User interface for a remote control device

• US 8,963,847 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2010
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Netflix, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Netflix, Inc.
• Inventors: Hunt, Neil D.
• Primary Examiner(s): CERULLO, LILIANA P
• Application Number:
  US12/961,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20120139847A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,541 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345173-184, 455418-420, 455/92, 4551511-1532, 455352-355, 348/14.05, 348/114, 348/734, 715/704
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• 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 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for controlling the operations of a consumer electronic (CE) device. A system includes a display device, CE device, and a remote controller with a touchpad. The CE device is configured to output a context-specific user interface for display by the display device. The particular user interface varies based on the operational context of the CE device. The remote controller sends signals that are detected by the CE device and control operations performed by the CE device. More specifically, the remote controller is used as a handheld pointing device to select operations through interactions with the context-specific user interface. A user may apply gestures to the touchpad that are interpreted based on the context-specific user interface to control the CE device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for controlling a consumer electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving a first touchpad gesture from a remote controller that is configured to control the consumer electronic device;

determining whether a video presentation being outputted for display by the consumer electronic device is in an idle state or a playback state;

in response to the first touchpad gesture;

outputting for display a first user interface when the video presentation is in the idle state; and

outputting for display a second user interface when the video presentation is in the playback state,

wherein the first user interface includes cursor-selectable graphic elements for setup controls for the consumer electronic device, and the second user interface includes cursor-selectable graphic elements for transport controls for playback of the video presentation;

outputting for display a cursor overlaid on the first user interface or the second user interface and having a position that is controllable by the remote controller; and

executing a command associated with a cursor-selectable graphic element included in the first user interface or the second user interface based on the position of the cursor;

wherein the cursor-selectable graphic elements for setup controls are overlaid on the video presentation when the video presentation is in the idle state, and the cursor-selectable graphic elements for transport controls are overlaid on the video presentation when the video presentation is in the playback state.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote controller controls playback of the video presentation by specifying the position of the cursor at a timepoint along a timeline bar.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining that an inactivity timer has expired; and

discontinuing outputting the cursor and the first user interface or the second user interface for display.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the cursor-selectable graphic elements include navigation controls for digital content stored on the consumer electronic device or through a network coupled to the consumer electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the cursor-selectable graphic elements include selection controls for digital content stored on the consumer electronic device or through a network coupled to the consumer electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the cursor-selectable graphic elements for transport controls are overlaid on the video presentation when the video presentation is in the playback state.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user interface and the second user interface are outputted for display to a display device, and the display device is integrated with the consumer electronic device.

8. A computer-implemented method for controlling a consumer electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving a signal from a remote controller that is configured to control the consumer electronic device, wherein the signal is generated in response to a user gesture that is applied to a touchpad of the remote controller;

determining an operational context based on content currently being outputted for display on a display device by the consumer electronic device;

selecting a context-specific user interface from a plurality of user interface types based on the operational context, wherein each of the plurality of user interface types have a unique visual appearance relative to each other; and

in response to the signal received from the remote controller, outputting for display to the display device;

the context-specific user interface, and

a cursor overlaid on the context-specific user interface and having a position that is controlled by the signal received from the remote controller;

wherein the context-specific user interface comprises;

a timeline bar configured to control playback of digital audio and video content of a video media item, and a parallel timeline bar that corresponds to an alternative video content for a specified time region of the video media item, wherein the parallel timeline bar is depicted as branching from the time line bar at the beginning of the specified time region and rejoining the timeline bar at the end of the specified time region, wherein a selection of the parallel timeline bar causes the consumer electronic device to output for display on the display device the alternative video content.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a computer system to control a consumer electronic device, by performing the steps of:

receiving a first touchpad gesture from a remote controller that is configured to control the consumer electronic device;

determining whether a video presentation being outputted for display by the consumer electronic device is in an idle state or a playback state;

in response to the first touchpad gesture;

outputting for display a first user interface when the video presentation is in the idle state; and

outputting for display a second user interface when the video presentation is in the playback state,

wherein the first user interface includes cursor-selectable graphic elements for setup controls for the consumer electronic device, and the second user interface includes cursor-selectable graphic elements for transport controls for playback of the video presentation;

outputting for display a cursor overlaid on the first user interface or the second user interface and having a position that is controllable by the remote controller; and

executing a command associated with a cursor-selectable graphic element included in the first user interface or the second user interface based on the position of the cursor;

wherein the cursor-selectable graphic elements for setup controls are overlaid on the video presentation when the video presentation is in the idle state, and the cursor-selectable graphic elements for transport controls are overlaid on the video presentation when the video presentation is in the playback state.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the remote controller controls playback of the video presentation by specifying the position of the cursor at a timepoint along a timeline bar.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

determining that an inactivity timer has expired; and

discontinuing outputting the cursor and the first user interface or the second user interface for display.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the cursor-selectable graphic elements include navigation controls for digital content stored on the consumer electronic device or through a network coupled to the consumer electronic device.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the cursor-selectable graphic elements include selection controls for digital content stored on the consumer electronic device or through a network coupled to the consumer electronic device.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a computer system to control a consumer electronic device, by performing the steps of:

receiving a signal from a remote controller that is configured to control the consumer electronic device, wherein the signal is generated in response to a user gesture that is applied to a touchpad of the remote controller;

determining an operational context based on content currently being outputted for display on a display device by the consumer electronic device;

selecting a context-specific user interface from a plurality of user interface types based on the operational context, wherein each of the plurality of user interface types have a unique visual appearance relative to each other; and

in response to the signal received from the remote controller, outputting for display to the display device;

the context-specific user interface, and

a cursor overlaid on the context-specific user interface and having a position that is controlled by the signal received from the remote controller,

wherein the context-specific user interface comprises;

a timeline bar configured to control playback of digital audio and video content of a video media item, and a parallel timeline bar that corresponds to an alternative video content for a specified time region of the video media item, wherein the parallel timeline bar is depicted as branching from the time line bar at the beginning of the specified time region and rejoining the timeline bar at the end of the specified time region, wherein a selection of the parallel timeline bar causes the consumer electronic device to output for display on the display device the alternative video content.

15. A system for controlling a consumer electronic device, the system comprising:

a remote controller that is configured to control the consumer electronic device, wherein one or more signals are generated in response to a first touchpad gesture that is applied to a touchpad of the remote controller; and

a processor that receives the one or more signals from the remote controller and is configured to;

determine whether a video presentation being outputted for display by the consumer electronic device is in an idle state or a playback state;

in response to the first touchpad gesture;

output for display a first user interface when the video presentation is in the idle state; and

output for display a second user interface when the video presentation is in the playback state,

wherein the first user interface includes cursor-selectable graphic elements for setup controls for the consumer electronic device, and the second user interface includes cursor-selectable graphic elements for transport controls for playback of the video presentation

output for display a cursor overlaid on the first user interface or the second user interface and having a position that is controllable by the remote controller, and

execute a command associated with a cursor-selectable graphic element included in the first user interface or the second user interface based on the position of the cursor;

wherein the cursor-selectable graphic elements for setup controls are overlaid on the video presentation when the video presentation is in the idle state, and the cursor-selectable graphic elements for transport controls are overlaid on the video presentation when the video presentation is in the playback state.