Remote control device with directional mode indicator

• US 9,767,657 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2013
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stefanik, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Benlagsir, Amine
• Application Number:
  US13/861,442
• Publication Number:
  US 20130222125A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,621 Days
• Field of Search: 341173, 341176
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/32 Remote control based on movements, attitude of remote control device
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/94 Smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products disclose a remote control device that controls multiple consumer electronics devices based on orientation.

Claims

1. A remote control, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory device, the memory device storing instructions, the instructions when executed causing the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

receiving an orientation of a plurality of different orientations indicating a two-dimensional tilt of a plurality of different two-dimensional tilts of the remote control, the two-dimensional tilt detected by an electronic sensor in the remote control;

querying for the orientation of the remote control, the remote control storing electronic associations between different consumer electronics devices and the plurality of different orientations associated with the plurality of different two-dimensional tilts of the remote control, with each one of the plurality of different orientations associated with each one of the plurality of different two-dimensional tilts and corresponding to each one of the different consumer electronics devices detected by the electronic sensor;

identifying a consumer electronics device of the different consumer electronics devices that is electronically associated with the orientation indicating the two-dimensional tilt of the remote control detected by the electronic sensor;

storing multiple operational modes in the memory device of the remote control, each one of the multiple operational modes corresponding to said each one of the different consumer electronics devices;

identifying an operational mode of the multiple operational modes in the memory device that is electronically associated with the consumer electronics device that is electronically associated with the orientation indicating the two-dimensional tilt detected by the electronic sensor; and

illuminating an arrow on a display of the remote control, the arrow corresponding to the consumer electronics device identified in response to the orientation indicating the two-dimensional tilt of the remote control, the display of the remote control having different illuminated arrows with each one of the different illuminated arrows corresponding to said each one of the different consumer electronics devices that is controllable by the remote control in response to the two-dimensional tilt.

2. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise illuminating a light in response to the two-dimensional tilt.

3. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise illuminating a keypad in response to the two-dimensional tilt.

4. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise illuminating a light source in response to the two-dimensional tilt.

5. The remote control of claim 1, further comprising a light for indicating the consumer electronics device.

6. A method, comprising:

executing instructions stored in a memory device that cause a device to operate as a remote control;

receiving an orientation of a plurality of different orientations representing a two-dimensional tilt of a plurality of different two-dimensional tilts of the remote control that is detected by an electronic sensor, the electronic sensor housed within a housing of the remote control;

querying a data storage for the orientation representing the two-dimensional tilt of the remote control, the data storage having electronic associations between different consumer electronics devices and the plurality of different orientations representing the plurality of different two-dimensional tilts of the remote control, with each one of the plurality of different orientations corresponding to each one of the different consumer electronics devices;

determining a consumer electronics device of the different consumer electronics devices that corresponds to the orientation representing the two-dimensional tilt of the remote control, the consumer electronics device electronically associated in the data storage to the orientation representing the two-dimensional tilt of the remote control;

storing multiple operational modes in the data storage of the remote control, each one of the multiple operational modes corresponding to said each one of the different consumer electronics devices;

retrieving an operational mode from the data storage, the operational mode electronically associated with the consumer electronics device determined in response to the orientation representing the two-dimensional tilt of the remote control; and

illuminating an arrow on a display incorporated into the housing of the remote control, the arrow corresponding to the consumer electronics device identified in response to the orientation representing the two-dimensional tilt of the remote control, the display of the remote control having different illuminated arrows with each illuminated arrow of the different illuminated arrows corresponding to said each one of the different consumer electronics devices that is controllable by the remote control in response to the two-dimensional tilt.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising indicating the two-dimensional tilt of the remote control.

8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising illuminating a light that indicates the mode of operation.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising receiving an input to the remote control.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising illuminating an input device that receives the input.

11. The method according to claim 6, further comprising illuminating a light that corresponds to the consumer electronics device.

12. The method of claim 6, further comprising activating a light source.