User interface based on device-state information

• US 10,452,332 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2017
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: B&W Group Ltd. (Masimo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EVA Automation, Inc.
• Inventors: Yu, Gaylord
• Primary Examiner(s): Sax, Steven P
• Application Number:
  US15/593,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20170255435A1
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0383 Remote input, i.e. interface arrangements in which the signals generated by a pointing device are transmitted to a PC at a remote location, e.g. to a PC in a LAN
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/21 Programming remote control devices via third means
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/026 Arrangements or methods related to booting a display
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/06 Consumer Electronics Control, i.e. control of another device by a display or vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/12 Use of DVI or HDMI protocol in interfaces along the display data pipeline
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/16 Use of wireless transmission of display information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 : having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 : embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• 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 21/4222 : Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415
• 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 21/43615 : Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43635 : HDMI
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 : involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 : for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72

Abstract

A portable electronic device with a touch-sensitive display (such as a cellular telephone) provides a wireless remote control for an entertainment device (such as a consumer-electronic device). Based on device-state information that specifies a current state of the entertainment device (which is received from an audio/video (A/V) hub that communicates with the entertainment device) and one or more related states of the entertainment device, the portable electronic device may generate a user interface that includes one or more virtual command icons. Note that the one or more related states are related to the current state in a state diagram by corresponding operations that transition the entertainment device from the current state to the one or more related states. Then, the portable electronic displays the user interface on the touch-sensitive display. In this way, the portable electronic device dynamically adapts the user interface.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a touch-sensitive display;

one or more light sources;

one or more antennas;

an interface circuit communicatively coupled to the one or more antennas and configured to communicate with a separate electronic device; and

a control circuit, coupled to the one or more light sources, the touch-sensitive display and the interface circuit, configured to;

receive, via the interface circuit, measured device-state information, associated with the separate electronic device, that identifies a specific state of an entertainment device, wherein the measured device-state information corresponds to a measurement on signals conveyed on one or more signal lines associated with a connector between the separate electronic device and the entertainment device, wherein the one or more signal lines comprises a subset of the signal lines associated with the connector and the subset comprises a shield, wherein the measured device-state information corresponds to an intentional ground loop between the separate electronic device and the entertainment device, wherein the device state information corresponds to the specific state in a set of predefined states, which comprises two or more of;

a power state, a playback state, a trick-mode state, a pause state, a standby state, or a state associated with receiving or providing content, and wherein the ground loop is modified by the specific state such that a particular signal corresponding to the ground loop is identifiable as pertaining to the specific state of the entertainment device;

select, based on the measured device-state information corresponding to the particular signal corresponding to the ground loop, a predefined or predetermined user interface that includes multiple selectable features comprising icons, virtual command icons or both, wherein the user interface is customized to correspond to the specific state, an identified type of the entertainment device, and one or more related states of the entertainment device that are related to the specific state in a state diagram by corresponding operations that transition the entertainment device from the specific state to the one or more related states, and wherein the one or more related states are in the set of predefined states and are different from the specific state of the entertainment device; and

display the user interface by selectively illuminating the icons using the one or more light sources, by presenting the virtual command icons on the touch-sensitive display or both.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to receive, via the interface circuit, one of:

classification information for the entertainment device that specifies the type of the entertainment device;

a manufacturer of the entertainment device; and

context information that specifies a context of content associated with the entertainment device; and

wherein the icons, the virtual command icons or both are further based on one of;

the type of the entertainment device, the manufacturer of the entertainment device, and the context.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device comprises a user-interface device, which is coupled to the control circuit;

wherein the control circuit is configured to receive activation information specifying activation of a control feature in the user-interface device that is associated with an icon in the icons; and

wherein the activation of the control feature specifies a transition of the entertainment device from the specific state to a new specific state in the state diagram.

4. The portable electronic device of claim 3, wherein the control circuit is configured to:

modify the user interface to change the icons, the virtual command icons or both based on the new specific state; and

display the modified user interface by modifying the selective illumination by the one or more light sources and by presenting the modified virtual command icons on the touch-sensitive display.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to receive activation information specifying activation of a virtual command icon in the virtual command icons;

wherein the activation of the virtual command icon specifies a transition of the entertainment device from the specific state to a new specific state in the state diagram; and

wherein activation of the virtual command icon involves the portable electronic device performing one of;

detecting contact with the touch-sensitive display within a strike area of the virtual command icon and then release of the contact; and

receiving information associated with a verbal command.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 5, wherein the control circuit is configured to:

modify the user interface to change the icons, the virtual command icons or both based on the new specific state; and

display the modified user interface by modifying the selective illumination by the one or more light sources and by presenting the modified virtual command icons on the touch-sensitive display.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the user interface excludes selective illumination of the one or more light sources associated with one or more additional icons, the presenting of one or more additional virtual command icons on the touch-sensitive display or both, which are associated with one or more unrelated states of the entertainment device that are unrelated to the specific state by direct transitions in the state diagram.

8. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein a given operation directly transitions the entertainment device from the specific state to one of the additional states without passing through an intermediate state in the state diagram.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit comprises:

memory configured to store a program module; and

a processor, coupled to the one or more light sources, the interface circuit and the memory, wherein, when executed by the processor, the program module causes the portable electronic device to perform the receiving, the selecting and the displaying.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 1, wherein the generating and the displaying operations are dynamically performed as the specific state changes.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for use in conjunction with a portable electronic device, the computer-readable storage medium storing a program module that, when executed by the portable electronic device, causes the portable electronic device to display a user interface by performing one or more operations comprising:

receiving, via an interface circuit in the portable electronic device, measured device-state information, associated with a separate electronic device, that identifies a specific state of an entertainment device, wherein the measured device-state information corresponds to a measurement on signals conveyed on one or more signal lines associated with a connector between the separate electronic device and the entertainment device, wherein the one or more signal lines comprises a subset of the signal lines associated with the connector and the subset comprises a shield, wherein the measured device-state information corresponds to an intentional ground loop between the separate electronic device and the entertainment device, and wherein the device state information corresponds to the specific state in a set of predefined states, which comprises two or more of;

a power state, a playback state, a trick-mode state, a pause state, a standby state, or a state associated with receiving or providing content, and wherein the ground loop is modified by the specific state such that a particular signal corresponding to the ground loop is identifiable as pertaining to the specific state of the entertainment device;

selecting, based on the measured device-state information corresponding to the particular signal corresponding to the ground loop, a predefined or predetermined user interface that includes multiple selectable features comprising icons, virtual command icons or both, wherein the user interface is customized to correspond to the specific state, an identified type of the entertainment device, and one or more related states of the entertainment device that are related to the specific state in a state diagram by corresponding operations that transition the entertainment device from the specific state to the one or more related states, wherein the one or more related states are in the set of predefined states and are different from the state, and wherein the ground loop is modified by the specific state such that a signal corresponding to the ground loop is identifiable as pertaining to the specific state of the entertainment device; and

displaying the user interface by selectively illuminating the icons using one or more light sources in the portable electronic device, by presenting the virtual command icons on the touch-sensitive display or both.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the one or more operations comprise-receiving, via the interface circuit, one of:

classification information for the entertainment device that specifies the type of the entertainment device;

a manufacturer of the entertainment device; and

context information that specifies a context of content associated with the entertainment device; and

wherein the icons, the virtual command icons or both are further based on one of;

the type of the entertainment device, the manufacturer of the entertainment device, and the context.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the one or more operations comprise receiving activation information specifying activation of a control feature in a user-interface device in the portable electronic device that is associated with an icon in the icons;

and

wherein the activation of the control feature specifies a transition of the entertainment device from the specific state to a new specific state in the state diagram.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the one or more operations comprise:

modify the user interface to change the icons, the virtual command icons or both based on the new specific state; and

display the modified user interface by modifying the selective illumination by the one or more light sources and by presenting the modified virtual command icons on the touch-sensitive display.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the one or more operations comprise:

receive activation information specifying activation of a virtual command icon in the virtual command icons;

wherein the activation of the virtual command icon specifies a transition of the entertainment device from the specific state to a new specific state in the state diagram; and

wherein activation of the virtual command icon involves the portable electronic device performing one of;

detecting contact with the touch-sensitive display within a strike area of the virtual command icon and then release of the contact; and

receiving information associated with a verbal command.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the one or more operations comprise:

modify the user interface to change the icons, the virtual command icons or both based on the new specific state; and

display the modified user interface by modifying the selective illumination by the one or more light sources and by presenting the modified virtual command icons on the touch-sensitive display.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the user interface excludes selective illumination of the one or more light sources associated with one or more additional icons, the presenting of one or more additional virtual command icons on the touch-sensitive display or both, which are associated with one or more unrelated states of the entertainment device that are unrelated to the specific state by direct transitions in the state diagram.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein a given operation directly transitions the entertainment device from the specific state to one of the additional states without passing through an intermediate state in the state diagram.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the generating and the providing operations are dynamically performed as the specific state changes.

20. A method for displaying a user interface, wherein the method comprises:

by a portable electronic device;

receiving, via an interface circuit in the portable electronic device, measured device-state information, associated with a separate electronic device, that identifies a specific state of an entertainment device, wherein the measured device-state information corresponds to a measurement on signals conveyed on one or more signal lines associated with a connector between the separate electronic device and the entertainment device, wherein the one or more signal lines comprises a subset of the signal lines associated with the connector and the subset comprises a shield, wherein the measured device-state information corresponds to an intentional ground loop between the separate electronic device and the entertainment device, and wherein the device state information corresponds to the specific state in a set of predefined states, which comprises two or more of;

a power state, a playback state, a trick-mode state, a pause state, a standby state, or a state associated with receiving or providing content, and wherein the ground loop is modified by the specific state such that a particular signal corresponding to the ground loop is identifiable as pertaining to the specific state of the entertainment device;

selecting, based on the measured device-state information corresponding to the particular signal corresponding to the ground loop, a predefined or predetermined user interface that includes multiple selectable features comprising icons, virtual command icons or both, wherein the user interface is customized to correspond to the specific state, an identified type of the entertainment device, and one or more related states of the entertainment device that are related to the specific state in a state diagram by corresponding operations that transition the entertainment device from the specific state to the one or more related states, wherein the one or more related states are in the set of predefined states and are different from the state, and wherein the ground loop is modified by the specific state such that a signal corresponding to the ground loop is identifiable as pertaining to the specific state of the entertainment device; and

displaying the user interface by selectively illuminating the icons using one or more light sources in the portable electronic device, by presenting the virtual command icons on the touch-sensitive display or both.