REMOTE CONTROL HAS ANIMATED GUI

• US 20010015719A1
• Filed: 08/04/1998
• Published: 08/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: VAN EE, JAN, ROBERTS, GUY J., MOORE, PAUL S.
• Application Number:
  US09/128,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20010015719A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars

Abstract

A remote control device for remote control of home theater equipment has a display with a touch screen representing a GUI. User-activation of the GUI causes its appearance to change. The change is effected through animation. Animation is the simulation of movement created by displaying a series of bitmaps. The animation lets the user perceive the change as a smooth transition. Thus the impression is avoided of an abrupt confrontation with a new lay-out.

Claims

1. A remote control device for remote control of equipment, wherein:

the device has a display for display of a GUI;

the GUI enables a user to interact with the device;

user-interaction with the device causes the GUI to undergo a change in appearance; and

the change is effected through animation.

2. The device of

claim 1

, comprising:

a frame buffer coupled to the display;

an off-screen buffer for storage of bitmap data; and

a bitblitter functionality to copy data from the off-screen buffer to the frame buffer.

3. The device of

claim 2

, comprising:

an object store for storing object data and

a rendering functionality for rendering the object data in at least the off-screen buffer or the frame buffer.

4. The device of

claim 1

, wherein the animation creates an impression of scrolling a panel.

5. The device of

claim 1

, wherein the animation creates an impression of sliding a graphics element.

6. The device of

claim 1

, wherein the animation creates an impression of rotating a graphics element.

7. The device of

claim 1

, wherein the animation creates an impression of changing a size of a graphics element.

8. The device of

claim 1

, comprising a touch screen.

9. The device of

claim 1

, wherein the GUI comprises control information for control of consumer electronics equipment.

10. A method of enabling a user to interact with electronic equipment through a hand-held remote control device, the method comprising:

enabling the device to present a GUI for user-activation; and

changing the GUI through animation upon a user-interaction with the GUI.