(12)
`
`United States Patent
`Sampsell
`
`USOO6496 122B2
`(10) Patent No.:
`US 6,496,122 B2
`(45) Date of Patent:
`*Dec. 17, 2002
`
`(54) IMAGE DISPLAY AND REMOTE CONTROL
`SYSTEM CAPABLE OF DISPLAYING TWO
`DISTINCT IMAGES
`
`(75) Inventor: Jeffrey B. Sampsell, Vancouver, WA
`(US)
`(73) Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.,
`Camas, WA (US)
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`This patent issued on a continued pros-
`ecution application filed under 37 CFR
`1.53(d), and is Subject to the twenty year
`patent term provisions of 35 U.S.C.
`154(a)(2).
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/105,693
`(22) Filed:
`Jun. 26, 1998
`(65)
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2002/0057209 A1 May 16, 2002
`(51) Int. Cl. ................................................ G08C 19/00
`(52) U.S. Cl. ............................ 340/825.69; 340/825.72;
`340/825.25; 348/7; 348/734; 348/10; 348/12;
`34.5/22; 34.5/211; 34.5/730
`(58) Field of Search ....................... 340/825.69, 825.72,
`340/825.25; 348/734, 7, 10, 12; 34.5/1,
`2.2, 211, 730; 455/6.2
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`3/1991 Kang
`4/1994 Baskin et al. .................. 345/1
`
`5,003,396 A
`5,307,055 A *
`
`4/1995 Goldstein ................... 348/734
`5,410,326. A
`7/1996 Funado
`5,537,107 A
`6,002,450 A * 12/1999 Darbee et al. .............. 348/734
`6,052,556 A * 4/2000 Sampsell .................... 455/6.2
`6,097,441. A * 8/2000 Allport ....................... 34.8/552
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Dorf, R.C., The Engineering Handbook, CRC Press, 1993.
`Horowitz, P, et al., The Art of Electronics, Cambridge
`University Press, Second Edition, 1989.
`sk -
`cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner Brian Zimmerman
`Assistant Examiner Yves Dalencourt
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert D. Varitz, P.C.
`(57)
`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 dock
`ing 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.
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`28 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
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`150
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`TRANSMITTER
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`RECEIVER
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`111
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`AD VIDEO
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`D/AVIDEO
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`PROCESSING
`CIRCUITRY
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`RECEIVER
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`DISPLAY
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`Charter Ex. 1005, Page 1
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`US 6,496,122 B2
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`1
`IMAGE DISPLAY AND REMOTE CONTROL
`SYSTEM CAPABLE OF DISPLAYING TWO
`DISTINCT MAGES
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates to the field of remote
`control, and in particular to controlling image display
`devices.
`2. Description of the Related Art
`Television (TV) remote control has radically changed the
`manner in which many television viewers watch TV. Even
`the lexicon of television viewing has changed Such that
`Viewers regularly "channel Surf by quickly progressing
`from one channel to another. While the standard remote
`control has proven quite popular, it has not Satisfied all the
`potential needs of the viewer. For example, some TVs are
`equipped to display a Second Smaller picture within a Screen
`of the TV. This “picture within a picture” (PIP) can display
`a Second program, from either a tuner of a Video cassette
`recorder (VCR) or a second tuner within the TV, or it can
`display a video signal from a VCR tape or a laserdisc. While
`the viewer with the PIPTV can watch two programs with the
`PIP window, viewers without PIP cannot monitor program
`ming on a Second channel.
`Standard remote controls for video devices Such as TVs,
`VCRS, laser disc players, Surround-Sound Systems and digi
`tal satellite system (DSS) dishes are simple hand-held
`devices which send an infrared (IR) signal to an IR sensor
`located on the front of the video device to control functions
`of the video display device. To operate the video device with
`the remote control, the user must be within a specified angle
`and a limited, direct-line-of-Sight distance of operation in
`front of the Video device. Although not in widespread use,
`Some conventional remote controls also permit display on
`the remote control of the same image that is displayed on the
`television.
`U.S. Pat. No. 5,003,396 issued to C. H. Kang discloses a
`black in white monitoring System for monitoring a broadcast
`television System. While the monitoring System of the Kang
`reference is capable of reproducing a broadcast television
`picture on a LCD display, the monitoring System is not
`capable of displaying broadcast television pictures other
`than the broadcast television picture shown on the associated
`television Set.
`U.S. Pat. No. 5,537,107 issued to S. Funado discloses a
`remote control for use with a video camcorder. While the
`remote control of the Funado reference is capable of pro
`ducing a video image on a LCD display, the remote control
`is not capable of displaying Video images other than the
`Video image shown on the associated Video apparatus.
`Moreover, while remote controls have become quite
`popular, the proliferation of Video devices and associated
`remote controls has produced a clutter of remote controls for
`the viewer to control all the video devices connected to the
`TV. Universal remote controls Store commands for a large
`number of Video device types and particular models. They
`become obsolete as new models of televisions, VCRs, and
`other video devices are released. While remote controls that
`can “learn' to emulate the commands of other remote
`controls are available, they have not gained wide acceptance
`among consumers due to the difficulty in programming these
`learning remotes. Users are required to make all of their own
`decisions regarding the functional assignment of buttons.
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`Additionally, these remotes only provide a limited feedback
`to users by employing beeps and LED flashes. Such a
`limited feedback has proven to be confusing and inadequate
`for many users.
`Learning remote controls which accept and then emulate
`commands of other remote controls may be particularly
`useful in the new technology of computer television where
`Standards are in flux. In a typical computer television
`scenario, such as WEB-TVTM, a computer signal is sent to
`a television via computer network. A signal corresponding to
`image data is displayed on a television Screen as it would be
`on a conventional computer monitor. Computer commands
`may be entered on a keyboard in communication with the
`television via infrared transmitters and receivers.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention relates to a remote control System
`for use with an image display device. The remote control
`System is capable of showing an image distinct from another
`image displayed on the image display device. The remote
`control System includes a transmitter and a remote control.
`The transmitter transmits a Selected image Signal to the
`remote control. The remote control displays an image that
`can be distinct from another image displayed on the image
`display device corresponding to another Selected image
`Signal, or it can be the same image displayed on the image
`display device corresponding to the same Selected image
`Signal. The displaying of the images may depend upon a
`mode of operation Selected by the remote control System.
`The remote control may be a learning remote control. The
`learning remote control includes a receiver for receiving an
`original command Signal Sent by an original remote control
`which corresponds to an original command on the original
`remote control. When a learning algorithm on the learning
`remote control is activated, Such as by pressing a button, the
`received original command Signal is Stored in a memory. To
`indicate which command button should be pressed on an
`original remote control and whether the emulation Signal has
`been Successfully Saved in the memory in a location asso
`ciated with a desired command on the learning remote
`control, the remote learning control includes feedback
`mechanisms. The image Screen on the remote control is part
`of the feedback mechanism.
`In an alternate embodiment, the invention includes an
`image display System capable of displaying two distinct
`images essentially Simultaneously. The image display Sys
`tem includes two image displayS. One image display is
`included with the remote control and one is separate from
`the remote control. A controller Selects two image Signals
`from at least two image Sources. The images displayed on
`the two displayS may be distinct from the image displayed
`on the other display.
`An advantage of the present invention is that it permits
`convenient channel monitoring of other channels and the
`output of multiple image display devices without covering
`up part of an image displayed on an image Screen as in the
`conventional picture-in-picture (PIP) technology. The inven
`tion also offers the advantage of easily programming a
`learning remote control by displaying feedback information
`on the image Screen on the remote control. The convenience
`of the learning remote control provides backward compat
`ibility with a wide array of image display devices. The
`invention's remote control allows a user to operate and view
`the output of a display device, Such as a cable television or
`a VCR, without being in proximity to the display device.
`These and other advantages of the invention will become
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`US 6,496,122 B2
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`3
`readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of
`the following description and a study of the accompanying
`drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a image display System in
`accordance with the present invention.
`FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an image display System
`in accordance with the present invention.
`FIG. 3 shows a menu displayed on an image Screen of a
`remote control for Selecting a mode of operation of the
`image display System as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in accor
`dance with the present invention.
`FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of a remote control
`displaying television menu on an image Screen in accor
`dance with the present invention.
`FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a menu screen
`displayed on an image Screen of a remote control for
`controlling functions of a Video cassette recorder in accor
`dance with the present invention.
`FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the remote control of
`FIGS. 3-5 in accordance with the present invention.
`FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of the remote control
`of FIGS. 3-6 in accordance with the present invention.
`FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of a docking station in
`accordance with the present invention.
`FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the docking station
`shown in FIG. 8 in accordance with the present invention.
`FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a television with a
`docking Station integrally formed as part of the television in
`accordance with the present invention.
`FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a keyboard for use with
`a computer television device and a Video remote control in
`accordance with the present invention.
`FIG. 12 is a perspective front view of an alternate
`embodiment of a video remote control adapted for use with
`an computer television device in accordance with the present
`invention.
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`ciate that many types other image Sources are appropriate for
`use with the invention.
`For relevant background material, the reader is directed to
`the following list of references known to those skilled in the
`art. Both of the following references are incorporated by
`reference herein in their entirety: Electrical Engineering
`Handbook, edited by Richard C. Dorf, CRC Press, 1993; and
`The Art of Electronics, Second Edition, Paul Horowitz &
`Winfield Hill, Cambridge University Press, 1989.
`FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic representation of an
`embodiment of an image display System 150 in accordance
`with the present invention. The image display system 150
`consists of a video remote control (VRC) 170 and an image
`processor 172. The image processor 172 receives image
`signals from a plurality of image sources 102, 104 and
`outputs at least one image signal to the VRC 170.
`The image display system 150 has several embodiments.
`A conventional television and video cassette recorder (VCR)
`as the image sources 102, 104 can be used with image
`display system 150 of the present invention. Alternatively, a
`conventional two-tuner television capable of "picture within
`a picture” (PIP), having the two tuners as the image Sources
`102 and 104, can be used with the video remote control
`system 150. In yet other embodiments, a conventional single
`tuner television, the Single tuner providing image Source
`102, can be combined with the image display system 150. In
`Such an embodiment, a tuner as image Source 104 can be
`included as part of the image display system 150.
`In general, the image Sources 102, 104 may be any type
`of image Source capable of outputting image Signals. For
`example, the image sources 102, 104 may be standard
`television receivers, cable television boxes, digital Satellite
`hook-ups, or data hook-ups as required for a computer or a
`computer television. In addition, the image Source 102 may
`output a different type of data than that output by the image
`Source 104. This would occur, for example, when the image
`Source 102 outputs a Standard television signal, and the
`image Source 104 outputs a computer television Signal. In
`Some instances, one or both of the receivers 102, 104 also
`output audio signals associated with the image Signals.
`Other embodiments will be readily apparent to those of
`ordinary skill in the art upon a further reading of the detailed
`description of the invention below. The output image Signals
`of Sources 102 and 104 are input to a controller 106, which
`determines which of the image Signals is Sent to a transmitter
`108 and which is sent to external processing circuitry 110 for
`display on display 114. The controller 106 selects the signals
`based on a control Signal received from a control receiver
`112. Of course, the controller 106 can take many forms. For
`instance, the controller 106 may be formed from a
`multiplexer, or other Switching circuitry. Other controllers
`106 will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the
`art. The controller 106 is connected to the external process
`ing circuitry 110 to allow direct hard-wired control of the
`external processing circuitry 110 and the external display
`114. Alternatively, an IR transmitter 116 may be connected
`to the controller 106 to control the external processing
`circuitry 110 and the external display 114, as described
`below.
`The selected image signals output by the controller 106
`are displayed on Separate displayS. If the image Signals
`output by the image sources 102, 104 are distinct, then the
`image Signals Selected by the controller 106 and output to
`the transmitter 108 and processing circuitry 110 may also be
`distinct. Alternatively, the controller 106 can select one
`image Signal from one Source for display on Separate dis
`playS.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`The present invention relates to an image display System
`capable of displaying two distinct imageS. The image dis
`play System includes a remote control having an image
`Screen displaying one of the images. In particular
`embodiments, the remote is a learning remote control.
`A few terms will now be defined. The term “user' herein
`is consider to include any entity, whether living or
`inanimate, capable of inputting data to the remote control.
`For example, a user may be a perSon controlling a television
`whose mode of operation is controlled via the remote
`control. Additionally, computers and other machines may
`input commands via the remote control.
`As used herein the term “image' should be construed to
`include any present and future types of data capable of
`display. Video or graphics data are considered to be types of
`image data.
`The term “image source” will be construed to represent
`any mechanism, apparatus, circuitry, or device that outputs
`image Signals. For instance, conventional Video cassette
`recorders and televisions both have tuners, which are con
`sidered herein to be image Sources. Computer networks and
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`Video display drivers are common image Sources for com
`puters. Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily appre
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`Processing of the image Signal Sent to the external pro
`cessing circuitry 110 will be discussed followed by a dis
`cussion of the processing of the image Signal output Sent to
`the transmitter 108. The external processing circuitry 110
`essentially performs Standard processing as required. In the
`case of a Video or audio-video signal, the external processing
`circuitry 110 can be that of a television. The external
`processing circuitry 110 is well-known to those skilled in the
`art and includes, for example, horizontal and vertical output
`circuitry. Moreover, the processing circuitry 110 may handle
`either analog or digital image Signals where appropriate. An
`output of the external processing circuitry 110 is Sent to an
`external display 114. Examples of Suitable displays 114
`include cathode ray Screens, television Screens, liquid crystal
`displays, and computer data displayS. These Screens can be
`black and white, color monochrome Such as blue-Scale, or
`color.
`The image signal eventually output to the transmitter 108
`is input to processing circuitry 103. AS with the external
`processing circuitry 110 associated with the external display
`114, the processing circuitry 103 Separates the Video com
`ponent of the image signal received from the controller 106
`from the audio component of the image Signal. The Video
`component of the image Signal is output from the processing
`circuitry 103 to a video analog to digital converter 105, if the
`Video is analog. If digital, no Such conversion is necessary.
`The video analog to digital converter 105 converts the video
`component of the image Signal from an analog Signal to a
`digital signal. This digital Video component of the image
`Signal is output from the Video analog to digital converter
`105 to a digital video encoder (DVE) 107. The DVE 107
`encodes the digital video component of the image Signal for
`transmission by the transmitter 108. This encoded signal is
`output from the DVE 107 to the transmitter 108.
`The DVE 107 may compress the selected signal obtained
`from the controller 106. The DVE 107 permits more image
`data to be transmitted over a limited bandwidth than without
`compression, thereby improving transmission Speed and
`picture quality. In encoding signals the DVE 107 may use
`the DVC format or a wavelet CODEC such as the Analog
`DevicesTM ADV601LC, or that of a number of other types of
`digital video encoders, including MPEG1 and MPEG2
`encoderS.
`The audio component of the image Signal is output from
`the processing circuitry to an audio analog to digital con
`verter 109 which converts the audio component of the image
`Signal from an analog signal to a digital Signal, if the audio
`Signal is digital. If not, no Such compression is necessary.
`This digital audio component of the image Signal is output
`from the audio analog to digital converter 109 to a digital
`audio encoder (DAE) 111. The DAE 111 encodes the digital
`audio component of the image Signal for transmission by the
`transmitter 108 using known compression and encoding
`techniques. This encoded signal is output from the DAE 111
`to the transmitter 108.
`The transmitter 108 multiplexes the encoded audio and
`Video signals and transmits the Selected image Signal to a
`receiver 152 in the VRC 170. As currently preferred, the
`transmitter 108 transmits the image Signal as a radio fre
`quency (RF) signal. In Some embodiments, the RF frequen
`cies are between 2400 to 2483.5 MHz. The actual RF
`frequency Selected depends on the portion of the frequency
`Spectrum allocated for Such uses by the appropriate govern
`ment agency. Spread spectrum techniques can be used to
`Send compressed data at higher data transmission rates. Of
`course, this signal may be transmitted at other frequencies,
`Such as infra red (IR), or using other media, Such as cable.
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`As shown in FIG. 1, the receiver 152 is part of a remote
`control 170 which is included with the image display system
`150. The receiver 152 is capable of, but not limited to,
`receiving Signals at the frequency Sent by the transmitter
`108. The receiver 152 demultiplexes the selected image
`Signal into Separate audio and Video components. The audio
`component is input to a digital audio decoder (DAD) 153
`which decodes the encoded audio component of the Selected
`image signal received by the receiver 152. Similarly, the
`video component is input to the digital video decoder (DVD)
`155 to decode the encoded video component of the selected
`image signal received by the receiver 152. The decoded
`outputs from the DAD 153 and DVD 155 are input to the
`VRC processing circuitry 157. The VRC processing cir
`cuitry processes the decoded audio and Video components of
`the Selected image Signal for display. The audio component
`of the Selected image Signal is output from the processing
`circuitry 157 to the speaker 158. The video component of the
`Selected image Signal is output from the processing circuitry
`157 to the VRC image screen 156. As the image displayed
`on the image Screen 156 is capable of being distinct from the
`image displayed on the external display 114, the present
`invention is capable of displaying two distinct images essen
`tially simultaneously.
`The illustrated embodiment does not use a digital to
`analog converter between the receiver 152 and the image
`Screen 156 because the image Screen is assumed to be a flat
`panel display, Such as an LCD. An alternate embodiment of
`the present invention, however, could use a cathode ray tube
`(CRT) in place of the flat panel, which would require the use
`of a digital to analog converter (DAC).
`Alternate embodiments could also use a computer display,
`plasma display, plasma addressed liquid crystal (PALC)
`display, projection display, or other display device. This
`alternate embodiment of the present invention may have an
`analog video path parallel to the present Video path shown
`in FIG. 1 where the output of the path is connected to an
`output jack (not shown) for connection to an external TV or
`other display device.
`When the image signal output by the controller 106 to the
`transmitter 108 has a corresponding audio Signal, that audio
`signal is also transmitted by the transmitter 108 to the
`receiver 152. The audio signal is decoded by the DAD 153.
`It is then processed by the processing circuitry 157 (typically
`including a DAC) and sent to an audio output device Such as
`a speaker 158. Clearly, the speaker 158 may be part of the
`remote control 170 as shown in FIG. 1, or it may be
`connected to the remote control 170 and remote control
`system 150 via an output jack (not shown) on the remote
`control 170. As is readily apparent to those skilled in the art,
`the Speaker 158 may be replaced by audio output equipment
`Such as an amplifier, headphones, earphones, or the like.
`The remote control 170 includes a VRC controller 160,
`which produces a control signal. The VRC controller may be
`implemented with a Standard microprocessor and memory,
`which are connected to the keypad 174. An IR receiver 310
`is connected to the VRC controller 160. The remote control
`170 may also include read-only memory (ROM) 306 and
`random access memory (RAM) 308. Alternatively, a flash or
`other memory could be used in place of the RAM memory
`308. In the embodiment of the remote control 170 as a
`learning remote control (discussed below) the ROM 306 and
`RAM 308 memories are used in emulating commands of
`other remote controls. The VRC controller 160 may base its
`production of a control Signal on inputs from a user. The
`VRC controller 160 could be connected to buttons, track
`balls, or other Selection portions on the video remote control
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`170 available to a user. The VRC controller 160 may be
`coupled to the image Screen 156 as in a Soft-key arrangement
`or a touch-Screen Selection arrangement. In a Soft-key
`arrangement, the image Screen 156 displays input options
`corresponding to control Signals associated with buttons on
`the remote control 170. In a touch-Screen arrangement, a
`user may select options displayed on the image Screen 156
`by touching the image Screen 156.
`The control signal selected by the VRC controller 160 is
`output to a control transmitter 164, which transmits the
`control Signal to the image processor 172. The control
`receiver 112 of the image processor 172 receives the control
`signal transmitted by the control transmitter 164. Upon
`receipt, the control signal is sent to the controller 106 where
`it is used to Select the image Signals received from the image
`Sources 102, 104. In this fashion, the control signal essen
`tially determines a mode of operation of the image display
`system 150. The control receiver 112 and control transmitter
`164 need not operate at the same frequency as the digital
`Video transmitter and digital Video receiver. For example, a
`band of preferred frequencies of operation of the control
`receiver 112 and control transmitter 164 lies just above 900
`MHz in the band also used by cordless phones and other
`wireleSS devices. Other frequencies of operation could be
`used depending on the particular application and the fre
`quency bands available for Such use.
`FIG. 2 shows an image display system 150 in accordance
`with the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, a
`television 200 is an image source with the display 114
`embodied as a television Screen. The external processing
`circuitry 110 is the Standard processing circuitry of the
`television 200. The remote control system 150 includes the
`remote control 170 and a docking station 202 in which it
`rests. The image screen 156 resides on the remote control
`170. The image display system 150 shown in FIG. 2
`comprises a separate docking Station 202 and a conventional
`television 200. In this arrangement, the controller 106,
`transmitter 108, control receiver 112 and other circuitry of
`the image processor 172 reside in the docking Station 202.
`The receiver 152, the processing circuitry 154, the image
`screen 156, the speaker 158, the VRC controller 160, the
`transmitter 164 and other circuitry reside in the remote
`control 170.
`In the arrangement shown in FIG. 2, the image Sources
`102 and 104 may be physically located in several alternate
`places. For example, the television 200 and a VCR 206 both
`have television-type tuners which act as image Sources. A
`laser disc player 208 generates image data which is received
`by either the television 200, the VCR 206, or the docking
`Station 202, and constitutes another possible image Source.
`The embodiment of FIG. 2 includes at least two Sources of
`image Signals which may be input into the docking Station
`202. Alternatively, the docking station 202 may include its
`own tuner to provide the Second image Source. Once the
`image Signals are input into the docking Station 202 and the
`controller 106 within the docking station 202, the controller
`106 can Select the desired image Signals Sent to the remote
`control 170 and the television 200. One selected image is
`displayed on the image Screen 156, and another Selected
`image is displayed on the display 114. This causes two
`distinct images to be displayed essentially simultaneously
`on the remote control 170 and the television 200. This
`configuration is known as “picture out of picture” or “POP”
`Optionally, the IR transmitter 116 is connected to the
`controller 106 of the docking station 202. It relays and
`translates information from the control Signal received into
`the docking station 202 from the remote control 170 and
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`sends it to IR receivers (not shown) on either the television
`200, VCR 206, or the laser disc player 208. This is one way
`of permitting backward compatibility of the remote control
`system 150 of the invention with conventional televisions
`200, VCRs 206, laser disc players 208, or any other desired
`IR-controlled device when the communication frequencies
`or Sequences used to communicate between the docking
`station 202 and the remote control 170 are different from
`those of the other devices.
`The remote control 170 can also be implemented as a
`learning remote control. In Such an embodiment, the learn
`ing remote control 170 is capable of controlling multiple
`Video components by learning control Signals associated
`with various remote controls for the video components. The
`remote control 170 is not required to be a learning remote
`control, but by making it so, the remote control 170 becomes
`backward compatible with conventional image display
`Systems, and, perhaps more important, with future image
`display devices whose communication codes would be
`unknown to universal remotes.
`A Selected image Signal is received into the receiver 152
`of the remote control 170 from the image processor 172, as
`previously described in reference to FIG.1. The receiver 152
`demultiplexes the digital audio and Video signals and pro
`vides the appropriate signal to the DAD 153 and DVD 155.
`The DVD 155 receives the video component of the selected
`image Signal from the receiver 152 and decodes it. Similarly,
`the DAD 153 receives the audio component of the selected
`image Signal from the receiver 152 and decodes it. These
`decoded image signals are then sent from the DAD 153 and
`DVD 155 to the processing circuitry 157. The signals
`received by the processing circuitry 157 are then sent to an
`image screen 156 and the speaker 158. The image screen 156
`is part of a feedback mechanism to notify the user of the
`Status of the Storage of a desired command.
`A particular embodiment of the VRC controller 160 of the
`remote control 170 introduced in FIG. 1 will now be
`described. This particular VRC controller 170 includes a
`central processing unit (CPU) (not shown) which is con
`nected to a user input device such as keypad 174, to ROM
`306, RAM 308 and the processing circuitry 157. When the
`VRC controller 160 is used to control the controller 106, a
`user inputs a desired mode of operation into the keypad 174.
`Input signals generated by the keypad 174 are Sent to the
`CPU, which Selects appropriate control Signals from the
`ROM 306. These signals retrieved from the ROM 306 are
`Sent to the transmitter 164 which transmits control Signals to
`the control receiver 112.
`To program the learning remote control to emulate the
`commands of an original remote control, a user Selects a
`mode of operation for programmin