HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICES WITH REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONALITY AND GESTURE RECOGNITION

• US 20180005517A1
• Filed: 09/14/2017
• Published: 01/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Hope, Eric James, Cannistraro, Alan, Wood, Policarpo, Bull, William
• Granted Patent: US 10,825,338 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/32 Remote control based on movements, attitude of remote control device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/422 Input-only peripherals , i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] input devices also receiving signals from specially adapted client devices H04N21/4104
• 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 21/4222 Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Handheld electronic devices are provided that have remote control functionality and gesture recognition features. The handheld electronic device may have remote control functionality in addition to cellular telephone, music player, or handheld computer functionality. The handheld electronic devices may have a touch sensitive display screen. The handheld electronic devices may recognize gestures performed by a user on the touch sensitive display screen. The handheld electronic devices may generate remote control signals from gestures that the handheld electronic device may recognize. A media system may receive the remote control signals and may take appropriate action. The touch sensitive display screen may be used to present the user with information about the media system such as the current volume.

Claims

1. A method of remotely controlling a media system using an electronic device, the method comprising:

with a touch screen in the electronic device, receiving remote control finger gestures;

transmitting remote control command information to the media system based on the gestures; and

receiving status information from the media system in response to the remote control command information.

2. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising:

displaying information on the touch screen that reflects the status information of the media system.

3. The method defined in claim 2 further comprising:

displaying an acknowledgement of each remote control gesture on the touch screen.

4. The method defined in claim 3 wherein displaying the acknowledgement of each remote control gesture on the touch screen comprises displaying the acknowledgement at least partly based on the received status information.

5. The method defined in claim 2 wherein transmitting the remote control command information comprises directing the media system to adjust a highlight position within a displayed list of items.

6. The method defined in claim 5 further comprising:

directing the media system to select an item corresponding to the highlight position within the displayed list of items.

7. The method defined in claim 2 wherein transmitting the remote control command information comprises directing the media system to change a playback volume.

8. The method defined in claim 7 wherein displaying the information on the touch screen comprises displaying the playback volume on the touch screen.

9. The method defined in claim 2 wherein transmitting the remote control command information comprises directing the media system to play back a media item.

10. The method defined in claim 9 wherein displaying the information on the touch screen comprises displaying information that identifies the media item.

11. The method defined in claim 1 wherein receiving the remote control finger gestures comprises receiving a swipe gesture on the touch screen.

12. The method defined in claim 1 wherein receiving the remote control finger gestures comprises receiving a tap gesture on the touch screen.

13. An electronic device configured to remotely control a media system, the electronic device comprising:

a touch screen that is configured to receive remote control finger gestures;

processing circuitry that generates remote control command information based on the gestures; and

wireless communications circuitry that transmits the remote control command information to the media system, wherein the wireless communications circuitry is configured to receive status information from the media system in response to the remote control command information.

14. The electronic device defined in claim 13 wherein the touch screen is configured to display information that reflects the received status information.

15. The electronic device defined in claim 14 wherein the touch screen is configured to present a visual acknowledgement of each remote control finger gesture.

16. The electronic device defined in claim 15 wherein the touch screen is configured to present the visual acknowledgement at least partly based on the received status information.

17. The electronic device defined in claim 13 wherein the wireless communication circuitry is configured to communicate over at least one cellular telephone communications band.

18. A method of wirelessly controlling a media system using an electronic device, the method comprising:

with a touch screen in the electronic device, receiving remote control finger gestures; and

with wireless communications circuitry in the electronic device, transmitting media system remote control command information to the media system based on the gestures, wherein transmitting the media system remote control command information comprises;

in response to a swipe gesture, transmitting media system remote control command information that directs the media system to adjust a playback volume.

19. The method defined in claim 18 wherein transmitting the media system remote control command information further comprises:

in response to a swipe gesture, transmitting media system remote control command information that directs the media system to adjust a highlight position within a displayed list of items.

20. The method defined in claim 19 wherein transmitting the media system remote control command information further comprises:

in response to a tap gesture, transmitting media system remote control command information that directs the media system to play back a media item.