Two-Sided Remote Control

• US 20120140117A1
• Filed: 06/06/2011
• Published: 06/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BBY Solutions Incorporated (Best Buy Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: BBY Solutions Incorporated (Best Buy Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Waites, Nigel
• Granted Patent: US 8,670,078 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/563
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• 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 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42212 Specific keyboard arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42213 for facilitating data entry
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• 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 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72

Abstract

A remote control is described that with at least two faces that have at least one touch-based input. The remote control also includes an orientation sensor that determines the orientation of the remote control. A processor on the remote ignores signals from inputs on certain faces of the remote based upon the orientation of the remote control.

Claims

1. A remote control for controlling a display device comprising:

a) a first and second face, the first face being generally upwardly facing when the remote is in a first position, and the second face being generally upwardly facing when the remote is in a second position;

b) a orientation sensor able to distinguish when the remote is held in the first and second positions;

c) a first touch-based input located on the first face of the remote;

d) a second touch-based input located on the second face of the remote;

e) a transmitter for transmitting commands to the display device;

f) a processor receiving inputs from the first and second inputs,

i) the processor forwarding commands from the first input to the transmitter for transmission to the display device and blocking commands from the second input to the transmitter when the remote is in the first position, and

ii) the processor forwarding commands from the second input to the transmitter for transmission to the display device and blocking commands from the first input to the transmitter when the remote is in the second position.

2. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the first touch-based input comprises a first push button.

3. The remote control of claim 2, wherein the second touch-based input comprises a second push button.

4. The remote control of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of corner stand elements that extend above the first face such that, when the first face is laid down on a flat surface only the corner stand elements contact the flat surface.

5. The remote control of claim 2, wherein the second touch-based input is a touch-sensitive surface.

6. The remote control of claim 1, further comprising a receiver to receive data from outside the remote control, and wherein the second touch-based input comprises a touchscreen that displays at least a portion of the data received from outside the remote control.

7. The remote control of claim 6, wherein the data is electronic program data, and the touchscreen displays an electronic program guide.

8. The remote control of claim 7, wherein the data is received from the display device.

9. The remote control of claim 8, wherein the display device configures the instructions for displaying the electronic program guide to the remote control, with the remote control acting as a thin client of the display device.

10. The remote control of claim 7, wherein the data is configured into the electronic program guide as shown on the touchscreen by the processor on the remote control.

11. The remote control of claim 10, wherein user interaction with the electronic program guide causes the electronic program guide to update either a list of channels displayed or a time period that is displayed, and further wherein the update is determined by the processor without requiring further data from outside the remote control.

12. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the transmitter transmits commands to a set-top box display device that does not have an integrated display.

13. The remote control of claim 1, further comprising a display screen located on the second face of the remote, wherein the display screen is powered down when the remote is in the first position.

14. The remote control of claim 13, wherein the second touch-based input is a touch-sensitive surface of the display screen.

15. The remote control of claim 1, wherein commands from the first and second input are blocked by powering down the first and second input, respectively.

16. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the processor determines whether input received from the first or second input is a repeating input and prevents the repeating input from being transmitted to the display device because the input is repeating.

17. The remote control of claim 16, wherein the processor determines whether input received from the first or second input is a repeating input by comparing the input against previously received inputs, and determining a lack of remote movement by analyzing the orientation sensor.

18. The remote control of claim 16, wherein after repeating inputs are received for a time period after the last movement of the remote that exceeds a preset limit, the remote control powers down.

19. A method for operating a remote control comprising:

a) using an orientation sensor to detect the orientation of the remote control;

b) activating a first input found on the remote control and deactivating a second input found on the remote control when the orientation indicates a first orientation of the remote control;

c) activating the second input and deactivating the first input when the orientation indicates a second orientation of the remote control; and

d) transmitting signals received from the active input while blocking the transmission of signals received from the inactive input.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

e) determining when a repeating signal from one of the inputs has been repeating for longer than a predetermined time period without movement of the remote, and

g) powering down the remote when it is determined that a repeating signal from one of the inputs has been repeating for longer than a predetermined time period.