Simplified Control System for Electronic Media
First Claim
1. A control system comprising:
- a transmitter for transmitting command signals to a media control system that executes machine instructions associated with media content, wherein the machine instructions can be selectively associated with the command signals;
a direct-select key in communication with the transmitter and having a property that is replicated in an icon on a display of the media control system, wherein the property associates the direct-select key with the icon on the display such that activation of the direct-select key causes the transmitter to transmit a first command signal to instruct the media control system to initiate an operation that is selectively associated with the icon; and
a navigation key in communication with the transmitter, activation of the navigation key causing the transmitter to transmit a second command signal to instruct the media control system to perform a navigation operation that is defined by the machine instructions such that the navigation operation will be the same for any of a plurality of media control systems which access the machine instructions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control system with a simplified control device (10) for direct selection of electronic media operations, and for programmed navigation through the content without using dedicated navigation functions of a media player. The simplified control device (10) includes a limited number of keys, comprising direct-select keys (20-26) and navigation keys (30-36), which transmit programmable number key signals rather than dedicated key signals. Direct-select keys (20-26) are visually associated with icons displayed by the medial player by shape, color, and/or the like. The icons are dynamically associated with portions of content and/or software instructions stored on a medium, such as a DVD. Activating a direct-select key (20-26) cause the media player to access the associated content and/or instructions. The simplified remote control device (10) also includes navigation keys (30-36) associated with software instructions stored on the DVD, so that navigation operations are consistent for any media player that reads from the DVD. Dedicated keys can also be included.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A control system comprising:
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a transmitter for transmitting command signals to a media control system that executes machine instructions associated with media content, wherein the machine instructions can be selectively associated with the command signals; a direct-select key in communication with the transmitter and having a property that is replicated in an icon on a display of the media control system, wherein the property associates the direct-select key with the icon on the display such that activation of the direct-select key causes the transmitter to transmit a first command signal to instruct the media control system to initiate an operation that is selectively associated with the icon; and a navigation key in communication with the transmitter, activation of the navigation key causing the transmitter to transmit a second command signal to instruct the media control system to perform a navigation operation that is defined by the machine instructions such that the navigation operation will be the same for any of a plurality of media control systems which access the machine instructions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for controlling operations associated with electronic media content, comprising:
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providing a control device that communicates with a media content access device, wherein the control device includes; a direct-select key associated with a first command signal that can be communicated from the control device to the media content access device upon activation of the direct-select key and wherein the first command signal corresponds to a non-reserved first programmable command signal recognized by the media content access device; and a navigation key associated with a second command signal that can be communicated from the control device to the media content access device upon activation of the navigation key and wherein the second command signal corresponds to a non-reserved second programmable command signal recognized by the media content access device; displaying an icon that shares a property of the direct-select key and that is dynamically associated with an operation of the media content access device; performing a direct-selection operation with the media content access device if the first command signal is detected by the media content access device as a result of activation of the direct-select key on the remote control device; and performing a navigation operation with the media content access device to navigate to a desired portion of the electronic media content if the second command signal is detected by the media content access device as a result of activation of the navigation key on the remote control device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A machine readable medium storing data and instructions that cause a media content access device to perform the operations of:
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displaying an icon that shares a property of a direct-select key of a control device; dynamically associating the icon with a direct-select operation associated with electronic media content stored on the machine readable medium; performing the direct-select operation with the media content access device if a first command signal is detected by the media content access device as a result of activation of the direct-select key on the control device; and performing a navigation operation with the media content access device to navigate to a desired portion of the electronic media content if a second command signal is detected by the media content access device as a result of activation of a navigation key on the control device.
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Specification