Online remote control configuration system

Abstract

An online remote control configuration system for efficiently programming a remote control to recognize a plurality of external electronic devices. The online remote control configuration system includes a remote control having a housing, a keypad, and an electronic system for receiving configuration data from a control station via a global computer network (e.g. Internet). The user preferably “samples” one or more signals from a remote control into the electronic system and then uploads the samples to the control station. The control station analyzes the uploaded samples and transmits the appropriate configuration data to properly configure the electronic system. The user may also access a web site of the control station and manually select each of the external electronic devices that the remote control is to operate after which the control station sends the appropriate configuration data to the electronic system.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An remote control configuration system, comprising: 
 a control station for providing configuration data;    a housing;    an electronic system capable of storing sample signal data relating to at least one electronic device and remote control;    a communication device connected to said electronic system for receiving said sample signal data;    a means for communicating with said control station; and    an input means connected to said electronic system.    
     
     
         2 . The remote control configuration system of    claim 1   , wherein said input means comprises a keypad.  
     
     
         3 . The remote control configuration system of    claim 2   , wherein said sample signal data is comprised of at least one infrared signal.  
     
     
         4 . The remote control configuration system of    claim 1   , wherein said means for communicating with said control station is comprised of a global computer network.  
     
     
         5 . The remote control configuration system of    claim 4   , wherein said control station includes a web page for receiving electronic device information.  
     
     
         6 . The remote control configuration system of    claim 1   , wherein said control station includes a web page for receiving electronic device information.  
     
     
         7 . A method of using a remote control configuration system having an electronic system with a communication device, an input device, and a means for communicating with a control station, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) sampling a signal sample from a remote control;    (b) storing said signal sample within said electronic system into a sample storage;    (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) for additional remote controls;    (d) uploading said sample storage to said control station;    (e) determining an identity of a remote control that corresponds with each said signal sample of said sample storage; and    (f) generating a configuration data for said electronic system that allows said electronic system to mimic each remote control sampled.    
     
     
         8 . The method of using a remote control configuration system of    claim 7   , including the step of: 
 (g) transferring said configuration data to said electronic system.    
     
     
         9 . The method of using a remote control configuration system of    claim 8   , including the step of: 
 (h) storing said configuration data within said electronic system.    
     
     
         10 . The method of using a remote control configuration system of    claim 9   , including the step of: 
 (i) generating a signal to control an electronic device based upon said configuration data.    
     
     
         11 . A method of using a remote control configuration system having an electronic system with a communication device, an input device, and a means for communicating with a control station, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) accessing a web page of said control station;    (b) inputting device data regarding an electronic device;    (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) for additional electronic devices; and    (d) generating a configuration data for said electronic system that allows said electronic system to mimic a remote control for each electronic device.    
     
     
         12 . The method of using a remote control configuration system of    claim 11   , including the step of: 
 (e) transferring said configuration data to said electronic system.    
     
     
         13 . The method of using a remote control configuration system of    claim 12   , including the step of: 
 (f) storing said configuration data within said electronic system.    
     
     
         14 . The method of using a remote control configuration system of    claim 13   , including the step of: 
 (g) generating a signal to control an electronic device based upon said configuration data.