Programmable remote device control apparatus and method

• US 6,346,934 B1
• Filed: 05/17/1999
• Issued: 02/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wugofski, Theodore D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Liang, Regina
• Application Number:
  US09/312,970
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156-158, 345/169, 345/172, 345/168, 348/734, 348/552, 341/20, 341/22, 340/825.69, 340/825.72
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/002 Specific input/output arrangements not covered by G06F3/01 - G06F3/16 other optical apparatus G02B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control
• 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 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• 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 21/42226 Reprogrammable remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42227 the keys being reprogrammable, e.g. soft keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV

Abstract

The present apparatus and method provides a programmable remote control having a definable and redefinable user interface for control of multiple applications or applets loaded on a computer. The user interface of the remote control may be controlled by assigning specific functionality to events or commands issued by a user using the remote control. The events or commands are delivered to the computer and to the specific applications or applets which have registered to receive that specific command or event.

Claims

1. An information system, comprising:

a computer having a processor capable of executing a computer application or applet; and

a controller having a user interface to display a set of controls for the application or applet, the user interface responsive to a user activating or interfacing with the application or applet, and responsive to the user activating or interfacing with a second application or applet to redefine the user interface to display a second set of controls for the second application.

2. The information system of claim 1, wherein the controller is a remote controller.

3. The information system of claim 2, and further comprising:

means within the computer for transmitting the functionality of an application or applet to the remote control unit.

4. The information system of claim 3, wherein the means for transmitting is a transceiver.

5. The information system of claim 2, and further comprising:

means within the remote control unit for receiving the functionality of an application or applet from the computer.

6. The information system of claim 5, wherein the means for receiving is a transceiver.

7. The information system of claim 1, wherein the remote controller communicates with the computer via a wireless communication link.

8. The information system of claim 1, wherein the controller includes a pointing device for activating or interfacing with the first application or applet.

9. The information system of claim 1, and further comprising:

a first transceiver coupled to the processor; and

a second transceiver coupled to the controller.

10. An object-adaptive remote control unit adapted to control applications and applets on a computer, the remote control unit comprising:

a programmable remote control device having means for receiving and transmitting information;

a user interface on the programmable remote control, the user interface responsively defined by an application or applet by receiving functionality information from the application via the transceiver.

11. The remote control unit of claim 10, wherein the user interface is reconfigurable by another application or applet.

12. The remote control unit of claim 10, wherein the means for receiving and transmitting is a transceiver.

13. The remote control unit of claim 10, wherein the means for receiving and transmitting is a wireless communication link.

14. A context-sensitive remote control system for a computer, comprising:

a programmable remote control having a transceiver for receiving and transmitting information from and to the computer; and

a user interface on the remote control, the UI controlling an application loaded on the computer, and redefinable to control a second application loaded on the computer responsive to the loading of the second application on the computer.

15. A controller for a computer system capable of executing a plurality of different computer-related applications or applets, the controller comprising:

at least one key responsive to the execution or activation of a first one of the computer-related applications or applets to provide a first control function and responsive to the execution or activation of a second one of the computer-related applications or applets to provide a second control function.

16. The controller of claim 15, wherein the first control function concerns a function of the first one of the computer-related applications or applets and the second control function concerns a function of the second one of the computer-related applications.

17. The controller of claim 15, further including a wireless transceiver which is coupled to the one key and which detects the execution or activation of at least the first and second computer-related applications.

18. The controller of claim 17 wherein the one key is a softkey.

19. The controller of claim 17 wherein the one key is a hardkey.

20. The controller of claim 17 wherein the one key is a softkey on a remote graphical user interface.

21. A method of programming a hand held device for operation of a computer system, comprising:

loading an application or applet on the computer;

identifying the functionality of the application or applet;

transmitting the identified functionality of the application or applet to a remote control; and

defining a user interface on the remote control in response to the transmitted functionality.

22. The method of claim 21, and further comprising:

redefining the user interface on the remote control in response to the loading of a new application or applet.

23. The method of claim 21, and further comprising:

controlling the functionality of the application or applet using the remote control.

24. A machine readable medium comprising machine readable instructions for causing a computer to perform a method comprising:

loading an application or applet on the computer;

identifying the functionality of the application or applet;

transmitting the identified functionality of the application or applet to a remote control;

defining a user interface on the remote control in response to the transmitted functionality.

25. A system comprising:

a computer having a processor for executing one or more applications or applets, and having a display for displaying information related to the one or more applications or applets;

a plurality of peripheral devices coupled to the computerized system;

a controller having a graphical user interface which includes at least one softkey responsive to the execution or activation of a first one of the applications or applets to provide a first control function and responsive to the execution or activation of a second one of the applications or applets to provide a second control function.