Remote control apparatus, remote control system, information processing method of remote control apparatus, and program

• US 9,335,920 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2010
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saturn Licensing LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ohashi, Yoshinori, Ito, Shin
• Primary Examiner(s): CHUANG, JUNG-MU T
• Application Number:
  US12/925,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20110126096A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,023 Days
• Field of Search: 715/702, 715/810
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• 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 21/42215 by measuring the time interval during which a key is pressed, e.g. for inputting sequences of digits when selecting a television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8133 specifically related to the content, e.g. biography of the actors in a movie, detailed information about an article seen in a video program

Abstract

A remote control apparatus includes a display panel, an operation detector detecting an operation of touching the display panel, a remote controller remotely controlling an electronic apparatus in accordance with the touch operation, an item selection unit allowing a user to select a selection item in the display panel, a touch operation determination unit comparing a duration time of an operation of touching the selection item with a predetermined threshold value, a detailed information obtaining unit obtaining detailed information on the selection item from the electronic apparatus when the duration time is smaller than the threshold value, a related information obtaining unit obtaining related information on the selection item using the selection item as a searching condition from an external service apparatus when the duration time is equal to or larger than the threshold value, and a display controller controlling display of the detailed information or the related information.

Claims

1. A remote control apparatus comprising:

a display panel;

an operation detector which detects an operation of touching the display panel;

a remote controller which remotely controls an electronic apparatus in accordance with the touch operation;

a hardware controller configured to function as

(i) an item selection unit which allows a user to select a selection item from a number of selection items displayed in the display panel;

(ii) a touch operation determination unit which compares a duration time of an operation of touching the selection item with a predetermined threshold value;

(iii) a detailed information obtaining unit which obtains detailed information on the selection item from the electronic apparatus when the duration time is smaller than the threshold value; and

(iv) a related information obtaining unit which obtains related information on the selection item using the selection item as a searching condition from an external service apparatus when the duration time is equal to or larger than the threshold value; and

a display controller which controls display of the obtained detailed information or the obtained related information in the display panel,

in which the electronic apparatus is separate from the external service apparatus such that the detailed information and the related information are each obtained from a separate apparatus,

in which the item selection unit and the touch operation determination unit enable the user to select a specific one of the electronic apparatus and the external service apparatus from which to obtain information by appropriately selecting the duration time of a respective touching operation of the selection item at a first display state of the display panel, such that (i) when the user desires to select the electronic apparatus at the first display state from which to obtain the respective information, the user touches the selection item so that the duration time thereof is smaller than the threshold value, and (ii) when the user desires to select the external service apparatus at the first display state from which to obtain the respective information, the user touches the selection item so that the duration time thereof is equal to or larger than the threshold value,

wherein, when the operation of touching the selection item is detected and prior to completion of a comparison of the duration time with the predetermined threshold value by the touch operation determination unit, the related information obtaining unit requests the external service apparatus to start a searching process using the selection item as the searching condition, and

wherein in a case where an operation of a release of the touching of the selection item is detected such that the comparison of the duration time with the predetermined threshold indicates that the duration time is smaller than the threshold value, (i) the related information obtaining unit requests the external service apparatus to stop the searching process and (ii) the detailed information obtaining unit obtains the detailed information on the selection item from the electronic apparatus.

2. The remote control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic apparatus is a television receiver and the external service apparatus is a WEB server.

3. A remote control apparatus comprising:

a display panel;

an operation detector which detects an operation of touching the display panel;

a remote controller which remotely controls an electronic apparatus in accordance with the touch operation;

a hardware controller configured to function as

(i) an item selection unit which allows a user to select a selection item from a number of selection items displayed in the display panel;

(ii) a touch operation determination unit which compares a duration time of an operation of touching the selection item with a predetermined threshold value;

(iii) a detailed information obtaining unit which obtains detailed information on the selection item from the electronic apparatus when the duration time is smaller than the threshold value; and

(iv) a related information obtaining unit which obtains related information on the selection item using the selection item as a searching condition from an external service apparatus when the duration time is equal to or larger than the threshold value; and

a display controller which controls display of the obtained detailed information or the obtained related information in the display panel,

in which the electronic apparatus is separate from the external service apparatus such that the detailed information and the related information are each obtained from a separate apparatus,

in which the item selection unit and the touch operation determination unit enable the user to select a specific one of the electronic apparatus and the external service apparatus from which to obtain information by appropriately selecting the duration time of a respective touching operation of the selection item at a first display state of the display panel, such that (i) when the user desires to select the electronic apparatus at the first display state from which to obtain the respective information, the user touches the selection item so that the duration time thereof is smaller than the threshold value, and (ii) when the user desires to select the external service apparatus at the first display state from which to obtain the respective information, the user touches the selection item so that the duration time thereof is equal to or larger than the threshold value,

wherein, when the operation of touching the selection item is detected and prior to completion of a comparison of the duration time with the predetermined threshold value by the touch operation determination unit, the related information obtaining unit requests the external service apparatus to start a searching process using the selection item as the searching condition, and

wherein, in a case where an operation of a release of the touching of the selection item is detected such that the duration time is smaller than the threshold value, (i) the related information obtaining unit discards or temporarily stores the related information obtained from the external service apparatus after the release operation is detected and (ii) the obtained detailed information is displayed in the display panel by use of the display controller.

4. A remote control system including a remote control apparatus and an electronic apparatus remotely controlled by the remote control apparatus, the remote control apparatus comprising:

a display panel;

an operation detector which detects an operation of touching the display panel;

a remote controller which remotely controls an electronic apparatus in accordance with the touch operation;

a hardware controller configured to function as

(i) an item selection unit which allows a user to select a selection item from a number of selection items displayed in the display panel;

(ii) a touch operation determination unit which compares a duration time of an operation of touching the selection item with a predetermined threshold value;

(iii) a detailed information obtaining unit which obtains detailed information on the selection item from the electronic apparatus when the duration time is smaller than the threshold value; and

(iv) a related information obtaining unit which obtains related information on the selection item using the selection item as a searching condition from an external service apparatus when the duration time is equal to or larger than the threshold value; and

a display controller which controls display of the obtained detailed information or the obtained related information in the display panel,

in which the electronic apparatus is separate from the external service apparatus such that the detailed information and the related information are each obtained from a separate apparatus,

in which the item selection unit and the touch operation determination unit enable the user to select a specific one of the electronic apparatus and the external service apparatus from which to obtain information by appropriately selecting the duration time of a respective touching operation of the selection item at a first display state of the display panel, such that (i) when the user desires to select the electronic apparatus at the first display state from which to obtain the respective information, the user touches the selection item so that the duration time thereof is smaller than the threshold value, and (ii) when the user desires to select the external service apparatus at the first display state from which to obtain the respective information, the user touches the selection item so that the duration time thereof is equal to or larger than the threshold value,

wherein, when the operation of touching the selection item is detected and prior to completion of a comparison of the duration time with the predetermined threshold value by the touch operation determination unit, the related information obtaining unit requests the external service apparatus to start a searching process using the selection item as the searching condition, and

wherein in a case where an operation of a release of the touching of the selection item is detected such that the comparison of the duration time with the predetermined threshold indicates that the duration time is smaller than the threshold value, (i) the related information obtaining unit requests the external service apparatus to stop the searching process and (ii) the detailed information obtaining unit obtains the detailed information on the selection item from the electronic apparatus.

5. An information processing method employed in a remote control apparatus, comprising the steps of:

allowing a user to select a selection item from a number of selection items displayed in the display panel;

comparing a duration time of an operation of touching the selection item with a predetermined threshold value;

obtaining detailed information on the selection item from an electronic apparatus when the duration time is smaller than the threshold value, and obtaining related information on the selection item using the selection item as a searching condition from an external service apparatus when the duration time is equal to or larger than the threshold value; and

controlling display of the obtained detailed information or the obtained related information in the display panel,

in which the electronic apparatus is separate from the external service apparatus such that the detailed information and the related information are each obtained from a separate apparatus,

in which the allowing and comparing steps enable the user to select a specific one of the electronic apparatus and the external service apparatus from which to obtain information by appropriately selecting the duration time of a respective touching operation of the selection item at a first display state of the display panel, such that (i) when the user desires to select the electronic apparatus at the first display state from which to obtain the respective information, the user touches the selection item so that the duration time thereof is smaller than the threshold value, and (ii) when the user desires to select the external service apparatus at the first display state from which to obtain the respective information, the user touches the selection item so that the duration time thereof is equal to or larger than the threshold value,

wherein, when the operation of touching the selection item is detected and prior to completion of a comparison of the duration time with the predetermined threshold value, the external service apparatus is requested to start a searching process using the selection item as the searching condition, and

wherein in a case where an operation of a release of the touching of the selection item is detected such that the comparison of the duration time with the predetermined threshold indicates that the duration time is smaller than the threshold value, (i) the external service apparatus is requested to stop the searching process and (ii) the detailed information on the selection item is obtained from the electronic apparatus.

6. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a program which causes a computer to execute an information processing method employed in a remote control apparatus, the information processing method comprising the steps of:

allowing a user to select a selection item from a number of selection items displayed in the display panel;

comparing a duration time of an operation of touching the selection item with a predetermined threshold value;

obtaining detailed information on the selection item from an electronic apparatus when the duration time is smaller than the threshold value, and obtaining related information on the selection item using the selection item as a searching condition from an external service apparatus when the duration time is equal to or larger than the threshold value; and

controlling display of the obtained detailed information or the obtained related information in the display panel,

in which the electronic apparatus is separate from the external service apparatus such that the detailed information and the related information are each obtained from a separate apparatus,

in which the allowing and comparing steps enable the user to select a specific one of the electronic apparatus and the external service apparatus from which to obtain information by appropriately selecting the duration time of a respective touching operation of the selection item at a first display state of the display panel, such that (i) when the user desires to select the electronic apparatus at the first display state from which to obtain the respective information, the user touches the selection item so that the duration time thereof is smaller than the threshold value, and (ii) when the user desires to select the external service apparatus at the first display state from which to obtain the respective information, the user touches the first selection item so that the duration time thereof is equal to or larger than the threshold value,

wherein, when the operation of touching the selection item is detected and prior to completion of a comparison of the duration time with the predetermined threshold value, the external service apparatus is requested to start a searching process using the selection item as the searching condition, and

wherein in a case where an operation of a release of the touching of the selection item is detected such that the comparison of the duration time with the predetermined threshold indicates that the duration time is smaller than the threshold value, (i) the external service apparatus is requested to stop the searching process and (ii) the detailed information on the selection item is obtained from the electronic apparatus.