CONTROLLING DEVICE WITH DUAL-MODE, TOUCH-SENSITIVE DISPLAY

• US 20110025633A1
• Filed: 10/07/2010
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Janik, Craig M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,999,794 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• 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 21/42208 Display device provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42225 characterized by types of remote control, e.g. universal remote control

Abstract

A processing device of a universal controlling device is programmed to distinguish between a first input type provided to a touch-sensitive surface and a second input type provided to the touch-sensitive surface. In response to the touch-sensitive surface being provided the first input type which is indicative of a static touch made upon the touch-sensitive surface the processing device causes a transmitter to transmit first data representative of the static touch made upon the touch-sensitive surface. In response to the touch-sensitive surface being provided the second input type which is indicative of a moving touch made across the touch-sensitive surface, the processing device causes the transmitter to transmit second data being representative of the moving touch made across the touch-sensitive surface.

Claims

1. A hand-held, portable device, comprising:

a touch-sensitive surface;

a transmitter for transmitting data for commanding functional operations of at least one appliance located remotely from the hand-held, portable device; and

a processing device for causing the transmitter to transmit data in response to input provided to the touch-sensitive surface;

wherein, in response to the touch-sensitive surface of the hand-held, portable device being provided a first input type indicative of a motion made across the touch-sensitive surface, the processing device causes the transmitter to transmit first data for commanding a functional operation of the at least one appliance located remotely from the hand-held, portable device such that a displayed, movable object is caused to be moved in a manner that corresponds to the motion made across the touch-sensitive surface scaled as a function of an orientation of the touch-sensitive surface during a time that the first input type is provided to the touch-sensitive surface of the hand-held, portable device.

2. The hand-held, portable device as recited in claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive surface of the hand-held, portable device is adapted to be provided the first input type in both a landscape orientation and a portrait orientation of the touch-sensitive surface.

3. The hand-held, portable device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first data is transmitted from the hand-held, portable device utilizing an IR protocol.

4. The hand-held, portable device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first data is transmitted from the hand-held, portable device utilizing an RF protocol.

5. The hand-held, portable device as recited in claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive surface displays one or more graphical user interfaces comprised of graphical user interface icons, wherein the touch-sensitive surface is adapted to be provided a second input type indicative of a selection of a displayed graphical user interface icon, wherein, in response to the second input type being provided to the hand-held, portable device, the processing device causes the transmitter to transmit second data for commanding a functional operation of the at least one appliance located remotely from the hand-held, portable device which functional operation corresponds to the selection of the displayed graphical user interface icon, and wherein the hand-held, portable device distinguishes the first input type received via the touch-sensitive surface from the second input type received via the touch-sensitive surface.

6. The hand-held, portable device as recited in claim 5, wherein activation of a mode button causes the hand-held, portable device to distinguish the first input type received via the touch-sensitive surface from the second input type received via the touch-sensitive surface.

7. The hand-held, portable device as recited in claim 6, wherein the second data is transmitted from the hand-held, portable device utilizing an IR protocol.

8. The hand-held, portable device as recited in claim 6, wherein the second data is transmitted from the hand-held, portable device utilizing an RF protocol.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable media embodied in a physical memory device having stored thereon instructions for causing a hand-held, portable device comprised of a touch-sensitive surface and adapted to transmit data to one or more appliances located remotely from the hand-held, portable device to perform steps comprising:

displaying with the touch-sensitive surface one or more graphical user interfaces comprised of graphical user interface icons;

accepting via the touch-sensitive surface a first input type indicative of a selection of a displayed graphical user interface icon;

initiating a transmission by the hand-held, portable device to the one or more appliances first data representative of the displayed graphical user interface icon selected by the first input type;

accepting via the touch-sensitive surface a second input type indicative of a motion made across the touch-sensitive surface screen;

initiating a transmission by the hand-held, portable device to the one or more appliances second data representative of the motion made across the touch-sensitive surface provided by the second input type; and

allowing the hand-held, portable device to distinguish the first input type received via the touch-sensitive surface from the second input type received via the touch-sensitive surface.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 9, wherein the second data comprises data for commanding a functional operation of the at least one appliance located remotely from the hand-held, portable device such that a displayed, movable object is caused to be moved in a manner that corresponds to the motion made across the touch-sensitive surface scaled as a function of an orientation of the touch-sensitive surface during a time that the first input type is provided to the touch-sensitive surface of the hand-held, portable device

11. The non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 10, wherein the touch-sensitive surfaces of the hand-held, portable device is adapted to be provided the second input type in both a landscape orientation and a portrait orientation of the touch-sensitive surface.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 9, wherein the hand-held, portable controlling device supports a first operational mode and a second operational mode and the instructions allow the hand-held, portable device to use the first operational mode and the second operational mode to distinguish the first input type received via the touch-sensitive surface from the second input type received via the touch-sensitive surface.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 12, wherein the instructions cause the hand-held, portable device to automatically toggle between the first operational mode and the second operational mode.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 13, wherein the hand-held, portable device is caused to automatically toggle between the first operational mode and the second operational mode as a function of a state of the one or more appliances.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 9, wherein the first data comprises command data for commanding one or more operational functions of the one or more appliances.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 15, wherein the second data comprises data for causing movement of a displayed cursor associated with the one or more appliances.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 9, wherein at least one of the first data and the second data are transmitted from the hand-held, portable device utilizing an IR protocol.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 9, wherein at least one of the first data and the second data are transmitted from the hand-held, portable device utilizing an RF protocol.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 12, wherein the instructions utilize user input provided to the hand-held, portable device to cause the hand-held, portable device to toggle between the first operational mode and the second operational mode.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 19, wherein the user input for toggling the hand-held, portable device between the first operational mode and the second operational mode is received via the touch-sensitive surface.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 19, wherein the user input for toggling the hand-held, portable device between the first operational mode and the second operational mode is received via a mechanical input device provided on the hand-held, portable device.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 21, wherein the mechanical input device comprises a button.

23. A hand-held, portable device adapted to transmit data to one or more appliances located remotely from the hand-held, portable device, comprising:

a housing carrying a touch-sensitive surface;

a transmitter; and

a processing device having an associated memory wherein the processing device is adapted to communicate with the transmitter and the touch-sensitive surface and wherein the memory device has stored thereon instructions for causing the processing device to;

display with the touch-sensitive surface one or more graphical user interfaces comprised of graphical user interface icons;

initiate a transmission by the transmitter of the hand-held, portable device to the one or more appliances first data representative of a displayed graphical user interface icon selected by a first input type received via the touch-sensitive surface;

initiate a transmission by the transmitter of the hand-held, portable device to the one or more appliances second data representative of a motion made across the touch-sensitive surface provided by a second input type received via the touch-sensitive surface; and

distinguish the first input type received via the touch-sensitive surface from the second input type received via the touch-sensitive surface.

24. The hand-held, portable device as recited in claim 23, wherein the first data comprises command data for commanding one or more operational functions of the one or more appliances.

25. The hand-held, portable device as recited in claim 24, wherein the second data comprises data for causing movement of a displayed cursor associated with the one or more appliances.

26. The hand-held, portable device as recited in claim 25, wherein at least one of the first data and the second data are transmitted from the hand-held, portable device utilizing an IR protocol.

27. The hand-held, portable device as recited in claim 25, wherein at least one of the First data and the second data are transmitted from the hand-held, portable device utilizing an RF protocol.

28. The hand-held, portable device as recited in claim 23, wherein the instructions utilize user input provided to the hand-held, portable device to cause the hand-held, portable device to distinguish the first input type received via the touch-sensitive surface from the second input type received via the touch-sensitive surface.

29. The hand-held, portable device as recited in claim 28, wherein the user input for causing the hand-held, portable device to distinguish the first input type received via the touch-sensitive surface from the second input type received via the touch-sensitive surface is received via the touch-sensitive surface.

30. The hand-held, portable device as recited in claim 28, wherein the user input for causing the hand-held, portable device to distinguish the first input type received via the touch-sensitive surface from the second input type received via the touch-sensitive surface is received via a mechanical input device carried by the housing and in communication with the processing device.

31. The hand-held, portable device as recited in claim 30, wherein the mechanical input device comprises a button.