Favorite channel remote

Abstract

A remote control and methods of configuring the remote control are provided. The remote control includes a plurality of favorite channel buttons, an icon holding member having at least one surface positioned adjacent to at least one of the favorite channel buttons, and a transmitter that transmits signals, such as a channel corresponding to an icon located on the icon holding member, to a media device in response to a favorite channel button being pressed by a user. The method of configuring the remote control includes placing an icon on the icon holding member adjacent to one of the favorite channel buttons and programming the remote control to send a signal representing a desired channel that corresponds to the icon using the transmitter when the favorite channel button adjacent to the icon is pressed.

1 . A remote control comprising: 
 a microprocessor;    a memory accessible by the microprocessor;    a plurality of favorite channel buttons in signal communication with the microprocessor, wherein pressing the favorite channel buttons causes the microprocessor to operate programming instructions stored in memory;    an icon holding member having at least one surface positioned adjacent to at least one of the favorite channel buttons such that a first icon corresponding to a first channel of a media device may be placed on the surface adjacent to a first button when the icon holding member is in a first position; and    a transmitter controlled by the microprocessor to transmit a wireless signal from the remote control in response to the operation of the stored programming instructions, the signal including information to change the channel of the media device to the channel represented by the first icon on the surface adjacent to the pressed first favorite channel button when the icon holding member is in the first position.    
   
   
       2 . The remote control of  claim 1 , wherein the icon holding member is movable between the first position and a second position such that a second icon corresponding to a second channel of a media device may be placed on the surface adjacent to the first button when the icon holding member is in the second position, and wherein the signal transmitted by the transmitter includes information to change the channel of the media device to the channel represented by the second icon when the icon holding member is in the second position.  
   
   
       3 . The remote control of  claim 2 , wherein the icon holding member includes at least one raised lip positioned near at least one edge of the surface, whereby the at least one raised lip holds a sheet of icons placed on the surface in place such that when the icon holding member is moved from the first position to the second position, the sheet of icons does not move relative to the surface.  
   
   
       4 . The remote control of  claim 2 , further comprising an icon holding member cover having at least one icon viewing portion.  
   
   
       5 . The remote control of  claim 4 , wherein the icon holding member cover includes icon viewing portions positioned such that they are adjacent to each of the favorite channel buttons when the icon holding member is in a closed position, and wherein the icon viewing portions are sized such that the first icon but not the second icon is viewable when the icon holding member is in the first position and the second icon but not the first icon is viewable when the icon holding member is in the second position, and one icon from each of a series of additional pairs of icons corresponding to each of the favorite channel buttons is viewable when the icon holding member is in the first position and the other icon from each of the series of additional pairs is viewable when the icon holding member is in the second position.  
   
   
       6 . The remote control of  claim 4 , wherein the icon viewing portions are formed of a non-opaque material.  
   
   
       7 . The remote control of  claim 4 , wherein the icon viewing portions are open spaces formed by surrounding portions of the icon holding member cover.  
   
   
       8 . The remote control of  claim 4 , wherein the icon holding member cover includes a plurality of holes positioned such that the favorite channel buttons protrude through the holes when the icon holding member is in the closed position.  
   
   
       9 . A method of configuring a remote control, comprising: 
 providing a remote control, the remote control having a memory, a user interface including a plurality of favorite channel buttons, a transmitter, a processor in signal communication with the memory, and an icon holding member having at least one surface positioned adjacent to at least one of the favorite channel buttons;    placing an icon on the icon holding member adjacent to one of the favorite channel buttons; and    programming the remote control to send a signal representing a desired channel that corresponds to the icon using the transmitter when the favorite channel button adjacent to the icon is pressed.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein programming comprises: 
 pressing and holding a setup button on the user interface for a predetermined period of time;    pressing the favorite channel button;    selecting an electronic device using the user interface; and    entering a channel number.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein placing an icon on the icon holding member includes placing a plurality of icons on the holding member, each icon adjacent to one of the favorite channel buttons when the icon holding member is positioned in one of two selectable positions, and wherein programming further comprises positioning the icon holding member in one of the two selectable positions before the favorite channel button is pressed.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein programming further comprises pressing an additional favorite channel button and entering an additional channel number that corresponds to an additional icon located adjacent to the additional favorite channel button.