Gemstar Developement Corporation

Philip W Chan

Kwong Sang Sin

Yee Kong Ng

Methods and apparatus are provided for generating codes for controlling appliances from a remote controller. One method includes the steps of entering a compressed pointer for accessing a stored protocol and for accessing stored key data corresponding to appliance command keys on the remote controller, decompressing the entered pointer, and storing the decompressed pointer, entering a compressed protocol for generating codes for controlling an appliance, the protocol comprising a pattern fragment for a zero and a one, a zero timing, a one timing, and a carrier frequency, decompressing the entered protocol, storing the decompressed protocol, entering compressed key data, the key data corresponding to appliance command keys on the remote controller, decompressing the entered key data, storing the decompressed key data, accessing the protocol and the key data using the pointer, and generating a code using the pattern fragment for a zero and a one, the zero timing, the one timing, the carrier frequency, and the key data.

Apparatus and methods for generating codes for controlling appliances from a remote controller

A method and system for downloading initial setup data to an apparatus for controlling at least one appliance. The method includes the steps of a user initiating a telephone call on a telephone to a remote site having a computer, the user communicating background information to the remote site, the remote site converting the background information into data for downloading, the remote site transmitting the download data at nominal frequencies to the telephone, the remote site transmitting test data at each of a plurality of test frequencies to the telephone, the apparatus for controlling at least one appliance receiving the transmitted download data at nominal frequencies and the test data at each of the plurality of test frequencies from the telephone via a microphone on the apparatus, the apparatus for controlling at least one appliance displaying an indication that the download data was properly received at the nominal frequencies, if the download data was properly received, or an indication of which one of the plurality of test frequencies on which the test data was received, if the test data was properly received on one of the plurality of test frequencies and the download data was not properly received on the nominal frequencies, or an indication that no data was received, if neither the download data nor the test data were properly received, and the user communicating the displayed indication to the remote site.

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Arcadia, CA, United States of America

Philip W Chan