UNIVERSAL REMOTE CONTROLLER USING COMPRESSED CODES

摘要

Encoded video recorder/player timer preprogramming information allows a timer preprogramming feature on a video cassette recorder (14) to be programmed using a compressed code (212) of as few as 1 to 8 digits, which are decoded by a decoder (38) built into a remote control (12), video cassette recorder (14), or television (48) to convert the conpressed code into channel, date, time and length information. A local channel map (610) is stored so that the channel information from the compressed codes can be utilized to tune the correct channel even though channel numbers in different localities may be different. The remote may be a complete universal remote control that transmits infrared codes to a variety of home electronic devices upon the user pressing buttons associated with the functions associated with the infrared codes. The programming of local channel map data, infrared codes and protocols and their association with specific buttons on the remote control can be accomplished by the remote control's keyboard or by an external device (1150), including external devices that accomplish the programming by transmissions over telephone lines (1146).