INTERACTIVE REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20130057765A1
• Filed: 09/06/2011
• Published: 03/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Instrument Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zeleznikar, Alan R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,528,012 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/570
• 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 21/42215 by measuring the time interval during which a key is pressed, e.g. for inputting sequences of digits when selecting a television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42218 for mapping a matrix of displayed objects on the screen to the numerical key-matrix of the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• 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 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895

Abstract

A method and system for controlling operation of one or more electronic devices of an audio-video system with a separate remote controller via a feedback mode of operation are provided. A command code signal is received with a receiver of a signal processing electronic device which interprets the command code signal to determine a particular action being requested. Thereafter, a request for feedback is generated in at least one of a visual form or an audible form for purposes of confirming the particular action being requested before the action is actually executed. If appropriate feedback via a further communication is received with the receiver of the signal processing electronic device within a predetermined time period following the request for feedback, the action is performed and executed by the signal processing electronic device. Otherwise, no action is executed by the signal processing electronic device.

Claims

1. A method of controlling operation of an electronic device of an audio-video system with a separate remote controller, comprising the steps of:

receiving a command code signal with a signal processing electronic device;

interpreting the command code signal with the signal processing electronic device to determine an action being requested;

after said interpreting step, generating a request for feedback in at least one of a visual form and an audible form to confirm the action being requested; and

executing the action after the feedback via a further command code signal received with the signal processing electronic device within a predetermined time period following said generating step.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said generating step includes displaying on a display monitor of the audio-video system a graphic image of a representation of a remote controller from which the command code signal was received during said receiving step.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the graphic image includes a showing of a layout of keys that substantially resembles an actual layout of keys of the remote controller from which the command code signal was received during said receiving step.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the action being requested is determined based on a form of actuation of a particular one of the keys in the actual layout of keys of the remote controller, and wherein the graphic image displays the particular one of the keys in a highlighted form on the display monitor so that the action requested is visually perceivable from observation of the display monitor.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the feedback required for said executing step is a signal from the remote controller resulting from actuation of the particular one of the keys on the remote controller that is shown in the highlighted form on the display monitor.

6. A method according to claim 2, wherein during said interpreting step, the signal processing electronic device retrieves an electronic graphic image file corresponding to a particular appearance of the remote controller from a stored database of electronic graphic image files and sends the electronic graphic image file to the display monitor so that the graphic image displayed on the display monitor corresponds to the remote controller from which the control code signal was received.

7. A method according to claim 2, wherein the signal processing electronic device is selected from the group consisting of a set-top box, a media player, a digital video recorder, a television, a computer, and a gaming console, wherein the display monitor is selected from the group consisting of a television and a display screen of a computer, and wherein said generating step includes emitting from a speaker an audible description of the action.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the feedback is a re-transmission of the command code signal.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the command code signal received during said receiving step is generated when a soft key on a touch screen of the remote controller is tapped one time, and wherein the feedback is generated when the soft key is tapped at least two times in succession.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the command code signal received during said receiving step is generated when a hard key on the remote controller is semi-depressed, and wherein the feedback is generated when the hard key is fully-depressed.

11. A signal processing electronic device for use in receiving and rendering multimedia content via a display monitor of an audio-video system, comprising:

a remote control unit having a receiver for receiving command code signals transmitted from a separate remote controller and at least one signal processing unit for interpreting the command code signals received by the receiver;

at least one of said at least one signal processing units having software configured to determine an action being requested by one of the command code signals, configured to generate a request for feedback in at least one of a visual form and an audible form for confirmation of the action being requested, and configured to execute the action after the feedback via a further communication is received with the receiver of the signal processing electronic device.

12. A signal processing electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the request for feedback includes displaying on the display monitor a graphic image of a representation of a remote controller from which a command code signal is received.

13. A signal processing electronic device according to claim 12, further comprising a storage unit in which a database of different electronic graphic image files is stored and is accessible so that an electronic graphic image file corresponding to a particular appearance of the remote controller from which a command code signal is received is displayable on the display monitor.

14. A signal processing electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the graphic image includes a showing of a layout of keys that substantially resembles a layout of keys of the remote controller from which a command code signal is received, and wherein the signal processing electronic device is selected from the group consisting of a set-top box, a media player, a digital video recorder, a television, a computer, and a gaming console.

15. A remote controller for controlling operation of an electronic device, comprising:

a portable body having an array of keys, said array of keys including at least one of a soft key displayed on a touch screen and a double detent push button hard key; and

a transmitter for transmitting a signal providing one of a plurality of different command codes, each command code corresponding to one of said keys and a state of actuation of said one of said keys.

16. A remote controller according to claim 15, wherein each of said keys of said array is a soft key provided on a touch screen for being actuated when touched.

17. A remote controller according to claim 16, wherein said transmitter transmits a command code signal corresponding to when one of said soft keys is tapped one time which is different from a command code signal transmitted when said one of said soft keys is tapped at least two times in rapid succession.

18. A remote controller according to claim 15, wherein each of said keys of said array is in the form of a double detent push button hard key.

19. A remote controller according to claim 18, wherein said transmitter transmits a command code signal corresponding to when one of said push button hard keys is depressed to a first detent of the push button hard key which is different from a command code signal transmitted when said one of said push button hard keys is depressed to a second detent of the push button hard key.

20. A remote controller according to claim 15, further comprising an accelerometer for use in toggling the remote controller between a feedback mode of operation and a mode of operation without feedback.