REMOTE CONTROL WITH FEEDBACK FOR BLIND NAVIGATION

• US 20140232944A1
• Filed: 10/19/2011
• Published: 08/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Madison Patent Holdings (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Walker, Mark Leroy
• Granted Patent: US 9,591,250 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/734
• 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 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations

Abstract

A user is provided with an indication of a button'"'"'s functionality on a viewing device before the button is actually selected. The user receives haptic/tactile feedback to let the user know that they are about to select a button and that its functionality indicator is shown on the viewing device. Thus, the haptic or tactile feedback in combination with on-screen display elements is utilized in a remote control device to eliminate the need for shifting focus away from a viewing device.

Claims

1. A system that controls a viewing experience, comprising:

a remote control device having at least one button for selecting a function associated with the viewing experience, wherein the remote control device provides feedback to the user to indicate the button'"'"'s functionality to the user before the button is selected.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote control device provides haptic feedback for the button to the user.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote control provides function indicator feedback associated with the button on a viewing device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote control device provides another feedback when the button is selected.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote control device provides multiple function indicators for the button on a viewing device when the button has not been programmed.

6. A method for controlling a viewing experience, comprising:

interacting with a button on a remote control device that is in communication with a viewing device, the interaction occurring before selection of the button; and

displaying a function associated with the button on the viewing device.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

providing haptic feedback to a user when interacting with the button.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

displaying a list of functionality indicators on the viewing device when the button has not been programmed previously.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

programming the functionality of the button using the remote control device to select from the list of functionality indicators on the viewing device.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

selecting the function associated with the button using the remote control device; and

providing haptic feedback to the user that the function has been selected.

11. A system that collects advertising statistics, comprising:

a means for interacting with a button on a remote control device that is in communication with a viewing device, the interaction occurring before selection of the button; and

a means for displaying a function associated with the button on the viewing device.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising:

a means for selecting the function associated with the button using the remote control device; and

a means for providing haptic feedback to the user that the function has been selected.