IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,844,900
Granted Patent B2
US 6,844,900 · App. 10/396,275 · Granted Jan 18, 2005

Method and system for reverse universal remote control feature

Assignee: Index Systems, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,844,900
App. No.
10/396,275
Filed
Mar 24, 2003
Granted
Jan 18, 2005
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2635
USPC
341/176
Abstract

A system for providing a universal remote control feature for consumer electronics devices includes an existing remote control for remotely controlling a first consumer electronics device using a first device control code and means for storing the first device control code and a second device control code within a second consumer electronics device. The system further includes means for converting the first device control code into the second device control code when using the existing remote control to control the second consumer electronics device.

Claims (42)

1. A method for providing a universal remote control feature, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying an existing remote control dedicated to controlling an existing consumer electronics device;

identifying a new consumer electronics device to be controlled by the existing remote control;

storing a plurality of device control codes within the new consumer electronics device, including an existing device control code associated with the existing consumer electronics device and a new device control code associated with the new consumer electronics device;

using the existing remote control device to control the new consumer electronics device by receiving the existing device control code from the existing remote control device and converting the existing device control code into the new device control code.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

identifying a second new consumer electronics device to be controlled by the existing remote control; and

teaching the second new consumer electronics device to convert the existing device control code from the existing remote control into a second new device control code for controlling the second new consumer electronics device.

3. A system for providing a universal remote control feature, the system comprising:

a remote control unit;

a first consumer electronics device and controlled by the remote control unit;

a second consumer electronics device to be controlled by the remote control unit;

a first device control code for controlling the first consumer electronics device;

a second device control code for controlling the second consumer electronics device;

a memory within the second consumer electronics device for storing the first device control code and the second device control code;

a controller operatively connected to the memory; and

wherein, when the remote control unit is used to control the second consumer electronics device, the controller converts the first device control code into a second device control code.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising:

a third consumer electronics device to be controlled by the remote control unit; and

a third device control code for controlling the third consumer electronics device;

wherein, when the remote control unit is used to control the third consumer electronics device, the controller is taught how to convert the first device control code into the third device control code.

5. A system for providing a universal remote control feature for consumer electronics devices, the system comprising:

a first consumer electronics device having a first device control code;

a second consumer electronics device having a second device control code;

means for remotely controlling the first consumer electronics device;

means for storing the first device control code and the second device control code within the second consumer electronics device;

means for converting the first device control code into the second device control code when using the remotely controlling means for controlling the second consumer electronics device.

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising:

a third consumer electronics device having a third device control code; and

means for teaching the third consumer electronics device to convert the first device control code into the third device control code for controlling the third consumer electronics device with the remotely controlling means.

7. A method for providing a universal remote control feature comprising:

storing a plurality of device control codes within a new consumer electronics device, including a control code for an existing remote control and a new device control code associated with the new consumer electronics device; and

receiving existing device control code commands from the existing remote control device and converting the existing device control code commands into new device control code commands.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising teaching a second new consumer electronics device to convert the existing device control code from the existing remote control into a second new device control code for controlling the second new consumer electronics device.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein teaching a second new consumer electronics device to convert the existing device control code from the existing remote control into a second new device control code comprises receiving existing device control codes transmitted by the existing remote control device and storing the received existing device control codes.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein teaching a second new consumer electronics device to convert the existing device control code from the existing remote control into a second new device control code further comprises analyzing characteristics of the received existing device control codes to determine signal structure of the existing device control codes.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein determining signal structure of the received existing device control codes comprises determining at least one of carrier frequency, pulse width and pulse modulation of the received existing device control codes.

12. A system for providing a universal remote control feature for consumer electronics devices, the system comprising:

an existing remote control for remotely controlling a first consumer electronics device using a first device control code;

means for storing the first device control code and a second device control code within a second consumer electronics device; and

means for converting the first device control code into the second device control code when using the existing remote control for controlling the second consumer electronics device.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising a third consumer electronics device having a third device control code means for teaching the third consumer electronics device to convert the first device control code into the third device control code for controlling the third consumer electronics device with the existing remote control.

Assignments (13)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
Reel/Frame 053481/0790 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: HPS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC
To: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
Reel/Frame 053458/0749 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 1, 2020
From: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS INC.; VEVEO, INC.; INVENSAS CORPORATION; INVENSAS BONDING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; TESSERA, INC.; TESSERA ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DTS, INC.; PHORUS, INC.; IBIQUITY DIGITAL CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053468/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 25, 2019
From: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 051110/0006 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Nov 25, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: APTIV DIGITAL INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC.; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; SONIC SOLUTIONS LLC; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
Reel/Frame 051145/0090 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2019
From: ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; TIVO SOLUTIONS, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
To: HPS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 051143/0468 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 4, 2014
From: INDEX SYSTEMS, INC.
To: ROVI GUIDES, INC.
Reel/Frame 034535/0301 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 24, 2014
From: APTIV DIGITAL, INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC.; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; SONIC SOLUTIONS LLC; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.; VEVEO, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 033407/0035 →
PATENT RELEASE Recorded Jul 24, 2014
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ALL MEDIA GUIDE, LLC; APTIV DIGITAL, INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC.; ROVI CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC.; ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; TV GUIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 033396/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2011
From: APTIV DIGITAL, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC, A BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS COMPANY; ROVI CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; ROVI GUIDES, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 027039/0168 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 29, 2010
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION)
To: ALL MEDIA GUIDE, LLC; APTIV DIGITAL, INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; INDEX SYSTEMS INC.; ODS PROPERTIES, INC.; ROVI DATA SOLUTIONS, INC. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS TV GUIDE DATA SOLUTIONS, INC.); ROVI GUIDES, INC. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GEMSTAR-TV GUIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC.); ROVI SOLUTIONS CORPORATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS MACROVISION CORPORATION); ROVI SOLUTIONS LIMITED (FORMERLY KNOWN AS MACROVISION EUROPE LIMITED); ROVI TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; TV GUIDE, INC.; TV GUIDE ONLINE, LLC; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 025222/0731 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 15, 2008
From: APTIV DIGITAL, INC.; GEMSTAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; GEMSTAR-TV GUIDE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; INDEX SYSTEMS INC; MACROVISION CORPORATION; ODS PROPERTIES, INC.; STARSIGHT TELECAST, INC.; TV GUIDE ONLINE, LLC; UNITED VIDEO PROPERTIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 020986/0074 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 20, 2003
From: YUEN, HENRY C.
To: INDEX SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 014713/0559 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 6036697900 · Mar 22, 2002
Related Publication 20030227407A1 · Dec 11, 2003