IMPLEMENTING CUSTOMIZED CONTROL INTERFACES

• US 20110113353A1
• Filed: 11/11/2009
• Published: 05/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Koh, Justin, Wakerly, Michael, Dureau, Vincent
• Granted Patent: US 8,375,328 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/760
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/21 Programming remote control devices via third means
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances

Abstract

Systems and techniques by which a single electronic device can implement a variety of customized control interfaces. The control interfaces can be tailored to specific operations performed the device which is controlled. In one aspect, computer-implemented methods for controlling a web-based application include providing, from a server, a web page that includes a web-based application and a uniform resource identifier specifying a control interface for the web-based application and transmitting the control interface specified by the uniform resource identifier to a client for use in controlling the one or more functions of the web-based application. The control interface is configured to permit a user to control one or more functions of the web-based application from a mobile device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for controlling a web-based application, the method comprising:

providing, from a server, a web page that includes

a web-based application and

a uniform resource identifier specifying a control interface for the web-based application, the control interface configured to permit a user to control one or more functions of the web-based application from a mobile device; and

transmitting the control interface specified by the uniform resource identifier to a client for use in controlling the one or more functions of the web-based application.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the server providing a second web page that includes the uniform resource identifier specifying the control interface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the uniform resource identifier is not visible to a user viewing the rendered web page.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission of the control interface occurs automatically when a web browser accesses the provided web page that includes the web-based application and the uniform resource identifier.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission of the control interface occurs in response to a user selection of a visible representation of the uniform resource identifier.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the control interface comprises visual elements that are customized to control the web page or the web-based application from an electronic device comprising a display screen acting as both an input and an output.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the web page is provided to a television set.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the web page is provided to a desktop personal computer.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the web-based application includes media player functionality.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the server provides the web page to a data processing device; and

the data processing device and the mobile device are in data communication over a wireless data communication path.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the data processing device and the mobile device are associated with a same user.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the server storing a record of the associations of the data processing device and the mobile device with the same user.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the server receiving credentials identifying the same user from both the data processing device and the mobile device.

14. A method comprising:

a mobile device transmitting commands to a primary client using a generic control interface;

the mobile device receiving notification of a control interface customized for use in controlling one or more functions of a web-based application from the mobile device, wherein the notification of the control interface is transmitted to the mobile device automatically in response to a primary client navigating to the web-based application;

the mobile device implementing the customized control interface; and

the mobile device transmitting commands for controlling the web-based application to the primary client using the customized control interface.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the mobile device comprises a display screen configured to act as both an input and an output; and

the method further comprises the mobile device receiving instructions for presenting a representation of the customized control interface on the display screen and rules for translating user interaction with the customized control interface into high level commands tailored to the web-based application.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the control interface is also customized to the mobile device.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising the mobile device transmitting commands for controlling a second web-based application to the primary client using the customized control interface, wherein the control interface is also customized for use in controlling one or more functions of the second web-based application.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the mobile device comprises a display screen configured to act as both an input and an output; and

the method further comprises the mobile device switching between presenting the generic control interface and the customized control interface in response to user interaction with the display screen.

19. A system for controlling a web-based application, the system comprising:

one or more servers providing;

a web page that includes

a web-based application and

a uniform resource identifier specifying a control interface for the web-based application, the control interface configured to permit a user to control one or more functions of the web-based application from the mobile device;

instructions for implementing the control interface on the mobile device, the instructions identifiable using the uniform resource identifier; and

one or more data exchange interfaces for conveying the web page and the instructions to other data processing devices over one or more data communication paths.

20. A device comprising:

a web server serving a web application, the web application comprising a link element specifying a relationship between the web application and a customized control interface that is implementable on an electronic device that includes a display screen acting as both an input and an output, the customized control interface being customized to control operations performed by the web application via input received over the display screen of the electronic device, the link element comprising a uniform resource identifier that identifies where the customized command interface is available.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the web application comprises a head and a body, the link element being a sub-element of the head.

22. The device of claim 20, wherein the link element specifies a forward link from the web application to the control interface.

23. The device of claim 20, wherein the web application is structured using HTML.

24. The device of claim 20, wherein the control interface is also customized to the electronic device which is to implement the control interface.

25. The device of claim 20, wherein the web server is a media server.

26. The device of claim 20, wherein the web server is a video game server.

27. The device of claim 20, wherein the web server comprises a second web application, the second web application comprising a second link element specifying a relationship between the second web application and the customized control interface, the customized control interface also being customized to control operations performed by the second web application.