System and methods for interacting with a control environment

• US 10,754,517 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2019
• Issued: 08/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Chambers, Christopher, Scott, Wayne, Scott, Cheryl, Yuh, Allen, Arling, Paul D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Xiao, Di
• Application Number:
  US16/380,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20190278444A1
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04807 Pen manipulated menu
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• 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: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A system and methods for facilitation of user interactions with an electronic device. A number of user interface methods are described and may be used alone or in combination with one another to present an enhanced interface to a user. A method of providing user interaction using a compact status indicator is described. A method for providing a virtual scroll wheel to a user for interaction with content sets is described. A method for allowing a user to dynamically modify a scalable user interface is described. A method for providing gesture based input to a user via a virtual gesture pad is described. A method of providing an interactive graphic search query interface is described. A method for indicating and selecting available content type is described.

Claims

1. A computer-readable media embodied in a non-transient, physical memory device having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for controlling a touch screen display of a portable electronic device, the instructions performing steps comprising:

enabling a user interface displayed in the touch screen display of the portable electronic device, the user interface comprising a first plurality of defined areas of the touch screen display each of which is designated to receive a first type of touch input to cause the portable electronic device to transmit one or more commands to at least one target device;

receiving by the controlling device a predetermined user input; and

in response to the controlling device receiving the predetermined user input, disabling the user interface displayed in the touch screen display of the portable electronic device whereby the controlling device will not respond to the first type of touch input received in any of the first plurality of defined areas of the touch screen display and enabling a virtual gesture pad that is overlayed on the user interface displayed in the touch screen display of the portable electronic device, the virtual gesture pad comprising a second plurality of defined areas of the touch screen display each of which is designated to receive a second type of touch input to cause the portable electronic device to transmit one or more commands to the at least one target device, wherein the first type of touch input is different than the second type of touch input and wherein the user interface is viewable through the virtual gesture pad when the virtual gesture pad is overlayed on the user interface.

2. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the predetermined user input comprises a sensed activation of a hard key of the portable electronic device.

3. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the predetermined user input comprises a touch input being received at a predetermined one of the first plurality of defined areas of the touch screen display.

4. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the predetermined user input comprises a predetermined moving gesture input being received on the touch screen display of the portable electronic device.

5. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the predetermined user input comprises a predetermined voice command being received via use of a microphone of the portable electronic device.

6. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one target device comprises a media source device and wherein the one or more commands comprises a media transport command.

7. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one target device comprises a media source device and wherein the one or more commands comprises a media selection command.

8. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the second plurality of defined areas of the touch screen display are each oriented at a different angle on the touch screen display.

9. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein one or more of the second plurality of defined areas of the touch screen display are designated to receive two moving gesture inputs in opposed directions for transmitting first and second different commands to the at least one target device.

10. The computer-readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the second plurality of defined areas of the touch screen display each extend radially outward from a centralized area on the touch screen display.

11. A method for controlling a touch screen display of a portable electronic device, comprising:

enabling a user interface displayed in the touch screen display of the portable electronic device, the user interface comprising a first plurality of defined areas of the touch screen display each of which is designated to receive a first type of touch input to cause the portable electronic device to transmit one or more commands to at least one target device;

receiving by the controlling device a predetermined user input; and

in response to the controlling device receiving the predetermined user input, disabling the user interface displayed in the touch screen display of the portable electronic device whereby the controlling device will not respond to the first type of touch input received in and of the first plurality of defined areas of the touch screen display and enabling a virtual gesture pad that is overlayed on the user interface displayed in the touch screen display of the portable electronic device, the virtual gesture pad comprising a second plurality of defined areas of the touch screen display each of which is designated to receive a second type of touch input to cause the portable electronic device to transmit one or more commands to the at least one target device, wherein the first type of touch input is different than the second type of touch input and wherein the user interface is viewable through the virtual gesture pad when the virtual gesture pad is overlayed on the user interface.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the predetermined user input comprises a sensed activation of a hard key of the portable electronic device.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the predetermined user input comprises a touch input being received at a predetermined one of the first plurality of defined areas of the touch screen display.

14. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the predetermined user input comprises a predetermined moving gesture input being received on the touch screen display of the portable electronic device.

15. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the predetermined user input comprises a predetermined voice command being received via use of a microphone of the portable electronic device.

16. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the at least one target device comprises a media source device and wherein the one or more commands comprises a media transport command.

17. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the at least one target device comprises a media source device and wherein the one or more commands comprises a media selection command.

18. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the second plurality of defined areas of the touch screen display are each oriented at a different angle on the touch screen display.

19. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein one or more of the second plurality of defined areas of the touch screen display are designated to receive two moving gesture inputs in opposed directions for transmitting first and second different commands to the at least one target device.

20. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the second plurality of defined areas of the touch screen display each extend radially outward from a centralized area on the touch screen display.