User interface for a remote control application

• US 20040210933A1
• Filed: 12/30/2003
• Published: 10/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Scott, Cheryl, Scott, Wayne, Dresti, Mauro, Knowles, Lily Tsong-Chou
• Application Number:
  US10/749,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20040210933A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/40
• 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 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/21 Programming remote control devices via third means
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/94 Smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• 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 21/42204 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A hand-held electronic device having a remote control application user interface that functions to displays programming related information to a user.

Claims

1. A method for displaying programming information using a remote control device, comprising:

accepting user input for creating a favorites page having a plurality of icons each of which is assigned a command code to be transmitted by the remote control device to tune an intended target appliance to a channel;

accepting user input selecting one of the icons from a display of the favorites page; and

in response to the user selecting an icon, displaying in a first window area information relevant to content available from a provider of content on the channel associated with the selected icon.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the information displayed in the first window is relevant to content currently being presented by the provider of content on the channel associated with the selected icon.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the information displayed in the first window is relevant to content to be presented in the future by the provider of content on the channel associated with the selected icon.

4. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising displaying in a second window, in response to the user selecting the icon, information relevant to content to be presented in the future by the provider of content on the channel associated with the selected icon.

5. The method as recited in each of claims 1-4, further comprising causing, in response to the user selecting the icon, the remote control device to transmit the command to tune the intended target appliance to the channel associated with the selected icon.

6. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the first window area and the second window area are associated with a favorites page.

7. The method as recited in each of claims 1-3, further comprising accepting user input for expanding and contracting the first window area.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, in which the expansion and contraction of the first window area allows overlay and display, respectively, of a user interface page having command function keys.

9. The method as recited in claim 4, further comprising accepting user input for expanding and contracting the first and second window areas.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, in which the expansion and contraction of the first and second window areas allows overlay and display, respectively, of a user interface page having command function keys.