US 6,104,334 · Granted 2000-08-15

The Universal Remote That Wanted to Browse the Web

Imagine a remote control that doesn't just change the channel—it has its own built-in screen and can connect to the internet to grab information about what you're watching. Instead of burying commands in your TV menu, this portable device lets you control multiple brands of appliances from different companies, all without needing a separate computer or taking over your TV screen.

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The plain-English version

What it protects

The claim covers a handheld remote control device that combines infrared command transmission with an integrated graphical display and internet connectivity. What's protected here is the specific combination of sending IR signals to control consumer appliances from multiple manufacturers while simultaneously running its own display and pulling data from online sources—all in one programmable, portable unit. The patent locks down this architecture: a standalone device that acts as both a universal remote and a data browser.

Why it matters

This patent captures an early attempt at solving a real consumer frustration: the proliferation of single-purpose remotes and the awkwardness of trying to get information about what you're watching without interrupting your TV. Filed in 1997 and granted in 2000, it represents pre-smartphone thinking about how people might want a smarter, internet-connected control point in their living room. It didn't dominate the market, but it staked out intellectual property for a device category—the connected universal remote—that companies have pursued for decades as TVs, streaming services, and home automation grew.

Real-world use

Today, when you pick up a smart remote that shows program guides or connects to your home Wi-Fi to control lights and thermostats, you're using an evolution of the problem this patent addressed.

Original USPTO abstract

A remote control uses IR (infrared) commands to control various consumer appliances made by various manufactures. The remote control is low-cost, consumer-friendly, programmable, has its own graphical display so it does not interfere with a TV or other viewing screen, and is capable of interacting with the internet or other data source to provide a rich set of functionality.

Patent details

Publication number: US 6,104,334
Filing date: 1997-12-31
Grant date: 2000-08-15
Assignee: Eremote, Inc.
Inventor(s): ALLPORT; DAVID E.
CPC class: G06F8/65

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