Console for control of media systems

• US 20040248567A1
• Filed: 06/07/2004
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 3-PLUS HF.
• Original Assignee: 3-PLUS HF.
• Inventors: Thordarson, Johannes, Sigurdsson, Helgi G.
• Application Number:
  US10/861,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20040248567A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/04 with audible presentation of the material to be studied sound recording or reproducing G11B
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/02 of the type wherein the student is expected to construct an answer to the question which is presented or wherein the machine gives an answer to the question presented by a student
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/027 Remotely controlled remote control systems in general G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• 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 21/42646 for reading from or writing on a non-volatile solid state storage medium, e.g. DVD, CD-ROM
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4758 for providing answers, e.g. voting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums

Abstract

A control console for a video player, such as a DVD player. The console comprises a first group of sensors and a second group of sensors and a communication device for transmitting control signals to the DVD player. Several cards are provided. One card is arranged adjacent the console covering a surface area thereof. The card has slots for cooperation with the first group of sensors. The card also has figures covering the second group of sensors. When a child presses one of the figures, the corresponding button is activated and emits a signal for control of the DVD player. In programming mode, the signal controls the console itself for adapting the console to the DVD player actually used. There is also a programming mode using the DVD player'"'"'s normal remote control for learning purpose.

Claims

1. A control device for a video player comprising:

a console, further comprising a robust body with round corners and a handle grip;

a first group of sensors;

a second group of sensors;

a communication device for transmitting control signals to said player;

a plurality of cassettes detachably mountable on said console, the cassettes cooperating with said first and second group of sensors to provide said control signals; and

one of the cassettes being a programming cassette, the programming cassette when mountable on the console to program the control signals to a video player.

2. The control device of claim 1, wherein the control device is for a DVD player and wherein when one of the cassettes of the plurality of cassettes is mounted on the console, it covers a portion of the surface of the console.

3. The control device of claim 1, wherein said programming cassette has a first set of actuators for cooperation with said first group of sensors and a second set of actuators for cooperation with said second group of sensors.

4. The control device of claim 2, wherein said first set of actuators work with said first group of sensors to transmit a control signal to said console to put said console in a programming mode.

5. The control device of claim 1, wherein said cassettes are provided with at least one of figures and pictures overlying said second group of sensors.

6. The control device of claim 1, wherein said communication device comprises an infrared light transmitter.

7. The control device of claim 1, wherein said communication device comprises an infrared light receiver.

8. The control device of claim 1, wherein said programming cassette comprises nine digits overlaying nine corresponding buttons of said console for activating said buttons for emitting programming signals to said control device.

9. A system for children to interact with a video player comprising:

a control device having a console with a robust body, round corners and a handle grip, the control device further having a first group of sensors, a second group of sensors and a communication device, control signals being transmitted by the communication device to a video player;

a DVD player;

a monitor;

a DVD disk; and

a plurality of cassettes being mountable on said console, and for cooperation with said first and second group of sensors, for providing said control signals, the plurality of cassettes including a programming cassette, the programming cassette when mountable on the console to program the control signals to the DVD player.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein when one of the cassettes of the plurality of cassettes is mounted on the console, it covers a portion of the surface of the console.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said programming cassette has a first set of actuators for cooperation with said first group of sensors and a second set of actuators for cooperation with said second group of sensors.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said first set of actuators work with said first group of sensors to transmit a control signal to said console to put said console in a programming mode.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein said cassettes are provided with at least one of figures and pictures overlying said second group of sensors.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein said communication device comprises an infrared light transmitter.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein said communication device comprises an infrared light receiver.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein said programming cassette comprises nine digits overlaying nine corresponding buttons of said console for activating said buttons for emitting programming signals to said control device.

17. A method for children to operate and interact with a standalone video player through a control device having a console, the method comprising the steps of:

placing a DVD-disk in a DVD player;

programming the console/DVD player by placing a programming card on the console;

placing one of a plurality of cards on the console for cooperation with a first group of sensors on the console, the sensors providing control signals and the card being one of a cassette, playing card and interactive card;

navigating into programs through a second group of sensors by pressing sensors through at least one of signs, figures, letters and pictures on the cassette cards;

automatically selecting one of a sub-menu, track number and chapter on the DVD-disk by sending an IR signal to the DVD player when the card is placed on the console and during the step of navigating; and

programming the console with a programming card so that the console will interact with the DVD player.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of placing a card includes covering a portion of the surface of the console with the card.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of cards include a programming cassette, the programming cassette has a first set of actuators and a second set of actuators, the method comprising the step of the first set of actuators of the programming cassette cooperating with said first group of sensors and the second set of actuators cooperating with said second set of sensors.

20. The method of claim 19, comprising the step of transmitting a control signal to the console by said first set of actuators working with said first group of sensors to put said console in a programming mode.

21. The method of claim 17, comprising the step of providing said cards with at least one of figures and pictures overlying said second group of sensors.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of programming uses an infrared light transmitter.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of programming uses an infrared light receiver.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein said programming cassette comprises nine digits, the method comprising the step of overlaying the nine digits with corresponding nine buttons of said console for activating said buttons for emitting programming signals to said control device.