Remote control, apparatus, system and methods of using the same

• US 7,307,574 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2005
• Issued: 12/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kortum, Philip Ted, Sullivan, Marc Andrew, BRANDT, Jeffrey Lewis
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yacob, Sisay
• Application Number:
  US11/049,629
• Publication Number:
  US 20060170582A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 341/176, 341/175, 341/177, 341/20, 341/173, 341/174, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 348/734, 348/14.01, 361/114
• US Class Current: 341/176
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/00 Non-electrical signal transmission systems, e.g. optical systems

Abstract

A system provides an audible signal to the user of the system before a control or function is activated by the user. In one embodiment, a remote control can be used with an apparatus, such as a set-top box. When the user places an object near a control of the remote control, a control or function associated with the control may be announced to the user before activating the control. The system can include an apparatus configured to be operated at least in part from a remote control that includes a plurality of controls including a first control. The apparatus includes a control module configured to receive an identification signal from the remote control, wherein the identification signal corresponds to the control, determine a state of the apparatus, determine a function to which the control corresponds, and send another identification signal to an audio system.

Claims

1. A method of using a remote control to control an operation of an apparatus, wherein the remote control comprises a plurality of controls including a first control that corresponds to a first function and a second control that corresponds to a second function, the method comprising:

sensing that a first object is near the first control before the first function is activated;

in response to sensing, providing a first audible signal that corresponds to a first identifier of the first control;

sending a first activation signal to the apparatus to identify activation of the first control; and

sending a second activation signal to the apparatus identify activation of the second control after the second control receives a force of at least an activation threshold;

wherein an audio signal that corresponds to a second identifier associated with the second control is not provided.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a language selection signal associated with the first audible signal.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a user-defined signal associated with the first audible signal.

4. A remote control for controlling an operation of an apparatus, the remote control comprising:

a plurality of controls including a first control that corresponds to a first function and a second control that corresponds to second function; and

a control module configured to;

receive a first sensing signal when a first object is near the first control before the first function is activated;

in response to receiving the first sensing signal, provide a first audio signal that corresponds to a first identifier of the first control;

send a first activation signal to the apparatus to identify activation of the first control in response to a predetermined activity;

not provide an audio signal that corresponds to a second identifier associated with the second control; and

send a second activation signal to the apparatus to identify activation of the second control after the second control receives a force of at least an activation threshold.

5. The remote control of claim 4, wherein:

the second control is different from the first control; and

the control module is further configured to;

receive a second sensing signal when a second object is near the second control before the second function is activated, wherein the second object is the same or different compared to the first object.

6. The remote control of claim 4, further comprising:

a sensing module responsive to the first control and coupled to the control module; and

a transmitter responsive to the control module.

7. The remote control of claim 6, further comprising:

an audio module responsive to the control module; and

a speaker responsive to the audio module.

8. A method of operating a system comprising an apparatus and a remote control that controls an operation of the apparatus, wherein the remote control comprises a plurality of controls including a first control, wherein the first control corresponds to a plurality of functions including a first function and a second function that is different from the first function, the method comprising:

sensing that a first object is near the first control during a first time period, wherein sensing is performed by the remote control;

determining a first state of the apparatus, wherein the apparatus is capable of being in at least one state of a plurality of states including the first state;

determining a first function corresponds to the first control, based at least in part on the first state of the apparatus;

providing a first audio signal, wherein the first audio signal corresponds to a first identifier of the first function;

sensing that a second object is near the first control during a second time period, wherein the sensing is preformed by the remote control;

determining a second state of the apparatus during the second time period wherein the plurality of states includes the second state that is different from the first state;

determining the second function corresponds to the first control, based at least in part on the second state of the apparatus; and

providing a second audio signal, wherein the second audio signal corresponds to a second identifier of the second function.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein determining the first state of the apparatus comprises:

determining which one or more input devices coupled to the apparatus is active;

determining which one or more output devices coupled to the apparatus is active, or any combination thereof.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising activating the first control in response to a predetermined activity, wherein:

providing the second audio signal is performed before activating the first control; and

the predetermined activity includes;

sensing a first force of at least a first activation threshold at the first control;

or

allowing a predetermined amount of time to pass before sensing a second force of at least a second activation threshold at any control within the plurality of controls other than the first control.

11. A remote control comprising:

a plurality of controls including a first control, wherein the first control corresponds to a plurality of functions including a first function and a second function different from the first function;

a control module configured to;

receive a first sensing signal when a first object is near the first control during a first time period;

in response to receiving the first sensing signal, provide a first identification signal to a remote apparatus, wherein the first identification signal corresponds to the first control;

receive a second identification signal, wherein the second identification information signal corresponds to the first function;

provide a first audio signal, wherein the first audio signal corresponds to a first identifier of the first function;

receive another first sensing signal when a second object is near the first control during a second time period, wherein the second object is the same or different from the first object;

in response to receiving the another first sensing signal, provide the first identification signal to the apparatus;

receive a third identification signal from the apparatus, wherein the third identification signal corresponds to the second function; and

provide a second audio signal different from the first audio signal, wherein the second audio signal corresponds to a second identifier of the second function.

12. The remote control of claim 11, wherein:

the control module is further configured to send a first activation signal to the apparatus in response to a predetermined activity; and

the predetermined activity includes;

sensing a first force of at least a first activation threshold at the first control;

or

allowing a predetermined amount of time to pass before sensing a second force of at least a second activation threshold at any control within the plurality of controls other than the first control.

13. The remote control of claim 11, further comprising:

an audio module responsive to the control module; and

a speaker responsive to the audio module.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

a control module configured to;

receive a first identification signal from a remote control, wherein the first identification signal corresponds to a first control of the remote control;

determine an active device function to which the first control corresponds, wherein the active device function is a first function of a first input device coupled to the apparatus when the first input device is active and wherein the active device function is a second function of a second input device coupled to the apparatus when the second device coupled to the apparatus is active; and

send an audio signal identifying the active device function to an audio system, wherein the audio signal includes information to produce an audible signal at the audio system identifying the active device function.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein:

the active device function is a third function of an output device coupled to the apparatus when the output device is active.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the audio system lies within the remote control.

17. The apparats of claim 14, wherein the audio system lies outside of the remote control.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the control module is further configured to:

receive a first activation signal from the remote control to identify activation of the first control; and

send a signal to activate the active device function.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

an I/O module coupled to the control module; and

a transceiver coupled to the control module.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first control is deactivated when a fourth device coupled to the apparatus is active.