US 5,933,090 AGranted

Method and apparatus for field programming a remote control system

AssigneeUT Automotive Dearborn, Inc.

InventorKeith A. Christenson

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Abstract

A remote control system comprises a transmitter for transmitting a first data signal having a command and an identification code. Further, the remote control system comprises a receiver for receiving the first data signal having an operational mode for initiating the received command if the first received identification code matches a stored authentic and valid identification code, and a programming mode for storing received valid identification codes. If the receiver is in a first session of the programming mode, the processor tests the validity of the first received identification code, unauthenticates the stored authentic and valid identification codes should the first received identification code be valid, and writes the first received, tested and validated identification code into a first location in memory as authentic and valid.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A remote control system comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting a first data signal, said first data signal comprising:
a command;
and
an identification code;
and
a receiver for receiving said first data signal, said receiver having an operational mode for initiating said received command if said first received identification code matches a stored authentic and valid identification code, and a programming mode for storing received valid identification codes, said receiver comprising:
a switch for switching between said operational mode and said programming mode;
a memory having multiple locations for storing authentic and valid identification codes;
and
a processor,
if said receiver is in said operational mode,
for accessing said authentic and valid identification codes from said memory;
for comparing said first received identification code with said accessed authentic and valid identification codes;
and
for initiating said received command if said received identification code matches with one of said accessed authentic and valid identification codes;
and
if said receiver is in a first session of said programming mode,
for testing the validity of said first received identification code;
for unauthenticating without deleting or overwriting said stored authentic and valid identification codes if said first received identification code is valid;
and
for writing said first received, tested and validated identification code entry into a single first location in said memory as authentic and valid.

18 more elements

A remote control system comprising:

a first transmitter for transmitting a first data signal, said first data signal comprising:
a command;
and
an identification code;
and
a receiver for receiving said first data signal, said receiver having an operational mode for enabling said received command if said first received identification code matches a stored authentic and valid identification code, and a programming mode for storing received valid identification codes, said receiver comprising:
a switch for switching between said operational mode and said programming mode;
a memory having multiple locations for supplying stored authentic and valid identification codes if said receiver is in said operational mode, and for storing valid identification codes if said receiver is in said programming mode;
a processor,
if said receiver is in said operational mode,
for accessing said authentic and valid identification codes from said memory;
for comparing said first received identification code with said accessed authentic and valid identification codes;
and
for initiating said received command if said received identification code matches with one of said accessed authentic and valid identification codes;
and
if said receiver is in a first session of said programming mode,
for testing the validity of said first received identification code;
for unauthenticating without deleting or overwriting said stored authentic and valid identification codes if said first received identification code is valid;
and
for writing said first received, tested and validated identification code only into a single first location in said memory as authentic and valid,
said processor comprising a marking device for marking said stored authentic and valid identification codes in said memory as unauthentic if said first received identification code is valid and said receiver is in said first session of said programming mode, said marking device comprising:
a bit register for storing a bit for each of said accessed authentic and valid identification codes in said memory reflective of the authentic status of each authentic and valid identification code;
and
a counter for counting the number of authentic and valid identification codes in said memory.

21 more elements

A field programming method for remotely programming received identification codes into a receiver, the receiver having a memory having multiple locations for supplying stored authentic and valid identification codes if the receiver is in an operational mode, and for storing valid identification codes if the receiver is in a field programming mode, the field programming method comprising the steps of:

testing the validity of a first received identification code;
unauthenticating without deleting or overwriting the stored authentic and valid identification codes if said first received identification code is valid;
and
writing said first received, tested and validated identification code only into a single first location in the memory as authentic and valid.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.