TV remote control with display

• US 20050108751A1
• Filed: 02/16/2004
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Dacosta, Behram Mario
• Application Number:
  US10/778,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20050108751A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• 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 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• 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 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• 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 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A remote control device for a TV has a display on which an electronic program guide (EPG) received from the TV can be displayed, so that the TV itself does not have to superimpose the EPG on the video being shown on the TV screen. Also, video of programs being previewed using the remote control device EPG can be sent from the TV to the remote control device for display. A TV GUI can be sent to the remote as well from the TV or from a PVR associated with the TV.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

at least one television system; and

at least one remote control device in wireless communication with the television system, the remote control device including at least one visual display, the visual display presenting at least two of;

a video stream received from the TV system, a graphical user interface (GUI) including controls for operating the TV system, and an electronic program guide (EPG).

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote control device presents both the video stream and the EPG, the video stream being related to a channel currently selected on the EPG of the remote.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the EPG is received from the TV system.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the remote control device communicates with the Internet, and the EPG is received from the Internet.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the GUI is received from at least one of:

the TV system, and a personal video recorder (PVR) associated with the TV.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the display is a touch screen display.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the GUI on the display of the remote control device is used to operate the TV system.

8. A method for controlling a TV, comprising:

sending information to a remote control such that the remote control can display a GUI for controlling the TV;

sending information to the remote control such that the remote control can display an EPG representing channels on the TV, the remote control permitting the user to select a channel on the EPG; and

sending information to the remote control such that the remote control can display a video stream related to a selected channel on the EPG.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the selected channel is indicated by touching a touch screen display of the remote control.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the EPG is received from the TV.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the EPG is received from the Internet.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the GUI is manipulated using a touch screen display on the remote control to control at least a volume and channel on the TV.

13. A system, comprising:

a TV;

a remote control configured for wireless communication with the TV and presenting an EPG;

means for sending to the remote control, from at least one of;

the TV, and a personal video recorder associated therewith, a GUI for controlling the TV;

means for permitting a user to select a channel on the EPG; and

means for presenting on the remote control a video stream related to a selected channel on the EPG.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the selected channel is indicated by touching a touch screen display of the remote control.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the EPG is received from the TV.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the EPG is received from the Internet.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the GUI is manipulated using a touch screen display on the remote control to control at least a volume and channel on the TV.