Systems And Methods For Controlling A Display

• US 20080151125A1
• Filed: 12/20/2006
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Laboratories Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Bucchieri, Vittorio
• Granted Patent: US 8,194,034 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/734
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• 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 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/431 Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
• 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

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for controlling a display. The apparatus is moveable by an individual user and includes a motion sensor for detecting and providing an indication of one or more types of movement of the apparatus. The apparatus also includes a transmitter, which is configured to receive the indication of movement, either directly or indirectly, from the motion sensor. The transmitter is further configured to transmit at least one signal based on movement of the apparatus which is configured to initiate display changes in data displayed in a remote display device. A system and a method for controlling a display are also provided.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a motion sensor for detecting and providing an indication of one or more types of movement of said apparatus, said apparatus being movable by an individual user; and

a transmitter for receiving the indication of one or more types of movement and transmitting at least one signal, the signal being based on movement of said apparatus and configured to initiate display changes in data displayed in a remote display device.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a memory and a processor configured to obtain the indication of movement and to provide the corresponding signals to be transmitted by the transmitter by executing instructions stored in said memory.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said motion sensor includes one or more gyroscopes.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transmitter is configured to simulate a display remote control device by transmitting first and second signals that simulate signals transmitted by a display remote control device when utilizing vertical and horizontal scrolling functions in conjunction with a program guide display.

5. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said apparatus defines orthogonal main and transverse axes, said gyroscope is configured to provide an indication of rotation of said apparatus both around the transverse axis and around a normal axis perpendicular to a plane defined by the main and transverse axes, and said transmitter is configured to transmit respective first and second signals causing the display device to translate the displayed data in first and second lateral directions in response to the indications of apparatus rotation around the transverse and normal axes, respectively, such that one or more portions of data logically adjacent to the displayed data are subsequently displayed.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said gyroscope is configured to provide an indication of translation of said apparatus along the main axis and said transmitter is configured to transmit a third signal capable of changing a magnification of the displayed data in response to the indication of apparatus translation along the main axis.

7. A system comprising:

a remote control device including;

a motion sensor for detecting and providing an indication of one or more types of movement of said remote control device; and

a transmitter for receiving the indication of one or more types of movement and transmitting at least one signal based on movement of said remote control device; and

a processing device configured to receive the signal and initiate display changes in data displayed by a display device.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein said processing device and said display device are spaced apart from said remote control device.

9. A system according to claim 7, wherein said processing device is configured to couple to a display control system associated with the display device and provide input to the display control system so as to affect changes in the data displayed in the display device.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein said remote control device defines orthogonal main and transverse axes, said motion sensor is configured to provide an indication of rotation of said apparatus both around the transverse axis and around a normal axis perpendicular to a plane defined by the main and transverse axes, said transmitter is configured to transmit at least first and second signals in response to the indications of apparatus rotation around the transverse and normal axes, respectively, and said processing device is configured to receive the first and second signals and provide first and second inputs to the display control system so as to respectively simulate vertical and horizontal scrolling functions utilized in conjunction with a program guide display by causing the display device to translate the displayed data in first and second lateral directions such that one or more portions of data logically adjacent to the displayed data are subsequently displayed.

11. A system according to claim 7, wherein said motion sensor includes one or more gyroscopes.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein said processing device includes a receiver configured to receive the signal based on movement of said remote control device, a memory storing instructions, and a processor configured to obtain the signal and to initiate display changes by executing instructions stored in said memory.

13. A system according to claim 11, wherein said remote control device defines orthogonal main and transverse axes, said gyroscope is configured to provide an indication of rotation of said apparatus both around the transverse axis and around a normal axis perpendicular to a plane defined by the main and transverse axes, said transmitter is configured to transmit first and second signals in response to the indications of apparatus rotation around the transverse and normal axes, respectively, and said processing device is configured to receive the first and second signals and cause the display device to translate the displayed data in respective first and second lateral directions such that one or more portions of data logically adjacent to the displayed data are subsequently displayed

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein said gyroscope is configured to provide an indication of translation of said apparatus along the main axis, said transmitter is configured to transmit a third signal in response to the indication of apparatus translation along the main axis, and said processing device is configured to receive the third signal and cause the display device to change a magnification of the displayed data.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein said processing device is configured to cause the display device to display a map simultaneously with the displayed data that indicates the position of the displayed data within a more expansive set of data that includes the displayed data.

16. A system according to claim 7, wherein said processing device is configured to receive the data displayed by the display device and to provide the data to the display device for display.

17. A system according to claim 7, wherein said processing device includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable on said processor for selectively coupling said processing device to any one of multiple display control systems associated with a display device.

18. A method comprising:

providing a remote control device defining orthogonal main and transverse axes and configured to be movable by an individual user;

detecting rotation of the remote control device around the transverse axis and transmitting a signal to cause data displayed on a remote display device to scroll in a first direction; and

detecting rotation of the remote control device around a normal axis and transmitting a signal to cause the displayed data to scroll in a second direction, the normal axis being perpendicular to a plane defined by the main and transverse axes and the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction.

19. A method according to claim 18, further comprising detecting translation of the remote control device along the main axis and transmitting a signal to alter a magnification of the displayed data.

20. A method according to claim 18, further comprising providing an indicator of the display device and adjusting the remote control device in response to the indicator of the display device such that signals transmitted by the remote control device are compatible with the display device.