Patent · US Expired

System and method for controlling home appliances

US6724339B2 · kind B2 · utility

116Cited by
11References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 14, 2001
Grant dateApr 20, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 15, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG08C2201/40
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A hand-held remote control which can be configured to communicate command codes to one or more home appliances of different makes, models, and manufacturers and a relay unit that can communicate with the remote control. The relay unit has a button that corresponds to a key on the remote control. When the button on the relay unit is activated, the relay unit signals the remote control. In response to the receipt of the signal indicating activation of the button or in response to activation of the key on the remote control, the remote control communicates to one or more of the home appliances those command codes that have been mapped to the key. Command codes are communicated to the home appliances using native communication protocols.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.