Apparatus and method for providing media services

• US 10,097,876 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2016
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Humax Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Humax Company Limited
• Inventors: Park, Sung Heum
• Primary Examiner(s): Teitelbaum, Michael E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rahman, Mustafizur
• Application Number:
  US15/255,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20170302986A1
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 348734, 348706, 348714, 348719, 348739, 348523, 348565, 348567, 348585, 348590, 348684, 348425, 348474, 34821114, 3482316, 3482311, 348298, 348 43, 345169, 345173, 345158, 345160, 725 32, 725 39, 725 37, 725 43, 725 52, 725 61, 725 93
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42208 Display device provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42212 Specific keyboard arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895

Abstract

An embodiment of the invention provides an apparatus for providing a media service while outputting a content. The apparatus includes: a processor; a memory for storing one or more program instructions executed by the processor; and a control signal receiver unit for receiving from a remote control a control signal resulting from a key input made by a user, where the program instructions determine whether the key input is a normal input or a force input by comparing a sensing level, which is associated with a pressure or an area by which the user presses the key, with a preset value; identify the content outputted on the screen when the control signal is received, when the key input is a force input; and execute an operation different from an operation of a normal input for the key, according to a combination of the identified content and the force input.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing a media service configured to output a content, the apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a memory configured to store one or more program instructions executed by the processor; and

a control signal receiver unit configured to receive from a remote control having a key a control signal resulting from a key input made by a user,

wherein the key is a navigation key associated with a navigation attribute and a navigation operation, a decision key associated with a decision attribute and a decision operation, or a function key associated with a function attribute and a function operation when the key input is a normal input;

wherein the one or more program instructions

determine whether the key input is a normal input associated with a first sensing level or a force input associated with a second sensing level by comparing a sensing level of the key input with a preset value, the sensing level of the key input being associated with a pressure with which the user presses the key,

in response to a force input associated with a second sensing level, identify the content output on a screen to the user as a first program content or a second program content provided by a content provider system; and

execute an operation that does not have an attribute associated with a normal input for the key and that depends on a combination of the identified content and the force input.

2. The apparatus for providing a media service according to claim 1, wherein

the operation is displaying an interface for searching a program corresponding to the identified content.

3. The apparatus for providing a media service according to claim 1, wherein the first program content is a live program and the second program content is an on-demand program.

4. The apparatus for providing a media service according to claim 1, wherein

the operation is displaying at least one of a program schedule, a popular channel list, a preferred channel list, or a recently viewed channel list, when the identified content is a live program.

5. The apparatus for providing a media service according to claim 4, wherein the user selects a navigation key or a decision key as the key input.

6. The apparatus for providing a media service according to claim 1, wherein

the operation is displaying at least one of a VOD list, a popular VOD list, or a preferred genre VOD list, when the identified content is an on-demand.

7. The apparatus for providing a media service according to claim 1, wherein the one or more program instructions output on the screen an identification image for identifying a force input, when the control signal includes the second sensing level.

8. The apparatus for providing a media service according to claim 7, wherein the one or more program instructions output on the screen an icon corresponding to a function selectable by a normal input of a navigation key, the icon outputted adjacent to the identification image.

9. The apparatus for providing a media service according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus accommodates a plurality of second sensing levels,

and when the control signal includes one of the plurality of second sensing levels, the one or more program instructions output on the screen an icon corresponding to a function corresponding to the second sensing level included in the control signal, the icon outputted for a preset duration of time.

10. The apparatus for providing a media service according to claim 1, wherein the remote control is equipped with a touchscreen, the touchscreen having a plurality of keys arranged thereon,

and the control signal includes planar coordinates of the selected key and depth information regarding the pressure with which the key is selected.

11. The apparatus for providing a media service according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a set-top box configured to receive and output broadcast signals provided by a content provider system.

14. The apparatus for providing a media service according to claim 6, wherein the user selects a navigation key or a decision key as the key input.

15. The apparatus for providing a media service according to claim 1, wherein the one or more program instructions executes an operation different from the operation associated with a normal input and a force input associated with a second sensing level in response to a force input associated with a third sensing level.

16. The apparatus for providing a media service according to claim 15, wherein the one or more program instructions executes an operation different from the operation associated with a normal input, a force input associated with a second sensing level, and a force input associated with a third sensing level, in response to a force input associated with a fourth sensing level.

17. The apparatus for providing a media service according to claim 16, wherein the one or more program instructions outputs a program schedule when the force input is associated with a second sensing level, a popular channel list when the force input is associated with a third sensing level, and a preferred channel list when the force input associated with a fourth sensing level.

12. A method for processing a control signal of a remote control at an apparatus for providing media services, the method comprising:

outputting a content on a screen;

receiving from the remote control having a key a control signal resulting from a key input made by a user;

determining whether the key input is a normal input associated with a first sensing level or a force input associated with a second sensing level by comparing a sensing level of the key input with a preset value, the sensing level of the key input being associated with a pressure with which the user presses the key;

in response to a force input associated with a second sensing level, identifying the content output on a screen to the user as a first program content or a second program content provided by a content provider system; and

executing an operation that does not have an attribute associated with a normal input for the key and that depends on a combination of the identified content and the force input,

wherein the key is a navigation key associated with a navigation attribute and a navigation operation, a decision key associated with a decision attribute and a decision operation, or a function key associated with a function attribute and a function operation when the key input is a normal input.

13. A computer program stored in a non-transitory computer-readable recorded medium for performing the method of claim 12.

18. The method for processing a control signal of a remote control at an apparatus for providing media services according to claim 12, wherein the first program content is a live program and the second program content is an on-demand program.

19. The method for processing a control signal of a remote control at an apparatus for providing media services according to claim 18, wherein the operation is displaying an interface for searching a program corresponding to the identified content.

20. The method for processing a control signal of a remote control at an apparatus for providing media services according to claim 12,

wherein the operation is displaying at least one of a program schedule, a popular channel list, a preferred channel list, or a recently viewed channel list, when the identified content is a live program, and

wherein the user selects a navigation key or a decision key as the key input.