User Interface For A Remote Control Device

• US 20150169172A1
• Filed: 02/23/2015
• Published: 06/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Netflix, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Netflix, Inc.
• Inventors: HUNT, Neil D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,766,772 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• 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 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• 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 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for controlling the operations of a consumer electronic (CE) device. A system includes a display device, CE device, and a remote controller with a touchpad. The CE device is configured to output a context-specific user interface for display by the display device. The particular user interface varies based on the operational context of the CE device. The remote controller sends signals that are detected by the CE device and control operations performed by the CE device. More specifically, the remote controller is used as a handheld pointing device to select operations through interactions with the context-specific user interface. A user may apply gestures to the touchpad that are interpreted based on the context-specific user interface to control the CE device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for controlling a consumer electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving a first touchpad gesture from a remote controller that is configured to control the consumer electronic device;

determining whether a video presentation being output for display by the consumer electronic device is in an idle state or a playback state;

if the video presentation is in an idle state, then;

outputting a first user interface for display, wherein the first user interface includes cursor-selectable graphic elements for setup controls for the consumer electronic device;

outputting for display a cursor overlaid on the first user interface and having a position that is controllable by the remote controller; and

executing a command associated with a cursor-selectable graphic element included in the first user interface based on the position of the cursor,

wherein the cursor-selectable graphic elements for setup controls are overlaid on the video presentation;

or

if the video presentation is in a playback state, then;

outputting a second user interface for display, wherein the second user interface includes cursor-selectable graphic elements for transport controls for playback of the video presentation;

outputting for display a cursor overlaid on the second user interface and having a position that is controllable by the remote controller; and

executing a command associated with a cursor-selectable graphic element included in the second user interface based on the position of the cursor;

wherein the cursor selectable graphic elements for transport controls are overlaid on the video presentation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote controller controls playback of the video presentation by specifying the position of the cursor at a time-point along a timeline bar.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining that an inactivity timer has expired; and

discontinuing outputting the cursor on the first user interface or the second user interface for display.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the cursor-selectable graphic elements include navigation controls for digital content stored on the consumer electronic device or through a network coupled to the consumer electronic device.

5. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to control a consumer electronics device, by performing the steps of:

receiving a first touchpad gesture from a remote controller that is configured to control the consumer electronic device;

determining whether a video presentation being output for display by the consumer electronic device is in an idle state or a playback state;

if the video presentation is in an idle state, then;

outputting a first user interface for display, wherein the first user interface includes cursor-selectable graphic elements for setup controls for the consumer electronic device;

outputting for display a cursor overlaid on the first user interface and having a position that is controllable by the remote controller; and

executing a command associated with a cursor-selectable graphic element included in the first user interface based on the position of the cursor,

wherein the cursor-selectable graphic elements for setup controls are overlaid on the video presentation;

or

if the video presentation is in a playback state, then;

outputting a second user interface for display, wherein the second user interface includes cursor-selectable graphic elements for transport controls for playback of the video presentation;

outputting for display a cursor overlaid on the second user interface and having a position that is controllable by the remote controller; and

executing a command associated with a cursor-selectable graphic element included in the second user interface based on the position of the cursor;

wherein the cursor selectable graphic elements for transport controls are overlaid on the video presentation.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 5, wherein the remote controller controls playback of the video presentation by specifying the position of the cursor at a time-point along a timeline bar.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

determining that an inactivity timer has expired; and

discontinuing outputting the cursor on the first user interface or the second user interface for display.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 5, wherein the cursor-selectable graphic elements include navigation controls for digital content stored on the consumer electronic device or through a network coupled to the consumer electronic device.

9. A system, comprising:

a remote controller that is configured to control a consumer electronic device, wherein one or more signals are generated in response to a first touchpad gesture that is applied to a touchpad of the remote controller; and

a processor that receives the one or more signals from the remote controller and is configured to;

receive the first touchpad gesture from the remote controller;

determine whether a video presentation being output for display by the consumer electronic device is in an idle state or a playback state;

if the video presentation is in an idle state, then;

output a first user interface for display, wherein the first user interface includes cursor-selectable graphic elements for setup controls for the consumer electronic device;

output for display a cursor overlaid on the first user interface and having a position that is controllable by the remote controller; and

execute a command associated with a cursor-selectable graphic element included in the first user interface based on the position of the cursor,

wherein the cursor-selectable graphic elements for setup controls are overlaid on the video presentation;

or

if the video presentation is in a playback state, then;

output a second user interface for display, wherein the second user interface includes cursor-selectable graphic elements for transport controls for playback of the video presentation;

output for display a cursor overlaid on the second user interface and having a position that is controllable by the remote controller; and

execute a command associated with a cursor-selectable graphic element included in the second user interface based on the position of the cursor;

wherein the cursor selectable graphic elements for transport controls are overlaid on the video presentation.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the cursor-selectable graphic elements for transport controls are overlaid on the video presentation when the video presentation is in the playback state.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the first user interface and the second user interface are output for display to a display device, and the display device is integrated with the consumer electronic device.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the remote controller controls playback of the video presentation by specifying the position of the cursor at a time-point along a timeline bar.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the process is further configured to:

determine that an inactivity timer has expired; and

discontinue outputting the cursor on the first user interface or the second user interface for display.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the cursor-selectable graphic elements include navigation controls for digital content stored on the consumer electronic device or through a network coupled to the consumer electronic device.