Universal remote control unit

Abstract

A universal remote control unit for controlling the operation of a plurality of devices such as a cable box, a television, a video device, and an audio device, includes a processor having a plurality of operating modes an and input unit having at least one key having a default function without programming and which may be assigned, in addition to the default function, an additional function. In one embodiment, the at least one key may be a default power function key.

1 . A method for remotely controlling a plurality of different devices, the method comprising:
 obtaining a universal remote control unit having a set-up routine for matching it to the plurality of different devices and having at least one key having a default function without programming operable upon activation to transmit transmissions to effect the default function in at least one of the plurality of different devices;   assigning, in addition to the default function, an additional function to the at least one key so that the at least one key is operable upon activation to transmit transmissions to effect the additional function in at least one of the plurality of different devices; and   activating the at least one key with a single activation of the at least one key to transmit transmissions to effect the default function in the at least one of the plurality of different devices and to transmit transmissions to effect the additional function in at least one of the plurality of different devices.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one key comprises a power function key and wherein the default function comprises turning on and off at least one of the plurality of different devices. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the additional function comprises selecting a channel of a television. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one key comprises a bypass function key for activating and deactivating the bypass mode a cable box. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising a VCR/VOD key for controlling a video device and controlling a video-on-demand. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one key comprise at least one push button. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of different devices comprises a television set and a cable box. 
   
   
       8 . A method for remotely controlling a plurality of different devices, the method comprising:
 obtaining a universal remote control unit having a set-up routine for matching it to the plurality of different devices and having at least one function means having a default function means without programming operable upon activation to transmit transmissions to effect the default function in at least one of the plurality of different devices;   assigning, in addition to the default function, an additional function to the at least one function means so that the at least one function means is operable upon activation to transmit transmissions to effect the additional function in at least one of the plurality of different devices; and   activating the at least one function means with a single activation of the at least one function means to transmit transmissions to effect the default function in the at least one of the plurality of different devices and to transmit transmissions to effect the additional function in at least one of the plurality of different devices.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the at least one function means comprises a power function means and wherein the default function comprises turning on and off at least one of the plurality of different devices. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the additional function comprises selecting a channel of a television. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the at least one function means comprises a bypass function key for activating and deactivating the bypass mode a cable box. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising VCR/VOD means for controlling a video device and controlling a video-on-demand. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the at least one function means comprise at least one push button. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the plurality of different devices comprises a television set and a cable box. 
   
   
       15 . A universal remote control unit having a set-up routine for matching it to a plurality of different devices, said remote control unit comprising:
 an input unit activatable by a user to control the operation of the plurality of different device;   a transmitter;   a processor operable to control transmission from said transmitter in response to activation of said input unit by the user; and   said input unit including at least one key having a default function without programming operable upon activation to transmit transmissions to effect the default function in at least one of the plurality of different devices, and said at least one key being operable to being assigned an additional function in addition to said default function so that said at least one key upon a single activation of the at least one key by a user is operable to transmit transmissions to effect the default function in the at least one of the plurality of different devices and to transmit transmissions to effect the assigned additional function in at least one of the plurality of different devices.   
   
   
       16 . The universal remote control unit of  claim 15  wherein said at least one key comprises a default power function key and wherein the default function comprises turning on and off at least one of the plurality of different devices. 
   
   
       17 . The universal remote control unit of  claim 16  wherein the additional function comprises selecting a channel of a television. 
   
   
       18 . The universal remote control unit of  claim 15  wherein said at least one key comprises a bypass function key for activating and deactivating the bypass mode a cable box. 
   
   
       19 . The universal remote control unit of  claim 15  further comprising a VCR/VOD key for controlling a video device and controlling a video-on-demand. 
   
   
       20 . The universal remote control unit of  claim 15  wherein said at least one key comprises a push button. 
   
   
       21 . A television system comprising:
 a television set; and   a universal remote control unit of  claim 15  for remotely controlling said television set.   
   
   
       22 . A system for receiving cable television, the system comprising:
 a cable box; and   a universal remote control unit of  claim 15  for remotely controlling said cable box.   
   
   
       23 . A universal remote control unit having a set-up routine for matching it to a plurality of different devices, said remote control unit comprising:
 function means activatable by a user to control the operation of the plurality of different devices;   a transmitter;   a processor operable to control transmission from said transmitter in response to activation of said function means by the user; and   said function means including at least one default means having a default function without programming operable upon activation to transmit transmissions to effect the default function in at least one of the plurality of different devices, and said at least one default means being operable to being assigned an additional function in addition to said default function so that said at least one default means upon a single activation of the at least one default means by a user is operable to transmit transmissions to effect the default function in the at least one of the plurality of different devices and to transmit transmissions to effect the assigned additional function in at least one of the plurality of different devices.   
   
   
       24 . The universal remote control unit of  claim 23  wherein said at least one default means comprises a default power function means and wherein the default function comprises turning on and off at least one of the plurality of different devices. 
   
   
       25 . The universal remote control unit of  claim 24  wherein the additional function comprises selecting a channel of a television. 
   
   
       26 . The universal remote control unit of  claim 23  wherein said at least one default means comprises a bypass function key for activating and deactivating the bypass mode a cable box. 
   
   
       27 . The universal remote control unit of  claim 23  further comprising a VCR/VOD key for controlling a video device and controlling a video-on-demand. 
   
   
       28 . The universal remote control unit of  claim 23  wherein said at least one default key comprises a push button. 
   
   
       29 . A television system comprising:
 a television set; and   a universal remote control unit of  claim 23  for remotely controlling said television set.   
   
   
       30 . A system for receiving cable television, the system comprising:
 a cable box; and   a universal remote control unit of  claim 23  for remotely controlling said cable box.