Systems and methods for managing remote control units and paired devices
A unique code per pairing of each remote control to each controlled device (such as a TV or other media device) is used in infrared (IR) commands sent by the remote control for the device to detect if the remote control has been moved to a different room. The remote control supports both IR and short range wireless radio (e.g., Bluetooth®) commands. Both IR and Bluetooth® commands are sent on every key press of the remote control unit. When the IR command is received by the device, the device will check if the unique code is from a remote control unit currently paired to the device. If the unique code is not from a remote control unit currently paired to the device, the device will initiate pairing with the remote control unit and execute the command.
1. A method performed by a remote control unit, the method comprising:
for each command sent from a remote control unit via a communications module, sending a code unique to and associated with a pairing of the remote control unit to a first device controlled by the remote control unit, the code sent via a wireless medium different than a wireless medium over which the pairing occurs;
pairing with a second device in response to the second device receiving the code unique to and associated with a pairing of the remote control unit to the first device, wherein the pairing includes:
receiving a request from the second device to pair with the second device based on the code unique to and associated with the pairing of the remote control unit to a first device not matching a code previously stored by the second device;
completing pairing to the second device automatically in response to the request;
unpairing the remote control unit to the first device; and
after unpairing the remote control unit to the first device, for each command sent from the remote control unit via the communications module, sending a code unique to and associated with the pairing of the remote control unit to the second device.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving from the second device, the code unique to and associated with the pairing of the remote control unit to the second device.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating the code unique to and associated with the pairing of the remote control unit to the second device; and
sending to the second device, the code unique to and associated with the pairing of the remote control unit to the second device.
4. A method of changing of a pairing of a remote control unit with a first device to a pairing of the remote control unit with a second device, the method comprising:
the second device causing pairing of the remote control unit with the second device in response to the second device receiving from the remote control unit, for a command sent from a communications module of the remote control unit, a code unique to and associated with the pairing of the remote control unit to the first device, wherein the pairing of the remote control unit with the second device includes:
the second device sending a request from the second device to pair with the remote control unit based on the code unique to and associated with the pairing of the remote control unit to the first device not matching a code previously stored by the second device;
the second device completing pairing with the remote control unit based on the request being sent;
the second device causing the remote control unit to unpair from the first device based on the request being sent; and
after the unpairing of the remote control unit to the first device, for each command sent from the remote control unit via the communications module, the second device receiving a code unique to and associated with the pairing of the remote control unit to the second device.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
the second device sending the code unique to and associated with the pairing of the remote control unit with the second device.
6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
receiving, by the second device, the code unique to and associated with the pairing of the remote control unit with the second device.