Remotely upgradable universal remote control

Claim 2

A universal remote control system including a universal remote control comprising input means including a set of keys or pushbuttons for inputting commands into the remote control, infrared signal output means for supplying an infrared signal to a controlled device including IR lamp driver circuitry, a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to said input means and to said signal output means, a single, non-volatile, read-write memory coupled to said CPU and data coupling means including terminal means comprising a receiving port coupled to said CPU for enabling code data for creating appropriate IR lamp driver instructions for causing said infrared signal output means to emit infrared signals which will cause specific functions to occur in a specific controlled device, for operating a variety of devices to be controlled, to be supplied from outside said remote control through said receiving port of said terminal means directly to said CPU for direct entry to said memory to enable said remote control to control various devices to be controlled upon the inputting of commands through the keys of the input means and a data transmission system for coupling a telephone line to said terminal means of said remote control whereby the code data can be supplied to said memory of said remote control via a telephone line.

Claim 3

The universal remote control system of claim 1 wherein said terminal means comprise three serial ports coupled to said CPU, one port being coupled to ground for the CPU, one port, forming said receiving port, being coupled to an input of said CPU and one port, forming a sending port, being coupled to an output of said CPU.

Claim 4

The universal remote control system of claim 1 wherein said data transmission system includes a serial port connector for connecting to said remote control, a cable connected to said serial port connector and means for coupling said connector to a telephone line.

Claim 5

The universal remote control system of claim 2 wherein said remote control includes a direct access arrangement and said coupling means includes a telephone jack connected to the other end of said cable for ISDN data line transmission.

Claim 6

The universal remote control system of claim 2 wherein said data transmission system includes an RS232 serial port connector, a modem to which the RS232 serial port connector is connected to, and telephone line coupling means for coupling said modem to a telephone line.

Claim 7

The universal remote control system of claim 5 wherein said modem is a listen only modem.

Claim 8

The universal remote control system of claim 5 wherein said telephone line coupling means includes a pick-up coil that couples to a handset of a telephone and is coupled by a line to said modem.

Claim 9

The universal remote control system of claim 5 wherein said modem is an acoustic coupler modem which is adapted to receive therein a handset of a telephone and acoustically pick up the sound transmission from the handset.

Claim 10

A universal remote control system including a universal remote control comprising input means including a set of keys or pushbuttons for inputting commands into the remote control, infrared signal output means for supplying an infrared signal to a controlled device including IR lamp device circuitry, a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to said input means and to said signal output means, a single, non-volatile, read-write memory coupled to said CPU and data coupling means including terminal means comprising a receiving port coupled to said CPU for enabling code data for creating appropriate IR lamp driver instructions for causing said infrared signal output means to emit infrared signals which will cause specific functions to occur in a specific controlled device, for operating a variety of devices to be controlled, to be supplied from outside said remote control through said receiving port of said terminal means directly to said CPU for direct entry to said memory to enable said remote control to control various devices to be controlled upon the inputting of commands through the keys of the input means and a data transmission system for coupling a television set to said terminal means of said remote control whereby the code data can be supplied via a television signal to said memory of said remote control.

Claim 11

A universal remote control system including a universal remote control comprising input means including a set of keys or pushbuttons for inputting commands into the remote control, infrared signal output means for supplying an infrared signal to a controlled device including IR lamp device circuitry, a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to said input means and to said signal output means, a single, non-volatile, read-write memory coupled to said CPU and data coupling means including terminal means comprising a receiving port coupled to said CPU for enabling code data for creating appropriate IR lamp driver instructions for causing said infrared signal output means to emit infrared signals which will cause specific functions to occur in a specific controlled device, for operating a variety of devices to be controlled, to be supplied from outside said remote control through said receiving port of said terminal means directly to said CPU for direct entry to said memory to enable said remote control to control various devices to be controlled upon the inputting of commands through the keys of the input means and a data transmission system for coupling a television set to said terminal means of said remote control whereby the code data can be supplied via a television signal to said memory of said remote control.

Claim 12

The universal remote control system of claim 9 wherein said coupling means includes a vertical blanking interval decoder connected to a television set and to said cable.

Claim 13

The universal remote control system of claim 10 wherein said data-transmission system includes a serial port connector for connecting to said remote control, a cable connected to said serial port connector and means for coupling said connector to a television set.

Claim 14

The universal remote control system of claim 9 wherein said terminal means include three serial ports coupled to said CPU, one port being coupled to ground, one port, forming said receiving port, being coupled to an input to said CPU and one port, forming a sending port, being coupled to an output of said CPU.

Claim 15

A universal remote control system including a universal remote control comprising input means including a set of keys or push buttons for inputting commands into the remote control, infrared signal output means for supplying an infrared signal to a controlled device including IR lamp driver circuitry, a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to said input means and to said signal output means, a single, non-volatile read-write memory coupled to said CPU and data coupling means including terminal means comprising a receiving port coupled to said CPU for enabling code data for creating appropriate IR lamp driver instructions for causing said infrared signal output means to emit infrared signals which will cause specific functions to occur in a specific controlled device, for operating a variety of devices to be controlled, to be supplied from outside said remote control through said receiving port of said terminal means directly to said CPU for direct entry to said memory to enable said remote control to control various devices to be controlled upon the inputting of commands to the keys of the input means and a data transmission system including coupling means for coupling said terminal means to a computer directly, through a modem to a telephone line, or through a television set to a television signal picked up by the television set, said coupling means including a cable, first connector means for connection to said terminal means at one end of said cable, and interface connector means at the other end of said cable for connecting directly to a computer, or through a modem and a telephone line to a computer, or to a television set which receives data in a television signal from a computer.

Claim 16

A universal remote control system including a universal remote control comprising input means including a set of keys or push buttons for inputting commands into the remote control, infrared signal output means for supplying an infrared signal to a controlled device including IR lamp driver circuitry, a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to said input means and to said signal output means, a single, non-volatile read-write memory coupled to said CPU and data coupling means including terminal means comprising a receiving port coupled to said CPU for enabling code data for creating appropriate IR lamp driver instructions for causing said infrared signal output means to emit infrared signals which will cause specific functions to occur in a specific controlled device, for operating a variety of devices to be controlled, to be supplied from outside said remote control through said receiving port of said terminal means directly to said CPU for direct entry to said memory to enable said remote control to control various devices to be controlled upon the inputting of commands to the keys of the input means and a data transmission system including coupling means for coupling said terminal means to a computer directly, through a modem to a telephone line, or through a television set to a television signal picked up by the television set, said coupling means including a cable, first connector means for connection to said terminal means at one end of said cable, and interface connector means at the other end of said cable for connecting directly to a computer, or through a modem and a telephone line to a computer, or to a television set which receives data in a television signal from a computer.

Claim 17

The universal remote control system of claim 13 wherein said terminal means comprises three serial ports coupled to said CPU, one port being coupled to the ground for the CPU, one port, forming said receiving port, being coupled to an input of said CPU and one port, forming a sending port, being coupled to an output of said CPU.

Claim 18

The universal remote control system of claim 14 wherein said interface connector means includes a receiving circuit connected, on one side, to a ground input terminal and a signal input terminal, and, on the other side, to an output terminal connected by said cable to said receiving port and to a ground output terminal which is connected to the ground input terminal and through said cable to said CPU ground, said input terminal being connected through a resister to a first junction, a Zener diode connected between said ground terminals and said first junction, a diode coupled between said first junction and said signal output terminal, a transistor having a collector a base and an emitter, said emitter being connected to said first junction, said collector being connected to said signal output terminal, and said base being coupled through a resister to a junction between said diode and said output terminal.

Claim 19

The universal remote control system of claim 14 wherein said interface connector means includes a sending circuit comprising an input terminal connected to said sending port of said terminal means and three output ports including a first, minus voltage, output port, a second, plus or minus, voltage output port, and a third, plus voltage, output port, a ground terminal, a first transistor having a first emitter, a first collector and a first base, said first output port being coupled through a resister to said second output port, said first collector being connected to said second output port, said emitter being connected to said first output port, a second transistor having a second emitter, a second collector and a second base, said second emitter being connected to said first input terminal connected to said cable, said ground terminal being coupled through a Zener diode to said second base, a resister coupled between said second base and a junction between said first collector and said first output port, and said first base being coupled through a resistor to said second collector.

Claim 20

The universal remote control system of claim 14 wherein said interface connector means includes a receiving circuit connected, on one side, to a ground input terminal and a signal input terminal, and, on the other side, to an output terminal connected by said cable to said receiving port and to a ground output terminal which is connected to the ground input terminal and through said cable to said CPU ground, said input terminal being connected through a resister to a first junction, a Zener diode connected between said ground terminals and said first junction, a diode coupled between said first junction and said signal output terminal a transistor having a collector a base and an emitter, said emitter being connected to said first junction, said collector being connected to said signal output terminal, and said base being coupled through a resister to a junction between said diode and said output terminal, and said interface connector means further includes a sending circuit comprising an input terminal connected to said sending port of said terminal means and three output ports including a first, minus voltage, output port, a second, plus or minus, voltage output port, and a third, plus voltage, output port, a ground terminal, a first transistor having a first emitter, a first collector and a first base, said first output port being coupled through a resister to said second output port, said first collector being connected to said second output port, said emitter being connected to said first output port, a second transistor having a second emitter, a second collector and a second base, said second emitter being connected to said first input terminal connected to said cable, said ground terminal being coupled through a Zener diode to said second base, a resister coupled between said second base and a junction between said first collector and said first output port, and said first base being coupled through a resistor to said second collector.

Claim 21

The universal remote control system of claim 17 wherein said cable is a three wire cable including a wire for connecting said input terminal of said sending circuit to said sending port of said terminal means, a wire for connecting said ground terminal of said receiving circuitry to said port of said terminal means coupled to ground for the CPU, and a wire for connecting said input terminal of said receiving circuit to said receiving port of said terminal means.

Claim 22

The universal remote control system of claim 17 wherein a DB-9 connector is connected to the terminals and ports of said receiving and sending circuits of said interface connector means.

Claim 23

The universal remote control system of claim 17 wherein a DB-25 connector is connected to said terminals and ports of said sending circuit and said receiving circuit of said interface connector means.

Claim 24

The universal remote control system of claim 13 wherein said universal remote control further includes a visual display coupled to a CPU whereby information about the data being input into said memory can be displayed to a user on said visual display.