Method and system for transmitting data from a unidirectional transmitter to a receiver

• Main Authors: MORROW; JOHN, HOLO; DAVID L, SCHUMER; ALFRED L
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 22.12.1998
• Edition: 6
• Subjects: ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRICITY; TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHICCOMMUNICATION

A method and apparatus for programming a device, such as a universal remote control unit, using a light source, such as a CRT computer monitor coupled to a conventional personal computer. A unidirectional flow of data from the transmitter is used to configure to the receiver. Specifically, a method is provided for synchronizing the baud rates and bytes-per-frame of the receiver and the transmitter. The receiver baud rate is selected based on a "55 hex" synchronization signal received from the transmitter. The receiver measures a synchronization parameter to determine the exact baud rate of the transmitter, to which the receiver synchronizes. Thus, transmitter-to-transmitter baud rate differences, such as those caused by design differences and manufacturing tolerances, do not limit the rate at which data may be transmitted from a particular transmitter to a particular receiver. A method is also provided for verifying the integrity of data received at the receiver. Data is transmitted in segments, and an integrity check parameter is included in each segment. The integrity check parameter includes a "check-sum" parameter that denotes the number of bytes of data in the segment and/or a packet number that indicates the number of the packet in a sequence of data packets defining a data segment. The receiver compares the number of bytes received in the segment to the number of bytes denoted by the integrity check parameter. If the number of bytes segment does not match the number of bytes denoted by the integrity check parameter, the receiver indicates an error condition.