Control Function Gestures

• US 20100169842A1
• Filed: 12/31/2008
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Migos, Charles J.
• Application Number:
  US12/347,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20100169842A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/863
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• 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 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4852 for modifying audio parameters, e.g. switching between mono and stereo

Abstract

Techniques involving control function gestures are described. In an implementation, a control function is identified in response to gesture input at a touch screen of the remote control device. Execution of the identified control function is initiated a client device that is communicatively coupled to the remote control device and that is configured to alter an output of content by the client device that is broadcast to the client device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying a control function that corresponds to a gesture input via a touch surface of a remote control device; and

initiating execution of the identified control function by a client device that is communicatively coupled to the remote control device and that is configured to alter an output of content by the client device that is broadcast to the client device.

2. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the control function includes functionality to select a particular one of a plurality of channels in the broadcast.

3. A method as described in claim 2, wherein the gesture is a numeric gesture that indicates input of one or more numbers.

4. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the gesture indicates a relative amount of an increase or a decrease in a value by a length of the gesture as applied to the touch surface.

5. A method as described in claim 4, wherein the increase or decrease relates to volume of audio of the content output by the client device.

6. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the execution of the control function changes how the content is rendered by the client device for output.

7. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the client device includes personal video recorder (PVR) functionality and the control function involves a trick mode of the PVR functionality.

8. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the client device is a television.

9. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the identifying and the initiating are performed by the remote control device.

10. One or more computer-readable tangible media comprising instructions that are executable by a remote control device to form a notification for communication to a client device to cause the client device to tune to a particular channel that was specified using a gesture via a touch surface of the remote control device.

11. One or more computer-readable media as described in claim 10, wherein the gesture is a numeric gesture that resembles a number of the particular channel.

12. One or more computer-readable media as described in claim 10, wherein the gesture is received during concurrent output of representations of control functions via the touch surface.

13. One or more computer-readable media as described in claim 10, wherein the particular channel is configured to output one or more television programs received at the client device via a broadcast.

14. One or more computer-readable media as described in claim 10, wherein the remote control device is configured to communicate the notification to the client device over a local wireless network connection.

15. A remote control device comprising:

a touch surface; and

one or more modules to;

detect one or more gestures that resemble one or more numbers input via the touch surface;

determine a channel that corresponds to the detected one or more gestures; and

form a notification for wireless communication to a client device indicating that the client device is to tune to the determined channel.

16. A remote control device as described in claim 15, wherein:

the client device is a set-top box that is configured to tune to the determined channel to receive content via a broadcast; and

the touch surface is a touchscreen or touch pad.

17. A remote control device as described in claim 15, wherein the client device includes personal video recorder (PVR) functionality and the one or more modules are further configured to detect another gesture that specifies a trick mode of the PVR functionality.

18. A remote control device as described in claim 15, wherein the one or more modules are further configured to detect another gesture that indicates a relative amount of an increase or a decrease in a value by a length of the other gesture as applied to the touch surface.

19. A remote control device as described in claim 18, wherein the increase or decrease relates to volume of audio of the content output by the client device.

20. A remote control device as described in claim 15, wherein the one or more modules are further configured to detect another gesture that changes how the content is rendered by the client device for output.