System and methods for enhanced remote control functionality

• US 9,620,003 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2013
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Hatambeiki, Arsham, Kohanek, Jeffrey, Busek, Naimisaranya D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Siddiqui, Md Saiful A
• Application Number:
  US13/851,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20130215015A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,476 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-158, 345173-179, 715764, 715773, 715848, 715849, 715788, 715835-836, 348 42, 348 51, 348734
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• 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 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• 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: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/00 Electric signal transmission systems G08C17/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/51 Remote controlling of devices based on replies, status thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• 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 21/42222 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

Abstract

A hand-held device having a touch sensitive surface uses a relative distance from an origin location to each of a plurality of touch zones of the touch sensitive surface activated by a user to select a one of the plurality of touch zones as being intended for activation by the user.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a display device displaying a 3-D object having a plurality of layered surfaces; and

a controlling device adapted to transmit commands to control functional operations of the display device having an accelerometer wherein operational software of the controlling device responds to a signal generated by the accelerometer indicative of z-axis navigational movement of the controlling device made to initiate a transmission of a communication to the display device to cause a different surface of the 3-D object to be displayed by the display device.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the communication comprises an individual step page command.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the accelerometer additionally provides a signal for selectively enabling user interfaces of the controlling device.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the display device communicates with the control device to selectively enable and disable transmission of a communication to cause a different surface of the 3-D object to be displayed by the display devices.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the 3-D object comprises a program guide and the plurality of surfaces comprise pages of program guide data.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein operational software of the controlling device differentiates between a signal generated by the accelerometer indicative of z-axis navigational movement of the controlling device made to initiate a transmission of a communication to the display device to cause a different surface of the 3-D object to be displayed by the display device and a signal generated by the accelerometer indicative of z-axis navigation movement of the controlling device made to initiate a transmission of a command to cause the 3-D object displayed within the display device to be moved within the display of the display device.