User Interface For A Remote Control Device

• US 20120139847A1
• Filed: 12/06/2010
• Published: 06/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Netflix, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Netflix, Inc.
• Inventors: HUNT, Neil D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,963,847 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• 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 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for controlling the operations of a consumer electronic (CE) device. A system includes a display device, CE device, and a remote controller with a touchpad. The CE device is configured to output a context-specific user interface for display by the display device. The particular user interface varies based on the operational context of the CE device. The remote controller sends signals that are detected by the CE device and control operations performed by the CE device. More specifically, the remote controller is used as a handheld pointing device to select operations through interactions with the context-specific user interface. A user may apply gestures to the touchpad that are interpreted based on the context-specific user interface to control the CE device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for controlling a consumer electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving a signal from a remote controller that is configured to control the consumer electronic device, wherein the signal is generated in response to a user gesture that is applied to a touchpad of the remote controller;

determining an operational context based on a function being performed by the consumer electronic device;

outputting for display, in response to the signal received from the remote controller, to a display device associated with the consumer electronic device a context-specific user interface based on the operational context; and

outputting for display, in response to the signal received from the remote controller, a cursor overlaid on the context-specific user interface and having a position that is controlled by the signal received from the remote controller.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the context-specific user interface is configured to control playback of digital audio and video content.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the remote controller controls playback of the digital audio and video content by specifying the position of the cursor at a timepoint along a timeline bar.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining that an inactivity timer has expired; and

discontinuing outputting the context-specific user interface and the cursor to the display device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the context-specific user interface includes graphic elements for transport controls for playback of digital audio and video content.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the context-specific user interface includes graphic elements for setup controls for the consumer electronic device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the context-specific user interface includes graphic elements for navigation controls for digital content stored on the consumer electronic device or through a network coupled to the consumer electronic device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the context-specific user interface includes a timeline bar configured to control playback of digital audio and video content and a parallel timeline bar for additional digital audio and video content.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the context-specific user interface includes graphic elements for selection controls for digital content stored on the consumer electronic device or through a network coupled to the consumer electronic device.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a computer system to control a consumer electronic device, by performing the steps of:

receiving a signal from a remote controller that is configured to control the consumer electronic device, wherein the signal is generated in response to a user gesture that is applied to a touchpad of the remote controller;

determining an operational context based on a function being performed by the consumer electronic device;

outputting for display, in response to the signal received from the remote controller, to a display device associated with the consumer electronic device a context-specific user interface based on the operational context; and

outputting for display, in response to the signal received from the remote controller, a cursor overlaid on the context-specific user interface and having a position that is controlled by the signal received from the remote controller.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the context-specific user interface is configured to control playback of digital audio and video content.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the remote controller controls playback of the digital audio and video content by specifying the position of the cursor at a timepoint along a timeline bar.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

determining that an inactivity timer has expired; and

discontinuing outputting the context-specific user interface and the cursor to the display device.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the context-specific user interface includes graphic elements for transport controls for playback of digital audio and video content.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the context-specific user interface includes graphic elements for setup controls for the consumer electronic device.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the context-specific user interface includes graphic elements for navigation controls for digital content stored on the consumer electronic device or through a network coupled to the consumer electronic device.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the context-specific user interface includes a timeline bar configured to control playback of digital audio and video content and a parallel timeline bar for additional digital audio and video content.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the context-specific user interface includes graphic elements for selection controls for digital content stored on the consumer electronic device or through a network coupled to the consumer electronic device.

19. A system for controlling a consumer electronic device, the system comprising:

a remote controller that is configured to control the consumer electronic device, wherein the signal is generated in response to a user gesture that is applied to a touchpad of the remote controller; and

a processor that receives the signal from the remote controller and is configured to;

determine an operational context based on a function being performed by the consumer electronic device;

output for display, in response to the signal received from the remote controller, to a display device associated with the consumer electronic device a context-specific user interface based on the operational context; and

output for display, in response to the signal received from the remote controller, a cursor overlaid on the context-specific user interface and having a position that is controlled by the signal received from the remote controller.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the context-specific user interface is configured to control playback of digital audio and video content.