System and method supporting infrared remote control over a network

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for wireless control of home media sources that utilizes a home digital network to transport packetized IR transmitter data to a remote location. The system allows for flexible control of multiple devices that accept IR commands without requiring additional wiring, and is independent of any particular IR protocol.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:  
     
         1 . A system for controlling media sources across a network, comprising: 
 a first interface device operatively coupled to the network and located with a device for reviewing media;    a second interface device operatively coupled to the network located with a media source;    said first interface device adapted to convert commands from a wireless remote to a format compatible with said network; and    said second interface device adapted to convert commands for said first interface device into a wireless format for re-transmission to said media source.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first interface device comprises a first settop box and the second interface device comprises a second settop box.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first interface device comprises a signal processor that generates data packets representative of the commands from the wireless remote and communicates said data packets over the network.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the signal processor causes said data packets to be buffered before communicating said data packets over the network.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first interface device further comprises a user interface that receives at least one command from the wireless remote indicative of a type of wireless remote being used, and wherein the first interface device generates the format compatible with said network based on the type of wireless remote being used.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the first interface device further comprises memory, and wherein the type of wireless remote being used is determined by a comparison of the at least one command to information stored in the memory.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first interface device further comprises a wireless receiver that receives the commands from the wireless remote, wherein the first interface device generates the format compatible with said network by sampling the wireless receiver, and wherein the first interface device communicates the samples generated over the network.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first interface device generates the format compatible with said network using a pulse width modulation scheme.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the pulse width modulation scheme comprises generating a pulse width value using the commands from the wireless remote and encoding the pulse width value.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the second interface device comprises a signal processor that receives and decodes data packets representative of the commands from the wireless remote, and reconstructs an original signal from decoded data.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  further comprising a wireless transmitter for broadcasting the original signal.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the first interface device receives a media signal from the media source over the network based on the broadcasting of the original signal.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the wireless remote comprises an infrared remote control.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the media source comprises one of a videocassette recorder or a digital video disc player.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the device for reviewing media comprises a television.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the network comprises a home network.  
     
     
         17 . A method of controlling media sources across a network, comprising: 
 packetizing a wireless control signal at a location of a device for viewing media;    forwarding the packetized control signal over said network to a device located with a media source;    depacketizing the wireless control signal;    retransmitting the control signal into a room where the media source is located.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising buffering the packetized control signal.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising determining a type of device that generated the wireless control signal, and wherein packetizing the wireless control signal is based on the type of wireless device determined.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein determining the type of device that generated the wireless control signal comprises receiving at least one command indicative of the type of device and comparing the at least one command to information stored in memory.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising generating samples based on the wireless control signal, and wherein the packetizing is performed on the samples generated.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising pulse width modulating the wireless control signal, and wherein the packetizing is performed using a pulse width modulated signal.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein pulse width modulating comprises generating a pulse width value using the wireless control signal, and wherein packetizing comprises encoding the pulse width value generated.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein depacketizing the wireless control signal comprises decoding the encoded pulse width value.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising receiving a media signal from the media source over the network based on the retransmitting.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising causing the display of media on the device for viewing media using the media signal received.  
     
     
         27 . A method of transmitting control signals in a media network comprising: 
 receiving a wireless control signal from a remote control;    digitizing the wireless control signal received;    generating at least one data packet using the digitized control signal; and    communicating the at least one data packet over the network.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising buffering the at least one data packet prior to the communicating.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising determining a type of remote control that generated the wireless control signal, and wherein generating the at least one data packet is based on the type of remote control determined.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein determining the type of remote control that generated the wireless control signal comprises receiving at least one command indicative of the type of remote control and comparing the at least one command to information stored in memory.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the digitizing comprises generating samples based on the wireless control signal, and wherein the at least one data packet is generated using the samples.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the digitizing comprises pulse width modulating the wireless control signal, and wherein the at least one data packet is generated using a pulse width modulated signal.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein generating the at least one data packet comprises encoding a pulse width value generated.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising receiving a media signal over the network based on the communicating.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  further comprising causing the display of media using the media signal received.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the remote control comprises an infrared remote control.