Method and apparatus for identifying codes for remotely controlling electronic devices via a wireless communication medium

Abstract

A method and apparatus for identifying codes for remotely controlling electronic devices via a wireless communication medium automatically selects a code which may control a first function of an electronic device. The code is transmitted to the electronic device via a wireless medium and then a check is made as to whether the first function occurred. If the first function occurred, then the code is identified as controlling the first function of the electronic device. If the first function did not occur, then the process is repeated with a different code.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising: 
 selection logic operative to automatically select one of a plurality of codes which may control a first function of an electronic device;    transmission logic, coupled to the selection logic, operative to transmit the selected one of the plurality of codes to the electronic device via a wireless medium;    feedback analysis logic, coupled to the selection logic, operative to check whether a first function occurred;    code identification logic, coupled to the feedback analysis logic, to identify the selected one of the plurality of codes that controls the first function of the electronic device in response to the first function occurring; and    wherein the selection logic is further operative to automatically select a preferred second code, based on the selected one of the plurality of first codes, in response to both the first function occurring and multiple electronic devices using the selected one of the plurality of codes for the first function.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of    claim 1   , wherein the transmission logic includes a plurality of transmitters.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of    claim 1   , wherein the selection logic, transmission logic, feedback analysis logic, and code identification logic are included in the same housing.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of    claim 1   , wherein the transmission logic is operative to transmit the selected one of the plurality of codes to the electronic device using infrared signals.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of    claim 1   , wherein the selection logic is operative to automatically randomly select one of the plurality of codes which may control the first function.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of    claim 1   , wherein the code identification logic is further operative to control the selection logic, transmission logic, and feedback analysis logic to select, transmit, and check additional codes until one or more codes are identified which control functions of the electronic device and which are not used to control corresponding functions of other electronic devices.  
     
     
         7 . A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, designed to be executed by a processor, for implementing a function to automatically select one of a plurality of first codes which may control a first function of the electronic device, a function to transmit the selected one of the first codes to the electronic device via a wireless medium, a function to check whether the first function occurred, a function to identify the selected one of the first codes that controls the first function of the electronic device in response to the first function occurring, and a function to automatically select a preferred second code, based on the selected one of the first codes, in response to both the first function occurring and multiple electronic devices using the selected one of the first codes for the first function.  
     
     
         8 . The computer-readable medium of    claim 7   , further comprising a plurality of instructions for implementing a function to automatically select one of a plurality of second codes which may control a second function of the electronic device, a function to transmit the selected one of the second codes to the electronic device via a wireless medium, a function to check whether the second function occurred, and a function to identify the selected one of the second codes that controls the second function of the electronic device in response to the second function occurring.  
     
     
         9 . The computer-readable medium of    claim 8   , wherein the plurality of instructions for implementing a function to select one of a plurality of second codes comprises a plurality of instructions for implementing a function to select the one of the plurality of second codes based on the first code.  
     
     
         10 . The computer-readable medium of    claim 7   , further comprising a plurality of instructions for implementing a function to check device data to determine whether multiple electronic devices use the selected one of the first codes for the first function, and to record that the electronic device is as identified in the device data if multiple electronic devices do not use the selected one of the first codes for the first function.  
     
     
         11 . A method for identifying codes to control one or more functions of an electronic device, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) automatically and randomly selecting one of a plurality of first codes which may control a first function of the electronic device;    (b) transmitting the selected one of the first codes to the electronic device via a wireless medium;    (c) checking whether the first function occurred; and    (d) identifying the selected one of the first codes that controls the first function of the electronic device in response to the first function occurring, otherwise automatically repeating steps (a) through (d).    
     
     
         12 . The method of    claim 11   , wherein the transmitting step (b) comprises transmitting the selected one of the first codes to the electronic device using infrared signals.  
     
     
         13 . The method of    claim 11   , further comprising the steps of: 
 (e) automatically selecting one of a plurality of second codes which may control a second function of the electronic device;    (f) transmitting the selected one of the second codes to the electronic device via a wireless medium;    (g) checking whether the second function occurred; and    (h) identifying the selected one of the second codes that controls the second function of the electronic device in response to the second function occurring, otherwise automatically repeating steps (e) through (h).    
     
     
         14 . The method of    claim 13   , wherein the checking step (g) comprises the step of receiving a user input indicating whether the second function occurred.  
     
     
         15 . The method of    claim 13   , wherein the selecting step (e) comprises selecting one of the second codes based on the first code.  
     
     
         16 . The method of    claim 11   , further comprising the step of checking device data to determine whether multiple electronic devices use the selected one of the first codes for the first function, and recording that the electronic device is as identified in the device data if multiple electronic devices do not use the selected one of the first codes for the first function.  
     
     
         17 . The method of    claim 11   , further comprising the step of repeating steps (a) through (c) until one or more codes are identified which control functions of the electronic device and which are not used to control corresponding functions of other electronic devices.  
     
     
         18 . The method of    claim 11   , wherein the first function comprises powering on the electronic device.