The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 23, 2002
Filed:
Nov. 12, 1999
Michael Kelly Perdue, Indianapolis, IN (US);
James Allen Strothmann, Indianapolis, IN (US);
Michael Anthony Pugel, Noblesville, IN (US);
Thomson Licensing S.A., Boulogne, FR;
Abstract
A communications system for transmitting and receiving remote control messages in an electronic remote control system. The present communications system uses a remote control message protocol which is particularly suitable for transmitting RF remote control messages with IR remote control messages in a time multiplexed fashion, wherein the RF remote control messages are transmitted during the pause intervals between IR remote control message transmission intervals. The present remote control message protocol includes a start sequence, comprising a MARK pulse and a SPACE of about equal duration, followed by a plurality of data fields. Each data field ends with an End of Field marker and the remote control message ends with an End of Message marker. The plurality of data fields comprises an addressing data field for specifying the destination device, a security code data field for allowing a specific remote control transmitter to control a specific destination device, a status field for specifying various status codes associated with the remote control message, a keycode field for carrying the remote control message payload, and a checksum field for verifying the transmission integrity of the remote control message. A remote control message based on the present message protocol may be expanded to include additional data fields and to expand pre-existing data fields.