Method and system for remote control

• US 8,453,186 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2010
• Issued: 05/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Roberts, Linda A., Chang, E-Lee, Tan, Tuck Seng
• Primary Examiner(s): SHEPARD, JUSTIN E
• Application Number:
  US12/882,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20120062796A1
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: 725/143
• US Class Current: 725/81
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/40 Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41 Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• 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 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/422 Input-only peripherals , i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] input devices also receiving signals from specially adapted client devices H04N21/4104
• 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 21/42208 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 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4852 for modifying audio parameters, e.g. switching between mono and stereo

Abstract

A method and system for remote control at a client of a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN) enables a user to configure a wireless user device as a remote control device (RCD). The RCD may communicate via a wireless network and an MCDN server to execute remote control commands at the MCDN client. The RCD may implement a remote control interface, including control elements configured for touch operation. The control elements may provide specific interactive functionality for channel selection, volume selection, playback of multimedia content, and other remote control features. The RCD may also receive feedback and status information associated with remote control commands.

Claims

1. A method for remote control at a client of a multimedia content distribution network, comprising:

establishing, by a remote control device via a wireless network, a connection to a multimedia handling device at a multimedia content distribution network client, wherein the remote control device includes a touch interface;

displaying, on a display of the remote control device, a remote control interface including control elements for controlling multimedia output from the multimedia handling device;

receiving user input selecting at least one of the control elements;

sending, based on the user input, a remote control command corresponding to the selected remote control element to the multimedia handling device via the wireless link and via a multimedia content distribution network server, wherein the selected control element is for channel selection at the multimedia handling device;

wherein the user input is received as a touch input via the touch interface, and further wherein the touch input corresponds to a touch and slide motion detected by the touch interface at a channel bar, and wherein a magnitude of the slide motion provides an indication of a channel increment magnitude;

displaying the channel bar, wherein the channel bar is operable to indicate positive or negative incremental input from a zero position;

receiving the user input at the channel bar, including receiving an indication of the channel increment magnitude;

responsive to receiving the user input, displaying, using the remote control interface, channel data that is incrementing according to the channel increment magnitude;

when the incrementing channel data is being displayed, receiving a second user input for selecting currently displayed channel data, corresponding to a desired channel;

including, in the remote control command sent to the multimedia handling device, a command to display the desired channel; and

when an absence of the touch input is detected at the touch interface, resetting the channel bar to the zero position.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected control element is for audio volume selection at the multimedia handling device, and further comprising:

displaying a volume bar configured for bidirectional input;

receiving the user input at the volume bar, including receiving an indication of a volume magnitude;

responsive to receiving the user input, including, in the remote control command sent to the multimedia handling device, a command to modify the audio volume according to the volume magnitude; and

when an absence of the touch input is detected at the touch interface, displaying the indication of the volume magnitude on the volume bar.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the user input is a double-tap at the volume bar and wherein the volume magnitude is muted audio volume or zero audio volume.

4. A wireless user device for remote control of a multimedia handling device of a multimedia content distribution network, comprising:

a processor coupled to computer readable storage medium;

a touch interface coupled to the processor;

a wireless interface coupled to the processor;

a display aligned with the touch interface and coupled to the processor; and

wherein the computer readable storage medium includes processor executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

establishing, via the wireless interface, a connection to the multimedia handling device at a multimedia content distribution network client;

displaying, using the display, a remote control interface including control elements for controlling multimedia output from the multimedia handling device;

receiving, via the touch interface, user input selecting at least one of the control elements;

sending, based on the user input, a remote control command corresponding to the selected remote control element to the multimedia handling device via the wireless interface and via a multimedia content distribution network client server, wherein the selected remote control element is for channel selection at the multimedia handling device;

displaying, using the display, a channel bar configured for bidirectional incremental input from a zero position;

receiving the user input at the channel bar, including receiving an indication of a channel increment magnitude;

responsive to receiving the user input, displaying, using the display, channel data that is incrementing according to the channel increment magnitude;

when the incrementing channel data is being displayed, receiving a second user input for selecting currently displayed channel data, corresponding to a desired channel;

including, in the remote control command sent to the multimedia handling device, a command to display the desired channel; and

when an absence of the touch input is detected at the touch interface, resetting the channel bar to the zero position;

wherein the user input at the channel bar corresponds to a dragging motion detected by the touch interface at the channel bar; and

wherein a magnitude of the dragging motion provides the indication of the channel increment magnitude.

5. The wireless user device of claim 4, wherein the selected control element is for audio volume selection at the multimedia handling device, and wherein the operations include operations for:

displaying, using the display, a volume bar configured for bidirectional input;

receiving the user input at the volume bar, including receiving an indication of a volume magnitude;

when the user input is a double-tap at the volume bar, setting the volume magnitude to a muted audio volume or a zero audio volume;

responsive to receiving the user input, including, in the remote control command sent to the multimedia handling device, a command to modify the audio volume according to the volume magnitude; and

when an absence of a touch input is detected at the touch interface, displaying, using the display, the indication of the volume magnitude on the volume bar.

6. The wireless user device of claim 4, wherein the selected control element is for navigating an electronic program guide at the multimedia handling device, and wherein the operations include operations for:

receiving, via the touch interface, the user input as a motion of the selected remote control element within the remote control interface, wherein the motion is indicative of a speed of scrolling and a direction of scrolling through selectable elements in the electronic program guide; and

including, based on the motion of the selected control element, a corresponding electronic program guide navigation command in the remote control command sent to the multimedia handling device.

7. The wireless user device of claim 4, wherein the selected control element is for controlling playback of a recorded multimedia program at the multimedia handling device, and wherein the operations include operations for:

displaying, using the display, a playback bar configured for bidirectional incremental input from a zero position;

receiving, via the touch interface, the user input at the playback bar, include receiving an indication of a playback increment magnitude; and

responsive to receiving the user input, including, in the remote control command sent to the multimedia handling device, a command to playback the recorded multimedia program according to the playback increment magnitude.

8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, including processor executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

establishing, via a wireless interface, a connection to a multimedia handling device at a multimedia content distribution network client;

generating a remote control interface display comprising a channel bar display including a channel bar to indicate bidirectional incremental input from a zero position;

receiving user input corresponding to a dragging motion detected by a touch interface at the channel bar, wherein a magnitude of the dragging motion indicates a channel increment magnitude;

displaying a channel data display including a channel indicator changing at a rate according to the channel increment magnitude;

responsive to receiving a second user input while the channel data display is displaying, selecting a desired channel indicated by a currently displayed value of the channel indicator; and

sending a remote control command to the multimedia handling device to display the desired channel; and

resetting the channel bar to the zero position when an absence of touch input associated with the touch interface is detected for a specified duration.

9. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein generating the remote control interface display includes generating, by a remote control device, the remote control display and displaying the remote control display on a display of the remote control device.

10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the operations include:

receiving, via the touch interface, a third user input selecting a remote control element indicating a motion for navigating an electronic program guide; and

sending a corresponding electronic program guide navigation command to a remotely located multimedia handling device.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the user input is indicative of a speed of scrolling through elements in the electronic program guide.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the user input includes a circular motion with respect to the touch interface.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the operations include:

receiving, via the touch interface, a third user input selecting a remote control element indicating a motion for controlling playback of a recorded multimedia program stored on the multimedia handling device;

displaying a playback bar for bidirectional incremental input from a zero position;

receiving touch input at the playback bar indicating a playback increment magnitude; and

responsive to receiving the touch input, including, in the remote control command sent to the multimedia handling device, a command to playback the recorded multimedia program according to the playback increment magnitude.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the touch input includes a tap of the playback bar, and wherein the operations include:

responsive to detecting the tap of the playback bar, determining a tapped position of the playback bar and increasing the playback increment magnitude by a predetermined factor based on the tapped position of the playback bar;

when the portion of the playback bar is a positive portion, assigning a positive direction to the playback increment magnitude corresponding to fast-forwarding the recorded multimedia program; and

when the portion of the playback bar is a negative portion, assigning a negative direction to the playback increment magnitude corresponding to rewinding the recorded multimedia program.