Multimedia interactive device function selection based upon button depression duration

• US 20020122079A1
• Filed: 03/01/2002
• Published: 09/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JLB Ventures, LLC
• Original Assignee: JLB Ventures, LLC
• Inventors: Kikinis, Dan, Kamen, Yakov
• Granted Patent: US 9,569,009 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/863
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• 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 21/42215 by measuring the time interval during which a key is pressed, e.g. for inputting sequences of digits when selecting a television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications

Abstract

A method and apparatus wherein a plurality of functions are implemented on a multimedia presentation device. A user can access several of the functions by depressing a single button. A particular function is specified by the duration of the button depression. For one embodiment the functions affect a favorite program list and allow a user to access the list, update the list, and delete entries from the list depending upon button depression duration. For example, the user may depress button number (#) 3 of a remote control device. A brief depression (e.g., less than 1 second), results in the remote control interpreting this click as a digit for selecting a channel, and the system will tune to channel #3. A longer depression (e.g. between 1 and 2 seconds), results in the system recalling previously programmed selection #3. Likewise, other functions are implemented by depression the button for various durations.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

evaluating a depression duration of a button, the button controlling a multimedia presentation device; and

performing a function of a plurality of functions upon the based upon the depression duration.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein evaluating the depression duration comprises:

determining depression of a button;

periodically incrementing a counter during the depression duration; and

evaluating the counter value, upon termination of the depression of a button.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein some of the plurality of functions affect a favorite channel list, each channel positioned in the list arbitrarily.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein functions affecting the favorite channel list are selected from the group consisting of accessing, updating, programming and last channel.

5. A method comprising:

implementing a plurality of functions on a multimedia presentation device; and

providing access to the plurality of functions through a single-button depression scheme wherein a button depression duration corresponds to one of the plurality of functions.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

providing a depression duration indicator, the depression duration indicator indicating a time of depression and a corresponding function.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of functions affect a favorite channel list.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein a correspondence between button depression duration and a function is based upon an expected use frequency of the function.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein a function expected to be used less frequently corresponds to a shorter button depression duration than a function expected to be used more frequently.

10. A machine-readable medium containing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:

evaluating a depression duration of a button, the button controlling a multimedia presentation device; and

performing a function of a plurality of functions upon the based upon the depression duration.

11. The machine-readable medium of claim 10, wherein evaluating the depression duration comprises:

determining depression of a button;

periodically incrementing a counter during the depression duration; and

evaluating the counter value, upon termination of the depression of a button.

12. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein some of the plurality of functions affect a favorite channel list, each channel positioned in the list arbitrarily.

13. The machine-readable medium of claim 12, wherein functions affecting the favorite channel list are selected from the group consisting of accessing, updating, programming, and last channel.

15. The machine-readable medium of claim 14, further comprising:

providing a depression duration indicator, the depression duration indicator indicating a time of depression and a corresponding function.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the plurality of functions affect a favorite channel list.

17. The machine-readable medium of claim 14, wherein a correspondence between button depression duration and a function is based upon an expected use frequency of the function.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 17, wherein a function expected to be used less frequently corresponds to a shorter button depression duration than a function expected to be used more frequently.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein evaluating the depression duration comprises:

determining depression of button;

periodically incrementing a counter during the depression duration; and

evaluating the counter value, upon termination of the depression of a button.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein some of the plurality of functions affect a favorite channel list, each channel positioned in the list arbitrarily.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein functions affecting the favorite channel list are selected from the group consisting, updating, programming, and last channel.

24. The multimedia presentation device of claim 23, wherein one of the plurality of functions is a last channel function, the last channel function allowing the user to select a succession of previously-tuned channels from the favorite channel list.

14. A machine-readable medium containing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:

implementing a plurality of functions on a multimedia presentation device; and

providing access to the plurality of functions through a single-button depression scheme wherein a button depression duration corresponds to one of the plurality of functions.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a processor having a memory coupled thereto, the memory having stored thereon executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to evaluate a depression duration of a button, the button controlling a multimedia presentation device, and perform a function of a plurality of functions upon the based upon the depression duration.

23. A multimedia presentation device comprising:

a television display,

a push-button control device to control the television display, the push-button control device providing access to a plurality of functions through a single-button depression scheme wherein a button depression duration corresponds to one of the plurality of functions; and

a favorite channel list, the favorite channel list containing a plurality of pre-settable program selections arbitrarily selected by a user.