Systems and methods for remote control of a television

• US 8,896,765 B1
• Filed: 05/16/2014
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Shadowbox Media, Inc.
• Inventors: White, Jake Thomas, White, Oliver Stayton
• Primary Examiner(s): Natnael, Paulos M
• Application Number:
  US14/279,456
• Time in Patent Office: 193 Days
• Field of Search: 348563-566, 348/734, 348/552, 348/553, 348/725, 345/175, 345176-184, 345/156, 715/716, 715/722
• US Class Current: 348/734
• 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 21/4222 Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control

Abstract

Systems and methods for personalized video display include providing an interface on the touch device, maintaining a layout template that includes a primary video display window and a user selectable information window, and send the layout template to the television. The television can display the template layout and embedded content. Additionally, the touch device can detect gestures from a user and communicate instructions to the television based on the gesture input.

Claims

1. A touch device, comprising:

a touch sensitive display;

a headphone port;

a volume control;

a wireless communications interface; and

a processor configured;

to establish a connection with a television through the wireless communications interface;

to provide an interface on the touch sensitive display, the interface comprising a gesture area;

to maintain a layout template that includes a primary video display window and a user selectable information window;

to send the layout template to the television;

to enter a trackpad mode that presents the gesture area in connection with sending the layout template to the television;

to output audio associated with a video content presented in the primary video display via the headphone port and to adjust the volume of the headphone port in response to activation of the volume control;

to detect a gesture input selecting the user selectable information area; and

to send an instruction to the television based on the gesture input.

2. The touch device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communications interface is a Wi-Fi interface, a Bluetooth interface, a wireless USB interface, or a combination thereof.

3. The touch device of claim 1, further wherein the processor is configured to send an instruction to the television to adjust the volume in response to activation of the volume control.

4. The touch device of claim 1, further wherein the processor is configured to allow listening to the audio associated with the video content via the headphone port and to cause a muting of the audio associated with the video content via the television.

5. The touch device of claim 1, further comprising a power selection element, and the processor is further configured to send an instruction to the television to power down in response to detecting a power selection element touch by the user.

6. The touch device of claim 1, further wherein the processor is configured to allow a casting of the video content to the television.

7. The touch device of claim 1, further wherein the connection with the television occurs via a dongle communicatively coupled to the television.

8. A touch device, comprising:

a touch sensitive display;

a wireless communications interface; and

a processor configured;

to establish a connection with a television through the wireless communications interface;

to provide an interface on the touch sensitive display, the interface comprising a gesture area;

to maintain a layout template that includes a primary video display window and a user selectable information window, wherein the user selectable information window is configured to present at least a portion of a social media feed for a user;

to send the layout template to the television;

to enter a trackpad mode that presents the gesture area in connection with sending the layout template to the television;

to detect a gesture input selecting the user selectable information area;

to send an instruction to the television based on the gesture input; and

to request at least a partial listing of available video content and to display the partial listing on the touch sensitive display in response to detecting a guide selection gesture by the user within the gesture area.

9. The touch device of claim 8, wherein the interface further comprises a menu selection element, and the processor is further configured to display a list of social media options available in response to detecting a menu selection element touch by the user.

10. The touch device of claim 8, wherein the interface further comprises a settings selection element, and the processor is further configured to provide an interface for altering a selection of content to be presented in the primary video display window in response to detecting a settings selection element touch by the user.

11. The touch device of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to detect a pinch-to-zoom gesture within the gesture area and to send an instruction to the television to resize the primary video display area in response to detecting the pinch-to-zoom gesture.

12. The touch device of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to execute an application loaded on the touch device, further wherein the application comprises instructions that direct the processor to send the layout template, to enter a trackpad mode, and to detect the gesture.

13. The touch device of claim 12, wherein the application comprises additional instructions that direct the processor to maintain a credential for the user and to use the credential to gain access to the social media feed.

14. A touch device, comprising:

a touch sensitive display;

a wireless communications interface;

a processor; and

a memory storing an application that comprises a collection of instructions operable to direct the processor;

to establish a connection with a television through the wireless communications interface;

to provide an interface on the touch sensitive display, the interface comprising a gesture area;

to maintain a layout template that includes a primary video display window and a user selectable information window, wherein the user selectable information window is configured to present at least a portion of a social media feed for a user;

to send the primary video display window and the user selectable information window to the television;

to enter a trackpad mode that presents the gesture area in connection with sending the primary video display window and the user selectable information window to the television, wherein the gesture area encompasses the entire touch screen;

to detect a gesture input selecting the user selectable information area;

to send an instruction to the television based on the gesture input;

to request at least a partial listing of available video content and to display the partial listing on the touch sensitive display in response to detecting a guide selection gesture by the user within the gesture area; and

to display a list of social media options available in response to detecting a menu selection element touch by the user.

15. The touch device of claim 14, wherein the application comprises additional instructions that direct the processor to maintain a credential for the user and to use the credential to gain access to the social media feed.

16. The touch device of claim 14, wherein the application comprises additional instructions that direct the processor to enter the trackpad mode by dimming the touch screen to present a black display.

17. The touch device of claim 14, wherein the application comprises additional instructions that direct the processor to throw the screen view to the television in response to a user input and to enter the trackpad mode after throwing the screen view to the television.

18. The touch device of claim 14, further wherein the application comprises additional instructions that direct the processor to access at least a first URL to retrieve content for the primary video display window and at least a second URL to retrieve social media feed content for the user selectable information window.

19. The touch device of claim 14, wherein the application comprises additional instructions that direct the processor to throw the screen view to the television via at least one of a dongle connected to the television, a set top box connected to the television, a game console connected to the television, and an internal component of the television.

20. The touch device of claim 14, further wherein the application comprises additional instructions that direct the processor to present at least one of an available broadcast television channel, a video on demand video, a web available video, or a video game in the primary video display.