Image display apparatus and method for operating the same

• US 9,715,287 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2013
• Issued: 07/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Park, Sunghee, Choi, Kwangsoo, Lee, Seunghun
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Kent
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edwards, Mark
• Application Number:
  US13/732,564
• Publication Number:
  US 20130201103A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,665 Days
• Field of Search: 345156, 345157, 345158, 348974
• 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 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• 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 21/42225 characterized by types of remote control, e.g. universal remote control

Abstract

A method for operating an image display apparatus includes receiving a pairing request signal from a first remote controller, performing pairing with the first remote controller, receiving a pairing request signal from a second remote controller, confirming attributes of content which is being used, and determining whether pairing with the second remote controller is performed based on the confirmed attributes of the content. An image display apparatus includes an interface configured to receive a pairing request signal from a remote controller, a display configured to display predetermined content, and a controller configured to receive a pairing request signal from a second remote controller in a state of performing pairing with a first remote controller and to determine whether pairing with the second remote controller is performed based on attributes of the predetermined content. Accordingly, user convenience can be increased by variously and conveniently using the plurality of remote controllers.

Claims

1. A method for operating an image display apparatus, the method comprising:

displaying a prescribed content on the image display apparatus;

receiving a pairing request signal from a first remote controller;

performing pairing with the first remote controller;

receiving a pairing request signal from a second remote controller;

confirming attributes of the prescribed content which is displayed;

determining whether pairing with the second remote controller is performed based on the confirmed attributes of the displayed prescribed content;

performing pairing with the second remote controller when the confirmed attributes of the displayed prescribed content allows use of a plurality of remote controllers, and

displaying one or two pointers corresponding to the paired first and second remote controllers based on the confirmed attributes of the displayed prescribed content after pairing with the second remote controller is performed,

wherein, when the confirmed attributes of the displayed prescribed content allows pairing of a plurality of remote controllers, displaying a pointer for each of the first and second remote controllers for display together with the prescribed content;

wherein a movement of a first pointer over the displayed prescribed content is controlled based on a RF signal corresponding to a motion of the first remote controller and a movement of a second pointer on the displayed prescribed content is controlled based on a RF signal corresponding to a motion of the second remote controller, and

wherein the first pointer and the second pointer have different display states.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising granting a control right to at least one of the first remote controller or the second remote controller based on the confirmed attributes of the prescribed content.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising performing pairing with the second remote controller based on the confirmed attributes of the prescribed content.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising displaying pairing progress information of the second remote controller on a display.

5. The method according to claim 3, further comprising performing operation corresponding to operation of the first remote controller if the first remote controller is operating.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

receiving a signal from the first remote controller or the second remote controller after operation of the first remote controller is finished; and

performing operation based on the signal received from the first remote controller or the second remote controller.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising finishing the display of the first pointer as operation of the first remote controller is finished and displaying the first pointer again if a signal is received from the first remote controller.

8. The method according to claim 3, further comprising performing operation corresponding to only a signal received from any one remote controller according to predetermined priority if, in a state of operating any one of the paired first and second remote controllers, the other remote controller operates.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising releasing pairing with the first remote controller based on the confirmed attributes of the prescribed content.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

performing pairing with the second remote controller; and

moving the first pointer in correspondence with motion of at least one of the first remote controller and the second remote controller.

11. An image display apparatus comprising:

an interface configured to receive a pairing request signal from a remote controller;

a display configured to display a prescribed content; and

a controller configured to receive a pairing request signal from a second remote controller in a state of performing pairing with a first remote controller, determine whether pairing with the second remote controller is performed based on the confirmed attributes of the displayed prescribed content, and perform pairing with the second remote controller when the confirmed attributes of the displayed prescribed content allows use of a plurality of remote controllers,

wherein the controller controls one or two pointers on the display corresponding to the paired first and second remote controllers based on the attributes of the displayed prescribed content after pairing with the second remote controller is performed,

wherein, when the confirmed attributes of the displayed prescribed content allows pairing of a plurality of remote controllers, displaying a pointer for each of the first and second remote controllers for display together with the prescribed content;

wherein a movement of a first pointer over the displayed prescribed content is controlled based on a RF signal corresponding to a motion of the first remote controller and a movement of a second pointer on the displayed prescribed content is controlled based on a RF signal corresponding to a motion of the second remote controller, and

wherein if two pointers are displayed, the controller controls the two pointers to be displayed differently.

12. The image display apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the controller grants a control right to at least one of the first remote controller or the second remote controller based on the attributes of the prescribed content.

13. The image display apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the controller controls pairing with the second remote controller based on the attributes of the prescribed content.

14. The image display apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the controller controls display of pairing progress information of the second remote controller on the display.