Remote Controller Channel Locking via Feedback Receiver
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing television appliances lack a software-based channel locking and unlocking feature, limiting user control over channel access.
Innovation Solution
A remote controller with a microcontroller, IR transmitter, memory, and input means that allows channel locking and unlocking by transferring commands to the television appliance, enabling channel restriction and feedback without requiring the TV to have a built-in locking feature, using IR or Bluetooth communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the television appliance does not have a built-in software-based channel locking feature, then channel locking functionality cannot be implemented through the TV itself, but the remote controller cannot provide channel locking either
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a feedback receiver as an intermediary component in the remote controller that receives response signals from the television appliance. This feedback mechanism enables the remote controller to determine whether channel locking should be applied by analyzing the response signals, thereby implementing channel locking functionality without requiring built-in software in the television appliance itself.
2Adaptability or versatility
If channel locking is implemented as a TV feature rather than a remote controller feature, then the TV must have built-in software capabilities, but this increases device complexity and reduces compatibility with existing TVs
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback receiver acts as an intermediary that enables the remote controller to implement channel locking functionality without requiring the television appliance to have built-in locking software. The remote controller sends channel selection commands and analyzes the response signals to determine whether to apply locking, thereby maintaining compatibility with existing TVs while adding the desired functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The remote controller performs the channel locking determination function itself by using its feedback receiver to analyze response signals from the television. Instead of relying on the television to provide locking functionality, the remote controller independently determines whether to block channel switching based on the received feedback, making the system self-sufficient.
3Ease of operation
If the remote controller tracks outputted commands and received responses to determine channel locking, then channel access can be restricted, but the remote controller must maintain state information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the feedback receiver continuously monitors response signals from the television appliance. The microcontroller analyzes these feedback signals to determine whether channel locking should be applied, creating a closed-loop control system that automatically manages channel access based on real-time communication with the television without requiring extensive data storage.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables channel locking and unlocking functionality on existing television appliances without software-based features, allowing users to restrict channel access and maintain channel data even when the TV is powered off, enhancing user control and compatibility with various TV models.
Implementation Method 1
The remote controller (21) comprises a communication means (24), in particular an IR transmitter, for transferring operation commands
Implementation Method 2
The remote controller (21) comprises a feedback receiver for receiving the responses send by sender
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The present invention refers to a system comprising a television appliance (26), in particular TV or set-top box, and a remote controller (21), wherein the remote controller (21) comprises a communication means (24), in particular an IR transmitter, for transferring operation commands, in particularly channel switching commands, to the television appliance (26), the television appliance (26) comprises a receiver for receiving the operation commands and a sender for sending responses to the remote controller (21) in dependency of the received operation commands, wherein the remote controller (21) comprises a feedback receiver for receiving the responses send by sender and wherein the remote controller (21) comprises a microcontroller for tracking the outputted operation commands in dependency of the received responses.