(12) United States Patent (10) Patent N0.I US 6,879,351 B1 Brown (45) Date of Patent: Apr. 12, 2005 (54) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOTE 6,278,499 B1 * 8/2001 Darbee et al. ............ .. 348/734 CQNTRQL 6,407,779 B1 * 6/2002 Herz .............. .. .348/734 6,496,983 B1 * 12/2002 Schindler et al. 725/153 (75) Inventor: William J. Brown, Centereach, NY 6567932 B1 * 5/2003 Munaly ct a1~ ~~ 341/176 (US) 6,597,374 B1 * 7/2003 Baker et al. .. 345/717 2002/0080044 A1 * 6/2002 Kang et al. 340/825.69 . 2002/0085128 A1 * 7/2002 S f ik .... . . 348/734 (73) Asslgneei Systems’ Inc" PO" J"ff"rS°“> 2002/0163440 A1 * 11/2002 Tiinali ................... .. 340/825.69 * cited by examiner ( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this _ _ _ patent is extended or adjusted under 35 Primary Examiner—Michael H. Lee U.S.C. 154(b) by 327 days. Assistant Examiner—Paulos M. Natnael (74) Attorney, Agent, 0r Firm—Raymond J. Werner (22) Flledz Jun‘ 13’ 2001 Methods and apparatus to facilitate communication between (51) Int. Cl.7 ................................................ .. H04N 5/44 91 11561 and 0119 01 111016 d@V1C@$ W111Ch are 19111019 110111 the (52) U.S. Cl. ............ .. 348/734; 340/825.69; 340/825.72 “S99 1911999 the 99111991 91 19991199 1>111_1°11 P195595 and (58) Field Of Search ................... .. 348/734; 340/825.69, 1111111111 1°d11°@ _1<eYS11°k@ @11°1S> by 111°111d111g 111? 11111911011340/82572, 82525; 345/169, 168; 455/1514 ality tq assqciafteb anuser Aselected default tCl€V1C€t vxiith '2; par icu ar se o u ons. universa remo e con ro uni (56) References Cited suitable for use with various audio/visual entertainment devices may embody various aspects of the present invenU.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 11011 5,285,285 A * 2/1994 Yamada et al. ........... .. 348/570 6,160,491 A * 12/2000 Kitao et al. .......... .. 340/825.69 22 Claims, 11 Drawing Sheets
