Fast forward and skip remote control

• US 7,116,891 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2004
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Borden, lV, George R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chevalier, Robert
• Application Number:
  US10/786,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20050024545A1
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 386/46, 386/86, 386/68, 386/69, 386/66, 386/6, 386/7, 386/124, 386/125, 386/126, 348/14.05, 348/211.99, 348/734, 348/735, 379/102.01
• US Class Current: 386/343
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/023 remotely controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/783 Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate

Abstract

A remote control that includes multiple fast forward modes and a skip mode.

Claims

1. A remote control with a button comprising:

(a) said button operatively interconnected to a video device;

(b) operating said button for a first duration less than a first threshold duration resulting in skipping a portion of a video of said video device;

(c) operating said button for a second duration less than a second threshold duration resulting in fast forwarding said video at a first rate;

(d) operating said button for a third duration less than a third threshold duration resulting in fast forwarding said video at a second rate, wherein said second rate is faster than said first rate, wherein said first rate and said second rate is greater than a normal playback rate for said video device.

2. The remote control of claim 1 wherein said button is operated by pushing.

3. The remote control of claim 1 wherein said video device is a personal video recorder.

4. The remote control of claim 1 wherein said first threshold duration is less than said second threshold duration.

5. The remote control of claim 4 wherein said second threshold duration is less than said third threshold duration.

6. The remote control of claim 1 wherein releasing said button after said first threshold duration results in fast forwarding said video at said first rate.

7. The remote control of claim 1 wherein releasing said button after said second threshold duration results in fast forwarding said video at said second rate.

8. The remote control of claim 1 wherein releasing said button after said third threshold duration results in fast forwarding said video at a rate greater than said second rate.

9. The remote control of claim 1 wherein pressing another button results in changing to said normal playback rate.

10. A remote control with a button comprising:

(a) said button operatively interconnected to a video device;

(b) operating said button for a first duration less than a first threshold duration resulting in skipping a portion of a video of said video device and thereafter changing to a normal playback rate for said video device;

(c) operating said button for a second duration greater than said first threshold duration and less than a second threshold duration resulting in fast forwarding said video at a first rate, wherein said first rate is greater than said normal playback rate;

(d) operating said button for a third duration greater than said second duration and less than a third threshold duration resulting in fast forwarding said video at a second rate, wherein said second rate is greater than said first rate;

(e) operating said button for a fourth duration greater than said third duration resulting in fast forwarding said video at a third rate, wherein said third rate is greater than said second rate;

(f) pressing another button of said remote control returning said video device to said normal playback rate.