Remote control method having GUI function, and system using the same

• US 7,966,568 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2007
• Issued: 06/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Jeong Hyun
• Primary Examiner(s): HAILU, TADESSE
• Application Number:
  US11/621,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20070106945A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,623 Days
• Field of Search: 715/716, 715/719, 715/864, 715/810, 715/735, 715762-764, 345/168, 345/173, 345/156, 348/734, 348/114
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• 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 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration

Abstract

A remote control method and system embody a graphic user interface. The present invention includes a remote controller having a touch pad and a digital television having a GUI. That is, a viewer can select a menu displayed on the digital television by using the touch pad. It is thus possible to overcome control limitations of the remote controller, namely complexity of the rapidly-developed functions of the television. In addition, the viewer can watch menus displayed on the screen of the digital television, operate the touch pad and execute a wanted control operation. As a result, the viewer can easily conveniently control the digital television through simple operations of the remote controller.

Claims

1. A method for remotely controlling a graphic user interface (GUI) on a display screen, the method comprising:

displaying a pointer on the display screen in response to a user interacting with a remote control device wirelessly communicating with a GUI controller of the display screen;

selecting an option from a GUI menu displayed on the display screen in response to the user interacting with the remote control device, wherein the user controls a location of the pointer on the display screen by interacting with the touch pad; and

receiving a control operation signal in response to the user interacting with at least one menu item displayed on a touch pad of the remote control device, wherein the method further comprises;

switching between a button mode and a touch screen mode when a menu key button is selected on the remote control device, and

executing a function on the display screen when one of the menu items displayed on the touch pad of the remote control device is selected, the menu item displayed on the touch pad selected in the button mode and the function being performed on the display screen while the remote control device is in button mode without switching into the touch screen mode.

2. A method for remotely communicating with a display screen, the method comprising:

controlling a GUI displayed on the display screen in response to an operation of a remote control device;

receiving a control operation signal in response to selection of at least one menu item displayed on a touch pad of the remote control device; and

selecting an object displayed on the display screen in response to the received control operation signal, wherein the method further comprises;

switching between a button mode and a touch screen mode when a menu key button is selected on the remote control device, and

executing a function on the display screen when the menu item displayed on the touch pad of the remote control device is selected, the menu item displayed on the touch pad selected in the button mode and the function being performed on the display screen while the remote control device is in button mode without switching into the touch screen mode.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the remote control device includes a plurality of button keys below the touch pad such that the plurality of button keys are closer to the user than the touch pad when the remote control device is held by the user to control the operation of the display screen.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the plurality of button keys includes a plurality of numerical key buttons.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the plurality of button keys includes a volume up button and a volume down button.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the plurality of button keys includes a channel up button and a channel down button.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the plurality of button keys includes a power button key and a menu button key.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the plurality of button keys include one of a menu button key and a power button key and at least one of numeric key buttons, volume up and down key buttons, or a channel up and down button keys.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the touch pad is provided on a front of the remote control device, and no key buttons are provided with the touch pad on the front of the remote control device.

10. A method of controlling a display device using a remote controller comprising:

displaying a plurality of menu items on a touch pad of a remote controller;

transmitting a first wireless signal corresponding to a selection of at least one menu item on the touch pad to a display device;

controlling a first operation corresponding to the selected menu item of the display device when the first wireless signal is received by the display device;

transmitting a second wireless signal corresponding to a selection of at least one key button on the remote controller to the display device; and

controlling a second operation corresponding to the selected key button of the display device when the second wireless signal is received by the display device, wherein at least one key button allows control of volume or control of channel displayed on the display device, and wherein the method further comprises;

switching between a button mode and a touch screen mode when a menu key button is selected on the remote controller, and

executing a function of the display device when one of the menu items displayed on the touch pad of the remote controller is selected, the menu item displayed on the touch pad selected in the button mode and the display device function being performed while the remote controller is in button mode without switching into the touch screen mode.

11. A method of operating a remote controller for a display device, the method comprising:

displaying a plurality of menu items on a touch pad of the remote controller;

generating a first signal corresponding to a selection of at least one menu item on the touch pad;

transmitting a first wireless signal based on the first signal;

generating a second signal corresponding to a selection of at least one key button on the remote controller; and

generating a second wireless signal based on the second signal, wherein the touch pad is provided above the at least one key button, the at least one key button on the remote controller corresponds to one of volume up and down button or channel up and down button, and wherein the method further comprises;

switching between a button mode and a touch screen mode when a menu key button is selected on the remote controller,

selecting one of the menu items displayed on the touch pad of the remote controller in the button mode, and transmitting a signal in response to said selection, the signal being transmitted in button mode without switching into the touch screen mode.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one key button is provided only below the touch pad.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of menu items displayed on the touch pad comprises fast forward, fast backward and stop menu items displayed on the touch pad.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of menu items displayed on the touch pad comprises basic menu item and broadcast guide menu item.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of menu items displayed on the touch pad comprises basic control menu item and guide menu item.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of menu items displayed on the touch pad comprises search menu item and guide menu item.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one key button on the remote controller further includes numerical key buttons.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one key button on the remote controller further comprises at least one of menu key button or power key button.