Method and apparatus for allowing a personal computer to control one or more devices
US6384737B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 15, 1998 |
| Grant date | May 7, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 25, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG08C2201/40
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system is provided to allow a computer to control one or more devices using the remote control codes that are normally used by remote control units associated with these devices. The system has one or more remote control units for transmitting commands, one or more devices to be controlled, and a computer. The computer is coupled to an input device, and has a memory, a receiver which receives codes from the remote control units, and a knowledge base for storing the codes received from the remote control units and command identifiers provided from the input device. The knowledge base associates each command identifier with a particular code. The computer also includes a transmitter which transmits codes to the device to be controlled based on selected command identifiers. During configuration, the computer executes a program that prompts the user to enter a command identifier and code to be associated with that command identifier. The received code and its associated command identifier are stored in the knowledge base. During operation, a user enters a command identifier, and the program searches the knowledge base for the command identifier so as to locate the code corresponding …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.