Remote control with user profile capability

• US 8,421,931 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2006
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Park, Joon Young, Lhuillier, Nicolas, Mehta, Samir N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Natnael, Paulos M
• Application Number:
  US11/616,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20080163301A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,302 Days
• Field of Search: 348/734, 348/552, 348/553, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 345/169, 345/172
• US Class Current: 348/734
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/31 Voice input
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/33 Remote control using macros, scripts
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/61 Password, biometric
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• 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 21/42208 Display device provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4221 Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration

Abstract

A control unit (101), such as a remote control device, includes a profile selector (104). The profile selector (104), which may be a single profile selector button integrated into the side or top of a remote control, allows quick and simple selection of an operating mode or user profile. The control unit (101) includes an indicator (107) that provides indicia of the currently selected mode or profile. Examples of indicators include multicolored lights and display devices. Where multicolored lights are used as the indicator (107), actuation of the profile selector (104) causes the indicator (107) to change from a first color to a second color.

Claims

1. A control unit for wirelessly controlling an electronic device, wherein the electronic device has at least one user profile associated therewith, the control unit comprising:

a processor;

a profile selector, the processor configured to detect actuation of the profile selector, wherein detecting actuation comprises detecting at least a predetermined number of button actuations of a single profile selection button;

a transmitter, the processor further configured to cause the transmitter to transmit, to the second device, a user change signal upon detecting actuation of the profile selector; and

an indicator configured to change an appearance of the control unit by presenting profile indication indicia on the remote control unit, wherein the indicator further comprises a light source capable of emitting a light in one of a plurality of colors, and a light pipe disposed along the control unit through which the light passes;

the processor further configured, upon detecting actuation of the profile selector, to cause the indicator to change an indicia state of the indicator from a first indicia state to a second indicia state by changing the light source from emitting a first color to emitting a second color;

wherein the first indicia state is a present indicia state and the second indicia state is a default indicia state.

2. The control unit of claim 1, wherein the profile selector comprises a single profile selector button.

3. The control unit of claim 2, wherein the light changes color upon actuation of the single profile selection button.

4. The control unit of claim 1, wherein the indicator further comprises one or more translucent keys disposed along the control unit through which the light passes.

5. The control unit of claim 1, wherein the indicator further comprises a display configured to display one of a plurality of profile indicator messages.

6. The control unit of claim 1, wherein the profile selector further comprises one or more of the group consisting of a biometric sensor and a voice activated switch.

7. A remote control unit for wirelessly controlling an electronic device, wherein the electronic device has at least one user profile associated therewith, the control unit comprising:

a processor;

a selector for selecting one of a plurality of profiles;

a transceiver comprising a transmitter configured to at least transmit a profile change signal; and

an indicator having a plurality of indicia states;

the processor configured to detect actuation of the selector, wherein detecting actuation of the selector comprises detecting actuation of a profile selection button, wherein detecting actuation of the profile selection button comprises detecting actuation of the button for at least a predetermined duration;

the processor further configured to cause the transceiver in the remote control unit to transmit a profile change signal;

the processor further configured to receive a profile change acknowledgement;

the processor further configured, responsively to receiving the profile change acknowledgement, to change an indicia state of the indicator from a first indicia state to a second indicia state, wherein changing the indicia state of the indicator occurs after the step of receiving the profile change acknowledgement.

8. A method of selecting a user profile, comprising the steps of:

providing a remote control unit comprising a selector for selecting one of a plurality of profiles, a transmitter configured to at least transmit a profile change signal, and an indicator having a plurality of indicia states;

detecting actuation of the selector, wherein the step of detecting actuation of the selector comprises detecting actuation of a profile selection button, and wherein the step of detecting actuation of the profile selection button comprises detecting at least a predetermined number of button actuations,

transmitting, by a transmitter in the remote control unit, a profile change signal; and

changing an indicia state of the indicator from a first indicia state to a second indicia state, wherein the step of changing the indicia state comprises the step of changing a light source from a first color to a second color, and further wherein the step of changing the indicia state of the indicator comprises changing the indicia state from a present indicia state to a default indicia state.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of detecting actuation of the selector further comprises a step selected from the group consisting of receiving biometric information, and detecting voice.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of changing the indicia state further comprises the step of changing characters presented upon a display.

11. A method of selecting a user profile, comprising the steps of:

providing a remote control unit comprising a selector for selecting one of a plurality of profiles, a transmitter configured to at least transmit a profile change signal, and an indicator having a plurality of indicia states;

detecting actuation of the selector, wherein the step of detecting actuation of the selector comprises detecting actuation of a profile selection button, wherein the step of detecting actuation of the profile selection button comprises detecting actuation of the one button for at least a predetermined duration;

transmitting, by the transmitter in the remote control unit, a profile change signal;

receiving a profile change acknowledgement; and

changing an indicia state of the indicator from a first indicia state to a second indicia state, wherein the step of changing the indicia state of the indicator occurs after the step of receiving the profile change acknowledgement.

12. A method of selecting a user profile, comprising the steps of:

providing a remote control unit comprising a selector for selecting one of a plurality of profiles, a transmitter configured to at least transmit a profile change signal, and an indicator having a plurality of indicia states;

detecting actuation of the selector, wherein the step of detecting actuation of the selector comprises detecting actuation of a profile selection button, wherein the step of detecting actuation of the profile selection button comprises detecting actuation of the one button for at least a predetermined duration;

transmitting, by the transmitter in the remote control unit, a profile change signal; and

changing an indicia state of the indicator from a first indicia state to a second indicia state;

the method further comprising the step of entering a power saving mode, and upon entry of the power saving mode, exiting the power saving mode upon the step of detecting the actuation of the one button.

13. A system having a plurality of selectable user profiles, the system comprising:

a. an electronic device having a plurality of modes of operation, wherein at least some of the plurality of modes of operation correspond to a plurality of user profiles; and

b. a remote control unit configured to communicate with the electronic device, the remote control unit comprising a single user profile selection button, a transmitter responsive to the single user profile selection button capable of selecting at least one mode from the plurality of modes of operation, and a visual indicator configured to change appearance of the remote control unit upon selection of at least one mode from the plurality of modes of operation;

wherein the remote control unit further comprises a receiver, further wherein the electronic device comprises a transceiver configured to communicate wirelessly with the receiver, wherein upon selection of a mode, the transceiver is configured to transmit a mode change signal to the receiver, thereby causing the visual indicator to change appearance.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the electronic device comprises a mode selection module configured to indicate a mode selection status to a user.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the electronic device comprises a receiver for television signals, further comprising a video display coupled to the electronic device, wherein the mode selection status comprises visual indicia presented on the video display.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the visual indicia comprises at least a mode name and one or more mode characteristic information indicia.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the electronic device comprises a mode creation module, wherein upon receipt of a mode creation signal from the transmitter, the mode creation module is actuated.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the electronic device comprises a mode request module and a timer configured to actuation upon a mode selection, wherein upon expiration of the timer, the mode request module is configured to deliver a mode selection request.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the electronic device further comprises a security module configured to prompt for a security input upon selection of the mode from the plurality of modes.