Remote control device that transmits signals indicating termination of key pressing operations

Claim 1

A remote control device for transmitting a control signal to activate a selected function of an electronic system having a plurality of functions, comprising: at least one selecting means for activation by a user and each associated with at least two of said functions generating means for determining a key code signal corresponding to an activated one of said selecting means; control means for determining whether an activation period of said activated one of said selecting means is greater or less than a predetermined time period and for appending a first time code signal to said key code signal when said activation period is less than said predetermined time period, and for appending a second time code signal to said key code signal when said activation period is greater than said predetermined time period, wherein said first time code signal and said key code signal form a first remote control signal and said second time code signal and said key code signal form a second remote control signal; and transmitting means for transmitting either said first or second remote control signals for controlling said electronic system.

Claim 6

A method of remote control of an electronic system having a plurality of functions, comprising the steps of: activating one of a plurality of function keys to select one of said functions; generating a key code signal corresponding to the activated one of said function keys; determining whether the activated one of said function keys is activated less than a predetermined time period; generating a first time code signal when said function key is determined to be activated less than said predetermined time period and appending said first time code signal to said key code signal; determining whether the activated one of said function keys is activated for a time greater than said predetermined time period; generating a second time code signal when said function key is determined to be activated greater than said predetermined time period and appending said second time code signal to said key code signal, wherein said key code signal and said first time code signal form a first remote control signal and said key code signal and said second time code signal form a second remote control signal; and transmitting either said first remote control signal or said second remote control signal to said electronic system for activating said desired function.

Claim 7

A method of remote control of an electronic system having a plurality of functions, comprising the steps of: activating one of a plurality of function keys to select one of said functions; generating a key code signal corresponding to the activated one of said function keys; determining whether the activated one of said function keys is activated less than a predetermined time period; generating a first time code signal when said function key is determined to be activated less than said predetermined time period and appending said first time code signal to said key code signal; determining whether the activated one of said function keys is activated for a time greater than said predetermined time period; generating a second time code signal when said function key is determined to be activated greater than said predetermined time period and appending said second time code signal to said key code signal, wherein said key code signal and said first time code signal form a first remote control signal and said key code signal and said second time code signal form a second remote control signal; and transmitting either said first remote control signal or said second remote control signal to said electronic system for activating said desired function.