Dynamic reconfiguration of inputs based on contextual focus

• US 7,577,915 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2006
• Issued: 08/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: 4Homemedia, Inc.
• Inventors: Rappaport, Jon, Hunter, Jim
• Primary Examiner(s): BAUTISTA, XIOMARA L
• Application Number:
  US11/636,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20070180427A1
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 715/733, 715/738, 715/744, 715/760, 715/764, 715/765, 715/767, 715/821, 715/822, 715/823, 715/835, 715/846, 709/203, 709/217, 709/219, 345/156, 345/157, 345/163, 345/168
• US Class Current: 715/765
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

In one embodiment, a focus on an focus item associated with a controllable item is determined. For example, the focus may be moving a pointer over an focus item displayed on a display. One or more functional actions for the controllable item are then determined based on the focus being on the focus item. For example, if the controllable item is a camera and the focus is on an icon for the camera, then one or more functional actions for the camera are determined. The one or more functional actions are then assigned to one or more inputs on a input device. The input device can now be used to perform the one or more functional actions by using the one or more inputs. For example, the user may select one of the inputs, which sends signals to a processing device. The processing device can then determine the functional action assigned to the input and cause the action to be performed with the controllable item.

Claims

1. A method for configuring functional actions of an input device, the method comprising:

determining a focus on a focus item associated with a controllable item;

determining one or more functional actions for the controllable item based on the focus being on the focus item; and

assigning the one or more functional actions to one or more inputs on the input device such that the input device can be used to perform the one or more functional actions using the one or more inputs to control the controllable item, wherein the one or more inputs on the input device are dynamically reassigned to the one or more functional actions from one or more previous functional actions that are associated with a previous controllable item.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying information for the one or more functional actions and the assigned one or more inputs.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the information shows the one or more inputs on the input device and the assigned one or more functional actions.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a signal indicating an input that is selected;

determining a functional action associated with the input; and

causing performing of the functional action assigned to the input.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a second focus on a second focus item associated with a second controllable item;

determining one or more second functional actions for the second controllable item based on the focus being on the second focus item; and

dynamically reassigning the one or more second functional actions to the one or more inputs on the input device such that the input device can be used to perform the one or more second functional actions using the one or more inputs to control the second controllable item.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the focus comprises determining the focus is on the focus item being displayed on a display screen.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein determining focus is on the focus item comprises determining an input that is received indicating focus is on the focus item being displayed on the display screen.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the focus item is the controllable item, the method further comprising:

detecting when the input device is pointed at the controllable item, wherein focus is determined when the input device is pointed at the controllable item, wherein the one or more functional actions are assigned to one or more inputs based on the determination of focus based on the input device being pointed at the controllable item.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the controllable item comprises a physical or virtual item.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein user preferences are used in determining the focus is on the focus item, the one or more functional actions, and/or in assigning the one or more functional actions to one or more inputs.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more functional actions are assigned to a numeric keyboard for the one or more inputs, wherein a number on the numeric keyboard is assigned different functions for the controllable item and the previous controllable item.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the focus is determined using a plurality of contexts that detect the focus on the focus item in different ways.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of contexts comprise a first context that detects focus on a display and a second context that detects focus on an event not on the display.

14. An apparatus configured to manage functional actions of an input device, the apparatus comprising:

a focus determiner configured to determine a focus on a focus item associated with a controllable item;

an action determiner configured to determine one or more functional actions for the controllable item based on the focus being on the focus item; and

an action assigner configured to assign the one or more functional actions to one or more inputs on the input device such that the input device can be used to perform the one or more functional actions using the one or more inputs to control the controllable item, wherein the one or more inputs on the input device are dynamically reassigned to the one or more functional actions from one or more previous functional actions that are associated with a previous controllable item.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the action assigner is configured to display information for the one or more functional actions and the assigned one or more inputs.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the information shows the one or more inputs on the input device and the assigned one or more functional actions.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

a request receiver configured to receive a signal indicating an input that is selected;

an action assignment determiner configured to determine a functional action associated with the input; and

an action performer configured to cause performing of the functional action assigned to the input.

18. The apparatus of claim 14,

wherein the focus determiner is configured to determine a second focus on a second focus item associated with a second controllable item;

wherein the action determiner is configured to determine one or more second functional actions for the second controllable item based on the focus being on the second focus item; and

wherein the action assigner is configured to dynamically reassign the one or more second functional actions to the one or more inputs on the input device such that the input device can be used to perform the one or more second functional actions using the one or more inputs to control the second controllable item.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the focus determiner is configured to determine the focus is on the focus item being displayed on a display screen.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the focus determiner is configured to determine the focus is on the focus item when an input that is received indicating focus is on the focus item being displayed on the display screen.

21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the focus item is the controllable item, wherein the focus determiner is configured to detect when the input device is pointed at the controllable item, wherein focus is determined when the input device is pointed at the controllable item, wherein the one or more functional actions are assigned to one or more inputs based on the determination of focus based on the input device being pointed at the controllable item.

22. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the controllable item comprises a physical or virtual item.

23. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein user preferences are used in determining the focus is on the focus item, the one or more functional actions, and/or in assigning the one or more functional actions to one or more inputs.

24. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the one or more functional actions are assigned to a numeric keyboard for the one or more inputs, wherein a number on the numeric keyboard is assigned different functions for the controllable item and the previous controllable item.