identifier and the manufacturer identifier, said remote control programming code comprises a unique set of numbers or letters for both the model identifier and manufacturer identifier; and a display control module displaying the remote control programming code on a display associated with the set top box; and a remote control receiving button signals corresponding to the remote control programming code corresponding to the unique set of numbers or letters to control the electronic device.
12. A system as recited in claim 11 wherein the communication module receives the remote control programming code from a head end through a satellite.
13. A system as recited in claim 11 wherein the communication receives the remote control programming code from a head end through a terrestrial network.
14. A system as recited in claim 11 wherein the communication module receives the remote control programming code from a head end through a network.
15. A system as recited in claim 11 wherein the set top box comprises a satellite television set top box.
16. A system as recited in claim 11 further comprising a head end broadcasting a remote control configuration database having the remote control programming code.
17. A system as recited in claim 11 further comprising a head end continually broadcasting a remote control configuration database having the remote control programming code.