System and methods for enhanced remote control functionality

• US 9,852,616 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2015
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• 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): Barakat, Mohamed
• Application Number:
  US14/954,211
• Publication Number:
  US 20160078753A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 controlled device; and

a controlling device adapted for bi-directional communication with the controlled device;

wherein the controlled device comprises a processing device and a non-transitory memory device having stored thereon instructions which instructions, when executed by the processing device, cause the controlled device to perform steps comprising;

storing a message communication intended for the controlling device in a deferred transfer queue for future transfer to the controlling device;

receiving from the controlling device a command communication for causing the controlled device to perform a functional operation;

performing the functional operation corresponding to the command communication received from the controlling device;

in response to the functional operation being performed by the controlled device, transmitting to the controlling device an acknowledgement message having data indicative of a performance of the functional operation and data which informs the controlling device that a message communication intended for the controlling device has been stored in the deferred transfer queue;

receiving from the controlling device a fetch communication that was transmitted from the controlling device in response the acknowledgement message being transmitted to the controlling device; and

transferring to the controlling device the message communication intended for the controlling device that was stored in the deferred transfer queue in response to the fetch communication being received from the controlling device;

wherein the controlling device comprises a processing device and a non-transitory memory device having stored thereon instructions which instructions, when executed by the processing device, cause the controlling device to perform steps comprising;

transmitting to the controlled device the command communication for causing the controlled device to perform a functional operation in response to an activation of an input element of the controlling device;

receiving from the controlled device the acknowledgement message having data indicative of the performance of the functional operation and data which informs the controlling device that a message communication intended for the controlling device has been stored in the deferred transfer queue; and

automatically transmitting to the controlled device the fetch communication in response the acknowledgement message being transmitted from the controlled device.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the deferred transfer queue comprises a first-in-first-out queue.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the instructions cause the message communication stored in the deferred transfer queue to be transferred to the controlling device in response to the fetch communication in an order considering a message priority.