Multimedia arrangement

Abstract

The invention relates to a multimedia arrangement comprising a remote control (1) having a keypad (4) with only six control buttons (5-10). All functions of the multimedia device (2) can be controlled via three menu levels, an object group being selectable in the first menu level, an object being selectable in the second menu level, and an action to be performed with the object being selectable in the third. Elements of the object groups, objects, and actions are displayed in fields on the display device in a vertical column (31) and a horizontal line (32), the column (31) and the line (32) intersecting in a focus field (33). The elements of the fields can be moved by the control buttons (5-8) in the fixed focus field, and can be activated there by a selection button (9). Selection and arrangement of the elements is done by a user database (20) in the multimedia device depending on data determined by an identification device of the remote control.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION[0001]The invention concerns a multimedia arrangement with a remote control, multimedia equipment, and a display device for operating multimedia home electronics.BACKGROUND[0002]Such a multimedia arrangement is known from the patent WO 02 / 17627 A2.[0003]There, a remote control for a set-top box is described, which can be personalized for the specific user, which is done using biometric features of the user, such as, for example, a fingerprint reader, a voice recognition circuit, an iris scanner, a “sniffer”, or a face-recognition device. As an alternative to automated personalization, the specific user can also be required to provide a password, a specified keying sequence, or the like. With it, a set-top box and other home entertainment equipment, such as a video recorder, CD player, DVD player, and so on, can be controlled with a single remote control in one family or household.[0004]Personalization of a remote control in connection with a set-top box has a numbe...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0020]It is a task of the invention, in order to improve the remote control of the type mentioned above, to make very simple operation possible, including personalization, by guaranteeing a large amount of access security.

[0027]This arrangement into three menu levels is kept consistent for all the functions. Always using this rigid arrangement with the three menu levels, the user can very quickly find his way around and can also always go back very easily to the first basic menu level, by calling up the “Back” function twice or by using a special function (“Home” function).

[0030]Substantial simplification and simple operation resulting therefrom is obtained by “personalization”, whereby the entire system is configured for an individual user, in which a user profile is laid out. Using an identification device containing biometric data for one person, such as, for example, a finger-print reader, the individual person is first identified, whereupon a user profile established previously for the identified person is called up, which is stored in a user database. The user database contains not just access authorization, but menu systems assigned to the individual person as well, which, for instance, contain a limited number of desired television stations, that the individual user can select when setting up his user profile. As a result, for example, the number and order of television stations generally displayed on the menu system are substantially reduced, because the unwanted TV stations are not displayed at all. With this reduction in the only elements generally displayed on the individual menu system, the consistent use of the three menu systems mentioned above is clear, and the overall system is freed of superfluous encumbrances.

[0031]Aside from the simple operation of the multimedia equipment by means of a remote control, transmission security is increasingly important, because sensitive personal data are associated with access authorization, such as, for instance, name, address, birthdate, bank accounts, credit-card numbers, etc. Programmable remote controls can be obtained on the market which can read in and store data transmitted from an authentic remote control, so that it is possible to identically copy an authentic remote control and consequently log in with the copied remote control onto the multimedia equipment as an unauthorized user and to perform all the functions and as a result also to circumvent the identification device available on the remote control, such as a fingerprint reader, for instance, because the data ascertained from the identification device is sent by wireless mode to the multimedia equipment and thus can be read in by an unknown remote control. Hence, to increase access security, a replaceable hardware-related deterrent is proposed, with which the remote control is identified with respect to the multimedia equipment. Preferably, this hardware-related deterrent is a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card, such as is generally known with mobile telephones. Such SIM cards have proven themselves a million times over, are inexpensive to obtain, and are considered to be an extremely secure and reliable means of encryption. In addition, SIM cards also have the advantage that data can be stored on them, and as a result, pre-settings can also be transmitted to other equipment, for example if a device is defective.

Problems solved by technology

No security measures are provided there to prevent someone from logging on under a user name that is not assigned to him.

Many hierarchies and menu levels are also provided there, in case any of them are needed, which complicates operation and makes it confusing.

The complexity of operation is, however, a problem in the known multimedia equipment with personalized remote control.

This has the result that most users generally use only a limited number of functions.

Besides, personalization also is complicated to accomplish.

In practice, most users are overwhelmed by this complexity and usually only the younger family members are generally able to operate such equipment, which then again is counterproductive, because functions directly related to security, such as child security, home banking, or fee-required functions that can be called up, just cannot be blocked directly against young people.

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