EP2161696B1 - Multimedia assembly with a programmable universal remote control and method for programming a remote control - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a multimedia device with a programmable universal remote control and a method for programming a remote control according to the preamble of claims 1 and 5. Remote controls and methods of this kind are known from US 5,819,294 A. known. There, a multimedia arrangement is described with a control unit to which a plurality of remotely controllable electronic devices can be connected. A programmable universal remote control is programmed by means of an original remote control by the original remote control for individual keys sends a coded signal to the controller, where it is analyzed and identified and tuned with a database contained in the control unit to a complete remote control Set of codes to be transmitted to the universal remote control to be programmed. Signal transmissions thus take place from the original remote control to the controller, from the controller to the universal remote control and from the universal remote control to be controlled devices.

From the US Pat. No. 4,626,848 is a programmable universal remote control known to send remote control codes issued by one or more original remote controls are received, analyzed, decoded and stored so that the remote control to be programmed "learns" the corresponding codes of the original remote controls. The programmable remote control is then a copy of the original remote controls in terms of their functions.

However, the programming of such a universal remote control is very expensive in practice, since for each device, all keys must be pressed sequentially to program the universal remote control.

Also, analyzing, decoding and re-encoding the signals originating from the original remote controls requires a great deal of processing power and memory and other components in the universal remote control, which increases their cost and during operation their energy consumption.

Today's remote controls for electronic devices, such as Television receivers, satellite receivers, video recorders, CD players, music equipment, etc., have a large number of keys and key combinations, each associated with a particular code, which is usually transmitted as a coded infrared signal. Remote controls with more than 40 buttons are quite common.

Normally, a separate remote control is supplied with each device, in which the code combinations suitable for the associated device are stored. In practice, therefore, in a household are various remote controls for controlling various devices, which is a lot of users overwhelmed and impractical.

It is therefore appropriate, a universal remote control according to the above US 4,626,848 A to use, with the several different devices can be remotely controlled. In this universal remote control the corresponding codes for the different devices are stored. Through a selection function, such as by pressing a selection button or pressing a multi-level slide switch, the device to be controlled can be selected and the individual keys of the universal remote control the appropriate code is assigned.

A problem with the known universal remote controls is that the user must determine via the selection function, which device he currently wants to control. In the US 4,626,848 A this is done by special buttons for a device selection. Often the user then does not know which device to control the remote control is currently set, so that unwanted functions are triggered. If, for example, the user has selected the satellite receiver when watching television via a satellite receiver in the remote control in order to select a TV channel and then wants to change the volume on the television set, he must first select the TV set on the remote control before starting the TV Can change the volume. If, without having made this selection beforehand, he presses the corresponding buttons for changing the volume, these buttons can be assigned other functions for the satellite receiver still selected and an incorrect function can be triggered.

Another problem is that some devices offer a wealth of features that some users do not want to use at all. As a result, some remote controls have a barely manageable number of keys to which certain functions are assigned, with the result that again undesirable functions are activated by incorrect operation.

To solve this problem proposes the EP 1185922 B1 a multimedia system for scrolled intersection point navigation on a user interface, the two includes slidable bars, each of which comprises at least two object fields that overlap in a focus field. The object fields of one bar are subordinate to those of the other bar. The object fields lying in the focus field are selected by input means and combined with one another for the purpose of transmitting a control signal. However, the prerequisite is that the "user interface", ie a central control unit, can control all connected devices, since the "input device", such as a remote control, can only control the "user interface" and not the individual connected devices. If individual connected devices are replaced by other devices or new additional devices are connected, then the central control unit must be replaced or adapted accordingly.

It is therefore desirable to provide a multimedia system with a universal remote control for controlling a variety of different devices having as few buttons as possible, which is easy to program and easy to use. Next, the device cost of the universal remote control should be as low as possible.

This object is achieved by the features specified in the patent claims 1 and 5, respectively. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims.

The basic idea of the invention is that the universal remote control in its programming in combination with a central control unit and a Screen works together. In the programming of the universal remote control, the user is prompted via the screen to operate predetermined function keys of an original remote control. The signal thus triggered is received, analyzed and coded by the central control unit and then sent by the central control unit as a coded signal to the universal remote control where it is stored. This can be done in direct or indirect association with certain buttons on the universal remote control, which will be explained in more detail below. After programming the universal remote control, the original remote control is no longer needed.

There is thus a bidirectional communication connection between the universal remote control and the control unit, preferably via infrared signals.

To reduce the number of universal remote control buttons, it is contemplated that certain functions of the remotely controlled devices may be called indirectly in cooperation with a menu system of the control unit and not directly by a single button of the universal remote control. The universal remote control calls through an infrared signal to the control unit on a menu system, in which the user selects the desired function of the corresponding device and at the same time the associated remote control code in the memory. By pressing a confirmation button on the universal remote control, the corresponding remote control code is transferred from the memory of the universal remote control to the device to be remotely controlled and to trigger the desired function. At the universal remote control, therefore, only a few buttons must be present, and it may be appropriate to certain basic functions that are very often needed to call directly and immediately via special buttons on the universal remote control.

Figur 1

ein Beispiel eines Multimediasystems mit zentraler Steuereinheit und Universal-Fernsteuerung nach der Erfindung im Zustand vor der Programmierung der Universal-Fernsteuerung;

Figur 2

eine Prinzipskizze zur Erläuterung des Programmiervorganges;

Figur 3

eine Prinzipskizze eines Menüsystems zur Erläuterung des Programmiervorganges;

Figur 4

eine Prinzipskizze einer Speicherorganisation zur Erläuterung des Programmiervorganges; und

Figur 5

eine Prinzipskizze zur Erläuterung des Betriebes der Universal-Fernsteuerung nach der Programmierung.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment in conjunction with the drawing. It shows:

FIG. 1

an example of a multimedia system with central control unit and universal remote control according to the invention in the state before the programming of the universal remote control;

FIG. 2

a schematic diagram for explaining the programming process;

FIG. 3

a schematic diagram of a menu system to explain the programming process;

FIG. 4

a schematic diagram of a memory organization to explain the programming process; and

FIG. 5

a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the universal remote control after programming.

FIG. 1 shows a multimedia arrangement with a television receiver 1, which has a screen 2 and two speakers 3 and 4. The television receiver 1 is connected to a central control unit 5, which may be a modified set-top box, for example. To the central control unit 5 various accessories are connected, such as a satellite receiver 6, a DVD player 7, a video recorder 8, a music system 9, a video camera 10, as well as other devices, such as a so-called projector 11, a light control 12, a storage medium 13, such as a hard drive, and other remotely controllable devices 14, such as a door opener, air conditioning, a heating system, etc.

In the basic state, each of these devices 6 to 14 is assigned its own remote control 6.1 to 6.14, which respectively supplies control signals to the assigned device, which is represented by corresponding arrows 6.2 to 14.2.

All these device-specific remote controls 6.1 to 14.1 are to be replaced by a universal remote control 15, with which then all devices can be controlled, as indicated by the arrows 16.

In addition to the aforementioned devices 6 to 14, the central control unit 5 may also be connected to an external service provider 17, from which various services can be obtained. This is also a possible Internet access or an intranet connection to understand.

Out FIG. 1 It can already be seen that the number of nine individual shown in this example Remote controls for the corresponding devices in practice is no longer manageable, so that it is of significant advantage to eliminate all these remote controls 6.1 to 14.1 and replace it with a single universal remote control 15.

For this purpose, as explained below, some functions of a universal remote control are relocated to the central control unit 5, wherein between the central control unit 5 and the universal remote control 15 there is a bidirectional communication link indicated by an arrow 18. Preferably, it is an infrared connection, but other communication connections are conceivable, such as e.g. via radio, ultrasound or similar.

The universal remote control 15 and the central control unit 5 have respective transceivers such as e.g. Infrared transmitting and receiving diodes and their driver circuits, which are known in the art and therefore are not shown here in detail.

The FIGS. 2 to 4 explain the process of programming the universal remote control 15 using the example of the device 6 of FIG. 1 that here is a satellite receiver to which the remote control 6.1 is assigned.

At the central control unit 5, by pressing a key "P" ( Fig. 2 ) called the "Programming" mode.

On screen 2, a menu will appear on it Fig. 3 indicating the devices connected to the control unit 5, of which one can be selected via control buttons (21, 22 and 25) on the universal remote control 15. The control unit 5 can recognize the connected devices, for example via a "plug-and-play" function. But it is also possible that the control unit 5 only detects and reports that a new unknown device has been connected to a specific port and asks the user to name it; what is done by a menu controlled input to the universal remote control 15.

Then, under control of the central control unit 5, the user is prompted via the screen 2 to successively press predetermined function keys on the original remote control 6.1. If the user follows the instruction, the original remote control 6.1 transmits a corresponding coded signal to the central control unit 5, which is indicated by the arrow 19 (FIG. Fig. 2 ) is indicated. This signal is received by the control unit 5 where it is analyzed, decoded and re-encoded, transmitted thereon as a coded signal to the universal remote control 15, indicated by the arrow 18, and stored there as a remote control code. The compute-intensive analyzing, decoding and re-encoding thus takes place in the central control unit, which has a more powerful processor than the universal remote control. In the universal remote control 15, all remote control codes (C1 to Cn in FIG Fig. 4 ) stored in association with the selected device. This process is repeated as many times as desired by the user Functions of the original remote control 6.1 are taken over. It is up to the user to take over the functions he desires and to skip functions that are not desired.

As a storage medium for the memory of the universal remote control 15, a so-called SIM card 44 may be provided, which can be inserted into a SIM card reader 45, which is present in the universal remote control 15. This removable storage medium gives the advantage that when replacing a defective universal remote control not all the programming must be made anew, but only the SIM card 44 is replaced.

Further, the universal remote control 15 may include an identification device 33, such as a fingerprint reader, through which various users can identify and over which the universal remote control is personalized by invoking a specific key mapping for each user created. In addition, an assignment to the respective user (USR1 to USRn in Fig. 4 ), wherein the user previously by the identification device, such as. a fingerprint reader 33 ( Fig. 2 ) was identified. This makes it possible to block certain devices (eg Internet access) and / or certain functions (eg deletion function) for individual users since their remote control codes are not stored for specific users and thus can not be called up.

During the programming process, the user can, by pressing one of the buttons on the universal remote control 15, read the received signal of a specific button (T1 to Tn in FIG Fig. 4 ) assign the universal remote control 15. The signal and the assignment are then stored in the universal remote control 15.

Out FIG. 2 It can be seen that the original remote control 6.1 has a far larger number of buttons than the universal remote control 15. Thus, not every button of the original remote control 6.1 can be assigned a corresponding button on the universal remote control 15.

However, in order to call all the functions of the original remote control 6.1, it is provided that at least selected codes of predetermined keys of the original remote control 6.1 are stored only in indirect assignment to special keys and later in operation under control of the universal remote control 15 in conjunction with the central control unit 5 and a menu system are called.

Essential for this purpose are "movement keys" for movements of a cursor or selection of specific fields in a menu system, namely keys for UP (21), DOWN (22), RIGHT (23) and LEFT (24) as well as a selection key 25 and a key for the RETURN function (26). Each field of the menu system is assigned a unique address in memory 44. Additional buttons may be provided for certain special functions, but are not essential, such as a button 27 for "LOUD" and a button 28 for "SILENT" via which the volume can be changed immediately and without calling a menu. Another key 29 may be provided for the function "ON / OFF". Finally, further keys 30, 31 and 32 can be provided, which can be assigned device-dependent and / or user-dependent with certain functions.

Fig. 4 schematically shows the organization of the memory 44, in which the remote control codes of the remote control depending on the user, are stored by the respective device. For each user USR: 1 to USR: n, a separate memory area is created, which is identified by the identification device 33 (FIG. Fig. 2 ) is selected. For each user, a table or a section of a table is stored which contains for each device (device 1 to device n) the corresponding codes C1 to Cn (for the functions F1 to Fn) and for some codes also an assignment of the code to one certain key.

In the example of the device 1 of Fig. 4 For example, the codes C1, C2, C3 and C4 are respectively directly associated with the keys T1, T2, T3 and T4, for example the keys 26, 29, 30 and 31 of the universal remote control 15 of FIG Fig. 2 , The codes C5 to C8 are not assigned to a special key and therefore at the corresponding place in Fig. 4 a "0" is shown. The code C9 is in turn associated with a key T5, such as the key 32 of the universal remote control 15 of Fig. 2 , Correspondingly, such assignments are stored for all other devices and for the corresponding users.

From this organization follows that, for example, when selecting the device 1 by the user USR1 on pressing one of the keys T1 to T5 immediately the corresponding code C1, C2, C3, C4 and C9 is sent from the universal remote control 15, while for the remaining codes C5 to C8 and C10 to Cn no direct assignment to an individual key is made, but only an "indirect" assignment. The corresponding memory addresses and thus the codes can on the above movement keys, ie in particular the keys 21 and 22 of the universal remote control 15 of Fig. 2 With this movement keys 21,22,23 or 24, the user can thus "move" vertically and horizontally through the memory and drive individual memory addresses, which him at the same time on the screen 2 in a menu ( Fig. 6 ) is shown. By pressing the movement buttons on the universal remote control 15 so a new memory address is simultaneously selected and sent a coded signal to the control unit 5, which there has a change in the display in the menu system result. The menu system of the control unit and the memory 44 of the universal remote control are thus synchronized with each other. In the event that the synchronization should have been lost when changing the battery, it is provided that when calling the menu system, a synchronization signal is transmitted, for example from the universal remote control 15 to the control unit 5, which for example denotes a memory address.

This will be related in detail Fig. 6 explained.

FIG. 6 2 shows the menu for normal operation appearing on the screen 2, via which the devices 6 to 14 (FIG. Fig. 1 ) and their functions can be called. This menu is activated by pressing a predetermined key, for example the confirmation key 25. In a column 41 several fields appear, which designate the corresponding devices. In a row 42 also appear several fields that denote the individual functions of the corresponding devices, with the column 41 and the line 42 in a focus field 43 intersect. With the movement keys 21 and 22, the elements of the column 41 are shifted up and down, while the elements of the line are moved to the right or left by the movement keys 23 and 24. The element located in the focus field 43 can then be selected by the key 25, whereupon the code assigned to this field or its function is emitted by the universal remote control 15, which triggers the corresponding function on the selected device. If the desired function is thereby selected, the menu disappears from the screen 2 and normal operation continues.

The arrangement of the individual elements of the fields can be selected user-dependent and during programming the universal remote control 15 are selected.

According to a variant of the invention, the memory in which all codes, users and key assignments are stored can also be accommodated spatially in the control unit 5. In the universal remote control then only a very small supply of code is stored, namely only codes for the keys located on the universal remote control 15 via which the menu system is controlled.

In this connection, it should be emphasized that the term "key" or "keys" includes not only keys in the narrower sense, but also any other input means, such as e.g. a touch-sensitive button (so-called touch screen) on the touch by predetermined areas or by predefined movements of an object such. a finger can be used to trigger certain commands via this touch screen.

Relating to FIG. 5 Now, the operation of the programmed universal remote control 15 will be explained. It is assumed that previously on the menu system in conjunction with the universal remote control 5, the mode for the operation of the satellite receiver 6 (eg, device 1 in Fig. 4 ) was selected. Thus, for example, the key 21 can be assigned the function "channel change forward" and the button 22 the function "channel change backwards". If these keys are pressed on the universal remote control 15, then the correspondingly encoded infrared signal from the transmitter diode 34 of the universal remote control 15 is sent to a receiving diode 36 of the satellite receiver 6, which is indicated by the arrow 36.

Other functions, such as the function "volume" of the loudspeakers 3 and 4 of the television receiver 1 can always be assigned to specific keys, such as the keys 27 and 28, independently of the selected device. If these buttons are pressed, the transmitting diode 34 of the universal remote control 15 sends a corresponding control signal to a receiving diode 38 of the television receiver 1, which is represented by the arrow 37, while the device 6 does not respond to these signals. If the user can run the sound of the TV via a music system, so of course the programming can also be done so that with the above buttons 27 and 28, the volume of the music system is changed.

Other functions of the activated device 6 can be directly assigned to the other buttons, such as 29 to 32, so that the user can call the function directly about it. Other functions of the activated device 6 can be reduced due to the lower number of buttons of the universal remote control compared to the original remote control (6.1 in FIG. 1 ) can not be called directly. Rather, they are called via a menu system which the user activates at the universal remote control 15 by a predetermined key, for example, the confirmation key 25 or one of the keys 29 to 32. Via the communication link 18, a menu system is activated in the central control unit 5 and displayed on the screen 2 is displayed. The user can then use the movement keys 21 to 24 to select a particular menu item, for example, the "channel search" function in the satellite receiver and to select this by the confirmation key 25. The universal remote control 15 then sends the stored coded infrared signal directly to the corresponding device 6, which is represented by the arrow 36. Alternatively, if remote control codes are stored in the control unit 5, the remote control codes may be transmitted via the communication link 18 to the universal remote control 15, which then forwards it to the device 6 as shown by the arrow 36.

Instead, the controller 5 may also send the encoded signal directly to the selected device 6, as indicated by the arrow 39. If the device 6 is also directly, i. via cable, can be controlled by the central control unit 5, a corresponding signal can also be transmitted via the cable.

Will the user operate another device, such as the DVD player 7 of FIG. 1 , he then calls the menu system again and selects there with the movement keys 21 to 24 and the confirmation key 25, the corresponding menu, whereupon the corresponding key assignment in the universal remote control 15 is activated, ie the memory area for the device 7 is addressed.

In the same way, all connected devices 6 to 14 of the FIG. 1 activated and the universal remote control 15 are assigned the appropriate codes and key assignments.

Claims (5)

1. Multimedia-arrangement with a control device (5), to which several remote controllable electronic devices (6-14) are connectible, with a programmable universal remote control (15), that includes a receiving equipment (34) for receiving remote control codes (C1...Cn) and a memory (44) to save the remote control codes (C1...Cn),
   wherein the control device (5) includes an equipment to receive, analyze and decode remote control signals (6.2-14.2) of original remote controls (6.1-14.1),
   wherein the remote control (5) includes an equipment to send out the before received remote control signals (6.2-14.2) as remote control codes (C1...Cn) to the universal remote control (15) and wherein the universal remote control (15) includes an equipment to receive the remote control codes sent by the control device (5), characterized in,
   that the control device (5) and the universal remote control (15) each include a sending and receiving equipment (34, 40) for bidirectionally communicating with each other,
   that the memory (44) of the universal remote control (15) is organized in form of a matrix,
   that all fields of the matrix are accessable via at highest four movement buttons (21, 22, 23, 24) of the universal remote control (15),
   that at least selected codes of predefined buttons of the original remote control (6.1) are saved only in indirect allocation to specific buttons and called later in operation under control of the universal remote control (15) in connection with the central control unit (5) and a menu system, and
   that when the movement buttons (21-24) are pressed the universal remote control (15) sends out predefined signals to the control device (5) that shows on a screen (2) a menu system that is synchronized with the remote control codes (C1...Cn) of the memory (44).
2. Multimedia-arrangement of claim 1, characterized in that predefined fields of the matrix are accessible directly by special buttons (26, 29, 30, 31, 32) of the universal remote control (15).
3. Multimedia-arrangement of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the universal remote control (5) includes an identification equipment (33) for identifying predefined persons and that the memory (44) includes predefined areas that are available only after identification of a predefined user for the universal remote control (15) in advance.
4. Multimedia-arrangement of one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the memory (44) of the universal remote control (15) is a SIM-card memory that is insertable into a SIM-card reading device (45) of the universal remote control (15).
5. Method for programming a universal remote control by means of an original remote control, with the following steps:

   sending out a remote control signal of an original remote control to a central control device;

   receiving, analyzing, decoding and newly coding the received signal in the central control device,

   sending out the newly coded signal from the central control device to the universal remote control;

   storing the remote control code transmitted from the control device to the universal remote control in a memory of the universal remote control,

   characterized in

   that at least selected codes are of predefined buttons of the original remote control (6.1) are stored only in direct allocation to specific buttons and called later in operation under controlling the universal remote control (15) in connection with the central control unit (5) and a menu system, and

   that the universal remote control (15) sends out when pressing movement buttons (21-24) predefined signals to the control device (5) that shows on a screen (2) a menu system that is synchronized with the remote control codes (C1...Cn) of the memory (44).

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