User terminal device and method for control thereof and system for providing contents

• US 9,766,849 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2015
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Byuk-sun, Eum, Sang-hoon, Kim, Young-deok, Yun, Hyun-kyu, Lee, Myoung-jun, Jun, Byung-jo, Jung, Jae-won
• Primary Examiner(s): SHENG, TOM V
• Application Number:
  US14/922,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20160124537A1
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0383 Remote input, i.e. interface arrangements in which the signals generated by a pointing device are transmitted to a PC at a remote location, e.g. to a PC in a LAN
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• 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 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/91 Remote control based on location and proximity
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• 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 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42202 environmental sensors, e.g. for detecting temperature, luminosity, pressure, earthquakes
• 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 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42208 Display device provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4222 Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415
• 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 21/4223 : Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 : Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4436 : Power management, e.g. shutting down unused components of the receiver power management in computer systems G06F1/3203; hibernate or awake process in computer systems G06F9/4418

Abstract

A user terminal device, a method for controlling the user terminal device, and a system for providing content are disclosed. The user terminal device may include a communicator configured to communicate with a display device, a detector configured to detect a distance between the user terminal device and the display device, a plurality of inputters configured to receive input of a user command, and a controller. The controller is configured to activate at least one of the plurality of inputters in response to a detection that the user terminal is within a predetermined distance with respect to the display device. The user terminal device may control an operation of the display device according to the distance between the user terminal device and the display device.

Claims

1. A user terminal device, comprising:

a display;

a communicator configured to communicate with a display device;

a detector configured to detect a distance between the user terminal device and the display device;

a plurality of inputters, each of the plurality of inputters configured to be activated or deactivated, and receive input of a user command when activated; and

a controller configured to;

in response to the detector detecting that the user terminal device is within a predetermined distance with respect to the display device, activate at least one of the plurality of inputters that is deactivated, and control the display to display a user interface (UI) which is configured to control an operation of the display device, and

in response to the detector detecting that the user terminal device is not within the predetermined distance with respect to the display device, control the display to display content and a UI corresponding to the content.

2. The user terminal device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of inputters comprises a touch inputter and a proximity inputter, and

wherein the controller is configured to activate the touch inputter and activate the proximity inputter that are deactivated such that the touch inputter and the proximity inputter can receive the input of a user command, in response to a detection that the user terminal is within a predetermined distance with respect to the display device.

3. The user terminal device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to expand a finger hovering area of the proximity inputter subsequent to activating the proximity inputter.

4. The user terminal device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a motion detector configured to detect a motion of the user terminal device,

wherein the controller is configured to control the proximity inputter to change the expanded finger hovering area to a predetermined finger hovering area, smaller than the expanded finger hovering area, in response to the motion detector detecting that a gradient value is not less than a predetermined threshold value.

5. The user terminal device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the controller, in response to a preset event being generated, controls the communicator to transmit an event signal to the display device,

wherein the controller, in response to a brightness control signal being received from the display device through the communicator, controls light emission of a rear backlit included in a housing of the user terminal device, and

wherein the preset event is at least one of an event that a user command is input from the activated inputter and an event that a motion of the user terminal device is detected.

6. The user terminal device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to deactivate the proximity inputter in response to a detection that the user terminal device is not within the predetermined distance with respect to the display device and the touch inputter and the proximity inputter both being in an active state.

7. The user terminal device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to control the communicator to transmit a first mode control signal to the display device, in response to the user terminal device not being within the predetermined distance with respect to the display device, wherein the first mode control signal instructs the display device to enter into a power saving mode, and

wherein the controller is further configured to control the communicator to transmit a second mode control signal to the display device, in response to a detection that the user terminal is within the predetermined distance with respect to the display device while the display device is in a power saving mode, and

wherein the second mode control signal instructs the display device to enter an active mode.

8. The user terminal device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to control the display to display the content and the UI corresponding to the content based on content information received by the communicator from the display device, in response to a detection that the user terminal is not within the predetermined distance with respect to the display device.

9. The user terminal device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detector comprises at least one of a Bluetooth low energy sensor and an ultrasonic wave sensor.

10. A method for controlling a user terminal device, the method comprising

communicating with a display device;

detecting a distance between the user terminal device and the display device;

determining whether the user terminal device is within a predetermined distance with respect to the display device;

in response to detecting that the user terminal device is within a predetermined distance with respect to the display device, activating at least one of a plurality of inputters that is deactivated, and displaying a user interface (UI) for controlling an operation of the display device on a touch screen; and

in response to detecting that the user terminal device is not within the predetermined distance with respect to the display device, displaying content and a UI related to the content on the touch screen,

wherein each of the plurality of inputters is configured to be activated or deactivated and receive input of a user command when activated.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the plurality of inputters comprise a touch inputter and a proximity inputter, and

wherein the activating the at least one of the plurality of inputters comprises, activating both the touch inputter and the proximity inputter that are deactivated such that the touch inputter and the proximity inputter can receive the input of a user command.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the activating both the touch inputter and the proximity inputter further comprises expanding a finger hovering area of the proximity inputter.

13. The user terminal device as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a motion detector detecting a gradient value detected which is not less than a predetermined threshold value, and returning the expanded finger hovering area to a predetermined finger hovering area.

14. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

while the touch inputter and the proximity inputter are activated, detecting that the user terminal device is not within the predetermined distance with respect to the display device, and, in response to the user terminal device being within the predetermined distance, deactivating operating the proximity inputter mode.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

in response to detecting that the user terminal device is not within the predetermined distance with respect to the display device, transmitting a first mode control signal to the display device, wherein the first mode control signal instructs the display device to enter a power saving mode, and

while the display device is in a power saving mode, in response to detecting that the user terminal device is within the predetermined distance with respect to the display device, transmitting a second mode control signal to the display device, wherein the second mode control signal instructs the display device to enter an active mode.

16. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the communicating comprises, in response to a preset event being generated, transmitting an event signal to the display device,

wherein the activating in an active mode comprises, in response to the brightness control signal being received from the display device, activating the rear backlit included in an housing of the user terminal device to emit light, and

wherein the preset event is at least one of an event that a user command is input from the activated inputter and an event that a motion of the user terminal device is detected.

17. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the displaying of the content and the UI comprises, displaying the content and the UI related to the content on the touch screen based on content information received by from the display device.

18. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the detecting comprises at least one of a Bluetooth low energy sensor and an ultrasonic sensor detecting the distance between the user terminal and the display device.

19. A content providing system, comprising:

a display device configured to display content; and

a user terminal device configured to;

activate or deactivate at least one inputter of a plurality of inputters according to a distance between the user terminal device and the display device,

in response to the user terminal device being within a predetermined distance with respect to the display device, activate at least one of the plurality of inputters that is deactivated and display a user interface (UI) which is configured to control an operation of the display device, and

in response to the user terminal device not being within the predetermined distance with respect to the display device, control the display to display content and a UI corresponding to the content,

wherein each of the plurality of inputters configured to receive input of a user command when activated.

20. The content providing system as claimed in claim 19, wherein at least one of the user terminal device and the display device comprises a detector configured to detect the distance between the user terminal device and the display device, and

wherein the detector comprises at least one of a Bluetooth low energy sensor and an ultrasonic sensor.

21. The content providing system as claimed in claim 20, wherein the plurality of inputters comprises a touch inputter and a proximity inputter, and

wherein the user terminal device comprises a controller which is configured to:

in response to detecting that the user terminal device is within the predetermined distance with respect to the display device, activate the touch inputter and the proximity inputter that are deactivated such that the touch inputter and the proximity inputter can receive the input of a user command, and

in response to detecting that the user terminal device is not within the predetermined distance with respect to the display device, deactivate the proximity inputter, and

wherein the controller is further configured to expand a finger hovering area of the proximity inputter upon activation of the proximity inputter.

22. The content providing system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the user terminal further comprises a display and a communicator,

wherein the controller is further configured to control the communicator to transmit a first mode control signal to the display device in response to detecting that the user terminal device is not within a predetermined distance with respect to the display device, and

wherein the display device is further configured to enter a power saving mode in response to receiving the first mode control signal.

23. The content providing system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the display device

wherein the display device is further configured to:

transmit content information regarding a content which is currently displayed on the display of the display device to the user terminal device; and

enter a power saving mode in response to receiving the first mode control signal, and

wherein the controller of the user terminal device is further configured to control the display to display the content and the UI in response to receiving the content information.

24. The content providing system as claimed in claim 20, wherein the display device, in response to an event signal generated according to a preset event being received from the user terminal device, transmits a brightness control signal to the user terminal device based on a sensing value sensed from an illuminance sensor which senses surround brightness,

wherein the user terminal device controls light emission of a rear backlit included in a housing of the user terminal device according to the brightness control signal received from the display device, and

wherein the preset event is at least one of an event that a user command is input from the activated inputter and an event that a motion of the user terminal device is detected.

25. A method of operating a user terminal device and a display device, the method comprising:

detecting whether a distance between the user terminal device and the display device is within a predetermined distance;

in response to detecting that the distance between the user terminal device and the display device is within the predetermined distance, displaying, by the user terminal device, a user interface for controlling a display of the display device, and activating at least one of a plurality of inputters of the user terminal device that is deactivated such that the at least one of a plurality of inputters can receive input of a user command; and

in response to detecting that the distance between the user terminal device and the display device is not within the predetermined distance,

transmitting, by the user terminal device, a first control signal to the display device,

in response to receiving the first control signal, by the display device, transmitting content information to the user terminal device and entering into a power save mode, and

in response to receiving the content information, by the user terminal device, displaying content corresponding to the content information,

wherein each of the plurality of inputters is configured to be activated or deactivated, and receive the input of a user command when activated.