Method and system for user interface for interactive devices using a mobile device

• US 10,158,750 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2016
• Issued: 12/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Remote Telepointer, LLC
• Original Assignee: Remote Telepointer, LLC
• Inventors: Dagit, III, Charles E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Arevalo, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US15/284,161
• Publication Number:
  US 20170094042A1
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 455507, 455509, 455517, 455420, 455566, 4554566, 455557, 4557895, 4554561
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/49 whereby the further system is an inertial position system, e.g. loosely-coupled
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• 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 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• 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 21/4131 home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• 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 21/42214 using alphanumerical characters
• 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 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 for indoor environments, e.g. buildings
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 999/99 dummy group

Abstract

A software application and system that enables point-and-click interaction with a TV screen. The application determines geocode positioning information for a handheld device, and uses that data to create a virtual pointer for a television display or interactive device. Some embodiments utilize motion sensing and touchscreen input for gesture recognition interacting with video content or interactive device. Motion sensing can be coupled with positioning or localization techniques the user to calibrate the location of the interactive devices and the user location to establish and maintain virtual pointer connection relationships. The system may utilize wireless network infrastructure and cloud-based calculation and storage of position and orientation values to enable the handheld device in the TV viewing area to replace or surpass the functionality of the traditional TV remote control, and also interface directly with visual feedback on the TV screen.

Claims

1. A system for remotely interacting with an interactive device, comprising:

computer-readable instructions for configuring a processor of a handheld wireless device, the handheld wireless device being separate from the interactive device, and the processor of the handheld wireless device determining position and orientation information about the handheld device based on sensors onboard the handheld wireless device and sending the position and orientation information across at least one wireless network;

at least one remote server configured to receive the position and orientation information and to determine the orientation of the handheld wireless device relative to the interactive device, based on the position and orientation information received from the handheld device and a model of the environment around the handheld wireless device,

wherein the position information is derived by the handheld wireless device from a distance measurement between the handheld wireless device and a plurality of beacons, including at least one fixed-position terrestrial wireless networking device, and wherein the server is configured to remotely control a user interface of the interactive device in response to the position and orientation information; and

computer-readable instructions for displaying, on a display of the handheld device, at least one menu that duplicates user interface information of the interactive device,

wherein the user interface allows for identifying and registering new separate interactive device locations, and presents an overlay of duplicate menu or icon elements onto the mobile device as the device is moved past the interactive device location in physical space, using a model of the physical space, to facilitate interaction with a plurality of separate interactive devices, and to determine which of the plurality of interactive device the user interacts with based on the position and orientation information.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a set-top box app, or Smart TV app, in communication with the at least one server, that displays the user interface of home or building automation components on at least one of a video display, and the handheld device, and updates the user interface in response to changes in the position and orientation information.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one home or building automation components are elements of either of a home security system or a public safety system, comprising at least one of a security camera, and a security panel.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising computer-readable instructions that determine motion information relating to the position and orientation information to recognize gestures made by a user.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising computer-readable instructions to allow a processor to recognize at least a subset of the following gestures:

pointing at the interactive device, swiping at an icon on a digital display, flipping through icons or content on a digital display, flipping a switch, scrolling across or down a slider icon, and pushing a digital or physical button.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein position information is further derived from GPS signals received by the handheld device and the position information is further refined by distance measurements to at least one fixed-position terrestrial wireless networking device comprising at least one of a Wi-Fi access point, and a cellular base station and the position information corresponds to an indoor location.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the handheld wireless devices comprises one of a tablet computer and a cell-phone.

8. A system for facilitating remote interaction with interactive devices in a physical space, comprising:

a first set of computer-readable instructions that configure a handheld wireless device to determine position and orientation information about the handheld wireless device based on sensors onboard the handheld wireless device and transmit the position and orientation information and at least one user input across a wireless network, wherein the position information is derived by the handheld wireless device from a distance measurement between the handheld wireless device and at least one fixed-position terrestrial wireless networking device;

a server, remote from the handheld wireless device and in communication with the handheld wireless device, configured to execute;

a second set of computer-readable instructions that configure the server to receive the position and motion information and to approximate the orientation of the handheld wireless device relative to a physical space, including in relation to at least one interactive device, which is separate from the handheld wireless device, based on the position and orientation information received from the handheld device and a model of the environment around the handheld wireless device and

a third set of computer-readable instructions that configure the server to facilitate network control of the at least one interactive device in the physical environment in response to the position and orientation information and the at least one user input as the handheld device is moved past the separate interactive device locations in physical space, using a model of the physical space; and

a fourth set of computer-readable instructions that configure a handheld wireless device to display on a display of the handheld device at least one menu that duplicates user interface information of the seperate controlled interactive device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the separate interactive device comprises at least one of an interactive video display.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the server is an automation server and the at least one interactive device comprises at least one of a light switch, an alarm device, and an HVAC device controlled by the automation server.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the first set of computer-readable instructions comprises instructions for displaying, on a display of the handheld wireless device, selectable actions that can be taken to interact with the at least one interactive device to solicit the at least one user input.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the selectable actions displayed on the handheld wireless device change depending on which of a plurality of types of interactive devices that the handheld wireless device points to.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein position information is further derived from at least one of GPS signals, received by the handheld device and the position information is further refined by distance measurements to at least one fixed-position terrestrial wireless networking device comprising at least one of a Wi-Fi access point and a cellular base station received by the handheld device and the position information includes horizontal and vertical position information.

14. A method for facilitating interaction between a mobile device and interactive devices comprising steps of:

a) observing by a processor on a handheld wireless device, utilizing an antenna and one or more sensors on the handheld wireless device, a plurality of distances relative to a plurality of fixed-position terrestrial network devices in a physical space and an orientation of the handheld wireless device to form the location and orientation information that reflects the position and orientation of the handheld wireless device within the physical space, and transmitting the location and orientation information from the handheld wireless device across at least one network;

b) receiving at a remote server, across the at least one network, the location and orientation information from the handheld wireless device;

c) calculating, by a processor at the remote server, a position and orientation of the handheld wireless device relative to at least one interactive device from the location and orientation information and a model of the physical space to determine that a user is pointing the handheld wireless device relative to the interactive device;

d) determining, by at least one of the processors, at least one command input from a user of the handheld wireless device;

e) transmitting the command to the at least one interactive device across at least one of the at least one networks in response to the step of determining and the position and orientation information; and

f) displaying, on a display of the handheld device, at least one menu that duplicates user interface information of the interactive device,

wherein the at least one interactive device comprises a controllable element in the physical environment that can be controlled as the handheld device is moved past the separate interactive device locations in physical space, using a model of the physical space.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one interactive device comprises at least one Internet-connected component consisting of at least one of a light switch, a light bulb, an alarm device, a security panel, security camera, a home or building automation panel, an HVAC device, or other devices controlled by an automation server.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein position information is further derived from at least one of GPS signals received by the handheld device and the position information is further refined by distance measurements to at least one fixed-position terrestrial wireless networking device.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising a step of calibrating the position of the at least one interactive device by providing computer-readable instructions to allow the handheld wireless device to record a position of at least one portion of the at least one interactive device when the handheld wireless device is placed approximately at the position of the interactive device in the physical space.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of determining at least one command input comprises detecting a motion gesture made by a user of the handheld wireless device.