Remote controller with multimedia content display and control method thereof

• US 8,776,120 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2010
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Dong-heon, Kwon, Yong-hwan, Kim, Joon-hwan, Kwon, Heui-jin, Lee, Chang-soo, Lee, Jeong-yeon, Szilagyi, Victor
• Primary Examiner(s): HUYNH, AN SON PHI
• Application Number:
  US12/717,223
• Publication Number:
  US 20100229196A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,587 Days
• Field of Search: 348/734, 725/37, 725/39, 725/110, 725/131, 725/133, 725/139, 725/141, 725/151, 725/153
• US Class Current: 725/39
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• 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 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8126 involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts

Abstract

Provided are a remote controller and a method of controlling the remote controller, wherein the remote controller is operable to be in one of a first operating mode or a second operating mode, and which is connectable to a docking station, the remote controller including: an internal display screen, which displays at least one digital image; and a controller which may be operable to change between the first and second operating modes, wherein if the remote controller is connected to the docking station and if the remote controller is in the second operating mode, the controller controls the remote controller to change to the first operating mode to provide predetermined multimedia content.

Claims

1. A remote controller, which is operable to be in one of a first operating mode or a second operating mode, and which is connectable to a docking station, the remote controller comprising:

an internal display screen, which displays at least one digital image; and

a controller which determines a current operating mode of the remote controller and changes between the first and second operating modes according to whether the docking station is connected and the determined current operating mode of the remote controller,

wherein in response to the remote controller being connected to the docking station and the controller determining that the remote controller is in the second operating mode, the controller controls the remote controller to change to the first operating mode to provide predetermined multimedia content,

wherein in response to the remote controller being connected to the docking station and the controller determining that the remote controller is not in the second operating mode, the controller controls the remote controller without changing the current operating mode, and

wherein the first operating mode is a content providing mode to provide the predetermined multimedia content, and the second operating mode is a control mode to control an external device.

2. The remote controller according to claim 1, wherein the internal display screen is a touchscreen and is operable to receive at least one command from a user.

3. The remote controller according to claim 1, wherein the remote controller is operable to control an external device.

4. The remote controller according to claim 3, wherein the external device is one of a display device, an audio outputting device and a video outputting device.

5. The remote controller according to claim 1, wherein the remote controller further comprises a battery which stores power for operating the remote controller, and wherein the docking station provides the power to the battery if the remote controller is connected to the docking station.

6. The remote controller according to claim 1, wherein if the predetermined multimedia content is at least one digital image, the controller controls the internal display screen to display the at least one digital image.

7. The remote controller according to claim 1, wherein if the predetermined multimedia content is audio content, the controller controls the remote controller to play the audio content.

8. The remote controller according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined multimedia content includes different types of content, and if the controller controls the remote controller to change to the first operating mode, the predetermined multimedia content is provided such that each of the different types of content are provided in a cyclical format.

9. The remote controller according to claim 8, wherein a predetermined priority is selected for each of the different types of content, and each of the different types of content are provided in the cyclical format according to the respective predetermined priorities selected for the different types of content.

10. The remote controller according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined multimedia content includes at least one of:

a digital photograph,

an electronic message received from a user,

electronic program guide (EPG) content received from a content provider, and

information relating to current events.

11. The remote controller according to claim 10, wherein if the predetermined multimedia content is the digital photograph, the digital photograph is retrieved from at least one of an internal memory, an external memory and a website.

12. The remote controller according to claim 10, wherein if the predetermined multimedia content is the information relating to current events, the information relating to current events includes at least one of news, finance and weather.

13. The remote controller according to claim 1,

wherein the internal display screen includes a larger portion which includes a substantial portion of the internal display screen,

wherein the control mode displays on the larger portion at least one of a control screen, which is operable to control an external device from the remote controller, and electronic program guide (EPG) information, and

wherein the content providing mode displays on a substantial portion of the internal display screen the predetermined multimedia content.

14. The remote controller according to claim 13, wherein the internal display screen includes a smaller portion, which is separate from the larger portion,

wherein in the control mode, the predetermined multimedia content is displayed on the smaller portion, and

wherein in the content providing mode, the at least one of the control screen and the EPG information is displayed on the smaller portion.

15. The remote controller according to claim 1, wherein the remote controller provides an initial multimedia content before being connected to the docking station,

wherein if the remote controller is changed to the first operating mode, the predetermined multimedia content is different than the initial multimedia content, and

wherein if the remote controller is in the first operating mode before being connected to the docking station, the remote controller continues to provide the initial multimedia content after being connected to the docking station.

16. The remote controller apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if the remote controller is displaying an initial image on the internal display screen and the remote controller is changed to the first operating mode, the controller controls the remote controller to automatically provide the multimedia content and controls the internal display screen to suspend displaying the initial image on the internal display screen.

17. The remote controller apparatus according to claim 16, wherein if the remote controller is removed from the docking station, the controller controls the remote controller to change to the second operating mode and to resume the displaying the initial image on the internal display screen and controls the remote controller to suspend the providing of the multimedia content.

18. The remote controller according to claim 1, wherein the internal display screen is operable to receive an input command, and if the internal display screen receives the input command while the remote controller in the first operating mode, the controller controls the remote controller to suspend the providing of the multimedia content.

19. The remote controller according to claim 1, wherein if the remote controller is in one of the first and second operating modes, the remote controller is operable to receive an alert including at least one of:

an electronic program guide (EPG) alert related to an upcoming show,

an electronic message received from a user, and

information relating to at least one of least news, finance and weather,

wherein if the alert is received, the controller controls the remote controller to display the alert on a portion of the internal display screen.

20. A method of controlling a remote controller, which has an internal display screen that displays at least one digital image, which is operable to be in one of a first operating mode or a second operating mode, and which is connectable to a docking station, the method comprising:

determining a connecting between the remote controller and the docking station and a current operating mode of the remote controller;

in response to the remote controller being connected to the docking station and the determining that the remote controller is in the second operating mode, changing from the second operating modes to the first operating mode to provide predetermined multimedia content, and

in response to the remote controller being connected to the docking station and the determining that the remote controller is not in the second operating mode, without changing the current operating mode,

wherein the first operating mode is a content providing mode to provide the predetermined multimedia content, and the second operating mode is a control mode to control an external device.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the internal display screen is a touchscreen, the method further comprising receiving at least one command from a user through the touchscreen.

22. The method according to claim 20, further comprising transmitting control commands from the remote controller to an external device for controlling the external device.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the external device is one of a display device, an audio outputting device and a video outputting device.

24. The method according to claim 20, further comprising storing power in a battery for operating the remote controller, wherein the docking station provides the power to the battery if the remote controller is connected to the docking station.

25. The method according to claim 20, further comprising controlling the internal display screen to display at least one digital image if the predetermined multimedia content is the at least one digital image.

26. The method according to claim 20, further comprising controlling the remote controller to play audio content if the predetermined multimedia content is the audio content.

27. The method according to claim 20, wherein the predetermined multimedia content includes different types of content, the method further comprising if the remote controller changes to the first operating mode, controlling the remote controller to provide the predetermined multimedia content such that each of the different types of content are provided in a cyclical format.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein a predetermined priority is selected for each of the different types of content, and each of the different types of content are provided in the cyclical format according to the respective predetermined priorities selected for the different types of content.

29. The method according to claim 20, wherein the predetermined multimedia content includes at least one of:

a digital photograph,

an electronic message received from a user,

electronic program guide (EPG) content received from a content provider, and

information relating to current events.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein if the predetermined multimedia content is the digital photograph, the digital photograph is retrieved from at least one of an internal memory, an external memory and a website.

31. The method according to claim 29, wherein if the predetermined multimedia content is the information relating to current events, the information relating to current events includes at least one of news, finance and weather.

32. The method according to claim 20,

wherein the internal display screen includes a larger portion which includes a substantial portion of the internal display screen,

wherein the control mode displays on the larger portion at least one of a control screen, which is operable to control an external device from the remote controller, and electronic program guide (EPG) information, and

wherein the content providing mode displays on a substantial portion of the internal display screen the predetermined multimedia content.

33. The method according to claim 20, wherein the internal display screen includes a smaller portion, which is separate from the larger portion,

wherein in the control mode, the predetermined multimedia content is displayed on the smaller portion, and

wherein in the content providing mode, the at least one of the control screen and the EPG information is displayed on the smaller portion.

34. The method according to claim 20, wherein the remote controller provides an initial multimedia content before being connected to the docking station,

wherein if the remote controller is changed to the first operating mode, the predetermined multimedia content is different than the initial multimedia content, and

wherein if the remote controller is in the first operating mode before being connected to the docking station, the remote controller continues to provide the initial multimedia content after being connected to the docking station.

35. The method according to claim 20, wherein if the remote controller is displaying an initial image on the internal display screen and the remote controller is changed to the first operating mode, the method further comprises:

the remote controller automatically providing the multimedia content and suspending displaying the initial image on the internal display screen.

36. The remote controller apparatus according to claim 35, wherein if the remote controller is removed from the docking station, the method further comprises changing to the second operating mode, resuming the displaying the initial image on the internal display screen and suspending the providing of the multimedia content.

37. The method according to claim 20, wherein the internal display screen is operable to receive an input command, and if the internal display screen receives the input command while the remote controller in the first operating mode, the method further comprises suspending the providing of the multimedia content.

38. The method according to claim 20, wherein if the remote controller is in one of the first and second operating modes, the method further comprising receiving an alert and displaying the alert on a portion of the internal display screen, wherein the alert includes at least one of:

an electronic program guide (EPG) alert related to an upcoming show,

an electronic message received from a user, and

information relating to at least one of least news, finance and weather.