Remote control unit for a programmable multimedia controller

• US 8,766,782 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2013
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Savant Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Savant Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Madonna, Robert P., Noonan, Michael E., Silva, Michael C., Corsini, Peter H., Jacobson, Arthur A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, VERNAL U
• Application Number:
  US13/789,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20130181927A1
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 340/12.22, 340/5.1, 340/3.1, 340/13.24
• US Class Current: 340/12.22
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/013 Identifying areas in a building
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/91 Remote control based on location and proximity
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• 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 21/42212 Specific keyboard arrangements
• 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 21/42225 characterized by types of remote control, e.g. universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

In one embodiment, a menuing system is overlaid upon a portion of a video being shown on a display device coupled to a programmable multimedia controller. The portion of the video is less than an entire screen of the video such that at least some of the video is still visible. The menuing system has a plurality of selectable options. In response to a scrolling gesture in a direction, an element is moved in a corresponding direction within the menuing system to bring the element to a designated position in the menuing system to permit selection of a particular selectable option. In response to selection of the particular selectable option, one or more control commands are issued to a device coupled to the programmable multimedia controller to control an aspect of operation of the device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

overlaying a menuing system upon a portion of a video being shown on a display device coupled to a programmable multimedia controller, the portion of the video being less than an entire screen of the video such that at least some of the video is still visible, the menuing system having a plurality of selectable options arranged in a shape;

receiving, on a touch sensor of a unit separate from the display device, a scrolling gesture in a direction, the touch sensor having a shape that coincides with the shape of the plurality of selectable options in the menuing system;

in response to the scrolling gesture in the direction, moving an element in a corresponding direction within the menuing system to bring the element to a designated position in the menuing system, the designated position to permit selection of a particular selectable option; and

in response to selection of the particular selectable option, issuing, by the programmable multimedia controller, one or more control commands to a device coupled to the programmable multimedia controller to control an aspect of operation of the device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the element is the particular selectable option and the moving comprises:

moving the particular selectable option in the corresponding direction within the menuing system to bring the particular selectable option to the designated position.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the element is a selection cursor and the moving comprises:

moving the selection cursor in the corresponding direction within the menuing system to bring the selection cursor to the designated position.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the video being shown on the display device is a video from a separate video source coupled to the programmable multimedia controller.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the menuing system is an annular menuing system, and the plurality of selectable options are arranged in an annular shape.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of selectable options represent devices coupled to the programmable multimedia controller, and selection of the particular selectable option designates the particular device to receive control commands.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of selectable options are arranged in an annular shape, the touch sensor is an annular touch sensor having a coinciding annular shape, and the scrolling gesture in the direction is a scrolling gesture in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the unit having the touch sensor is a remote control unit and the display device is a television.

9. A method for comprising:

overlaying a menuing system upon a portion of a video being shown on a menuing capable display observable by a user, the portion of the video being less than an entire screen of the video such that at least some of the video is still visible, the menuing system having a plurality of selectable options arranged in a shape;

receiving, on a touch sensor, a scrolling gesture in a direction, the touch sensor having a shape that coincides with the shape of the plurality of selectable options in the menuing system;

in response to the gesture in the direction, moving the plurality of selectable options in a corresponding direction within the menuing system to bring a particular selectable option to a designated position in the menuing system, the designated position to permit selection of the particular selectable option; and

in response to selection of the particular selectable option, issuing one or more control commands.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the menuing capable display is coupled to a programmable multimedia controller, and the issuing the one or more control commands is performed by the programmable multimedia controller to a device under control of the programmable multimedia controller.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the menuing system is an annular menuing system and the plurality of selectable options are arranged in an annular shape.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein at least some of the plurality of selectable options represent devices, and selection of the particular selectable option designates a particular device.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of selectable options are arranged in an annular shape, the touch sensor is an annular touch sensor having a coinciding annular shape, and the gesture in the direction is a gesture in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.

14. A system comprising:

a programmable multimedia controller;

a unit having a touch sensor in communication with the programmable multimedia controller, the touch sensor having a shape and being responsive to scrolling gestures there upon by a user, the unit separate from the programmable multimedia controller;

a display device coupled to the programmable multimedia controller and separate from the unit having the touch sensor; and

an menuing system configured to be overlaid upon a portion of a video being shown on the display device, the portion of the video being less than an entire screen of the video such that at least some of the video is still visible, the menuing system having a plurality of selectable options arranged in a shape that coincides with the shape of the touch sensor of the unit, the menuing system configured to, in response to a scrolling gesture on the touch sensor, move an element in a direction within the menuing system to bring the element to a designated position in the menuing system, the designated position to permit selection of a particular selectable option; and

wherein the programmable multimedia controller is configured to, in response to selection of the particular selectable option, issue one or more control commands to a device coupled to the programmable multimedia controller to control an aspect of operation of the device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the element is the particular selectable option.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the element is a selection cursor.

17. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a video source coupled to the programmable multimedia controller, the video source configured to provide the video being shown on the display device.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the menuing system is an annular menuing system, and the plurality of selectable options are arranged in an annular shape.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein at least some of the plurality of selectable options represent devices coupled to the programmable multimedia controller, and selection of the particular selectable option designates a particular device to receive control commands.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the unit having the touch sensor is a remote control unit that further has a button, and wherein the menuing system is further configured to select the particular selectable option in response to operation of the button.