Control signal input system and control signal input method

• US 20060192753A1
• Filed: 02/16/2006
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Fukuhara, Hiroshige
• Granted Patent: US 8,072,415 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• 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 21/42204 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 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42228 the reprogrammable keys being displayed on a display screen in order to reduce the number of keys on the remote control device itself
• 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

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an interface which users can intuitively operate. A control signal input system includes a display device which displays a graphical user interface including plural control items for controlling a device, the control items being displayed in a predetermined layout; and an input device having an input unit operable to make a selection from control items displayed on the display device, the input unit having a shape, wherein the shape of the input unit corresponds to the layout of the control items.

Claims

1. A control signal input system, comprising:

a display device which displays a graphical user interface including plural control items for controlling a device, the control items being displayed in a predetermined layout; and

an input device having an input unit operable to make a selection from control items displayed on the display device, the input unit having a shape,

wherein the shape of the input unit corresponds to the layout of the control items.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the input unit includes plural grooves formed in a plane, and

the control items on the graphical user interface are arranged in a positional relationship corresponding to the shapes of the grooves.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the input unit detects a position on the plane where a user'"'"'s fingertip touches and a pressure applied by the user'"'"'s fingertip.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein the grooves are assigned to selections of plural functions of the device.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the input unit is a joy stick, and

the control items on the graphical user interface are arranged at positions corresponding to a movable range of the joy stick.

6. A control signal input method for use in a control signal input system including a display device which displays a graphical user interface, and an input device having an input unit operable to make a selection from control items displayed on the display device, the input unit having a shape, the method comprising:

generating a graphical user interface on the display device, the graphical user interface including control items for controlling a device, the control items having a layout which corresponds to the shape of the input unit;

transmitting input contents of the input unit to the display device; and

generating a graphical user interface on the display device showing which control item has been selected based on the input contents.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising executing a process corresponding to the selected control item.