Bi-Modal Switching for Controlling Digital Tv Applications on Video Devices

• US 20090059091A1
• Filed: 06/29/2006
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Madison Patent Holdings (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Dorsey, Eric Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 8,810,734 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/734
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4852 for modifying audio parameters, e.g. switching between mono and stereo
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/64 Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers furniture aspects of television cabinets A47B81/06

Abstract

A portable digital television (DTV) comprises a processor, a channel and volume changing button arrangement, and a navigational button arrangement. Either or both button arrangements can be used in at least a bi-modal operation. In a first mode of operation, the button arrangements provide their normal functions, and in the second mode of operation, the button arrangements provide an interactive application interface to the user. Preferably, one of the two button arrangements is selected for the bi-modal operation. The selected button arrangement is associated with at least an optical element for lighting the button arrangement. The controller operates the optical element such that the selected button arrangement has one color in one mode of operation and has a different color in the other mode of operation.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

a device for generating a control signal;

means for illuminating the device; and

a controller having a first mode of operation wherein the controller interprets the control signal as a first signal, and having a second mode of operation wherein the controller activates the illuminating means and interprets the control signal as a second signal different from the first signal for selecting a first predefined link displayed on a display coupled to the apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in the first mode of operation, the illuminating means is operated such that the device has a first color, and in the second mode of operation, the illuminating means is operated such that the device has a second color different from the first color.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein in the first mode of operation, the illuminating means is operated to emit light in the first color, and in the second mode of operation, the illuminating means is operated to emit light in the second color.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein in the first mode of operation, the illuminating means is turned off, and in the second mode of operation, the illuminating means is operated to emit light in the second color.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein in the first signal is a signal for moving a pointer on the display in one of four directions:

left, right, up, and down.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein in the first signal is a signal for performing one of the following functions:

incrementing a channel selection, decrementing a channel selection, increasing a volume setting, and decreasing a volume setting.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the device comprises first, second, third, and fourth input mechanisms for respectively generating first, second, third, and fourth control signals;

the illuminating means comprises first, second, third, and fourth optical elements for respectively illuminating the first, second, third, and fourth input mechanisms;

in the first mode of operation, the controller interprets the first, second, third, and fourth control signals respectively as first, second, third, and fourth signals; and

in the second mode of operation the controller activates the first, second, third, and fourth optical elements and interprets the first, second, third, and fourth control signals respectively as selecting first, second, third, and fourth predefined links.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein in the first mode of operation, the first, second, third, and fourth optical elements are operated such that the respective first, second, third, and fourth input mechanisms have a first color, and in the second mode of operation, first, second, third, and fourth optical elements are operated such that the respective first, second, third, and fourth input mechanisms respectively have second, third, fourth, and fifth colors different from the first color.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein in the first, second, third, and fourth predefined links are displayed on the display respectively in the second, third, fourth, and fifth colors.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein in the second, third, fourth, and fifth colors respectively are red, green, blue, and yellow.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein in the first mode of operation, the first, second, third, and fourth signals respectively are signals for moving a pointer on the display in:

left, right, up, and down directions.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein in the first mode of operation, the first, second, third, and fourth signals respectively are signals for incrementing a channel selection, decrementing a channel selection, increasing a volume setting, and decreasing a volume setting.

13. A digital television, comprising:

a button arrangement arranged to provide a user interface to a user and having at least a bi-modal operation; and

optical elements for displaying colors of light on the button arrangement;

wherein in a first mode of operation, the button arrangement provides a first function; and

, in a second mode of operation, the button arrangement provides functions different from the first function for interacting with a digital television application presented to the user on the digital television; and

wherein in the first mode at least one of the optical elements emit light of a first color and in the second mode at least one of the optical elements emit lights of a different color corresponding to a color associated with a particular interactive application function displayed on the digital television.

14. The digital television of claim 13, wherein the first function is moving a pointer for traversing a graphical user interface presented on the digital television.

15. The digital television of claim 13, wherein the first function is one of the following functions:

incrementing a channel selection, decrementing a channel selection, increasing a volume setting, and decreasing a volume setting.

16. The digital television of claim 13, wherein the first color is white and the different color comprises red, yellow, blue and green.

17. The digital television of claim 13, further comprising a mode button that enables the user to switch between the first mode of operation and the second mode of operation.

18. The portable digital television of claim 13, wherein the optical elements are bi-color light emitting diodes.

19. A method for use in a digital television, the method comprising:

(a) setting a first mode for a button arrangement;

(b) causing a first color to be displayed on the button arrangement, wherein in the first mode the button arrangement is used to provide a first control function;

(c) setting the button arrangement to a second mode; and

(d) causing at least four different colors to be displayed on the button arrangement;

wherein in the second mode the button arrangement is used to provide a second control function for interacting with an interactive application presented on the digital television, and wherein each of the four different colors are associated with a different interactive function and the first control function is different from the second control function.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first control function is to traverse a graphical user interface presented on the digital television.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the first control function is one of the following:

incrementing a channel selection, decrementing a channel selection, increasing a volume setting, and decreasing a volume setting.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the digital television comprises a button having at least two states, one state associated with the first mode and the second state associated with the second mode and further comprising the step of determining the state of the button such that when the state associated with the first mode is detected steps (a) and (b) are performed and when the state associated with the second mode is detected steps (c) and (d) are performed.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of:

(e) returning to step (a) upon selection of a button by a user.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the four different colors are red, green, blue and yellow.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the first color is white.