Remote control method using remote control device with keyboard

• US 7,123,242 B1
• Filed: 07/24/2000
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: I-Interactive LLC
• Original Assignee: David L. Henty
• Inventors: Henty, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Sumati
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beck, Alexander S.
• Application Number:
  US10/333,995
• Time in Patent Office: 2,276 Days
• Field of Search: 345/169
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0221 Arrangements for reducing keyboard size for transport or storage, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys G06F3/0216 takes precedence; for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1666
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/86 characterised by the casing, e.g. sealed casings or casings reducible in size
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/048 assembled by removable part
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/05 composed of hingedly connected sections
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/022 Modular assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/032 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0235 specially adapted for remote control, e.g. of audio or video apparatus
• 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 21/42214 using alphanumerical characters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42225 characterized by types of remote control, e.g. universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV

Abstract

A remote control method and system employ remote controller (10) which is adapted for use with an entertainment system of a type including a display (222) as well as providing functions such as Internet access or other functions requiring a keyboard and/or a mouse. The remote controller includes a folding housing and may be operated in a closed or opened configuration. A first set of control inputs (12) are provided on the outer surface of the housing. The housing may be opened, thereby doubling the surface area of the remote controller, to expose a keyboard (56). One or more wireless transmitters are operable with the housing in either of two configurations oriented at 90 degrees to each other and controlled by the first set of control inputs and the keyboard. The remote controller may be conveniently held in one hand of a user when in the folded or closed position and conveniently rested on the lap of the user or a support surface when in the opened position and used as a keyboard.

Claims

1. A remote control adapted for control of a digital device responsive to text input commands and having an associated display, comprising:

at least two sections foldable relative to each other, a first plurality of inputs configured on an outer surface of at least one of the sections and a keyboard including text entry keys comprising separate keys for each letter of the alphabet configured on inner surfaces of both of the sections, the remote control being reconfigurable between a closed configuration wherein the first inputs are exposed and the keyboard is inaccessible and an open configuration wherein the keyboard is exposed and the text entry keys are split across the two sections, wherein at least one of the two sections has a thickness greater than the other section and wherein the text entry keys on that section are oriented so that the thicker section is oriented closer to the digital device and the thinner section farther away during text entry in the open configuration; and

at least one short range transmitter providing a first set of control signals to the digital device in response to operation of the first inputs when the remote control device is in the closed configuration and a second set of control signals to the digital device in response to operation of the keyboard when the remote control device is in the open configuration, the second set of control signals including text based commands responsive to activation of keyboard text entry keys on both of said at least two sections.

2. A remote control as set out in claim 1, further comprising a hinge structure coupled to the two sections and configured so as to provide the two sections in a substantially contiguous configuration along respective edge portions with the text entry keys in a closely spaced configuration across the two edge portions.

3. A remote control as set out in claim 1, wherein the text entry keys are configured in a QWERTY keyboard layout split across the two sections.

4. A remote control as set out in claim 1, wherein the adjacent text entry keys are spaced apart across the two sections by a spacing not greater than the width of a single key.

5. A remote control as set out in claim 1, wherein each of the two sections has a width of about 2–

3 inches.

6. A remote control as set out in method as set out in claim 1, wherein each of the two sections has a length of about 6–

10 inches.

7. A remote control as set out in claim 6, wherein said text entry keys occupy a major portion of the inner surface of each of the two sections.

8. A remote control as set out in claim 1, further comprising a switch for disabling the first inputs when the remote control is changed from a closed to open position.

9. A remote control as set out in claim 1, wherein at least one of the two sections has a thickness which decreases in the middle portion and increases at each end portion.

10. A remote control as set out in claim 9, wherein at least one of the thickened end portions comprises a battery holder.

11. A method for short range remote control of a digital device responsive to text input commands and having an associated display, the method comprising:

providing a remote control device having at least two sections foldable relative to each other, a first plurality of inputs on at least one of the sections and a text entry keyboard comprising separate keys of each letter of the alphabet on both of the sections, the remote control device being reconfigurable between a closed configuration wherein first inputs are exposed and the keyboard is inaccessible and an open configuration wherein the keyboard is exposed and the text entry keys are split across two sections, wherein at least one of the two sections has a thickness greater than the other section and wherein the text entry keys on that section are oriented so that the thicker section is oriented closer to the digital device and the thinner section farther away during text entry in the open configuration;

providing a first set of control signals to the digital device, in response to operation of the first inputs when the remote control device is in the closed configuration; and

providing a second set of control signals to the digital device in response to operation of the keyboard when the remote control device is in the open configuration, the second set of control signals including text based commands responsive to activation of keyboard keys on both of said at least two sections.

12. A method as set out in claim 11, wherein the text entry keys are configured in a QWERTY keyboard layout split across the two sections when the device is in said open configuration.

13. A method as set out in claim 11, wherein the two sections are in a substantially contiguous configuration along respective edge portions with the text entry keys in a closely spaced configuration across the two edge portions when the device is in said open configuration.

14. A method as set out in claim 11, wherein the digital device comprises an internet access device.

15. A method as set out in claim 11, further comprising disabling the first inputs when the remote control device is changed from a closed to open position.

16. A method as set out in claim 11, wherein the acts of providing the first and second control signals comprises at least one of RF wireless transmission and infrared wireless transmission.

17. An information display system, comprising:

a display;

an information processing device associated with the display and employing the display as an information display device, the device responsive to remote control signals including text input commands; and

a remote control, having a housing with at least two sections connected together so as to be reconfigurable between an open configuration and closed configuration, the remote control further having one or more first inputs on the outside surface of the housing for inputting first commands to the information processing device and a keyboard comprising a plurality of text entry keys comprising separate keys for all the letters of the alphabet configured on inner surfaces of said at least two sections and split across the two sections, wherein at least one of the two sections has a thickness greater than the other section and wherein the text entry keys on that section are oriented so that the thicker section is oriented closer to the digital device and the thinner section farther away during text entry in the open configuration.

18. An information display system as set out in claim 17, wherein the information processing device provides internet access.

19. An information display system as set out in claim 17, wherein the text entry keys are configured in a QWERTY keyboard layout split across the two sections.