Dynamic scaling of touchpad/UI grid size relationship within a user interface

• US 9,781,468 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2015
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Dish Network Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Kirby, Morgan
• Primary Examiner(s): Bruckart, Benjamin R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Li, Susan X
• Application Number:
  US14/835,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20170064373A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• 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 21/42218 for mapping a matrix of displayed objects on the screen to the numerical key-matrix of the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42227 the keys being reprogrammable, e.g. soft keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations

Abstract

Methods and systems, such as television receivers, are disclosed for receiving data from remote controls for manipulation of graphical user interfaces. Aspects include providing a seamless transition between absolute and relative navigational schemes to allow for users to more efficiently make use of touch and position sensitive remote controls. Further, aspects include dynamically scaling the touch and position sensitive remote controls outputs to match various grid sizes that may be included in the graphical user interface.

Claims

1. A television receiver comprising:

one or more processors;

a remote control interface communicatively coupled with the one or more processors;

an audio-video output connection communicatively coupled with the one or more processors; and

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium communicatively coupled with and readable by the one or more processors and having stored therein processor-readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to dynamically control a sequence different grid arrangements on a receiver interface by performing operations including;

generating a video signal for displaying a receiver interface using the audio-video output connection;

generating a first grid arrangement, wherein a grid arrangement includes a plurality of grid locations each representing different selectable actions for modifying the receiver interface;

modifying the receiver interface to include a first plurality of interactive elements;

associating the first plurality of interactive elements with selectable actions corresponding to grid locations of the first grid arrangement;

receiving first data at the remote control interface from a remote control associated with the television receiver, wherein the first data includes a first coordinate, and wherein the first coordinate corresponds to a determination of a first position of a position sensitive interface of the remote control;

mapping the first coordinate to a first grid location of the first grid arrangement, wherein mapping the first coordinate includes scaling a full coordinate range of the position sensitive interface to match a first full grid location range of the first grid arrangement by applying a first scaling factor to the first coordinate to convert the first coordinate to the first grid location;

modifying the receiver interface to include a first indicator on a first interactive element associated with the first grid location;

receiving a first selection signal from the remote control using the remote control interface, wherein the first selection signal corresponds to selection of the first interactive element;

modifying the receiver interface by performing a first selectable action associated with the first interactive element;

generating a second grid arrangement that is different from the first grid arrangement;

modifying the receiver interface to include a second plurality of interactive elements;

associating the second plurality of interactive elements with selectable actions corresponding to grid locations of the second grid arrangement;

receiving second data at the remote control interface from the remote control, wherein the second data includes a second coordinate, and wherein the second coordinate corresponds to a determination of a second position of the position sensitive interface of the remote control;

mapping the second coordinate to a second grid location of the second grid arrangement, wherein mapping the second coordinate includes scaling the full coordinate range of the position sensitive interface to match a second full grid location range of the second grid arrangement by applying a second scaling factor to the second coordinate to convert the second coordinate to the second grid location;

modifying the receiver interface to include a second indicator on a second interactive element associated with the second grid location;

receiving a second selection signal from the remote control using the remote control interface, wherein the second selection signal corresponds to selection of the second interactive element; and

modifying the receiver interface by performing a second selectable action associated with the second interactive element.

2. The television receiver of claim 1, wherein the first grid arrangement or the second grid arrangement correspond to a virtual keyboard or a virtual number pad.

3. The television receiver of claim 1, wherein the first grid arrangement or the second grid arrangement corresponds to a hierarchical menu.

4. The television receiver of claim 1, wherein the first grid arrangement and the second grid arrangement include different numbers of grid locations.

5. The television receiver of claim 1, wherein the first grid arrangement and the second grid arrangement include a same number of grid locations, and wherein the first grid arrangement has a different layout from the second grid arrangement.

6. The television receiver of claim 1, wherein the selectable actions associated with the first grid arrangement or the second grid arrangement correspond to a command to add a character to a text box included on the receiver interface.

7. The television receiver of claim 1, wherein the selectable actions associated with the first grid arrangement or the second grid arrangement correspond to a command to navigate a hierarchical menu.

8. The television receiver of claim 1, wherein the first indicator or the second indicator correspond to a highlight included on the receiver interface.

9. The television receiver of claim 1, wherein the position sensitive interface of the remote control is a touch pad interface.

10. A computer implemented method for dynamically controlling a sequence different grid arrangements on a receiver interface, comprising:

generating, using a television receiver including one or more processors, a video signal for displaying a receiver interface;

generating a first grid arrangement, wherein a grid arrangement includes a plurality of grid locations each representing different selectable actions for modifying the receiver interface;

modifying the receiver interface to include a first plurality of interactive elements;

associating the first plurality of interactive elements with selectable actions corresponding to grid locations of the first grid arrangement;

receiving first data from a remote control associated with the television receiver, wherein the first data includes a first coordinate, and wherein the first coordinate corresponds to a determination of a first position of a position sensitive interface of the remote control;

mapping the first coordinate to a first grid location of the first grid arrangement, wherein mapping the first coordinate includes scaling a full coordinate range of the position sensitive interface to match a first full grid location range of the first grid arrangement by applying a first scaling factor to the first coordinate to convert the first coordinate to the first grid location;

modifying the receiver interface to include a first indicator on a first interactive element associated with the first grid location;

receiving a first selection signal from the remote control, wherein the first selection signal corresponds to selection of the first interactive element;

modifying the receiver interface by performing a first selectable action associated with the first interactive element;

generating a second grid arrangement that is different from the first grid arrangement;

modifying the receiver interface to include a second plurality of interactive elements;

associating the second plurality of interactive elements with selectable actions corresponding to grid locations of the second grid arrangement;

receiving second data from the remote control, wherein the second data includes a second coordinate, and wherein the second coordinate corresponds to a determination of a second position of the position sensitive interface of the remote control;

mapping the second coordinate to a second grid location of the second grid arrangement, wherein mapping the second coordinate includes scaling the full coordinate range of the position sensitive interface to match a second full grid location range of the second grid arrangement by applying a second scaling factor to the second coordinate to convert the second coordinate to the second grid location;

modifying the receiver interface to include a second indicator on a second interactive element associated with the second grid location;

receiving a second selection signal from the remote control, wherein the second selection signal corresponds to selection of the second interactive element; and

modifying the receiver interface by performing a second selectable action associated with the second interactive element.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first grid arrangement or the second grid arrangement corresponds to a virtual keyboard or a virtual number pad.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the first grid arrangement or the second grid arrangement corresponds to a hierarchical menu.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the first grid arrangement and the second grid arrangement include different numbers of grid locations.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the first grid arrangement and the second grid arrangement include a same number of grid locations, and wherein the first grid arrangement has a different layout from the second grid arrangement.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the selectable actions associated with the first grid arrangement or the second grid arrangement correspond to a command to add a character to a text box included on the receiver interface.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the selectable actions associated with the first grid arrangement or the second grid arrangement correspond to a command to navigate a hierarchical menu.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the first indicator or the second indicator correspond to a highlight included on the receiver interface.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the position sensitive interface of the remote control is a touch pad interface.

19. A non-transitory processor-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to dynamically control a sequence different grid arrangements on a receiver interface by performing operations including:

generating a video signal for displaying a receiver interface using an audio-video output connection of a television receiver;

generating a first grid arrangement, wherein a grid arrangement includes a plurality of grid locations each representing different selectable actions for modifying the receiver interface;

modifying the receiver interface to include a first plurality of interactive elements;

associating the first plurality of interactive elements with selectable actions corresponding to grid locations of the first grid arrangement;

receiving first data at a remote control interface of the television receiver from a remote control associated with the television receiver, wherein the first data includes a first coordinate, and wherein the first coordinate corresponds to a determination of a first position of a position sensitive interface of the remote control;

mapping the first coordinate to a first grid location of the first grid arrangement, wherein mapping the first coordinate includes scaling a full coordinate range of the position sensitive interface to match a first full grid location range of the first grid arrangement by applying a first scaling factor to the first coordinate to convert the first coordinate to the first grid location;

modifying the receiver interface to include a first indicator on a first interactive element associated with the first grid location;

receiving a first selection signal from the remote control, wherein the first selection signal corresponds to selection of the first interactive element;

modifying the receiver interface by performing a first selectable action associated with the first interactive element;

generating a second grid arrangement that is different from the first grid arrangement;

modifying the receiver interface to include a second plurality of interactive elements;

associating the second plurality of interactive elements with selectable actions corresponding to grid locations of the second grid arrangement;

receiving second data at the remote control interface from the remote control, wherein the second data includes a second coordinate, and wherein the second coordinate corresponds to a determination of a second position of the position sensitive interface of the remote control;

mapping the second coordinate to a second grid location of the second grid arrangement, wherein mapping the second coordinate includes scaling the full coordinate range of the position sensitive interface to match a second full grid location range of the second grid arrangement by applying a second scaling factor to the second coordinate to convert the second coordinate to the second grid location;

modifying the receiver interface to include a second indicator on a second interactive element associated with the second grid location;

receiving a second selection signal from the remote control, wherein the second selection signal corresponds to selection of the second interactive element; and

modifying the receiver interface by performing a second selectable action associated with the second interactive element.

20. The non-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the selectable actions associated with the first grid arrangement or the second grid arrangement correspond to a command to add a character to a text box included on the receiver interface or to navigate a hierarchical menu.