MXPA97001718A - Remote control of video cassette recording operations on telephone lines - Google Patents

Abstract

The novel methods of control and / or programming of a video cassette recorder (VCR) from a remote location. An improved telephone answering machine with a controllable VCR with existing infrared remote control was used. The improved telephone answering machine includes a processor coupled to a transmitter, a message delivery and recording system, a DTMF detector, and a memory device. The message delivery and recording system and the DTMF detector are adapted to be coupled to a connection / call line. A plurality of VCR orders were provided, each including a specific sequence of DTMF tones. The memory device stores a table associating each of the plurality of VCR orders with (a) an activation parameter of the infrared transmitter, and (b) an activation parameter of the message delivery and recording device. In response to the VCR reception, the processor searches for the table to retrieve the activation parameter of the infrared transmitter, and the activation parameter of the message delivery and recording device, associated with the command. The processor activates the infrared transmitter according to the activation parameter of the infrared transmitter. The processor also activates the message delivery and recording device according to the activation parameter of the message delivery and recording device.

Description

REMOTE CONTROL OF VIDEO CASSETTE RECORDING OPERATIONS ON TELEPHONE LINES FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates generally to telephone answering machines, and more specifically to answering machines that are used to control auxiliary devices such as video cassette recorders.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The different functions of the existing video cassette recorders (hereinafter, VCR) are programmable by the user and / or controllable by the user.

That is, the user can program the VCR to record a television program that will be broadcast on a known date and time in the future. The VCR can be controlled to record a television program of a selected station in real time, rewind the video cassette, and / or play a pre-recorded tape, for example. Some VCR devices still allow programming of separate recording times for each of a plurality of television programs that occur REF: 24287 thereafter.VCR control and programming functions are executed by pressing the appropriate contact switches on the device. VCR itself, and / or by pressing the appropriate keys from an infrared remote control that is attached to the VCR, in this way, the VCR can be programmed to record television programs that are transmitted while the user is at work. shopping, vacations, or sleeping. One drawback of existing VCRs is that the 0 user can not control or program the VCR from a remote location beyond the scope of the infrared remote control. If the user thinks to be away from home while a desired television program is broadcast, the user may forget to program the VCR before leaving home. Alternatively, the user may consider returning home to view a given transmission, but be stopped unexpectedly. Under any of the circumstances mentioned above, the user will not be able to record the desired program in the VCR.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Novel systems and methods are provided for controlling and / or programming a video cassette recorder (VCR) from a remote location. According to a modality described Here, an improved telephone answering machine is provided for use with an existing VCR that is equipped to be controlled and / or programmed by an infrared remote control. The improved telephone answering machine includes a processor coupled to an infrared transmitter, a message delivery and recording system, a DTMF tone detector, and a memory device. The message delivery and recording system and the DTMF tone detector are each adapted to be coupled to a connection / call line. A plurality of VCR commands are provided. Each VCR order includes a specific DTMF tone and / or a specific sequence of DTMF tones. The memory is adapted to store a VCR command lookup table that associates each of the plurality of VCR commands with (a) an activation parameter of the corresponding infrared transmitter, and (b) an activation parameter of the delivery device. and message recording. In response to the receipt of a VCR command by the DTMF tone detector, the processor looks up the VCR command lookup table to retrieve the infrared transmitter activation parameter, and the activation parameter of the VCR delivery and recording device. messages, associated with the VCR order. The processor activates the infrared transmitter according to the activation parameter of the infrared transmitter. The processor also activates the message delivery and recording device according to the activation parameter of the message delivery and recording device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the physical computing components of a system to control and / or program a VCR from a remote location; Figure 2 is a diagram of the data structure showing a VCR Order Table constructed in accordance with a modality described herein; and the. Figure 3 is a flow chart of the programs and programming systems showing a method for controlling and / or programming a VCR from a remote location according to a modality described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the physical computing components of a system to program and / or control a VCR from a remote location. The system includes an improved telephone answering machine 104 adapted for use with an existing VCR 10 ?. Note that the VCR 102 is equipped to be controlled by an infrared remote control 116. The VCR 102 includes a VCR tuner 106 coupled to an antenna 134. The antenna 134 can represent a traditional TV antenna, a connection to a TV system by cable and / or a connection to a satellite receiving device. A VCR processor 110, coupled to a VCR memory 114, is programmed to control a VCR deck 108 as well as the VCR tuner 106. The processor 110 is also coupled to an infrared sensor 112. The infrared sensor 112 is adapted to receive signals from infrared commands generated by the far infrared 116, and to convert those infrared signals into electronic command signals that are readable by the VCR 110 processor. The VCR 110 processor responds to the electronic command signals • - activating and / or deactivating the element of the appropriate computing physical components of the VCR 102 at the appropriate time, such as, for example, the magnetic tape of the VCR 108. The infrared remote control 116 is provided at the user's convenience. The infrared command signals of the remote control 116 are used to control the operation of the VCR 102 from a relatively close remote location. In this way, the user does not need to leave his chair to execute some operations of the VCR. For example, infrared signals are used to instruct the VCR 108's deck to play, re-record, rewind and fast forward, to instruct the VCR's tuner 106 to tune to a specific channel, to program the VCR to to record at any given time, and to program the VCR to stop recording at any given time. In addition, some, but not all, VCRs respond to infrared commands to program the VCR to record a particular program, to adjust the volume of the audio playback, and to adjust the time or time on the 111 clock. clock 111 is a real-time clock which uses the processor 110 as a reference to determine the time or time at which the VCR was programmed to start recording, and the time or time at which the VCR was programmed to stop recording . Any of the different existing data protocols can be used to implement these infrared command signals. These protocols are well known to those skilled in the art. In general, infrared command signals modulate a source of infrared radiation with a sequence of pulses or tones, so that a particular sequence represents a specific VCR order, ie play, record, stop, etc. Note that some of the existing remote controls can be programmed to implement any of a plurality of data protocols selected by the user, while other remote controls are equipped to implement only one data protocol. In general, there should be a straight path between the infrared remote control 116 and the infrared sensor 5 112, or the infrared sensor will be unable to receive the infrared command signals emitted by the infrared remote control 116. Furthermore, even if such a straight path exists , the signals of infrared commands are attenuated with the incriento of the distance of the remote control, so -10 that the signals are no longer of sufficient amplitude to be received by the infrared sensor at a distance greater than about twenty feet or more. The existing infrared remote control extenders can extend this distance interval, L5 providing coverage through several rooms of a typical residential home by coupling AC power lines, by using 900 MHz signals, and / or receiving, amplifying and retransmitting infrared command signals by remote control 110. However , those remote control extender devices generally do not provide significant remote control coverage outside the confines of a typical residential home. In many circumstances, it may be desirable to control the operations of the VCR 102 from relatively large distances, beyond the boundaries of a residence in which the VCR is located. For example, a VCR user may wish to record a given program while waiting to be away from home. In many cases, the VCR user leaves the house, forgetting to program the VCR. When the VCR user finally remembers not to program the VCR, the user can, at a substantial distance from home, possibly at work, at school or on vacation. Using the technology of the prior art, the user is faced with the dilemma of returning home to program the VCR, with the resulting inconvenience, expense and waste of time, or to completely forget about the program. If the user is on vacation, returning from a trip home to schedule the VCR is sometimes impractical and out of the question. According to the techniques described herein, the improved telephone answering machine 104 is used to control and / or program the VCR 102 from any place that has access to the public telephone network. Such a network may be very far from the range of remote control 116, and also beyond the range of existing remote control extender devices. The improved telephone answering machine 104 is equipped with an infrared transmitter 130 and a processor 122 programmed to activate the infrared transmitter 130 in response to the DTMF signals received over the public telephone network, i.e., over the connection / call line 118. The infrared transmitter 130 is coupled to infrared sensor 112 of VCR 102. Improved telephone answering machine 104 is coupled to connection / call lines 118 of the public telephone network and / or to a wireless communication link that is coupled to the network public telephone The enhanced telephone answering machine 104 includes a call detector 120, a switch hook 124 and a hook-off detector 126, a message delivery and recording device 128, and a DTMF detector 138, which are coupled to the connection line / call 118 and processor 122. Conventional components may be employed to implement call detector 128, switch hook 124, off hook detector 126, DTMF detector 138, and processor 122. For example, a circuit microprocessor may be used. conventional integrated processor 122. The processor 122 is coupled to a memory 136, which may be a random access memory (RAM) device, a read-only memory (ROM) device, or any convenient combination of RAM and ROM The configurations of physical computing components suitable for the message delivery and recording device 128 can be found in the answering machines existing up to now. At this point, note that the message recording delivery device 128 can, but need not, be integrated into the memory 136. The processor 122 is equipped to retrieve two general message categories from the message delivery and recording device 128. - The first category includes the incoming messages received from the callers and the generated messages recorded by the user of the answering machine. The second category includes predetermined messages to be delivered to the user / subscriber who calls the answering machine, such as a list of DTMF orders that can be entered, a voice command and / or a voice menu. The first category of messages may, but not necessarily, be stored in RAM, and the second category of messages may, but not necessarily, be stored in the ROM. The messages are recorded by digitally sampling and storing the messages that enter digitally into an electronic memory, and / or storing the messages that go into analog form on a micro cassette tape. The processor 122 selects a message to be delivered instructing the message delivery and recording device 128 to retrieve a given digitized message from the electronic memory, and / or to retrieve a given analog message from a micro cassette tape. If the retrieved message is in digitized form, the message delivery and recording device 128 converts the message to its analog form and places the message on the connection / completion line 118. If the retrieved message is in analog form, the message it can be placed directly on the connection / call line 118. The existing answering machines use the message delivery and recording device 128 to allow the user of the answering machine to retrieve the messages coming from a remote place by entering a code of security followed by several optional orders.

. After the user dials into the answering machine and enters a DTMF security code, the message delivery and recording system can deliver one or more messages to the user, and those messages can include messages in the first and / or second categories mentioned. previously. In addition to providing spoken suggestions related to the retrieval of the message, the message delivery and recording device 128 of the enhanced telephone answering machine 104 is programmed to provide voice menus related to the voice commands.

- "VCR." As will be described in more detail below in connection with Figure 3, the user programs and / or controls the VCR 102 by placing an incoming call on the enhanced telephone answering machine 104. Upon receipt of a selected sequence of DTMF digits on the 5 connection / call line 118, the enhanced telephone answering machine introduces a VCR control / programming mode In the control / programming mode, the user enters one or more DTMF VCR commands. Enhanced Telephone System converts those DTMF VCR commands into infrared command signals to control and / or program the VCR 102, according to the table of Figure 2. Figure 2 is a table showing the data structure of a Data Table. Exemplary VCR Command Reference 200 to provide a plurality of DTMF VCR commands The VCR Command Reference Table 200 is stored in memory 136 (Figure 1). This includes an "entered DTMF VCR command field" 202, a "infrared transmitter activation parameter specification field" 204, and a "command description field for the message delivery / recording device" 206. "DTMF VCR command field entered" 202 includes a plurality of VCR commands in the form of specific sequences of DTMF digits. Each VCP command is associated with (a) a corresponding infrared transmitter activation parameter, and (b) an activation parameter of the message delivery and recording device. The activation parameter of the infrared transmitter is stored in the "infrared transmitter activation parameter specification field" 204, and the activation parameter of the message delivery and recording device is stored in the "command description field for the message delivery / recording device "206. In the example of Figure 2, the DTMF * 73 (* RE) sequence corresponds to the infrared command that instructs the VCR to start recording now. This DTMF sequence was selected for illustrative purposes only, it should be clearly understood that other suitable DTMF sequences may alternatively be employed to implement the "start recording now" command. Such alternative DTMF sequences could contain only one digit of DTMF, or up to ten or more DTMF digits, and such sequences do not need to start with the "*" key. In the present case, * 73 was selected as the corresponding order for "Record" (record) because the alphanumeric character "R" appears on the "7" key of conventional DTMF numeric keypads, the alphanumeric character "E" appears in the "3" key of conventional DTMF numeric keypads, "R" and "E" are the first two letters of the word "RECORD" (record), and a longer DTMF command may be difficult to enter. Similarly, * 75 (* PL) was selected as the order corresponding to "PLay" (play), * 78 (* ST) for "STOP" (high) and * 27xxxx (* BR) for "Begin -Recording at time xx: xx "(start recording at time xx: xx), where xx: xx represents the time in military format entered as DTMF digits. However, note that the conventional 12-hour time could be used, followed by a designation for AM and / or PM. + 72nn (* RC) specifies "Record from Channel nn" (record of 5 channel nn), where nn represents a cable and / or broadcast channel numbered nn. * 77yyyy (* SR) specifies "Stop Recording at time yy: yy" (stop recording at time yy: yy), where yy.yy represents the time in military format entered as DTMF digits. As in the case of the J Begin Recording command, the conventional 12-hour time here could be used, followed by a designation for AM and / or PM. * 66 (* 0N) is the command to turn on the power supply to the VCR 102, and * 633 (* 0FF) is the command to j - • turn off the power supply to the VCR. * 267 (* ANS) is the command to exit the programming / control mode of the VCR and resume normal answering machine operations that do not involve the VCR 102, such as retrieving incoming telephone messages. * zzzz is the order to enter the programming / control mode of the VCR, and also functions as an access and / or security code, so that calling subscribers entering, reaching the enhanced telephone answering machine 104 are not able to control / program the VCR 102 unless they know the code -5 appropriate security. In this example, zzzz represents an arbitrarily selected sequence of DTMF digits that can be selected by the user as a security code, and / or can be programmed in the factory VCR 200 order query table. The processor 122 may, but not necessarily, be programmed to allow the user to change his security code in the future. Of course, a four-digit security code has been shown for illustrative purposes only, it should be understood that codes having more or less than four DTMF digits may also be employed. A DTMF command (ie, * 758 Immmmm for PLUSmm-np-m) can be used to activate a simplified VCR recording mode generally known as "VCR Plus" and offered in the United States by the GemStar Corporation. According to the VCR Más system, specific television programs were assigned corresponding five-digit codes, denoted in the present example by mmmium. In a VCR 102 equipped with VCR Plus, the user of the VCR only needs to input a specially designated key on the infrared remote control 116 (thereby generating an "infrared VCR activation" control signal), followed by the code of VCR More than five digits, and the VCR will automatically record the desired program at the appropriate time. In the context of the enhanced telephone answering machine 104, when the DTMF detector 138 (Figure 1) receives the DTMF command for the VCR Plus (ie, * 7857m-7imm-O), the processor activates the infrared transmitter 130 with the "More VCR activation" control signal, followed by the VCR Plus code (mm-r-mm). The specific sequences of DTMF digits assigned to the different orders of Figure 2 are shown for purposes of illustration, it should be understood that it is possible to assign other DTMF sequences to represent given orders. Orders do not necessarily have to start with DTMF *, or with any other specific DTMF entry, nor do orders have to include a minimum of three DTMF entries.An order can include just one DTMF key entry, or as many entries key as desired to express the required information and remain within the practical and convenience limits. In addition, other VCR commands than those shown in Figure 2 may be represented using DTMF digit sequences. The way in which the infrared transmitter 130 (Figure 1) must be modulated to command the VCR 102 to start recording is stored in the "infrared transmitter activation parameter specification field" 204 (Figure 2). Note that different VCR manufacturers do not generally use the same scheme of infrared modulation to instruct the VCR to start recording. Therefore, the VCR Command Reference Table 200 can be provided with a plurality of "infrared transmitter activation parameter specification fields" 204, where each of such fields is associated with a given VCR manufacturer. In this situation, the processor 122 (Figure 1) is programmed to request the user of the user's VCR during the initial installation of the enhanced telephone answering machine 104. The processor then activates the specification field of the activation parameter of the user. transmitter 204 (Figure 2) corresponding to this manufacturer, and deactivates any remaining transmitter activation parameter specification fields. If the specification fields of the activation parameter of the transmitter 204 correspond to the manufacturer entered by the user, the processor 122 (Figure 1) activates the message delivery and recording device 128 to deliver the spoken message to the user, "This telephone answering machine is not programmed to control its particular VCR brand". The processor 122 may be programmed to provide a voice menu option that allows the user to change the manufacturer of the specified VCR during the initial installation in the event that the user changes or updates the VCR 102.

The command description field for the message delivery / recording device 206 (Figure 2) is used by the processor 122 (Figure 1) to activate the message delivery and recording device 128. The message delivery and recording device 128 is activated to deliver the respective message of the DTMF command entered by the user and displayed in the "DTMF VCR command field entered" 202 (Figure 2). For example, in the case of the command * 73 (Record), the "command description field for the message delivery / recording device" 206 contains the entry "activate VCR recording now". The processor 122 (Figure 1) downloads this input to the message delivery / recording device 128, and the message delivery / recording device converts the input into a spoken suggestion that establishes "activate VCR recording now". The deliveries shown in the "command description field for the message delivery / recording device" 206 (Figure 2) are for illustrative purposes, and other descriptive entries could also be used for the orders in the "DTMF VCR command field. "202. In response to receiving a VCR command by the DTMF tone detector 138 (FIG. 1), the processor 122 searches the VCR 200 command look-up table (FIG. 2) to retrieve the activation parameter of the VCR 200. infrared transmitter, and the activation parameter of the message delivery and recording device, associated with the VCR command. The processor activates the infrared transmitter in accordance with the activation parameter of the infrared transmitter contained in the "infrared transmitter activation parameter specification field" 204 (Figure 2). The processor also activates the message delivery and recording device according to the activation parameter of the message delivery and recording device specified in the "command description field for the message delivery / recording device" 206. The Figure 3 is a flow chart for programs and programming systems showing a method for programming and / or controlling a VCR from a remote location according to a modality described herein. The program begins at block 301, where an incoming telephone call is received by the enhanced telephone answering machine 104 (Figure 1) on the connection / call line 118 (Figure 1). At this point, the incoming call can be originated by the user of the VCR, who is calling the enhanced telephone answering machine 104 from a location that is far away from the VCR 102. However, it is also possible that the incoming call is originated by a third subscriber who wishes to leave a voice or spoken message on the enhanced telephone answering machine 104, and who, in fact may not be aware that the enhanced telephone answering machine 104 is equipped to control / Schedule a VCR. It is also possible that the incoming call is originated by the VCR user, but that the VCR user only wants to retrieve voice or spoken messages that enter, and not control / program the VCR at that time. In addition, regardless of who originates the incoming call, and regardless of the purpose of the call (control of the VCR, delivers a voice message, retrieves voice messages, etc.), an individual in the vicinity of the POTS phone ( telephone device of the old plan) 132 (Figure 1) can answer the incoming call. Note that, although the POTS telephone 132 is shown as a discrete element by the configuration of Figure 1, it is also possible to integrate POTS 132 telephones to the improved telephone answering machine 104. The factors described in the previous paragraph are taken into consideration with reference to the sequence of operations performed in blocks 303 and 305. Block 303 addresses the situation where an individual answers the incoming call using the POTS telephone 132. Processor 122 checks off-hook detector 126 to see if the POTS telephone 132 continues or not hung for at least N intervals of call signs, where N is selected to be a convenient number in the range of, say, one to twelve ringing intervals. If the POTS telephone 132 is off-hook after N ring signal intervals have elapsed, the program control progresses to block 305 where it is determined that the POTS 132 telephone has answered the incoming call, and the program exits. If the incoming telephone call is not answered after N ring signal intervals have elapsed, the program control progresses to block 307. At this stage, it is still not known if the incoming call is from the VCR user or a third caller. In addition, if the call is from the VCR user, it is not known if the VCR user wishes to have access to the conventional telephone answering machine functions, VCR control / programming functions, or both answering machine functions and VCR Therefore, the enhanced telephone answering machine 104 answers the incoming call and the processor 122 instructs the message delivery and recording device 128 to deliver a greeting or welcome message to the connection / call line 118. It is assumed that a welcome message or appropriate greeting has previously been recorded by the user of the enhanced telephone answering machine 104 and stored in the message delivery and recording device 128. Next, the DTMF volume detector 138 checks the connection line / call for a DTMF VCR access code which is a sequential combination arbitrarily selected from DTMF digits. This access code is stored in the Introduced DTMF VCR Command Field 202 of the VCR 200 Command Reference Table (Figure 2). The Order Query Table of VCR 200 is stored in memory 136 (Figure 1). The processor 122 encodes the DTMF tone detector 138 to see whether or not any DTMF digits are received on the connection / call line. If any DTMF digits are received, the processor 122 compares the access code stored in the memory 136 with the DTMF digits received by the DTMF tone detector 138. The processor determines whether or not the digits received by the DTMF tone detector 138 are equal to the access code stored in the memory 136. If the processor 122 determines that the received digits are equal to the access code stored in the memory, the process control progresses to block 311, described below. If DTMF digits are not received, or if the processor 122 determines that the received digits are not equal to the access code stored in the memory, the program advances to block 309 where the operations of the conventional telephone answering machine are resumed. If, for example, the incoming call is from a third calling subscriber, the message delivery and recording device 128 of the enhanced telephone answering machine 104 (Figure 1) stores the incoming message from that subscriber. If the incoming call is from the user of the enhanced telephone answering machine 104, then the processor 122 allows the user to retrieve the message that entered in a conventional manner. Typically, those messages are retrieved when the user enters a security code in the recovery of special DTMF messages stored in memory 136. To avoid confusion in the context of the present situation, the user of the improved telephone answering machine 104 could not select identical DTMF sequences for the VCR access code and the message retrieval security code. Optionally, the processor 122 may be programmed, as part of the operations to be performed in block 307, to allow the situation where the message retrieval security code and the VCR access code are identical. The use of such a common code can be advantageous, since the user needs to remember only one code instead of two codes separately. In that case, the processor 122 checks the DTMF tone detector 138 to see whether or not the common code on the connection / call line 118 has been received. If the code has been received, the processor then activates the message delivery and recording device. 128 to deliver a voice suggestion to the user asking if the user wishes to retrieve the messages they entered, or to program / control the VCR, to enter a first digit DTMF or sequence of DTMF digits if it is desired to retrieve messages, and to enter a second DTMF digit or DTMF digit sequence if you want to program / control the VCR. The processor 122 then checks the DTMF tone detector 138. If the DTMF tone detector 138 receives the first DTMF digit or DTMF digit sequence, the program control proceeds to block 309 (Figure 3) where the operations of the DTMF are resumed. conventional telephone answering machine, and if the DTMF tone detector 138 (Figure 1) receives the second DTMF digit or DTMF digit sequence, then the control program advances to block 311 (Figure 3). Program control proceeds from block 307 to block 311 when processor 122 determines (in the block 307) that the user wants to program / control the VCR 102 (Figure 1). In block 311, processor 122 (Figure 1) activates the message delivery and recording device 128, requesting the user to enter a VCR command in the form of DTMF tones. The available commands of the infrared remote control 116 and loaded in the "entered DTMF VCR command field" 202 (Figure 2) can be entered by the user at this time. The user enters a sequence of DTMF digits corresponding to the desired VCR order. The program progresses to block 315 where the processor 122 checks the DTMF tone detector 138 to see whether or not a valid VCR command has been received. In this context, a valid VCR command is any order included in the "DTMF VCR command field entered" 202 (Figure 2). Therefore, at this time, the processor 122 (Figure 1) searches the VCR Command Reference Table 200 (Figure 2) to find a table entry corresponding to the received command, that is, any entry where the "entered DTMF VCR command field" 202 equals the received sequence of DTMF digits. If such a table entry is found, processor 122 (Figure 1) retrieves the table entry and proceeds to block 323. If a valid order has not been received (the entry found in the order inquiry table is not matched). VCR 200, Figure 2), the program advances to block 319 (Figure 3) where processor 122 (Figure 1) activates the message delivery and recording device 128 to deliver an error message to the connection / call line 138 , "You have entered an invalid VCR order, please try again, or hang up to finish the VCR programming / control operations." The program then returns back to block 311 (Figure 3).

If the user has entered a valid VCR order, the program proceeds to block 323 where the processor 122 (Figure 1) downloads a portion of the table entry retrieved from block 315 (Figure 3) to the message delivery and recording device 126 (Figure 1). The portion of the table entry downloaded to the message delivery and recording device 128 is the "command description field for the message delivery / recording device" 206 of the table entry retrieved from block 315 (Figure 3). The processor 122 (Figure 1) then activates the message delivery and recording device 128 to deliver a confirmation message to the connection / call line 118 of the general form, "You have entered a valid VCR command. specifies X, will now be executed ", where X is the description of the command contained in the" command description field for the message delivery / recording device "206 (Figure 2). In block 327 (Figure 3), processor 122 (Figure 1) activates infrared transmitter 130 using the "infrared transmitter activation parameter specification field" 204 (Figure 2) of the table entry retrieved from block 315 (FIG. Figure 3). Note that the operations of block 323 can be performed immediately before, immediately after, and / or simultaneously with the operations of block 327. Next, in block 329, processor 122 (Figure 1) activates the device for delivery and recording of 128 messages to deliver a suggestion or voice request in the general way "If you wish to enter another VCR order, please press now. If you wish to terminate the VCR programming / control operations, please press zero." Block 331, processor 122 performs a test to see whether or not the user has entered DTMF "0". If so, the program exits and the operations of the conventional telephone answering machine are summarized. If not, the program control progresses to block 333, where the processor 122 performs a test to see whether or not the user has entered DTMF "1". If the user has not entered a DTMF "1", the program returns again to block 329. If the user has entered a DTMF "1", the program returns again to block 311. It is reported that in relation to this date, The best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention is that which is clear from the present description of the invention. Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following:

Claims (9)

REI INDICATIONS

1. A system for controlling and / or programming a video cassette recorder (VCR) from a remote location, the system that is adapted for use with (a) an existing VCR equipped to be controlled and / or programmed by a remote infrared control, (b) ) input means to accept non-infrared electronic representations of VCR commands; and (c) communication means coupled between the input means and the system; the system characterized by: (a) a receiver, coupled to the communication means, for receiving the non-infrared electronic representations of VCR commands; (b) conversion means, coupled to the receiver, for converting a non-infrared electronic representation of a VCR command to an infrared VCR command; (c) an infrared transmitter, coupled to the conversion means, for transmitting infrared VCR commands.

2. A system for controlling and / or programming a video cassette recorder (VCR) from a remote unit, the system is adapted to be used with an existing VCR equates to be controlled and / or programmed by means of an infrared remote control, the system characterized by a improved telephone answering machine that includes: (a) a processor; (b) an infrared transmitter; (c) a message delivery and recording system; (d) a DTMF tone detector; and (e) a memory device; wherein the infrared transmitter, the message delivery and recording system, the DTMF tone detector, and the memory device are all coupled to the processor; and wherein the message delivery and recording system and the DTMF tone detector are adapted to be coupled to a connection / call line.

3. The system for controlling and / or programming a VCR according to claim 2, characterized in that the memory device is adapted to store a plurality of VCR commands, each VCR command includes a specific DTMF tone and / or a specific sequence of DTMF tone.

4. The system for controlling and / or programming a VCR according to claim 3, characterized in that the VCR commands are stored in the form of a VCR command lookup table associating each of the plurality of VCR commands with (a ) an activation parameter of the corresponding infrared transmitter, and (b) a parameter of "activation of the message delivery and recording device; the activation parameter of the infrared transmitter specifies the manner in which the infrared transmitter is to be activated in response to the DTMF tone detector that receives a given VCR command, the activation parameter of the message delivery and recording device specifies the manner in which the message delivery and recording device is to be activated in response to the DTMF tone detector that receives a given VCR command.

5. A method for controlling and / or programming a video cassette recorder (VCR) from a remote location, the method is adapted for use with (i) an existing VCR equipped to be controlled and / or programmed by means of an infrared remote control and ( ii) an improved telephone answering machine that includes a processor, an infrared transmitter, a message delivery and recording system, a DTMF tone detector; and a memory device; the infrared transmitter, the message delivery and recording system, the DTMF tone detector, and the memory device are coupled to the processor; the message delivery and recording system and the DTMF tone detector are adapted to be coupled to a connection / call line; the method is characterized by the steps of: (a) storing a first order of VCR in the memory device; and (b) storing a second VCR order in the memory device; wherein each VCR command includes a specific DTMF 0 tone and / or a specific sequence of DTMF tones.

6. The method for controlling and / or programming a VCR according to claim 5, characterized in that it also includes the step of storing the first and second i 5 VCR commands in the form of a VCR command query table associating each order of VCR <;? n (a) a corresponding infrared transmitter activation parameter, and (b) an activation parameter of the message delivery and recording device; or the activation parameter of the infrared transmitter specifies the manner in which the infrared transmitter is to be activated in response to the DTMF tone detector that receives a given VCR command; the device activation parameter of message delivery and recording J specifies the manner in which the message delivery and recording device is to be activated in response to the DTMF tone detector that receives a given VCR command.

7. The method for programming and / or controlling a VCR according to claim 6, characterized in that it also includes the steps of: (a) in response to receiving a VCR command by the DTMF tone detector, the processor looks for the table VCR command inquiry to retrieve the infrared transmitter activation parameter associated with the VCR command; and (b) in response to receipt of a VCR command by the DTMF tone detector, the processor searches the VCR command look-up table to retrieve the activation parameter of the message delivery and recording device associated with the command of VCR.

8. The method for programming and / or controlling a VCR according to claim 7, characterized in that it also includes the step that the processor activates the infrared transmitter according to the activation parameter of the infrared transmitter.

9. The method for programming and / or controlling a VCR according to claim 7, characterized in that it also includes the step that the processor activates the message delivery and recording device according to the activation parameter of the delivery and recording device of messages. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The novel methods of control and / or programming of a video cassette recorder (VCR) from a remote location. An improved telephone answering machine with a controllable VCR with existing infrared remote control was used. The improved telephone answering machine includes a processor coupled to an infrared transmitter, a message delivery and recording system, a DTMF detector, and a memory device. The message delivery and recording system and the DTMF detector are adapted to be coupled to a connection / call line. A plurality of VCR commands were provided, each including a specific sequence of DTMF tones. The memory device stores a table associating each of the plurality of VCR commands with (a) an activation parameter of the infrared transmitter, and (b) an activation parameter of the message delivery and recording device. In response to the VCR reception, the processor searches for the table to retrieve the activation parameter of the infrared transmitter, and the activation parameter of the message delivery and recording device, associated with the command. The processor activates the infrared transmitter according to the activation parameter of the infrared transmitter. The processor also activates the message delivery and recording device according to the activation parameter of the message delivery and recording device.