Abstract: The present invention provides a mobile phone remote control system, a system for programming the remote control, and methods of programming or using the remote control. The mobile phone remote control system is configured to be selectively set up or programmed using a display screen and corresponding function buttons on the remote control. The remote control system may be used to control the channel of a media device such as a television based on an icon displayed on a screen of the mobile phone. The set up process allows channel numbers to be automatically assigned based on icons selected by a user and previously identified geographic information such as a mobile phone user address postal zip code.

Abstract: A remote control for appending commands into a learned macro routine of commands is provided. A receiver is arranged to receive signals from one or more remote controls, wherein the signals represent one or more commands comprising a macro. The remote control stores the macro in memory and has “learned” the received macro. The learned macro can be modified by appending one or more additional commands into the macro using commands already contained within the remote control.

Abstract: A system and method providing a media server system are disclosed. A software module for storage on a computer and operable by the computer is provided to receive a media request for a media selection from a media source including video and audio data. The media selection is retrieved, and a media signal conveying the media selection is communicated. A communications hub receives the media signal and transmits the media selection for play on a remote media device. A receiver configured to communicate with the communications hub and with the remote media device receives the media selection and communicates the media selection to the remote media device for play. A set of media preferences associated with an identifier allows for selectable access to media content. A plurality of remote interfaces each can be coded for generating an identifier, whereby using a particular remote interface invokes a set of media preferences.

Abstract: A remote control and method of using the remote control are provided. The remote control includes a microprocessor, a memory accessible by the microprocessor that includes a database of a plurality of favorite channels, a user interface in signal communication with the microprocessor that allows selection of successive next or previous favorite channels, and a transmitter controlled by the microprocessor that, responsive to user activation of the user interface, transmits wireless signals corresponding to the successive next or previous favorite channel. In an example embodiment, an icon is associated with each favorite channel and the remote includes a display screen that displays the icon associated with the successive next or previous favorite channel when the user interface is activated. The method of using the remote control includes activating the user interface to select a next favorite channel.

Abstract: Inventive systems and methods for remotely controlling infrared controlled devices by using addressed radio frequency control signals. Radio frequency signals propagate through most obstructions to infrared control signals. Augmenting each control signal with an address allows for great selectivity in an environment with several transmitters and receivers.

Abstract: Repeater systems and methods for coupling a home automation control signal from a first power line operating on a first phase to a second power line operating on a second phase are provided. A power line control repeater includes a power line control signal transceiver, a wireless signal transmitter, a wireless signal receiver, and a processor. The processor is configured to instruct the transmitting component to transmit wireless signals based on power line signals detected by the power line control signal transceiver and further configured to identify wireless signals received at the wireless signal receiver from a similarly configured repeater and to instruct the transceiver to modulate the power signal based on the received signals. A system includes two repeaters in wireless signal communication.

Abstract: Image viewing system and method for use with a video telephony application. The method includes forming a panoramic image by moving the camera about at least one axis, capturing images from at least two different camera positions, and joining the images together. The method also includes presenting the panoramic image on a visual display device, receiving input from a user indicating that a subset of the panoramic image has been selected, pointing the camera in a direction corresponding to the selected subset, and presenting images from the camera corresponding to the selected subset on the visual display device. The system includes a camera with a controllable pivot assembly that pivots in at least one direction in signal communication with a computer, and a software module that directs the pivot assembly to move the camera and presents images on a display.

Abstract: The present invention provides a remote control, a system for programming the remote control, and methods of programming or using the remote control. The remote control is configured to be selectively set up or programmed using a display screen and corresponding function buttons on the remote control. The set up process allows a user to only set up the remote control features of interest to for that particular user. In addition, the remote control includes a module that may be accessed directly by the remote control or via a computer where the module guides the user through the set up process. Thus, the user does not need to set up any feature of the remote control that is not applicable to that user.

Abstract: The present invention provides a mobile phone remote control system, a system for programming the remote control, and methods of programming or using the remote control. The mobile phone remote control system is configured to be selectively set up or programmed using a display screen and corresponding function buttons on the remote control. The remote control system may be used to control the channel of a media device such as a television based on an icon displayed on a screen of the mobile phone. The set up process allows channel numbers to be automatically assigned based on icons selected by a user and previously identified geographic information such as a mobile phone user address postal zip code.

Abstract: Inventive systems and methods for remotely controlling infrared controlled devices by using addressed radio frequency control signals. Radio frequency signals propagate through most obstructions to infrared control signals. Augmenting each control signal with an address allows for great selectivity in an environment with several transmitters and receivers.

Abstract: A remote control for learning a macro routine of optical signals is provided. An optical receiver is arranged to receive optical signals from one or more original equipment remote controls. The optical receiver outputs electrical signals. A microprocessor receives the electrical signals from the optical receiver. A memory device stores the electrical signals from the optical receiver. An operator interface is electrically coupled to the microprocessor. The operator interface receives operator input to designate a macro routine of operator-selectable optical signals from the original equipment remote control. The microprocessor causes the electrical signals from the optical receiver that correspond to the operator-selectable optical signals from the original equipment remote control to be associated with the designated macro routine and stored in the memory device. Electrical signals associated with a macro designation are retrieved from the memory device and electrically coupled to an optical transmitter.

Abstract: A system and method providing a media server system are disclosed. A software module for storage on a computer and operable by the computer is provided to receive a media request for a media selection from a media source including video and audio data. The media selection is retrieved, and a media signal conveying the media selection is communicated. A communications hub receives the media signal and transmits the media selection for play on a remote media device. A receiver configured to communicate with the communications hub and with the remote media device receives the media selection and communicates the media selection to the remote media device for play. A set of media preferences associated with an identifier allows for selectable access to media content. A plurality of remote interfaces each can be coded for generating an identifier, whereby using a particular remote interface invokes a set of media preferences.

Abstract: A remote control for learning a macro routine of optical signals is provided. An optical receiver is arranged to receive optical signals from one or more original equipment remote controls. The optical receiver outputs electrical signals. A microprocessor receives the electrical signals from the optical receiver. A memory device stores the electrical signals from the optical receiver. An operator interface is electrically coupled to the microprocessor. The operator interface receives operator input to designate a macro routine of operator-selectable optical signals from the original equipment remote control. The microprocessor causes the electrical signals from the optical receiver that correspond to the operator-selectable optical signals from the original equipment remote control to be associated with the designated macro routine and stored in the memory device. Electrical signals associated with a macro designation are retrieved from the memory device and electrically coupled to an optical transmitter.

Abstract: A system and method for performing videophone operations over a television. The system includes a television system, a transceiver and a personal computer that is coupled to a communications network and the transceiver. The television system includes a camera, a microphone, a wireless receiver for wirelessly receiving audio and video signals, a signal processor for processing the received audio and video signals for presentation on a television. The transceiver includes a receiver for wirelessly receiving audio and video signals from the television system, and a transmitter for wirelessly sending audio and video signals to the television system.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for profiling a digital image sensor at production time and editing images generated by the digital image sensor according to the profile. The method exposes a digital image sensor with an array of photosites to a plurality of test cards, compares the image generated by one or more of the photosites in the array, based on the exposure to each test card, to an expected image signal result for each test card, and generates a profile of the digital image sensor based on the comparison. After the digital image sensor records an image, a processor internal or external to the digital image sensor adjusts the recorded image according to the stored profile and a compensation algorithm.

Abstract: Inventive systems and methods for remotely controlling infrared controlled devices by using addressed radio frequency control signals. Radio frequency signals propagate through most obstructions to infrared control signals. Augmenting each control signal with an address allows for great selectivity in an environment with several transmitters and receivers.