1. A method of operating a receiving unit comprising:
selecting a filter feature for filtering content data from a set of available content data for use with an auxiliary remote control device;
receiving an auxiliary remote control device identifier from auxiliary remote control device at a receiving unit;
in response to receiving the auxiliary remote control device identifier, filtering the set of available content data with the filter feature to form filtered available content data less than the set of available content data; and
displaying a user interface having the filtered available content data associated with the auxiliary remote control device on a display.
2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein selecting comprises selecting the filter feature using a primary remote control device.
3. A method as recited in claim 2 further comprising remapping first functions associated with the primary remote control device to form second functions associated with an auxiliary remote control device.
4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein selecting comprises selecting the filter feature using a receiving unit input device.
5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein selecting a filter feature comprises selecting a channel filter and wherein displaying a user interface comprises displaying filtered available content data in the user interface in response to the channel filter.
6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein selecting a filter feature comprises selecting a rating filter and wherein displaying a user interface comprises displaying filtered available content data in the user interface in response to the rating filter.
7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein selecting a filter feature comprises selecting a local channel filter and wherein displaying a user interface comprises displaying filtered available content data in the user interface in response to the local channel filter.
8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein selecting a filter feature comprises selecting a non-local channel filter and wherein displaying a user interface comprises displaying filtered available content data in the user interface in response to a non-local channel filter.
9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein selecting a filter feature comprises selecting a time filter wherein displaying a user interface comprises displaying filtered available content data in the user interface in response to the time filter.
10. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein filtering the set of available content comprises filtering the set of available content data from program guide data.
11. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein filtering the set of available content comprises filtering the set of available content data from recording list data.
12. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein displaying the user interface comprises displaying posters corresponding to the filtered available content in the user interface.
13. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising entering an auxiliary mode at the receiving unit in response to the auxiliary remote control device identifier, communicating a key value to receiving unit, changing the function associated with the key value in response to the auxiliary remote control device identifier and an auxiliary key value table.
14. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising selecting one of the filtered available content on the display using the auxiliary remote control device.
15. A method as recited in claim 14 further comprising tuning the receiving unit in response to selecting one of the filtered available content.
16. A method as recited in claim 14 further comprising displaying content from a digital video recorder in response to selecting one of the filtered available content.
17. A system comprising:
an auxiliary remote control device having an auxiliary remote control device identifier associated therewith; and
a receiving unit comprising a filter module having a filter feature for filtering content data from a set of available content data in response to an auxiliary remote control device identifier received at the receiving unit, said filter module forming filtered available content data less than the set of available content data; and
said receiving unit displaying a user interface having the filtered available content data associated with the auxiliary remote control device on a display associated with the receiving unit.
18. A system as recited in claim 17 further comprising a primary remote control device selecting the filter feature.
19. A system as recited in claim 18 wherein the receiving unit remaps first functions associated with the primary remote control device to form second functions associated with an auxiliary remote control device.
20. A system as recited in claim 17 wherein a receiving unit input device selects the filter feature.
21. A system as recited in claim 17 wherein the filter feature comprises a channel filter and wherein the receiving unit displays the user interface in response to the channel filter.
22. A system as recited in claim 17 wherein the filter feature comprises a rating filter and wherein the receiving unit displays the user interface in response to the rating filter.
23. A system as recited in claim 17 wherein the filter feature comprises a local channel filter and wherein the receiving unit displays the user interface in response to the local channel filter.
24. A system as recited in claim 17 wherein the filter feature comprises a non-local channel filter and wherein the receiving unit displays the user interface in response to the non-local channel filter.
25. A system as recited in claim 17 wherein the filter feature comprises a channel filter and wherein the receiving unit displays the user interface in response to the channel filter.
26. A system as recited in claim 17 wherein the set of available content data comprises program guide data.
27. A system as recited in claim 17 wherein the set of available content data comprises recording data.
28. A system as recited in claim 17 wherein the receiving device displays posters corresponding to the filtered available content data on the display.
29. A system as recited in claim 17 wherein the receiving unit enters an auxiliary mode in response to the auxiliary remote control device identifier and changes a function associated with a key value received from the auxiliary remote in response to the auxiliary remote control device identifier and an auxiliary key value table.
30. A system as recited in claim 17 wherein the auxiliary remote control device selects one of the filtered available content on the display.
31. A system as recited in claim 30 wherein the receiving unit is tuned in response to selecting one of the filtered available content using the auxiliary remote control device.
32. A system as recited in claim 31 further comprising playing content from a digital video recorder in response to selecting one of the filtered available content data.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A stirrer device (1a; 1b) including at least one shaft (13; 14), a first blade-type stirrer assembly (3) and a second blade-type stirrer assembly (2), each blade-type stirrer assembly (2, 3) including a blade body (7, 6) directly or indirectly mounted on and constrained to rotate with said shaft (13; 14), each blade body (7, 6) carrying at least one blade (5, 4), said first and second stirrer assemblies (2, 3) being axially movable relative to each other, characterized in that the blade body (6) of the second stirrer assembly (2) is permanently mounted on the blade body (7) of the first stirrer assembly (3) so as to nest freely and telescopically between at least two positions, a close-together position corresponding to a short configuration in which the blade bodies (7, 6) of the stirrer assemblies (2, 3) are close together in the axial direction and a spaced-apart position corresponding to a long configuration in which the blade bodies (7, 6) of the stirrer assemblies (2, 3) are spaced apart from each other in the axial direction, at least the extreme spaced-apart position being defined by an abutment.
2. A stirrer device (1a, 1b) according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the blade-type stirrer assemblies (2, 3) is also movable axially relative to the shaft (13; 14).
3. A stirrer device (1a, 1b) according to claim 1, characterized in that the extreme close-together and spaced-apart positions between which the first and second stirrer assemblies (2, 3) are movable axially are defined by abutments.
4. A stirrer device (1a, 1b) according to claim 1, characterized in that the blade body (6) of the second stirrer assembly (2) is a tube slotted over part of its length, the slot forming an opening (8) in which the blade (5) of the first stirrer assembly (3) moves on axial relative movement of the first and second stirrer assemblies.
5. A stirrer device (1a, 1b) according to claim 4, characterized in that the abutment defining said extreme spaced-apart position is formed by the closed end (28) of said opening (8) in the blade body (6) of the second stirrer assembly (2), said closed end (28) being adapted to abut against the area of connection of the blade (5) of the first stirrer assembly (3) with the corresponding blade body (7).
6. A stirrer device (1a, 1b) according to claim 5, characterized in that the abutment defining said extreme close-together position is formed by an end of travel notch (10) at the same end (20) of the blade body (6) of the second stirrer assembly (2) as the closed end (28) of the slot in which the blade (5) of the first stirrer assembly (3) travels, said notch (10) being adapted to abut against a lug (9) disposed at or in the vicinity of one end (21) of the blade body (7) of the first stirrer assembly (3).
7. A stirrer device (1a, 1b) according to claim 1, characterized in that in the short configuration the two blade bodies (7, 6) at least partially overlap the shaft (13; 14).
8. A stirrer device (1a, 1b) according to claim 1, characterized in that in the long configuration at least one of the blade bodies (7, 6) is in line with the shaft (13).
9. A stirrer device (1a, 1b) according to claim 1, characterized in that in the long configuration the blade bodies surround said shaft (14).
10. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first stirrer assembly (3) is adapted to assume at least two different axial positions relative to said shaft (13; 14) and said device includes retaining means for retaining the first blade-type stirrer assembly (3) relative to the shaft (13; 14) in at least one of said two different axial positions.
11. A stirrer device (1b) according to claim 10, of the type in which said shaft (14) is vertical, said at least two axial positions assumed by the first stirrer assembly (3) being a high position and a low position, characterized in that the retaining means include two grooves (24, 27) in the internal wall of the blade body (7) of the first stirrer assembly (3), said grooves (24, 27) being of different lengths and spaced angularly to cooperate selectively with an abutment (12) on said shaft (14) to enable the first blade-type stirrer assembly (3) to move between the high position and the low position.
12. A stirrer device (1a) according to claim 10, of the type in which said shaft (13) is vertical, said at least two different axial positions assumed by the first stirrer assembly (3) being a high position and a low position, characterized in that the retaining means include a groove (27) in the internal wall of the blade body (7) of the first stirrer assembly (3), said groove (27) being adapted to cooperate with an abutment (11) on said shaft (13) to enable movement between the high position and the low position.
13. A method of adjusting a stirrer device (1b) according to claim 11, said device being adapted to stir liquid contained in cans of varying height, characterized in that said method includes the steps of:
removing the stirrer device from a first can containing a liquid to be mixed, the first stirrer assembly being in the high or low position relative to the shaft (14);
imparting axial and angular relative movement of the first blade-type stirrer assembly (3) to go from a high position to a low position or vice-versa;
placing the stirrer device in another can of height that corresponds to the adjusted high or low position of the stirrer device.
14. A stirrer device (1a, 1b) according to claim 2, characterized in that the extreme close-together and spaced-apart positions between which the first and second stirrer assemblies (2, 3) are movable axially are defined by abutments.
15. A stirrer device (1a, 1b) according to claim 2, characterized in that in the short configuration the two blade bodies (7, 6) at least partially overlap the shaft (13; 14).
12. A stirrer device (1a, 1b) according to claim 3, characterized in that in the short configuration the two blade bodies (7, 6) at least partially overlap the shaft (13; 14).
17. A stirrer device (1a, 1b) according to claim 4, characterized in that in the short configuration the two blade bodies (7, 6) at least partially overlap the shaft (13; 14).
18. A stirrer device (1a, 1b) according to claim 5, characterized in that in the short configuration the two blade bodies (7, 6) at least partially overlap the shaft (13; 14).
19. A stirrer device (1a, 1b) according to claim 6, characterized in that in the short configuration the two blade bodies (7, 6) at least partially overlap the shaft (13; 14).
20. A stirrer device (1a, 1b) according to claim 2, characterized in that in the long configuration at least one of the blade bodies (7, 6) is in line with the shaft (13).