Remote control with selective key illumination
First Claim
1. A remote control, comprising:
- a button having an associated means for indicating that the button may be operated to interact with interactive program content;
a receiving circuit for accepting a transmission received from a source external to the remote control;
a controlling circuit linked to the receiving circuit and the means for indicating where the controlling circuit functions to activate the means for indicating in response to receipt of the transmission by the receiving circuit; and
a transmission circuit for transmitting a signal to a target external to the remote control in response to activation of the button wherein the controlling circuit allows transmission of the signal to the target external to the remote control in response to activation of the button only when the means for indicating is activated.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for facilitation and encouragement of user interaction and functionality with a multimedia program via an entertainment system and remote control device. The entertainment system and remote control device are in two-way communication to accomplish various interactivity functions and features. The remote control includes one or more selectively illuminated buttons under the control of the entertainment system, such that when the entertainment system displays a prompt to the user requiring a response, the entertainment system may send a signal to the remote control selectively illuminating the button(s) to indicate to the user that the button(s) may be operated to make a response to the prompt.
70 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A remote control, comprising:
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a button having an associated means for indicating that the button may be operated to interact with interactive program content; a receiving circuit for accepting a transmission received from a source external to the remote control; a controlling circuit linked to the receiving circuit and the means for indicating where the controlling circuit functions to activate the means for indicating in response to receipt of the transmission by the receiving circuit; and a transmission circuit for transmitting a signal to a target external to the remote control in response to activation of the button wherein the controlling circuit allows transmission of the signal to the target external to the remote control in response to activation of the button only when the means for indicating is activated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for controlling operation of a remote control having a button and an associated means for indicating that the button may be operated to interact with interactive program content, comprising:
activating the means for indicating in response to a transmission received by the remote control from a source external to the remote control; and
allowing the remote control to transmit a signal in response to activation of the button only when the means for indicating is activated.- View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A system for facilitating and encouraging user interaction with program content, the system comprising;
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an entertainment system for providing and displaying the program content, including a prompt which requests a response from the user, and for transmitting at least one instruction to the remote control; and a remote control having at least one button, the remote control being responsive to the instruction for modifying the appearance of the at least one button in accordance with the instruction from a first displayed state to a second displayed state to indicate to the user that a response may be made to the prompt via operation of the at least one button while the appearance of the at least one button is in the second displayed state; wherein the instruction comprises a data signal including at least a control command identifier for indicating that the instruction is a button based command; wherein the control command identifier further includes a command for restricting operation of the remote control such that only the at least one button indicated by the instruction may be operated; and
wherein the command for restricting operation is activated for a preset time period. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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Specification