Star cluster codeset database for universal remote control devices

Abstract

A keycode data structure includes a device type byte, a set of keycodes, system code information, a system data byte, a protocol pointer that points to a protocol table and a number of flagbytes that are used to index a particular key among the keycodes. The keycode data structure also contains a plurality of keycode data structure pointers (KDSPs). Keycode data structures are linked together using KDSPs. A special value in the keycode data structure is used to indicate that the keycode data structure contains multiple KDSPs. The number of pointers is stored in a particular location of the keycode data structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A non-transitory, computer-readable media having stored thereon instructions executable by a controlling device comprising a transmitting device and an input element wherein the instructions, when executed by the controlling device, cause the controlling device to respond to a user interaction with the input element by sequentially accessing a plurality of keycode data structures that are linked to each other until a keycode corresponding to the input element is determined to be contained in a one of the plurality of keycode data structures being accessed and to use the keycode to transmit a command, via use of the transmitting device, to control a functional operation of an appliance. 
     
     
         2 . The non-transitory, computer-readable media as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the transmitting device to use a system code and a protocol to transmit the command to control the functional operation of the appliance. 
     
     
         3 . The non-transitory, computer-readable media as recited in  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the plurality of keycode data structures being accessed contains the system code that is used by the transmitting device to transmit the command to control the functional operation of the appliance. 
     
     
         4 . The non-transitory, computer-readable media as recited in  claim 2 , wherein a first accessed one of the plurality of keycode data structures contains the system code that is used by the transmitting device to transmit the command to control the functional operation of the appliance. 
     
     
         5 . The non-transitory, computer-readable media as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the protocol comprises a sequence of indices and the indices identify mark times and space times characterizing digital ones and zeros in a command signal having the command to control the functional operation of the appliance. 
     
     
         6 . The non-transitory, computer-readable media as recited in  claim 2 , wherein a one of the plurality of keycode data structures contains a link to the protocol that is used by the transmitting device to transmit the command to control the functional operation of the appliance. 
     
     
         7 . The non-transitory, computer-readable media as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the transmitting device comprises an infrared transmitter. 
     
     
         8 . The non-transitory, computer-readable media as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the input element comprises a one of a plurality of hard keys of the controlling device. 
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory, computer-readable media as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of keycode data structures are linked to each other via use of relative offset values. 
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory, computer-readable media as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of keycode data structures are linked to each other via use of absolute address values. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory, computer-readable media as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of keycode data structures are stored in a memory of the controlling device. 
     
     
         12 . A method performed by a controlling device comprising a transmitting device and an input element, the method comprising:
 responding to a user interaction with the input element by sequentially accessing a plurality of keycode data structures that are linked to each other until a keycode corresponding to the input element is determined to be contained in a one of the plurality of keycode data structures being accessed; and   using the keycode to transmit a command, via use of the transmitting device, to control a functional operation of an appliance.   
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the instructions further cause the transmitting device to use a system code and a protocol to transmit the command to control the functional operation of the appliance. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the plurality of keycode data structures being accessed contains the system code that is used by the transmitting device to transmit the command to control the functional operation of the appliance. 
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein a first accessed one of the plurality of keycode data structures contains the system code that is used by the transmitting device to transmit the command to control the functional operation of the appliance. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the protocol comprises a sequence of indices and the indices identify mark times and space times characterizing digital ones and zeros in a command signal having the command to control the functional operation of the appliance. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein a one of the plurality of keycode data structures contains a link to the protocol that is used by the transmitting device to transmit the command to control the functional operation of the appliance. 
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the transmitting device comprises an infrared transmitter. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the input element comprises a one of a plurality of hard keys of the controlling device. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of keycode data structures are linked to each other via use of relative offset values. 
     
     
         21 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of keycode data structures are linked to each other via use of absolute address values. 
     
     
         22 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of keycode data structures are stored in a memory of the controlling device.