Remote control handset

• US 8,307,302 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2009
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Europe (Amsterdam) BV (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony United Kingdom Limited (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Takaki, Goro
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cao “Kevin”
• Application Number:
  US12/466,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20090284468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,272 Days
• Field of Search: 715/810, 715/738, 715/851, 715/853, 725/76, 725/52, 345/173
• US Class Current: 715/810
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/0257 Multisided remote control, comprising control or display elements on at least two sides, e.g. front and back surface
• 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 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42213 for facilitating data entry
• 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 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application

Abstract

A remote control handset 10 is provided for navigating a user interface of an entertainment device, the user interface having a hierarchical menu structure. The remote control handset 10 has a button 40 on its upper surface 20, and a button 120 on its lower surface 80. The button 40 on its upper surface 20 is used to navigate deeper into the hierarchical menu structure, and the button 120 on its lower surface 80 is used to navigate in the other direction (i.e. higher) in the menu structure. The remote control handset 10 is thus configured to make navigation of a graphical interface having hierarchical menu structure more intuitive, logical, and efficient.

Claims

1. A remote control handset for navigating a user interface of an entertainment device, the user interface having a hierarchical menu structure with at least two levels, said remote control handset including:

a body having an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface being substantially opposite to the upper surface;

a first actuation element provided on the upper surface of said body; and

a second actuation element provided on the lower surface of said body, wherein

said first actuation element is configured to provide a signal for navigation through levels of the hierarchical menu structure in a first direction; and

said second actuation element is configured to provide a signal for navigation through levels of the hierarchical menu structure in a second direction that is opposite to said first direction, wherein

both of said first actuation element and said second actuation element are push buttons,

said first actuation element is configured to be depressed in a direction that defines the positive direction of a first axis, and

said second actuation element is configured to be depressed in a direction that has a component in the negative direction along said first axis.

2. The remote control handset according to claim 1, wherein:

said second actuation element is configured to be depressed in a direction that has a component in a second axis that is orthogonal to said first axis, and has no component in a third axis that is orthogonal to said first axis and said second axis, and wherein

said second axis points substantially along a longitudinal direction of said body of said remote control handset.

5. The remote control handset according to claim 2, wherein:

said third axis points substantially along a width direction of said body of said remote control handset; and

the dimension of said remote control handset in said longitudinal direction is greater than the dimension of said remote control handset in said width direction.

7. The remote control handset according to claim 1, wherein:

said remote control handset further includes a touchpad configured to interact with said entertainment device; and

said first actuation element is a part of said touchpad.

8. The remote control handset according to claim 7, wherein said touchpad is configured to provide a signal for navigation within the levels of the hierarchical menu structure of said user interface.

9. The remote control handset according to claim 7, wherein said touchpad is configured to provide a signal for controlling parameters of the entertainment device, said parameters including at least one of:

sound parameters;

picture colour parameters; and

channel number.

10. The remote control handset according to claim 7, wherein the function of the touchpad can change in response to the state of the entertainment device.

11. The remote control handset according to claim 10, wherein:

the touchpad is provided with a display associated with its function at any given time; and

said display on said touchpad can change in response to a change in function of the touchpad.

12. The remote control handset according to claim 10, wherein the remote control handset is configured to interact with said entertainment device so as to identify the state of the entertainment device.

13. The remote control handset according to claim 12, wherein the remote control handset is configured to interact with said entertainment device using Bluetooth™

technology.

14. The remote control handset according to claim 1, wherein said second actuation element is configured only to be operated when the hierarchical menu structure of the user interface is in a level in which operation of said second actuation element would cause a change in the level.

16. The remote control handset according to claim 1, further comprising another actuation element configured to allow selection of content in said user interface.

17. The remote control handset according to claim 1, wherein:

the first direction, in which said first actuation element is configured to provide signals for navigation through the hierarchical menu structure, moves deeper into the hierarchical menu structure; and

the second direction, in which said second actuation element is configured to provide signals for navigation through the hierarchical menu structure, moves upwards in the hierarchical menu structure.

18. The remote control handset according to claim 1, wherein the remote control handset is configured to control a television set via a graphical user interface.

19. A control apparatus for an entertainment device including:

a remote control handset according to claim 1; and

a user interface for an entertainment device, the user interface having a hierarchical menu structure with at least two levels, wherein

the remote control handset is configured to provide signals for navigating the user interface.

20. An entertainment system including:

the control apparatus of claim 19; and

an entertainment device, wherein

the control apparatus is configured to provide signals for controlling the entertainment device.

3. A remote control handset for navigating a user interface of an entertainment device, the user interface having a hierarchical menu structure with at least two levels, said remote control handset including:

a body having an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface being substantially opposite to the upper surface;

a first actuation element provided on the upper surface of said body; and

a second actuation element provided on the lower surface of said body, wherein

said first actuation element is configured to provide a signal for navigation through levels of the hierarchical menu structure in a first direction; and

said second actuation element is configured to provide a signal for navigation through levels of the hierarchical menu structure in a second direction that is opposite to said first direction, wherein

said first actuation element is provided on a first surface having a normal that defines the positive direction of a first axis,

said second actuation element is provided on a second surface having a normal that has a component in the negative direction of said first axis, and

at least one of said first actuation element and said second actuation element is a touch-sensitive input device.

4. The remote control handset according to claim 3, wherein:

the normal of said second surface is in a direction that has a component in a second axis that is orthogonal to said first axis, and has no component in a third axis that is orthogonal to said first axis and said second axis, and wherein

said second axis points substantially along a longitudinal direction of said body of said remote control handset.

6. The remote control handset according to claim 4, wherein:

said third axis points substantially along a width direction of said body of said remote control handset; and

the dimension of said remote control handset in said longitudinal direction is greater than the dimension of said remote control handset in said width direction.

15. A remote control handset for navigating a user interface of an entertainment device, the user interface having a hierarchical menu structure with at least two levels, said remote control handset including:

a body having an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface being substantially opposite to the upper surface;

a first actuation element provided on the upper surface of said body; and

a second actuation element provided on the lower surface of said body, wherein

said first actuation element is configured to provide a signal for navigation through levels of the hierarchical menu structure in a first direction; and

said second actuation element is configured to provide a signal for navigation through levels of the hierarchical menu structure in a second direction that is opposite to said first direction,

wherein one or more of;

said first actuation element;

said second actuation element; and

said touchpad is/are configured to provide a tactile output in response to one or more of;

the state of said entertainment device;

the state of the user interface; and

an input from the remote control handset.

21. A method of navigating a user interface for an entertainment device using a remote control handset, the user interface having a hierarchical menu structure, the method including:

providing a remote control handset having;

a body with an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface being substantially opposite to the upper surface;

a first actuation element; and

a second actuation element;

arranging the first actuation element on the upper surface of said body;

arranging the second actuation element on the lower surface of said body;

navigating through the hierarchical menu structure in a first direction using said first actuation element; and

navigating through the hierarchical menu structure in a second direction that is opposite to said first direction using said second actuation element, wherein

both of said first actuation element and said second actuation element are push buttons,

said first actuation element is configured to be depressed in a direction that defines the positive direction of a first axis, and

said second actuation element is configured to be depressed in a direction that has a component in the negative direction along said first axis.