Systems and methods for implementing a learning remote control

Abstract

An image display system capable of displaying two distinct images at the same time. One image is shown on an image display device such as a television or computer monitor which is coupled to the image display system. The other image is shown on a remote control included in an image display system. A docking station is also part of the image display system. It is connected by standard audio-visual coaxial cable to the TV and associated video devices and sends compressed digital video signal information to the video remote control by RF communication. Both the docking station and the video remote control have RF antennas and receivers capable of sending digital RF signals. Digital command and information signals are exchanged between the docking station and video remote control to allow control from the remote control of the functions of the TV and other video devices. The remote control has a learning mode with on-screen feedback making the image display system backward and forward compatible with a wide array of image display devices. The invention is thought to be particularly useful for networked computer televisions.

1 . A remote control system for use with an image display device, wherein the image display device is associated with a first image and a corresponding first image signal, the remote control system comprising: 
 a transmitter for transmitting a second image signal; and    a remote control having a display for displaying a second image corresponding to said second image signal, wherein said second image is distinct from said first image.    
     
     
         2 . The remote control system of  claim 1  wherein said remote control is a learning remote control.  
     
     
         3 . The remote control system of  claim 1  wherein said image display device includes said transmitter.  
     
     
         4 . The remote control system of  claim 1  wherein said image display device does not include said transmitter.  
     
     
         5 . The remote control system of  claim 1  further comprising at least one image source for outputting said second image signal to said transmitter.  
     
     
         6 . The remote control system of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a controller for selecting said second image signal from a plurality of image signals.  
 
     
     
         7 . The remote control system of  claim 6  wherein said controller is responsive to a control signal from the remote control.  
     
     
         8 . An image display system capable of displaying two distinct images, said image display system comprising: 
 a first image source for outputting a first image signal;    a second image source for outputting a second image signal;    a first controller coupled to said first and second image sources for selecting a first selected image signal and a second selected image signal from said first and second image signals;    a image display for displaying a first image corresponding to said first selected image signal chosen from said first image signal and said second image signal;    a first transmitter for transmitting said second selected image signal;    a video remote control (VRC) including: 
 a VRC receiver for receiving said second selected image signal transmitted by said first transmitter;  
 a VRC image screen for displaying a VRC image corresponding to said second selected image signal;  
 a VRC controller for producing control signals based upon inputs by a user; and  
 a VRC transmitter for transmitting said control signals;  
 wherein said first controller is responsive to said control signals, and  
 said first image on said image display and said VRC image on said VRC image screen may be distinct.  
   
     
     
         9 . The image display system of  claim 8  further comprising a image device that includes said first image source.  
     
     
         10 . The image display system of  claim 9  wherein said image device is a television.  
     
     
         11 . The image display system of  claim 9  wherein said image device is a VCR.  
     
     
         12 . The image display system of  claim 8  wherein said first image source is a computer network.  
     
     
         13 . The image display system of  claim 8  wherein said first image source also receives a first audio signal associated with said first image signal.  
     
     
         14 . The image display system of  claim 8  wherein said first transmitter and said VRC receiver operate in a frequency range between approximately 5.15 GHz and 5.85 GHz.  
     
     
         15 . The image display system of  claim 8  wherein said first transmitter and said VRC receiver operate in a wavelength range between approximately 0.8 μm and 1.2 μm.  
     
     
         16 . The image display system of  claim 8  wherein said image screen displays input options of said VRC controller corresponding to said control signals for selection by said user.  
     
     
         17 . The image display system of  claim 16  wherein said VRC image screen is touch sensitive such that said input options can be selected by said user by touching portions of said VRC image screen.  
     
     
         18 . The image display system of  claim 16  wherein said display of said input options on said VRC image screen is a soft key display.  
     
     
         19 . The image display system of  claim 8  further comprising a docking station including said first transmitter.  
     
     
         20 . The image display system of  claim 19  wherein the docking station further includes said second image source.  
     
     
         21 . A learning remote control comprising: 
 a receiver for receiving an original command signal sent by an original remote control, wherein the signal corresponds to an original command of said original remote control;    a memory coupled to said receiver for storing said original command signal;    circuitry for associating the original command signal with a desired command; and    a feedback mechanism for indicating whether said original signal has been successfully saved in said memory for association with the desired command,    wherein the feedback mechanism includes a display device for displaying information relating to the storage of the command signals.    
     
     
         22 . The learning remote control of  claim 21  wherein the display device of the feedback mechanism displays a first label for said desired command.  
     
     
         23 . The learning remote control of  claim 22  wherein the display device of the feedback mechanism displays a second label for said original command.  
     
     
         24 . The learning remote control of  claim 23  wherein said screen displays a command menu including said first label and said second label.  
     
     
         25 . The learning remote control of  claim 21  wherein said original command signal is a television control signal.  
     
     
         26 . The learning remote control of  claim 25  wherein said original command signal is a computer control signal.  
     
     
         27 . A method of displaying images on a image display system, wherein the image display system includes an image display device and a remote control, said method comprising: 
 selecting a mode of operation of the image display system;    displaying a first image on a display on said image display device depending on said selected mode of operation; and    displaying a second image on an image screen on said remote control depending on said selected mode of operation, wherein said second image is distinct from said first image.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein said selecting step includes: 
 inputting said mode selection to said image display system.  
 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein said inputting occurs on said remote control.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27  wherein said displaying said second image step includes: 
 showing on said image screen available modes of operation of said image display system.  
 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising: 
 transmitting said selected mode input to said remote control to said image display device; and  
 receiving in said image display device said transmitted selected mode.  
 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29  further comprising: 
 playing a first audio signal associated with said first image signal.  
 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29  further comprising: 
 playing a second audio signal associated with said second image signal.  
 
     
     
         34 . A method of displaying an image in a remote control system for use with an image display device, wherein the image display device is associated with a first image and a corresponding first image signal, the method comprising: 
 transmitting a second image signal to a remote control;    displaying a second image on a display associated with the remote control, the second image corresponding to said second image signal, wherein said second image is distinct from said first image.    
     
     
         35 . A method of operating a learning remote control, said method comprising: 
 receiving by the learning remote control an original command signal sent by an original remote control, wherein the signal corresponds to an original command of said original remote control;    storing said original command signal in a memory of the learning remote control;    associating the original command signal with a desired command; and    indicating on a display device of the learning remote control whether said original signal has been successfully saved in said memory for association with the desired command.