Abstract: A remote control device communicates remote control discovery information to a receiver. The remote control device is used to control a particular electronic consumer device. The remote control discovery information may, for example, include: a codeset identifier that identifies a codeset stored in the remote control device, device information, diagnostic information, and/or marketing information. The device information may include a device description, and/or device characteristics information that correspond to the electronic consumer device. In one example, the receiver is a set-top box that is connected to a central database through a network. The remote control discovery information may be used to identify the remote control device and the corresponding electronic consumer device. In addition, the remote control discovery information may also be used for diagnostic and marketing purposes.

Abstract: A home entertainment device eliminates the need to use multiple remote's. The device is connected (by wired and/or wireless links) to electronic consumer devices (ECDs) to be controlled. A user uses a portable display device to view pages served by the device, and thereby to communicate with the device and indirectly control the ECDs. In a first aspect, a HDMI-CEC communication is used to identify a codeset from a codeset database. In a second aspect, the codeset of a remote is identified by serving pictures of remotes to the user. The user selects a picture and the system looks up its codeset. In a third aspect, keys on an illustration of a remote are dragged and dropped to create a new custom remote. In a fourth aspect, the user supplies a digital photograph of a remote. The system performs optical recognition and identifies the type of remote and its codeset.

Abstract: A native application includes codeset information. The native application, if loaded into a cellular telephone, allows the cellular telephone and a novel associated Operational Signal Generating Device (OSGD) to be usable as a remote control device. An on-line media store provides the native application for purchase and download. A user uses the cellular telephone to download the native application into the cellular telephone. The codeset information is transferred into the OSGD. The OSGD has a mechanism for using codeset information to generate IR operational signals of the type used to control electronic consumer devices. Execution of the native application causes a keypad to appear on the cellular telephone display. If the user presses a key of the keypad, the cellular telephone detects the key press and sends a communication to the OSGD which causes the OSGD to use the codeset information to generate and transmit an appropriate IR operational signal.

Abstract: A home entertainment device eliminates the need to use multiple remotes. The device is connected (by wired and/or wireless links) to electronic consumer devices (ECDs) to be controlled. A user uses a portable display device to view pages served by the device, and thereby to communicate with the device and indirectly control the ECDs. In a first aspect, a HDMI-CEC communication is used to identify a codeset from a codeset database. In a second aspect, the codeset of a remote is identified by serving pictures of remotes to the user. The user selects a picture and the system looks up its codeset. In a third aspect, keys on an illustration of a remote are dragged and dropped to create a new custom remote. In a fourth aspect, the user supplies a digital photograph of a remote. The system performs optical recognition and identifies the type of remote and its codeset.

Abstract: A system for control of electronic consumer device (ECD) functions includes a device having a signal output adapted to communicate with an ECD function information database to obtain function information for the ECD and to create a signal, transmittable via the signal output, using the function information for the ECD obtained from the function information database and a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cable that communicates the signal transmitted via the signal output to the ECD.

Abstract: A home entertainment device eliminates the need to use multiple remote's. The device is connected (by wired and/or wireless links) to electronic consumer devices (ECDs) to be controlled. A user uses a portable display device to view pages served by the device, and thereby to communicate with the device and indirectly control the ECDs. In a first aspect, a HDMI-CEC communication is used to identify a codeset from a codeset database. In a second aspect, the codeset of a remote is identified by serving pictures of remotes to the user. The user selects a picture and the system looks up its codeset. In a third aspect, keys on an illustration of a remote are dragged and dropped to create a new custom remote. In a fourth aspect, the user supplies a digital photograph of a remote. The system performs optical recognition and identifies the type of remote and its codeset.

Abstract: A home entertainment device eliminates the need to use multiple remotes. The device is connected (by wired and/or wireless links) to electronic consumer devices (ECDs) to be controlled. A user uses a portable display device to view pages served by the device, and thereby to communicate with the device and indirectly control the ECDs. In a first aspect, a HDMI-CEC communication is used to identify a codeset from a codeset database. In a second aspect, the codeset of a remote is identified by serving pictures of remotes to the user. The user selects a picture and the system looks up its codeset. In a third aspect, keys on an illustration of a remote are dragged and dropped to create a new custom remote. In a fourth aspect, the user supplies a digital photograph of a remote. The system performs optical recognition and identifies the type of remote and its codeset.

Abstract: A high security microcontroller (such as in a point of sale terminal) includes tamper control circuitry for detecting vulnerability conditions: a write to program memory before the sensitive financial information has been erased, a tamper detect condition, the enabling of a debugger, a power-up condition, an illegal temperature condition, an illegal supply voltage condition, an oscillator fail condition, and a battery removal condition. If the tamper control circuitry detects a vulnerability condition, then the memory where the sensitive financial information could be stored is erased before boot loader operation or debugger operation can be enabled. Upon power-up if a valid image is detected in program memory, then the boot loader is not executed and secure memory is not erased but rather the image is executed. The tamper control circuitry is a hardware state machine that is outside control of user-loaded software and is outside control of the debugger.

Abstract: A point of sale terminal includes a microcontroller integrated circuit. In one aspect, a regulator within the IC receives power from a supply voltage terminal and/or a battery terminal. If the regulator does not receive adequate power from either terminal, then energy stored on-chip in a capacitor is used to erase secure memory. In another aspect, pulses of current are made to pulse through conductors of a conductive mesh. A tamper condition is detected if an improper voltage is detected on the IC terminal through which the pulse is conducted. In another aspect, each vendor signs his/her firmware with his own vendor ID. A bootloader uses the vendor ID to lookup a public key that is then used to verify a private key supplied by the firmware to be executed. In another aspect, a magnetic card reader includes a digital peak detector circuit involving programmable positive and negative thresholds.

Abstract: A native application includes codeset information. The native application, if loaded into a cellular telephone, allows the cellular telephone and a novel associated Operational Signal Generating Device (OSGD) to be usable as a remote control device. An on-line media store provides the native application for purchase and download. A user uses the cellular telephone to download the native application into the cellular telephone. The codeset information is transferred into the OSGD. The OSGD has a mechanism for using codeset information to generate IR operational signals of the type used to control electronic consumer devices. Execution of the native application causes a keypad to appear on the cellular telephone display. If the user presses a key of the keypad, the cellular telephone detects the key press and sends a communication to the OSGD which causes the OSGD to use the codeset information to generate and transmit an appropriate IR operational signal.

Abstract: A ball grid array (BGA) package (such as one BGA package of a package-on-package (POP) secure module assembly) includes a substrate, and integrated circuit, and array of bond balls. The BGA package further includes a first amount of encapsulant that covers the integrated circuit and a novel second amount of encapsulant. The novel second amount of encapsulant is a peripheral strip that extends along an edge of the substrate to form a peripheral guard ring. The peripheral guard ring provides an additional amount of anti-tamper security to the BGA package. The guard ring can be fabricated with no or very little additional cost if the guard ring is formed in the same encapsulation step employed to encapsulate the integrated circuit. In some embodiments, the peripheral guard ring is made part of and/or is coupled to anti-tamper circuitry such that if the guard ring is disturbed a tamper condition is detected.

Abstract: A point of sale terminal includes a microcontroller integrated circuit. In one aspect, a regulator within the IC receives power from a supply voltage terminal and/or a battery terminal. If the regulator does not receive adequate power from either terminal, then energy stored on-chip in a capacitor is used to erase secure memory. In another aspect, pulses of current are made to pulse through conductors of a conductive mesh. A tamper condition is detected if an improper voltage is detected on the IC terminal through which the pulse is conducted. In another aspect, each vendor signs his/her firmware with his own vendor ID. A bootloader uses the vendor ID to lookup a public key that is then used to verify a private key supplied by the firmware to be executed. In another aspect, a magnetic card reader includes a digital peak detector circuit involving programmable positive and negative thresholds.

Abstract: A high security microcontroller (such as in a point of sale terminal) includes tamper control circuitry for detecting vulnerability conditions: a write to program memory before the sensitive financial information has been erased, a tamper detect condition, the enabling of a debugger, a power-up condition, an illegal temperature condition, an illegal supply voltage condition, an oscillator fail condition, and a battery removal condition. If the tamper control circuitry detects a vulnerability condition, then the memory where the sensitive financial information could be stored is erased before boot loader operation or debugger operation can be enabled. Upon power-up if a valid image is detected in program memory, then the boot loader is not executed and secure memory is not erased but rather the image is executed. The tamper control circuitry is a hardware state machine that is outside control of user-loaded software and is outside control of the debugger.