Remote control, apparatus, system and methods of using the same

• US 20060170582A1
• Filed: 02/02/2005
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Original Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Inventors: Sullivan, Marc Andrew, Kortum, Philip Ted, Brandt, Jeffrey Lewis
• Granted Patent: US 7,307,574 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/176
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/00 Non-electrical signal transmission systems, e.g. optical systems

Abstract

A system provides an audible signal to the user of the system before a control or function is activated by the user. In one embodiment, a remote control can be used with an apparatus, such as a set-top box. When the user places an object near a control of the remote control, a control or function associated with the control may be announced to the user before activating the control. The system can include an apparatus is configured to be operated at least in part from a remote control that includes a plurality of controls including a first control. The apparatus includes a control module configured to receive an identification signal from the remote control, wherein the identification signal corresponds to the control, determine a state of the apparatus, determine a function to which the control corresponds, and send another identification signal to an audio system.

Claims

1. A method of using a remote control to control an operation of an apparatus, wherein the remote control comprises a plurality of controls including a first control that corresponds to a first function, the method comprising:

sensing that a first object is near the first control before the first function is activated;

in response to sensing, providing a first audible signal that corresponds to a first identifier of the first control; and

sending a first activation signal to the apparatus to identify activation of the first control.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sensing a first force of at least a first activation threshold at the first control;

or

allowing a predetermined amount of time to pass before sensing a second force of at least a second activation threshold at any control within the plurality of controls other than the first control.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sensing that a second object is near a second control before a second function is activated, wherein the plurality of controls includes the second control that corresponds to the second function, and the second object is the same or different from the first object;

in response to sensing that that the second object is near the second control, providing a second audible signal that corresponds to a second identifier for the second control, wherein;

sensing the second object is near the second control and providing the second audible signal are performed before sensing the first object is near the first control and providing the first audible signal; and

the second function is not activated during a time period between providing the second audible signal and sensing the first object is near the first control.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a language selection signal associated with the first audio signal.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a user-defined signal associated with the first audio signal.

6. A remote control for controlling an operation of an apparatus, the remote control comprising:

a plurality of controls including a first control that corresponds to a first function; and

a control module configured to;

receive a first sensing signal when a first object is near the first control before the first function is activated;

in response to receiving the first sensing signal, provide a first audio signal that corresponds to a first identifier of the first control; and

send a first activation signal to the apparatus to identify activation of the first control in response to a predetermined activity.

7. The remote control of claim 6, wherein the predetermined activity includes:

sensing a first force of at least a first activation threshold at the first control;

or

allowing a predetermined amount of time to pass before sensing a second force of at least a second activation threshold at any control within the plurality of controls other than the first control.

8. The remote control of claim 6, wherein:

the plurality of controls includes a second control that corresponds to a second function; and

the control module is further configured to;

not provide an audio signal that corresponds to a second identifier associated with the second control; and

send a second activation signal to the apparatus to identify activation of the second control after the second control receives a force of at least the activation threshold.

9. The remote control of claim 6, wherein:

the plurality of controls includes a second control that corresponds to a second function, wherein the second control is different from the first control; and

the control module is further configured to;

receive a second sensing signal when a second object is near the second control before the second function is activated, wherein the second object is the same or different compared to the first object; and

in response to receiving the second sensing signal, provide a second audio signal that corresponds to a second identifier of the second control.

10. The remote control of claim 6, further comprising:

a sensing module responsive to the first control and coupled to the control module; and

a transmitter responsive to the control module.

11. The remote control of claim 10, further comprising:

an audio module responsive to the control module; and

a speaker responsive to the audio module.

12. A method of operating a system comprising an apparatus and a remote control that controls an operation of the apparatus, wherein the remote control comprises a plurality of controls including a first control, wherein the first control corresponds to a plurality of functions including a first function, the method comprising:

sensing that a first object is near the first control during a first time period, wherein sensing is performed by the remote control;

determining a first state of the apparatus, wherein the apparatus is capable of being in at least one state of a plurality of states including the first state;

determining a first function corresponds to the first control, based at least in part on the first state of the apparatus; and

providing a first audio signal, wherein the first audio signal corresponds to a first identifier of the first function.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein determining the first state of the apparatus comprises:

determining which one or more input devices coupled to the apparatus is active;

determining which one or more output devices coupled to the apparatus is active, or any combination thereof.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

sensing that a second object is near the first control during a second time period, wherein sensing is performed by the remote control;

determining a second state of the apparatus during the second time period, wherein the plurality of states includes the second state that is different from the first state;

determining a second function corresponds to the first control, based at least in part on the second state of the apparatus, wherein the second function is different from the first function; and

providing a second audio signal, wherein the second audio signal corresponds to a second identifier of the second function.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising activating the first control in response to a predetermined activity, wherein:

providing the second audio signal is performed before activating the first control; and

the predetermined activity includes;

sensing a first force of at least a first activation threshold at the first control;

or

allowing a predetermined amount of time to pass before sensing a second force of at least a second activation threshold at any control within the plurality of controls other than the first control.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

sensing a second object is near a second control during the first time period, wherein the plurality of controls includes the second control that is different from the first control;

determining a second function corresponds to the second control, based at least in part on the first state of the apparatus, wherein the plurality of functions includes the second function that is different from the first function; and

providing a second audio signal that corresponds to a second identifier of the second function, wherein;

sensing the second object is near the second control and providing the second audio signal are performed before sensing the first object is near the first control and providing the first audio signal; and

the second function is not activated during a time period between providing the second audio signal and sensing the first object is near the first control.

17. A remote control comprising:

a plurality of controls including a first control, wherein the first control corresponds to a plurality of functions including a first function;

a control module configured to;

receive a first sensing signal when a first object is near the first control during a first time period;

in response to receiving the first sensing signal, provide a first identification signal to a remote apparatus, wherein the first identification signal corresponds to the first control;

receive a second identification signal, wherein the second identification information signal corresponds to the first function; and

provide a first audio signal, wherein the first audio signal corresponds to a first identifier of the first function.

18. The remote control of claim 17, wherein the control module is further configured to:

receive another first sensing signal when a second object is near the first control during a second time period, wherein the second object is the same or different from the first object;

in response to receiving the another first sensing signal, provide the first identification signal to the apparatus, wherein the first identification signal corresponds to the first control;

receive a third identification signal from the apparatus, wherein the third identification signal corresponds to a second function, and wherein the plurality of functions includes the second function that is different from the first function; and

provide a second audio signal different from the first audio signal, wherein the second audio signal corresponds to a second identifier of the second function.

19. The remote control of claim 17, wherein:

the control module is further configured to send a first activation signal to the apparatus in response to a predetermined activity; and

the predetermined activity includes;

sensing a first force of at least a first activation threshold at the first control;

or

allowing a predetermined amount of time to pass before sensing a second force of at least a second activation threshold at any control within the plurality of controls other than the first control.

20. The remote control of claim 17, further comprising:

an audio module responsive to the control module; and

a speaker responsive to the audio module.

21. An apparatus configured to be operated at least in part from a remote control that comprises a plurality of controls including a first control, wherein the apparatus comprises:

a control module configured to;

receive a first identification signal from the remote control, wherein the first identification signal corresponds to the first control;

determine a state of the apparatus, wherein the apparatus is capable of being in at least one state of a plurality of states;

determine a function to which the first control corresponds, based at least in part on the state of the apparatus; and

send a second identification signal to an audio system, wherein the second identification signal corresponds to the first function.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the control module is configured to determine the first state of the apparatus by:

determining which one or more input devices coupled to the apparatus is active;

determining which one or more output devices coupled to the apparatus is active, or any combination thereof.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the audio system lies within the remote control.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the audio system lies outside of the remote control.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the control module is further configured to:

receive a first activation signal from the remote control to identify activation of the first control; and

send a signal to activate the first function.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

an I/O module coupled to the control module; and

a transceiver coupled to the control module.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising a hard drive coupled to the control module.

28. A method of using a system that comprises a plurality of controls including a first control, the method comprising:

sensing a first object is near the first control before a first function associated with the first control is activated;

in response to sensing, providing a first audible signal, wherein the first audible signal corresponds to a first identifier of the first control or the first function; and

sending a first activation signal to identify activation of the first control.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

sensing a first force of at least a first activation threshold at the first control.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

sensing a second object is near a second control that corresponds to a second function before the second function is activated, wherein the plurality of controls includes the second control that is different from the first control;

in response to sensing, providing a second audible signal that corresponds to a second identifier of the second control wherein;

sensing the second object is near the second control and providing the second audible signal are performed before sensing the first object is near the first control and providing the first audible signal; and

the second function is not activated during a time period between providing the second audible signal and sensing the first object is near the first control.

31. A system comprising:

a plurality of controls including a first control; and

a control module configured to;

receive a first sensing signal when a first object is near the first control before a first function associated with the first control is activated;

in response to receiving the first sensing signal, provide a first audio signal, wherein the first audio signal corresponds to an identifier for the first control or the first function; and

send an a first activation signal to identify activation of the first control in response to a predetermined activity.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the predetermined activity includes:

sensing a first force of at least a first activation threshold at the first control;

or

allowing a predetermined amount of time to pass before sensing a second force of at least a second activation threshold at any control within the plurality of controls other than the first control, wherein the second activation threshold is the same or different compared to the first activation threshold.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the plurality of controls includes a second control that corresponds to a second function.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein:

the plurality of controls includes a second control that corresponds to a second function, wherein the second control is different from the first control; and

the control module is further configured to;

receive a second sensing signal when a second object is near the second control before the second function is activated; and

in response to receiving the second sensing signal, provide a second audio signal that corresponds to a second identifier of the second control.