USER INTERFACE

• US 20120151394A1
• Filed: 12/10/2010
• Published: 06/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Wolfson Microelectronics plc (Cirrus Logic Incorporated), Westfield House
• Original Assignee: Wolfson Microelectronics plc (Cirrus Logic Incorporated)
• Inventors: Locke, Antony
• Application Number:
  US12/965,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20120151394A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/765
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2814 Exchanging control software or macros for controlling appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving configuration of the network and network elements H04L41/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204

Abstract

A control unit, comprises a display and a user input device, wherein the control unit is adapted to present on the display an icon representing a state of a controlled device, and to receive via the user input device inputs defining at least two of the position, size and orientation of the icon. The state of the controlled device is then controlled based on the user inputs. The control unit can form part of the controlled device, or the control unit and the controlled device can be in a single device. Alternatively, the control unit may have an interface for a wired or wireless connection to the controlled device. The controlled device can for example be an audio device such as a portable music player, a portable computing device, a communications device such as a mobile phone or a walkie talkie, a portable imaging device, a games console, or a home automation device.

Claims

1. A control unit, comprising:

a display; and

a user input device,

wherein the control unit is adapted to;

present on the display an icon representing a state of a controlled device;

receive via the user input device inputs defining at least two of the position, size and orientation of the icon; and

control the state of the controlled device based on the user inputs.

2. A control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit forms part of the controlled device.

3. A control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit and the controlled device are in a single device.

4. A control unit as claimed in claim 1, having an interface for a wireless connection to the controlled device.

5. A control unit as claimed in claim 1, having an interface for a wired connection to the controlled device.

6. A control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit is adapted to receive user inputs defining two orthogonal coordinates of the position of the icon.

7. A control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit is adapted to receive user inputs defining horizontal and vertical coordinates of the position of the icon.

8. A control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit is adapted to receive user inputs defining two orthogonal coordinates of the size of the icon.

9. A control unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the user inputs defining the size of the icon comprise inputs defining horizontal and vertical components of the size of the icon.

10. A control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display and the user input device comprise a touch-sensitive screen.

11. A control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit is adapted to display a plurality of icons, wherein each icon represents a state of a respective controlled device.

12. A control unit as claimed in claim 11, wherein the control unit is adapted such that each icon is constrained to a respective region of the display.

13. A control unit as claimed in claim 11, wherein one of the icons is identified as an active icon, and the control unit is adapted such that the state of the controlled device is controlled corresponding to the active icon, based on the user inputs.

14. A method of controlling a controlled device, comprising:

displaying a figure representing a state of the controlled device;

receiving user inputs defining at least two of the position, size and orientation of the figure; and

controlling the state of the controlled device based on the user inputs.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the user inputs defining the position of the figure comprise inputs defining two orthogonal coordinates of the position of the figure.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the user inputs defining the position of the figure comprise inputs defining horizontal and vertical coordinates of the position of the figure.

17. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the user inputs defining the size of the figure comprise inputs defining two orthogonal coordinates of the size of the figure.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the user inputs defining the size of the figure comprise inputs defining horizontal and vertical components of the size of the figure.

19. A method as claimed in claim 14, comprising displaying the figure on a touch-sensitive screen, wherein the user inputs comprise touch inputs on the screen.

20. A method as claimed in claim 14, comprising displaying the figure on a display of a unit, wherein the controlled device is a component of said unit.

21. A method as claimed in claim 14, comprising displaying the figure on a display of a unit, wherein the controlled device has a wired connection to said unit.

22. A method as claimed in claim 14, comprising displaying the figure on a display of a unit, wherein the controlled device has a wireless connection to said unit.

23. A method as claimed in claim 14, comprising displaying a plurality of figures, wherein each figure represents a state of a respective controlled device.

24. A method as claimed in claim 23, wherein each figure is constrained to a respective region of the display.

25. A method as claimed in claim 23, wherein one of the figures is identified as an active figure, and the method comprises controlling the state of the controlled device corresponding to the active figure, based on the user inputs.

26. A method of controlling a controlled device, the method comprising:

displaying an icon representing a state of the controlled device, wherein at least two of the position, size and orientation of the icon represent aspects of the state of the controlled device;

receiving user inputs; and

controlling the state of the controlled device, and the display of the icon, based on the user inputs.

27. A controlled system, comprising:

a controlled device; and

a control unit, wherein the control unit comprises;

a display; and

a user input device,

wherein the control unit is adapted to;

present on the display an icon representing a state of the controlled device;

receive via the user input device inputs defining at least two of the position, size and orientation of the icon; and

control the state of the controlled device based on the user inputs.

28. A controlled system as claimed in claim 27, wherein the control unit and the controlled device are in a single device.

29. A controlled system as claimed in claim 27, wherein the control unit and the controlled device have a wireless connection.

30. A controlled system as claimed in claim 27, wherein the control unit and the controlled device have a wired connection.

31. A controlled system as claimed in claim 27, wherein the control unit is adapted to receive user inputs defining two orthogonal coordinates of the position of the icon.

32. A controlled system as claimed in claim 31, wherein the control unit is adapted to receive user inputs defining horizontal and vertical coordinates of the position of the icon.

33. A controlled system as claimed in claim 27, wherein the control unit is adapted to receive user inputs defining two orthogonal coordinates of the size of the icon.

34. A controlled system as claimed in claim 33, wherein the user inputs defining the size of the icon comprise inputs defining horizontal and vertical components of the size of the icon.

35. A controlled system as claimed in claim 27, wherein the display and the user input device comprise a touch-sensitive screen.

36. A controlled system as claimed in claim 27, wherein the control unit is adapted to display a plurality of icons, wherein each icon represents a state of a respective controlled device.

37. A controlled system as claimed in claim 36, wherein the control unit is adapted such that each icon is constrained to a respective region of the display.

38. A controlled system as claimed in claim 36, wherein one of the icons is identified as an active icon, and the control unit is adapted such that the state of the controlled device is controlled corresponding to the active icon, based on the user inputs.