Controlling device using cues to convey information

• US 20050066370A1
• Filed: 06/16/2004
• Published: 03/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Hayes, Patrick H., Conway, James N. Jr., Alvarado, Cesar, Louie, Alex
• Granted Patent: US 7,460,050 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/80
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/33 Remote control using macros, scripts
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/61 Password, biometric
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/91 Remote control based on location and proximity
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• 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 21/4221 Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext

Abstract

A controlling device, such as a universal remote control, that uses visual, audio, and/or tactile cues, such as sounds, color, patterns, shapes, vibrations, etc., to indicate relationships. Relationships may be between a function key and an intended target appliance for a command transmitted in response to activation of the function key, a user and the controlling device, or a room and the controlling device.

Claims

1. A controlling device for commanding operating functions of a plurality of different appliances in a plurality of different operational modes, comprising:

a plurality of function keys activatable to cause a transmission of a command to at least one of the plurality of different appliances;

wherein the function keys are associated with a non-alphanumeric visual indicia that is representative of one of the plurality of different operational modes.

2. The controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein the non-alphanumeric visual indicia is at least one selected from the group consisting of color, tint, contrast, pattern, shape and brightness.

3. The controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of different operational modes is a user operational mode.

4. The controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of different operational modes is a room operational mode.

5. The controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein the function keys are hard keys.

6. The controlling device as recited in claim 4, comprising an LED associated with each of the function keys, the LED being illuminable to provide the non-alphanumeric visual indicia.

7. The controlling device as recited in claim 6, wherein the LED is a multicolor LED.

8. The controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein the function keys are displayed soft keys.

9. The controlling device as recited in claim 8, wherein the function keys are displayed using the non-alphanumeric visual indicia.

10. The controlling device as recited in claim 8, wherein an area in the vicinity of the function keys is provided the non-alphanumeric visual indicia.

11. The controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein the function keys overlay a transparent, light conducting material and the light conducting material has an associated LED for illuminating the light conducting material to provide the non-alphanumeric visual indicia.

12. The controlling device as recited in claim 11, wherein the LED is a multi-color LED.

13. The controlling device as recited in claim 1, comprising an EL display having the function keys which are illuminable to provide the non-alphanumeric visual indicia.

14. The controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein the non-alphanumeric visual indicia is user-selectable.

15. The controlling device as recited in claim 1, wherein the non-alphanumeric visual indicia is predefined.

16. A method for using a non-alphanumeric visual indicia to indicate a configuration of the controlling device, comprising:

accepting input to create multiple controlling device configurations wherein each controlling device configuration places the controlling device into a distinct operational mode such that activation of function keys of the controlling device will cause commands associated with the distinct operational mode to be transmitted to intended target appliances; and

associating a non-alphanumeric visual indicia with each of the multiple controlling device configurations whereby each of the multiple controlling device configurations is visually discernable by the user.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the non-alphanumeric visual indicia is at least one selected from the group consisting of color, tint, contrast, pattern, shape and brightness.

18. The method as recited in claim 16, comprising illuminating at least one LED to generate a non-alphanumeric visual indicia.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the at least one LED is a multicolor LED.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, comprising using the LED to illuminate a display face of the controlling device.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the display face comprises a translucent material.

22. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the operational modes are user operational modes.

23. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the operational modes are room operational modes.

24. The method as recited in claim 16, comprising illuminating an EL display segment to generate a non-alphanumeric visual indicia.

25. The method as recited in claim 16, comprising accepting user input assigning a non-alphanumeric visual indicia to an operational mode.

26. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the non-alphanumeric visual indicia for each operational mode is predefined.

27. The method as recited in claim 16, comprising accepting user input that functions to cause a non-alphanumeric visual indicia to be displayed.

28. A controlling device for commanding operating functions of a plurality of different appliances, comprising:

a function key activatable to cause a transmission of at least one command to an intended target appliance selected from the plurality of different appliances;

wherein one of a plurality of different user-selected sound tags is associated with the function key.

29. The controlling device as recited in claim 28, wherein the sound tag is emitted from the controlling device prior to the transmission of the at least one command.

30. The controlling device as recited in claim 28, wherein the sound tag is emitted in response to a first actuation of the function key and the transmission of the at least one command occurs in response to a second actuation of the function key.

31. The controlling device as recited in claim 28, wherein the sound tag is emitted in response to a partial actuation of the function key and the transmission of the at least one command occurs in response to a further, continued actuation of the function key.

32. The controlling device as recited in claim 28, wherein the sound tag is emitted in response to an actuation of the function key for less than a time threshold.

33. The controlling device as recited in claim 28, wherein the sound tag is emitted in response to sensing a user'"'"'s touch of the function key.

34. The controlling device as recited in claim 28, wherein the sound tag comprises sound recorded through a microphone of the controlling device.

35. The controlling device as recited in claim 34, wherein the recorded sound comprises a voice.

36. The controlling device as recited in claim 28, wherein the sound tag comprises a synthesized voice.

37. A controlling device for commanding operating functions of a plurality of different appliances, comprising:

a function key activatable to cause a transmission of at least one command to an intended target appliance selected from the plurality of different appliances;

wherein one of a plurality of different tactile tags is associated with the function key.

38. The controlling device as recited in claim 37, wherein the tactile tag is produced by the controlling device prior to the transmission of the at least one command.

39. The controlling device as recited in claim 37, wherein the tactile tag is produced in response to a first actuation of the function key and the transmission of the at least one command occurs in response to a second actuation of the function key.

40. The controlling device as recited in claim 37, wherein the tactile tag is produced in response to a partial actuation of the function key and the transmission of the at least one command occurs in response to a further, continued actuation of the function key.

41. The controlling device as recited in claim 37, wherein the tactile tag is produced in response to an actuation of the function key for less than a time threshold.

42. The controlling device as recited in claim 37, wherein the tactile tag is produced in response to sensing a user'"'"'s touch of the function key.

43. The controlling device as recited in claim 37, wherein the tactile tag comprises a discernable vibration pattern.