WO2017195091A1

WO2017195091A1 - A universal remote control system and method to configure the same

Info

Publication number: WO2017195091A1
Application number: PCT/IB2017/052663
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tarun Gupta
Original assignee: Tarun Gupta
Priority date: 2016-05-07
Filing date: 2017-05-08
Publication date: 2017-11-16

Abstract

The present invention provides a universal remote control system and a method to configure a universal remote device with remotely controlled electronic devices. The system of the present invention comprises a remote communication module for transmitting and receiving signals, a control module for controlling the transmitting and receiving signals; a configuration module for registering, configuring and storing the command codes; and a cloud database module containing information for device registration. The present invention also provides system for configuring a universal remote control device using a configuration module and a cloud database wherein said configuration module is capable of capturing information and/or identification codes from non-configured devices, transmitting said captured information to a cloud database for device verification and displaying device specific secret configuration codes generated on cloud database upon a successful device verification.

Description

UNIVERSAL REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD TO

CONFIGURE THE SAME"

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to remote control systems and the method to configure the same. More particularly, it relates to a universal remote control system capable of controlling electronic appliances /devices via a single remote control device. Further, the invention provides a method for configuring said universal remote control device with electronic appliances.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At present, electronic devices are provided with remote control units for their operation. Generally, electronic devices from different manufacturers require separate remote controls for their operation. Sometimes, it becomes inconvenient to handle separate remote controls for so many devices for example; operating set-top box, VCR and television sets with separate remote control devices. To overcome this problem, universal remote control systems have been designed to communicate and operate plurality of different electronic devices with a single device. Universal remote control systems require a device set up procedure or configuration process to successfully pair the electronic devices. Usually a universal remote control is programmed by entering a reference code associated with an electronic device to be controlled into a memory device of the universal remote control. The consumer or user is required to program or adapt the universal remote control unit to control the user's particular equipment, such as television set, VCR, entertainment unit, and other devices.

Most common methods of setting up a universal remote control is where user manually configures the universal remote control to select appropriate command codes from a command code library code (Manuals containing long list of device codes such as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,872,562, 5,614,906, 4,959,810, 4,774,511, and 4,703,359 described below. US 5,872,562 provides a permanent non-erasable memory that stores formatting data and command bit patterns for a plurality of devices of different categories manufactured by different manufacturers to be controlled by the remote control transmitter incorporating the memory. For selecting the correct format, the user activates an enter initiate key, thereafter a key to indicate the category of the selected device, and thereafter two digits which together signify the manufacturer and model number. The keyboard output signals resulting from activation of the keys are stored in RAM in the microprocessor controlling the remote control transmitter's operation. The stored values in RAM constitute an address for the memory. Under microprocessor control, the data read out from memory is then applied to the transmitter driver circuit to cause the properly formatted device control signal to be transmitted.

US 4,959,810 provides a universal remote control system and comprises of a data processor, input device including a keyboard and a keyboard circuit connected to the data processor, signal output device including circuitry for generating infrared light codes connected to the data processor means, a memory including a battery backed, non-volatile RAM only and no ROM for storing (a) a set of instructions and (b) a library of code data for enabling the infrared light generating circuitry to generate specific infrared codes, the RAM being coupled to the data processor, and a data coupling device including terminals coupled to the CPU for enabling new code data to be supplied from outside the system to, or retrieved from, the RAM through the terminals and the CPU. US 5,614,906 provides a method for selecting a command set from a group of command sets stored in the remote control. Each remote control command set includes a set of commands for operating at least one of various remotely controllable devices. A command, whose effect is observable in the remotely controlled device is assigned to one of the user actuated keys. The keys are pressed one by one until the user observes the desired effect on the remotely controlled device. The user then signals the remote control to exit the select procedure with the remote control setting the remote control to transmit future commands from the command set including the last transmitted effects observable command having the observed desired effect.

US 4,703,359 provides a remote control unit that responds to activation of a "identify" button by transmitting a sequence of command signals, each of the same command in a different format. Since the appliance to be controlled is turned on, it responds in a predetermined way (e.g. a channel change) when it receives the properly formatted command. The user then terminates the learn mode and a pointer denoting the address of the last transmitted command, i.e. the properly formatted command, is stored in the unit and used as part of the address for reading data for subsequent user selected commands out of memory.

US 4774511 provides a remote control unit that has a selection mechanism for selecting any one of a number of categories of equipment to be controlled. The commands available for keyboard input in any given category are automatically displayed to the user upon selection of the category. Switches are provided for user selection of the model number of any one of a number of manufacturers of the equipment within the category to be controlled. Operation of the switches allows program controlled readouts of formats stored in memory. An infrared LED is then energized in accordance with the format to transmit the signal to the unit to be controlled.

Manual methods for configuring a universal remote control system encounter many problems related to accessibility of command codes, device compatibility. In this process user need to know exact make, model and serial no for particular electronic device. Any mistake in the above information may result in wrong configuration or non-configuration/ non-pairing of universal remote. In another method of setting up a universal remote control to communicate with a given device, command codes are manually learned from a remote control provided by the manufacturer of the given device. US 4,623,887 provides a reconfigurable remote control transmitter that has the ability to learn, store and repeat the remote control codes from any other infrared transmitter. The reconfigurable remote control transmitter includes an infrared receiver, a microprocessor, non volatile and scratch pad random access memories, and an infrared transmitter. In the learning process, the reconfigurable remote control transmitter receives and decodes the transmissions from another remote control transmitter. The process is repeated at least twice for each key to make sure that it has been properly received and decoded. Once the data has been received and decoded, it is stored for later use. In order to do this, the received and decoded data is compressed so that it can fit into the non volatile memory. When the learning and storing operations have been completed, the reconfigurable remote control transmitter is ready to use.

Hence, invention provides a universal remote control system capable of automatically configuring a remote control to communicate and control a plurality of electronic devices.

The invention also includes removal of unnecessary button w.r.t electronic device, let's take a scenario where a user has TV, set-top box and air conditioner having lots of buttons. Since if we look closely only few buttons are of use (for example in TV ON/OFF, volume +/-, TV/AV/HDMI/PC mode change etc buttons are most used) , hence we have excluded unnecessary button and yet managed to provide almost all feature which a normal user need.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the main object of the present invention is to provide a universal remote control system for controlling electronic devices via a single remote control device.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a universal remote control system comprising a remote communication module for transmitting and receiving signals, a control module for controlling the transmitting and receiving signals; a configuration module for registering, configuring and storing the command codes; and a cloud database module containing information for device registration. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method for automatically configuring a remote control device with electronic devices characterized in that, device information or identification codes are automatically captured, verified over a cloud database, and device specific configuration codes are generated by cloud database for a universal remote operation.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a universal remote control device with separate keys assigned to operate various types of electronic appliances like television, air-conditioner, set-top box, electric fans, home lights; the remote operation doesn't require any mode switch mechanism.

Still another object of the present invention includes a mobile application with entire above feature, whereas the application can work on all smart phones with/ without an extra pluggable/non-pluggable hardware depending upon smart phone and user scenario.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In light of the shortcomings of the state of the art, the present invention provides a universal remote control system and a method to configure a universal remote device with remotely controlled electronic devices.

The system of the present invention comprises a remote communication module for transmitting and receiving signals, a control module for controlling the transmitting and receiving signals; a configuration module for registering, configuring and storing the command codes; and a cloud database module containing information for device registration.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides system for configuring a universal remote control device using a configuration module and a cloud database wherein said configuration module is capable of capturing information and/or identification codes from non-configured devices, transmitting said captured information to a cloud database for device verification and displaying device specific secret configuration codes generated on cloud database upon a successful device verification.

In another embodiment, the system includes a universal remote control device for controlling multiple electronic devices together irrespective of any specific mode switch mechanism.

In yet another embodiment, the present invention comprises a cloud database with stored information for electronic devices, said cloud database is capable of generating secret configuration codes to configure electronic devices with universal remote control device. In another embodiment the system may comprises a separate module for controlling lights and ceiling fans. The module may be configured to transmit information and configuration codes for installed lights and fans into home and/or office premises.

In another embodiment the system may comprises a separate mobile application with entire above feature, whereas the application can work on all smart phones with/without an extra pluggable/non-pluggable hardware depending upon smart phone and user scenario.

In another embodiment the system may comprises pluggable/non-pluggable hardware which may send information regarding user experience which may be used for TRP also. This experience will be stored in cloud database for future references and data analytics.

A simple and autonomous method for configuring said universal remote control device with electronic appliances. Universal remote comes with a light and fan module capable of controlling fan speed and light ON/OFF control. The invention includes a new communication protocol between module and universal remote which make sure no interference between other remotes vs universal remote. Invention also includes a mobile application with entire above feature, whereas the application can work on all smart phones with/ without an extra pluggable/ non-pluggable hardware depending upon smart phone and user scenario In another embodiment, the present invention provides method that follows two stage processes for configuring. The first stage involves an initial pairing of a universal remote control device over a wireless network. The later stage includes configuration of various types of electronic devices using specific identification and configuration codes; characterized in that, said configuration codes need to be entered on universal remote control device to complete the configuration process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

A complete understanding of the system and method of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the following drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of remote control system elucidating initial configuration of smart remote device and device information transmission process over a cloud network.

FIG. 2 elucidates a remote control device configured to operate various home appliances along with a light and fan module for transmitting operational codes.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the universal remote control device wherein separate keys are assigned for operating various types of electronic devices.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram elucidating device registration of a non configured device over a cloud database. FIG. 5 is a flow diagram elucidating configuration of plurality of electronic devices using specific identification and configuration codes as depicted in FIG. 2 & FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention now will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention set forth herein will readily occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings.

Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of remote control system elucidating initial configuration of smart remote device 101 over a cloud or wireless network. In the present embodiment, firstly the universal remote control device 101 relays its identification code through configuration module to the cloud database 104 for verification and configuration of remote device.

Lately, in the configuration process the remote control devices 105, 106, 107 of plurality of electronic device specifically identifies codes provided to the universal remote 101; and further sends identification codes to cloud database 104 for device verification and generation of configuration codes. These configuration codes are required to set up communication between universal remote control 101 and electronic devices for initiating remote operation mechanism.

Once device specific configuration codes are generated over cloud database 104, they are transmitted and displayed through configuration module on universal remote control system 101. These configuration codes are numeric codes that are entered into universal remote control device 101 to setup a communication between electronic device and universal remote control device.

Referring to FIG 2, the universal remote control device 101 is configured to operate various home appliances. In this embodiment, a fan and light module 111 is provided to transmit operational commands for controlling fans 109 and home lights 108. FIG. 3 represents a universal remote control device 101 with separate key(s) assigned to operate multiple electronic devices via a single remote control device. In this embodiment, several arrangements of keys are provided for operating AC [170], television [110] & [140], set top box [120] & [150], light(s) [160], and fan(s) [130]. FIG. 4 elucidates device registration of a non configured device over a cloud database 104. The remote control 105, 106, 107 of an electronic device presses at least two keys to transmit a set frequency to relay an identification code to the configuration module of the universal remote control 101, which further transmits said identification code to the cloud database 104 to examine if the device is registered. If the device is registered then a request command is sent to respective device to power on and further process next data sent from registered device. In case the device identification data is not found in the cloud database 104, it is registered and saved in the cloud database 104.

FIG. 5 elucidates configuration of plurality of electronic devices using specific identification and configuration codes as depicted in FIG. 1. Data such as device identification code from remote control unit 105, 106, 107 of at least one electronic device is fed to the configuration module in the universal remote control 101 which is further transmitted to cloud database 104.

The cloud database 104 stored with configuration data for all the remote controls based on their unique identification code searches out details such as manufacturing company, model no. etc. of the remote control 105, 106, 107 from which data is received to cloud database 104.

The device identification code received by the cloud database 104 is then examined whether registered with the database 104 or not. A device already registered on the cloud database 104, is then examined for continuous communication with the cloud database 104. Based on the data packets being continuously received from the device a new address resolution protocol is generated. Further, device category for the remote control unit is checked from which the data is received such as TV, Set Top Box or AC. Upon successful match of the device category, checksum bits are separated from the data bits to retrieve the identification code for the device. As the device is now identified and a communication protocol is established between the device and universal remote 101, the device can be operated using the universal remote control 101.

Therefore, the technological development of configuring plurality of remote controls of respective electronic devices into one universal remote control system simplifies the operation of multiple household devices being used in routine as the drawback of keeping plurality of remote controls for each device is solved. Also, with the technological advancement in configuration process, the user need not undergo a complex manual input method for configuring the universal remote control device.

Claims

CLAIMS We Claim:

1. A universal remote control unit for controlling plurality of electronic devices, said remote control unit comprises of:

(a) at least one input module;

(b) at least one Visual Display Unit;

(c) at least one communication module for transmitting and receiving signals;

(d) at least one control module for controlling the signals being transmitted and received; and

(e) at least one configuration module, for storing and registering configuration and storing command codes on a remotely located cloud database; wherein: the configuration module configures a universal remote control over a cloud or wireless network via an identification code provided to an electronic device while pairing an individual remote control device, initiated by pressing at least two input keys for relaying an operative frequency to the universal remote control; the configuration module automatically updates device information or identification codes via said universal remote control of respective non configured devices of any new remote control device; the communication module sends the captured specific identification and the assigned identification code to the cloud database; the cloud database assigns a configuration code to the specific identification and the assigned identification code and verifies the device information received on the cloud database and relays back to the communication module; and the Visual Display Unit displays the device specific identification and configuration codes generated by cloud database which is manually entered via input module to complete verification.

2. The universal remote control as claimed in claim 1, wherein said universal remote control further comprises of separate keys assigned to operate various types of electronic appliances and doesn't require a mode switch mechanism.

3. The universal remote control as claimed in claim 1, wherein said universal remote control further comprises of a separate module configured to transmit information and configuration codes for controlling lights and ceiling fans installed in home and/or office premises.

4. The universal remote control as claimed in claim 1 , said universal remote control further comprises of a pluggable/non-pluggable hardware that sends information regarding user experience which is then stored in cloud database for future references and data analytics.

5. A method for automatically configuring a universal remote control with plurality of electronic devices comprising the steps of: configuring the universal remote control over a cloud or wireless network via an identification code; pairing the universal remote control to an individual remote control device of various appliances by pressing at least two input keys to relay the set frequency to the universal remote control; capturing the frequency of the individual remote control device or specific identification and assigning a identification code to configure the electronic devices individual remote control device of various appliances; sending the captured specific identification and the assigned identification code to the cloud database; assigning a configuration code to the specific identification and the assigned identification code in the cloud database; and verifying the device information received on the cloud database; wherein: the verification of device information by device specific identification and configuration codes are generated by cloud database and displayed on the universal remote control and is manually entered in the universal remote to complete verification; and automatically capturing device information or identification codes via said universal remote control of respective non configured devices when any new remote control device is used.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the method follows a first stage and a second stage configuration process.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first stage involves an initial pairing of a universal remote control device over a wireless network.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second stage involves configuration of various types of electronic devices using specific identification and configuration codes; characterized in that, said configuration codes are entered on universal remote control device to complete the configuration process.