User interface for a remote control application

• US 20060150120A1
• Filed: 01/26/2006
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Smith-Kielland, Ingvald Alain, Hayes, Patrick H., Conway, James N. Jr., Scott, Cheryl, Klein, Sandro David, Scott, Wayne, Yuh, Han-Sheng, Wang, Weidong William, Campbell, Robert, Dresti, Mauro, Louie, Alex
• Application Number:
  US11/340,399
• Publication Number:
  US 20060150120A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/810
• 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 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• 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 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57
• 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 19/28 using pulse code
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/21 Programming remote control devices via third means
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/33 Remote control using macros, scripts
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/91 Remote control based on location and proximity
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/22 Interactive procedures; Man-machine interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/0025 in a remote control unit remote control tuning in general H03J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 2200/23 Remote control device with display showing data to be transmitted to the controlled apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 2200/25 : Remote control device with display
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 2200/26 : Remote control device with touch screen display
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/20 : for coupling gramophone pick-up, recorder output, or microphone to receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 : by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2816 : Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/509 : wherein the managed service relates to media content delivery, e.g. audio, video or TV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 : being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• 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 21/42209 : for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4222 : Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 : Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 : Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 : for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 : Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 : Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 : End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6547 : comprising parameters, e.g. for client setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8543 : using a description language, e.g. Multimedia and Hypermedia information coding Expert Group [MHEG], eXtensible Markup Language [XML] information retrieval of semistructured data, the underlying structure being taken into account, e.g. mark-up language structure data G06F16/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 : Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 : Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
• 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 operational mode information to a user. The graphical user interface may be used, for example, to setup the remote control application to control appliances for one or more users in one or more rooms, to perform activities, and to access favorites. The remote control application is also adapted to be upgradeable. Furthermore, the remote control application provides for the sharing of operational mode information.

Claims

1. A readable media having instructions for displaying capabilities of a hand-held device used to remotely control the operation of different types of devices of different manufacturers, the instructions performing steps comprising:

displaying a representation of a soft key with a first appearance indicative of a state wherein the hand held device needs to be setup to perform a function in response to activation of the soft key; and

displaying the representation of the soft key with a second appearance indicative of a state wherein the hand held device is setup to perform the function in response to activation of the soft key.

2. The readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein the second appearance comprises the first appearance with an overlay removed.

4. The readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein activation of the soft key places the remote control in a mode to effect control of a specific one of the types of devices.

5. The readable media as recited in claim 4, wherein the soft key is setup by specifying one of the different manufacturers of the specific one of the types of devices.

6. The readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein activation of the soft key causes the transmission of commands to cause one of the different types of devices to tune to a favorite channel.

7. The readable media as recited in claim 6, wherein the soft key is setup by specifying one of the different manufacturers of the specific one of the types of devices and a tuning location of the favorite channel.

8. The readable media as recited in claim 1, further comprising displaying an add icon the activation of which is used to add a representation of a second soft key which is required to be setup.

9. The readable media as recited in claim 8, wherein the add icon is used to add a representation of a mode of operation of the hand-held device.

10. The readable media as recited in claim 1, wherein activation of the soft key having the first appearance automatically invokes a setup wizard.

3. The readable media as recited in claim 3, wherein the overlay comprises an image of a wrench.

11. A readable media having instructions for displaying information to a user of a hand-held device, comprising:

displaying to the user in a circular queue arrangement a plurality of iconic representations each corresponding to a home appliance which the hand-held device can be setup to remotely control;

accepting input from the user for setting up the hand-held device to control the operation of a home appliance; and

changing the appearance of the iconic representation corresponding to the home appliance after the user sets up the hand-held device to control the operation of the home appliance.

12. The readable media as recited in claim 11, wherein each iconic representation is provided with a first appearance indicative of a state wherein the hand held device needs to be setup to perform a function in response to activation of the iconic representation and is provided with a second appearance indicative of a state wherein the hand held device is setup to perform the function in response to activation of the iconic representation.

13. The readable media as recited in claim 11, wherein the circular queue is displayed as a wheel and the instructions further move the iconic representation corresponding to the home appliance the user setup the hand-held device to control to a top portion of the wheel.

14. The readable media as recited in claim 11, wherein changing the appearance of the iconic representation comprises removing an overlay from the iconic representation.

15. The readable media as recited in claim 14, wherein the overlay comprises an image of a wrench.

16. The readable media as recited in claim 11, wherein the instructions further display an iconic representation corresponding to an activity whereby the hand-held device can be setup to remotely control the operation of a plurality of home appliances to perform actions related to a common function.

17. The readable media as recited in claim 16, wherein the common function is control of home appliances arranged into a home theater system.

18. A method for displaying operational mode information to a user of a hand held device, comprising:

displaying a plurality of mode soft-keys each activatable to place the hand held device in a mode to remotely control the operation of one or more home appliances while simultaneously displaying an add soft-key activatable to automatically allow a user to setup the hand held device to control the operation of one or more additional home appliances and, once the setup is completed, adding an additional mode soft-key to the plurality of mode soft-keys, the additional soft-key activatable to place the hand held device in a mode to remotely control the operation of the one or more additional home appliances.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein at least one of the mode soft-keys is displayed with an image representative of a home appliance.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein at least one of the mode soft-keys is displayed with an image representative of an activity.

21. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the plurality of mode soft-keys are displayed in a circular queue arrangement and the method comprises accepting input from a user which selects one of the mode-soft keys and rotating the circular queue such that the selected mode soft-key moves from its current location within the circular queue to a predetermined location within the circular queue, the movement being in a direction that moves the selected mode soft-key the shortest distance to the predetermined location.

22. A method for displaying operational information to a user of a remote control, comprising:

displaying to the user in a circular queue arrangement iconic representations of every device which the remote control is setup to control;

accepting input from the user indicating one of the devices which the user desires to control; and

rotating the iconic representations in the circular queue such that the iconic representation of the selected devices moves from its current location within the circular queue to a predetermined location within the circular queue, the movement being in a direction that moves the iconic representation the shortest distance.

23. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the circular queue comprises a wheel and the predetermined location is generally located at a top portion of the wheel.

24. A readable media having instructions for displaying information to a user of a hand-held device, the instructions performing steps comprising:

displaying to the user a plurality of iconic representations of sources of programming each having mapped thereto a channel number such that selection of one of the iconic representations causes the hand-held device to transmit a command to cause a home appliance to tune to the channel mapped to the selected iconic representation; and

using an electronic program guide downloaded to the hand-held device to automatically update the mapping between the channel numbers and the iconic representations in the hand-held device such that the mapping of the channel numbers to the iconic representations within the hand-held device correspond to an assignment of channel numbers to sources of programs with the electronic program guide.