IR database compression algorithm using optimized key mask

The rapid growth of Universal Remote Controls, Interactive Remote Controls, electronics Products and Infra-red (IR) Database business has increased the need for effective and standardized IR Database compression techniques. In order to support a large number of Remote control models in a Universal remote, one must compress the available IR database as best as possible. This paper presents a new algorithm for representing optimized key-masks for model command sets. This technique changes the normal key mask into reduced key masks depending on the correlation between the Remote Control keys. In the normal key mask a unique flag represents each remote button/key. In this new technique, all the related buttons/keys can be combined together so that a single flag can represent these set of keys and thus leading to optimized and compressed IR database.