MOTION-SENSING REMOTE CONTROL

• US 20090141184A1
• Filed: 11/30/2007
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Gulati, Kunal
• Granted Patent: US 8,780,278 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/734
• 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 5/144 Movement detection for video coding H04N19/503; analysis of motion in general G06T7/20

Abstract

A motion-sensing remote control is described. In an embodiment, a television remote control can include various sensors that sense a motion of the device. The television remote control also includes an integrated circuit that receives a motion signal corresponding to the motion from the sensors and converts the motion signal into a remote control command. The television remote control further includes a light source that is activated by the integrated circuit to communicate the remote control command to a television client device to initiate a device action. In another embodiment, a television remote control can include various sensors that sense a motion of the device. The television remote control can also include computer-executable instructions that execute on a processor to translate the motion into a remote control command, and initiate communication of the remote control command to a television client device to initiate a device action.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

sensing one or more motions of a television remote control device when initiated by a user;

converting the one or more motions into a remote control command; and

communicating the remote control command to a television client device such that a device action is initiated.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the remote control command is converted into an infra-red signal from the one or more motions and communicated to the television client device as the infra-red signal.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising detecting a user-initiated selection of a remote control button while sensing the one or more motions of the television remote control device to cause the one or more motions to be converted into the remote control command.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein converting the one or more motions includes translating the one or more motions into electronic signals and converting the electronic signals into infra-red signals that are communicated to the television client device as the remote control command.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the remote control command is communicated to the television client device to initiate a television control action.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the remote control command is communicated to the television client device to initiate a program guide menu action.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the remote control command is communicated to the television client device to initiate a recorded media content action.

8. A television remote control device, comprising:

one or more sensors configured to sense a motion of the television remote control device;

an integrated circuit configured to receive a motion signal corresponding to the motion from the one or more sensors, the integrated circuit further configured to convert the motion signal into a remote control command; and

a light source activated by the integrated circuit and configured to communicate the remote control command to a television client device as an infra-red signal to initiate a device action.

9. A television remote control device as recited in claim 8, further comprising a remote control button that, when selected, initiates the one or more sensors to sense the motion of the television remote control device.

10. A television remote control device as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

a first remote control button configured for user selection that initiates the integrated circuit to convert the motion signal into the remote control command when the motion signal is received; and

a second remote control button configured for user selection that initiates the integrated circuit to convert the motion signal into a different remote control command when the motion signal is received.

11. The television remote control device as recited in claim 8, wherein the remote control command is generated as a television control action.

12. The television remote control device as recited in claim 8, wherein the remote control command is generated as a recorded media content action.

13. The television remote control device as recited in claim 8, wherein the one or more sensors are further configured to sense an additional motion of the television remote control device, and wherein the integrated circuit is further configured to:

receive an additional motion signal corresponding to the additional motion from the one or more sensors; and

convert the motion signal and the additional motion signal together into a different remote control command.

14. The television remote control device as recited in claim 8, wherein the integrated circuit is further configured to translate the motion signal into a binary remote control command that is converted into the infra-red signal which is communicated to the television client device.

15. A television remote control device, comprising:

one or more sensors configured to sense a motion of the television remote control device;

computer-executable instructions configured to execute on a processor to translate the motion into a remote control command, the computer-executable instructions further configured to initiate communication of the remote control command to a television client device to initiate a device action.

16. The television remote control device as recited in claim 15, further comprising a remote control button that, when selected, initiates the one or more sensors to sense the motion of the television remote control device.

17. The television remote control device as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

a first remote control button configured for user selection that initiates the computer-executable instructions to translate the motion into a remote control command; and

a second remote control button configured for user selection that initiates the computer-executable instructions to translate the motion into a different remote control command.

18. The television remote control device as recited in claim 15, wherein the remote control command is generated as a television control action.

19. The television remote control device as recited in claim 15, wherein the remote control command is generated as a recorded media content action.

20. The television remote control device as recited in claim 15, wherein the one or more sensors are further configured to sense an additional motion of the television remote control device, and wherein the computer-executable instructions are further configured to:

receive an additional motion from the one or more sensors; and

convert the motion and the additional motion together into a different remote control command.