Remote control device and remote control method using the same

• US 8,928,452 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2010
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Jongcheol, Park, Jongsoon, Park, Jinyung
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAMERT, JOHN J
• Application Number:
  US12/856,455
• Publication Number:
  US 20110037609A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,607 Days
• Field of Search: 340/3.1, 340/3.3, 340/3.31, 340/3.32, 340/3.7, 340/3.71, 340/4.3, 340/4.31, 340/4.32, 340/4.33, 340/4.37, 340 1222- 1229, 348/734, 34821199-21114, 725 81- 85, 345/169
• US Class Current: 340/4.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/32 Remote control based on movements, attitude of remote control device
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42208 Display device provided on the remote control
• 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 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42225 characterized by types of remote control, e.g. universal remote control

Abstract

A remote control device and method is provided. The remote control device and method provides a more intuitive and convenient user interface to a user. The remote control device and method also makes it possible to transmit/execute contents, provided by an external device, to/in a target device more intuitively and conveniently.

Claims

1. A remote control device comprising:

a camera;

a communication device;

a display; and

a controller operatively connected to the camera, the communication device and the display, the controller configured to

capture, via the camera, an image of an external device connected to a target device;

receive information about multimedia contents of the external device;

generate a virtual image of the multimedia contents of the external device based on the received information about the multimedia contents of the external device;

display a synthesized image of the image of the external device captured via the camera and the virtual image of the multimedia contents of the external device,

wherein, when the virtual image of the multimedia contents of the external device is selected and when the controller captures, via the camera, the target device, the controller transmits the multimedia contents of the external device to the captured target device.

2. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the communication device is configured to receive the information about the multimedia contents of the external device from the external device when the camera is oriented towards the external device.

3. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the multimedia contents are stored in the external device or are recorded in a recording medium readable by the external device.

4. The remote control device of claim 1, further comprising:

a user input device configured to receive a user input to select the displayed virtual image.

5. The remote control device of claim 4, wherein the user input device is a touchscreen of the display, and the user input is a touch input to the virtual image, the virtual image being displayed on the touchscreen.

6. The remote control device of claim 4, wherein the user input device is a keybutton, and the user input is a push of the keybutton while the virtual image is displayed on the display.

7. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to generate a signal to select the virtual image if the virtual image is displayed on the display for a predetermined time.

8. The remote control device of claim 1, further comprising:

a user input device configured to receive a user input to continuously display the image and the virtual image,

wherein the controller is configured to perform a control operation, in response to the received user input, to continuously display the image and the virtual image regardless of an orientation direction of the camera.

9. An automatic control method for remotely controlling a device by a remote control device having a camera, a communication device, a display and a controller, the method comprising:

capturing, by the remote control device, an image of an external device connected to a target device;

receiving, by the remote control device, information about multimedia contents of the external device;

generating, by the remote control device, a virtual image of the multimedia contents of the external device based on the received information about the multimedia contents of the external device;

displaying, by the remote control device, a synthesized image of the image of the external device and the virtual image of the multimedia contents of the external device; and

when the virtual image of the multimedia contents of the external device is selected and when the controller captures, via the camera, the target device, transmitting the multimedia contents of the external device to the captured target device.

10. The automatic control method of claim 9, wherein the input is a touch input to the virtual image, the virtual image being displayed on a touchscreen of the remote control device.

11. The automatic control method of claim 9, wherein the input is a press of a keybutton of the remote control device while the virtual image is displayed.

12. The automatic control method of claim 9, further comprising:

generating, by the remote control device, a signal for selecting the virtual image if the virtual image is displayed for a predetermined time.

13. The automatic control method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving, by the remote control device, a user input to continuously display the image and the virtual image after displaying the synthesized image; and

displaying, by the remote control device, the image and the virtual image continuously regardless of an orientation direction of the camera.