User friendly remote system interface

• US 6,724,405 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2001
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rovi Technologies Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Matthews, Joseph H. III, Barnes, David A., Plummer, David Wm.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Ba
• Application Number:
  US09/954,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20020027571A1
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 345/870, 345/840, 345/841, 345/773, 345/902, 345/827
• US Class Current: 715/773
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234381 by altering the temporal resolution, e.g. decreasing the frame rate by frame skipping
• 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 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format

Abstract

A system, method, and medium for enhancing a GUI and viewing environment for a computer user is disclosed. Enabling a user to fully navigate and operate a computer through the use of a remote control device, the present invention includes at least a PC mode of operation and a theater mode of operation, wherein the theater mode is designed for distance use with the remote device. While operating in theater mode, received function key signals are interpreted by the computer system to operate various functions which have been modified to accommodate remote viewing and control. To enable the remote device to fully control the applications executable on the computer, the disclosed process notifies the various applications of the current operating mode.

Claims

1. A system for controlling computer functions, said system capable of operating in a plurality of modes, said plurality of modes comprising at least a first mode and a second mode, said system comprising:

a remote control device comprising a first button which generates a first signal indicating that a menu should be displayed;

a plurality of numeric keys each of which generates a second signal, the second signal being a numeric signal indicating a numeric selection;

a second button which generates a third signal, said third signal indicating that an application specific function should be performed if the application is operating in said first mode;

a computer including a receiver which receives signals generated by the remote control device; and

a display device coupled to the computer and controlled by software executing on the computer;

wherein the remote control device transmits signals to the receiver of the computer over a wireless path; and

wherein the computer in response to receiving the first signal causes the display device to display a menu comprising choices of at least one application program at least one of which has an associated numeric accelerator and, in response to receiving said second signal, launches the application program associated with the corresponding numeric accelerator and, in response to receiving the third signal, causes the launched application program to perform a function pertinent to that particular application program, if said system is operating in said first mode.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer in response to detecting the first signal provides information to applications executing on the computer which causes them to display menu information in a different manner than if the first signal had not been received from the remote control.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer inhibits the display of all taskbars, menus, and buttons until the first signal is received.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein, in response to the launching of the application program, said computer removes the association of said numeric accelerator from the choices of the menu and associates said numeric accelerators with choices of a nested menu.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the operation of at least one of said first button, said second button, and said numeric keys causes said computer to switch from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote control device further comprises a key for generating a fourth signal for switching the operation of the system between modes and wherein the computer, in response to receiving said fourth signal, causes said system to switch to said first mode if said system is operating in said second mode.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein the function pertinent to the particular launched application program is different based on the mode of the system.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein said third signal causes a different function of the launched application program to be performed based on the application program launched.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer receives signals from the remote control device only if the system is operating in the first mode.

20. The system of claim 1 wherein the first mode is a theater mode wherein a display is enhanced.

21. The system of claim 1 wherein the menu displayed in response to the first signal is different based on the mode of the system.

6. A method for controlling computer functions capable of operating in a plurality of modes, said plurality of modes comprising at least a first mode and a second mode, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a remote control device comprising a first button which generates a first signal indicating that a menu should be displayed;

a plurality of numeric keys each of which generates a second signal, the second signal being a numeric signal indicating a numeric selection;

a second button which generates a third signal indicating that an application specific function should be performed if the application is operating in said first mode;

receiving at a computer signals generated by the remote control device over a wireless path;

in response to receiving the first signal, displaying on a display device coupled to the computer and controlled by software executing on the computer a menu comprising choices of at least one application program each having an associated numeric accelerator;

in response to receiving said second signal, launching the application program associated with the corresponding numeric accelerator; and

,

in response to receiving the third signal, causing the launched application program to perform a function pertinent to that particular application program if said launched application program is operating in said first mode.

7. The method of claim 6, comprising the further steps of:

in response to detecting the first signal, providing information from said computer to at least one application executing on the computer; and

causing said applications to display menu items in a different manner than if the first signal had not been received from the remote control device.

8. The method of claim 6, including the step of:

inhibiting the display of all taskbars, menus, and buttons until the first signal is received.

9. The method of claim 6, comprising the further steps of:

in response to the launching of the application program, removing the association of said numeric accelerator from the choices of the menu; and

,

associating said numeric accelerators with choices of a nested menu.

10. The method of claim 6, comprising the step of:

switching from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation in response to the operation of at least one of said first button, said second button, and said numeric keys.

22. The method of claim 6 wherein the remote control device further comprises a key for generating a fourth signal for switching the operation of the system between modes, said fourth signal causing said system to switch to said first mode if said system is operating in said second mode.

23. The method of claim 6 wherein the function pertinent to the particular launched application program is different based on the mode of the system.

24. The method of claim 6 wherein said third signal causes a different function of the launched application program to be performed based on the application program launched.

25. The method of claim 6 wherein the computer receives signals from the remote control device only if the system is operating in the first mode.

26. The method of claim 6 wherein the first mode is a theater mode wherein a display is enhanced.

27. The method of claim 6 wherein the menu displayed in response to the first signal is different based on the mode of the system.

11. A computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

receiving at a computer signals generated by a remote control device over a wireless path, said computer capable of operating in a plurality of modes, said plurality of modes comprising at least a first mode and a second mode, said remote control device including a first button which generates a first signal indicating that a start menu should be displayed;

a plurality of numeric keys each of which generates a second signal indicating a numeric signal;

a second button which generates a third signal indicating that an application specific function should be performed if the application is operating in said first mode;

in response to receiving the first signal, displaying on a display device coupled to the computer and controlled by software executing on the computer a menu comprising choices of at least one application program each having an associated numeric accelerator;

in response to receiving said second signal, launching the application program associated with the corresponding numeric accelerator; and

,

in response to receiving the third signal, causing the launched application program to perform a function pertinent to that particular application program, if said launched application program is operating in said first mode.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 having further computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of:

in response to detecting the first signal, providing information from said computer to at least one application executing on the computer; and

causing said application to display menu information in a different manner than if the first signal had not been received from the remote control device.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of:

inhibiting the display of all taskbars, menus, and buttons until the first signal is received.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 having further computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of:

in response to the launching of the application program, removing the association of said numeric accelerator from the choices of the menu; and

,

associating said numeric accelerators with choices of a nested menu.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of:

switching from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation in response to the operation of at least one of said first button, said second button, and said numeric keys.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 wherein the remote control device further comprises a key for generating a fourth signal for switching the operation of the system between modes, said fourth signal causing said system to switch to said first mode if said system is operating in said second mode.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 wherein the function pertinent to the particular launched application program is different based on the mode of the system.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 wherein said third signal causes a different function of the launched application program to be performed based on the application program launched.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 wherein the computer receives signals from the remote control device only if the system is operating in the first mode.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 wherein the first mode is a theater mode wherein a display is enhanced.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 wherein the menu displayed in response to the first signal is different based on the mode of the system.