USER INTERFACE FOR SET TOP BOX

• US 20100238109A1
• Filed: 01/04/2008
• Published: 09/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Madison Patent Holdings (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Cook, Gregory William, Hunt, Charles Bryan, Johnson, Ronald Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 9,167,209 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• 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 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• 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 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method for control comprises a set top box receiving coordinates from a touch sensing screen. The coordinates are interpreted for controlling the set top box, and in accordance with the interpreted coordinates an action is performed. A further method for control comprises a set top box receiving a signal representative of displacement. A control function is determined from the displacement representative signal and the control function is activated. In accordance with the control function a signal is formed for communication.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a set top box comprising:

receiving coordinates from a touch sensing screen;

interpreting said coordinates for controlling said set top box,

performing an action in accordance with said interpreted coordinates

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said performing step includes

communicating a result of said action to said touch sensing screen

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said communicating step includes

sending said result of said action only to said touch sensing screen.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving step includes acquiring said coordinates from a remotely located touch sensing screen

5. A control method for a set top box comprising:

acquiring coordinates from a remotely located touch sensing screen,

interpreting said coordinates for controlling said set top box,

forming a cursor position in accordance with said interpreted coordinates;

activating a set top box function in accordance with said cursor; and

,

communicating said activated set top box function to said remote screen.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said forming step comprises, selecting said cursor position in accordance with said coordinates occupying a predetermined range of coordinate values

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said forming step comprises,

selecting a function in accordance with said cursor position.

8. A method for controlling a set top box comprising:

receiving a signal indicative of acceleration;

interpreting said signal as a control command;

activating a control function in accordance with said control command.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said interpreting step comprises

using a lookup table to identify said control command in accordance with said signal.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said interpreting step comprises

identifying in accordance with said signal, contra directional displacement;

activating a control function in accordance with said identified contra directional displacement.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said identifying step comprises detecting said contra directional displacement occurring within a time interval

12. The method of claim 8 wherein said determining step comprises

identifying in accordance with said signal, directional displacement greater than a certain value.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein said determining step comprises detecting a direction of said directional displacement.

14. A method for control comprising:

a set top box receiving a signal representative of displacement;

determining a control function from said signal representative of displacement;

activating said control function; and

,

forming a signal in accordance with said control function for communication.

15. The method of claim 14, where in said receiving step includes generating said signal representative of displacement responsive to movement of a viewing tablet.

16. The method of claim 14, where in said signal forming step includes communicating said signal responsive to said control function a viewing tablet.

17. The method of claim 14, where in said receiving step includes a signal indicative of a touch coordinate.

18. The method of claim 17, where in said determining step includes evaluating said signal representative of displacement and said signal indicative of said touch coordinate and forming therefrom a control function.