METHOD FOR INPUTTING USER COMMAND AND VIDEO APPARATUS AND INPUT APPARATUS EMPLOYING THE SAME

• US 20090079696A1
• Filed: 04/18/2008
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Jung, Han-chul, Kwon, O-jae, Shin, Chang-beom
• Granted Patent: US 9,001,044 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• 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 21/42228 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 21/4316 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

Abstract

A method of inputting a user command includes displaying a navigation window including letter key symbols corresponding to keys on a manipulator. If a first user command as to a specific key on the manipulator is input, a specific letter key symbol on the navigation window corresponding to the specific key is activated, and if a second user command as to the specific key is input, the letter corresponding to the activated specific letter key symbol is input. Accordingly, even if the manipulator is separated from the display on which a result of the manipulator is displayed, the user can input a user command by looking at the display only.

Claims

1. An input apparatus to control a video apparatus, the input apparatus comprising:

a plurality of input keys; and

an input mode converter to convert an input mode of the input keys,

wherein the input mode converter converts an input mode of the input keys in order for the input keys to perform a navigation function according to a user'"'"'s manipulation.

2. The input apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input mode converter is a mode conversion button to convert the input mode.

3. The input apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input mode converter is a mode conversion sensor to convert the input mode.

4. The input apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input mode converter is a touch sensor to convert the input mode.

5. An input apparatus to control a video apparatus, the input apparatus comprising:

a plurality of input keys; and

a input mode converter to convert an input mode of the input keys,

wherein the input mode converter converts an input mode of the input keys in order for the input keys to perform a letter inputting function according to a user'"'"'s manipulation.

6. A video apparatus to reproduce an image, comprising:

a display to display an image;

a receiver to receive an input mode conversion signal to control the video apparatus from an input apparatus including a plurality of keys; and

a controller to control such that navigation key symbols corresponding to specific keys of the input apparatus are displayed on the display according to the received input mode conversion signal.

7. A video apparatus to reproduce an image, comprising:

a display to display an image;

a receiver to receive an input mode conversion signal to control the video apparatus from an input apparatus including a plurality of keys; and

a controller to control such that letter key symbols corresponding to specific keys of the input apparatus are displayed on the display according to the received input mode conversion signal.

8. A method of controlling a video apparatus, the method comprising:

displaying a navigation window including letter key symbols corresponding to keys on a manipulator;

if a first user command as to a specific key on the manipulator is input, activating a specific letter key symbol on the navigation window corresponding to the specific key; and

if a second user command as to the specific key is input, inputting a letter corresponding to the activated specific letter key symbol.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first user command is generated by touching the specific key, and the second user command is generated by pressing the specific key.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising determining whether a touched area on the manipulator is continuous or not,

wherein the navigation window is displayed if the touched area is determined to not be continuous.

11. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the manipulator is physically separated from the video apparatus.

12. A method of controlling a video apparatus that includes a numeric mode in which a number is input and an alphabetic mode in which a letter is input, the method comprising:

determining whether the video apparatus is in the numeric mode or the alphabetic mode according to how a manipulator is held by a user;

if the mode is the numeric mode and if a key of a specific number on the manipulator is selected, inputting the specific number;

if the mode is the alphabetic mode, displaying a navigation window including letter key symbols corresponding to keys on the manipulator; and

if a specific key on the manipulator is selected, inputting a specific letter on the navigation window corresponding to the specific key.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the video apparatus is determined to be in the numeric mode if the user holds the manipulator with one hand, and the video apparatus is determined to be in the alphabetic mode if the user holds the manipulator with both hands.

14. A video system comprising:

a manipulator provided with a plurality of keys; and

a video apparatus comprising

a display to display letter key symbols corresponding to the keys on the manipulator; and

a controller which, if a first user command as to a specific key on the manipulator is input, activates a specific letter key symbol on the display corresponding to the specific key, and if a second command as to the specific key is input, inputs a letter corresponding to the activated specific letter key symbol.

15. The video system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first user command is generated by touching the specific key, and the second user command is generated by pressing the specific key.

16. The video system as claimed in claim 15, wherein, if a touched area of the manipulator is not continuous, the controller controls the display such that the letter key symbols are displayed on the display.

17. The video system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the manipulator is physically separated from the video apparatus.

18. A video system including a numeric mode in which a number is input and an alphabetic mode in which a letter is input, the video apparatus comprising:

a manipulator through which a user command is input; and

a video apparatus comprising

a display to display a graphic user interface (GUI); and

a controller to determine whether the video apparatus is in the numeric mode or the alphabetic mode according to how the manipulator is held by a user,

wherein, if the controller determines that the video apparatus is in the alphabetic mode, the controller controls the display such that a GUI including letter key symbols corresponding to keys on the manipulator is displayed on the display.

19. The video apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein, if the user holds the manipulator with one hand, the controller determines that the video apparatus is in the numeric mode, and if the user holds the manipulator with both hands, the controller determines that the video apparatus is in the alphabetic mode.