Audible feedback for input activation of a remote control device

• US 10,181,260 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2014
• Issued: 01/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Dish Network Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Schafer, Adam, Tomko, Joseph, Mickelsen, Jeremy
• Primary Examiner(s): Sherwin, Ryan
• Application Number:
  US14/153,938
• Publication Number:
  US 20140125465A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,828 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/32 Remote control based on movements, attitude of remote control device
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

A method of informing a user of an identity of an input of a remote control device is presented. In the method, user activation of one of the inputs of the remote control device is detected. An audible signal associated with the activated input is determined. Each of the inputs of the remote control device is associated with a unique one of a plurality of audible signals. The audible signal associated with the activated input is produced to inform the user of the identity of that input.

Claims

1. A method of informing a user of an identity of inputs of a remote control device, wherein the remote control device is configured to selectively control a plurality of controlled devices, the method comprising:

detecting user activation of one of a plurality of inputs of the remote control device for a period of time;

identifying a currently controlled device from the plurality of controlled devices;

comparing the detected period of time with a time threshold;

in response to the detected period of time being longer than the time threshold, the method further comprising;

activating a function associated with the activated one of the plurality of inputs;

determining an audible signal associated with the activated one of the plurality of inputs associated with control of the currently controlled device, wherein each of the plurality of inputs of the remote control device is associated with a unique one of a plurality of audible signals;

producing the audible signal associated with the activated one of the plurality of inputs; and

emitting the audible signal, wherein the emitted audible signal associated with the currently controlled device has at least one characteristic that is different from a same characteristic associated with audible signals from other ones of the plurality of controlled devices; and

in response to the detected period of time being less than the time threshold, the method further comprising;

activating the function associated with the activated one of the plurality of inputs.

2. A method of informing a user of an identity of inputs of a remote control device, wherein the remote control device is configured to selectively control a plurality of controlled devices, the method comprising:

detecting user activation of one of a plurality of inputs of the remote control device for a period of time;

identifying a currently controlled device from the plurality of controlled devices;

comparing the detected period of time with a time threshold;

in response to the detected period of time being longer than the time threshold, the method further comprising;

activating a function associated with the activated one of the plurality of inputs;

determining an audible signal associated with the activated one of the plurality of inputs, wherein each of the plurality of inputs of the remote control device is associated with a unique one of a plurality of audible signals; and

producing an audible signal associated with the activated one of the plurality of inputs for a time period associated with the currently controlled device,

wherein each of the plurality of controlled devices are each associated with one of a plurality of different time periods that audible signals are produced; and

in response to the detected period of time being less than the time threshold, the method further comprising;

activating the function associated with the activated one of the plurality of inputs.

3. A method of informing a user of an identity of inputs of a remote control device, the method comprising:

detecting user activation of one of a plurality of inputs of the remote control device for a period of time;

comparing the detected period of time with a time threshold;

in response to the detected period of time being longer than the time threshold, the method further comprising;

activating a function associated with the activated one of the plurality of inputs;

determining an audible signal associated with the activated one of the plurality of inputs, wherein each of the plurality of inputs of the remote control device is associated with a unique one of a plurality of audible signals;

producing the audible signal associated with the activated one of the plurality of inputs at a first audio volume when a first controlled device is controlled by the remote control device; and

producing the audible signal associated with the activated one of the plurality of inputs at a second audio volume when a second controlled device is controlled by the remote control device; and

in response to the detected period of time being less than the time threshold, the method further comprising;

activating the function associated with the activated one of the plurality of inputs.

4. A method of informing a user of an identity of inputs of a remote control device, the method comprising:

detecting user activation of one of a plurality of inputs of the remote control device for a period of time;

comparing the detected period of time with a time threshold;

in response to the detected period of time being longer than the time threshold, the method further comprising;

activating a function associated with the activated one of the plurality of inputs;

determining an audible signal associated with the activated one of the plurality of inputs, wherein each of the plurality of inputs of the remote control device is associated with a unique one of a plurality of audible signals;

producing the audible signal associated with the activated one of the plurality of inputs for a first time period when a first controlled device is controlled by the remote control device; and

producing the audible signal associated with the activated one of the plurality of inputs for a second time period when a second controlled device is controlled by the remote control device; and

in response to the detected period of time being less than the time threshold, the method further comprising;

activating the function associated with the activated one of the plurality of inputs.