Context aware dynamic interface

• US 9,088,812 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2009
• Issued: 07/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Plejd AB
• Original Assignee: Plejd AB
• Inventors: Calissendorff, Erik
• Primary Examiner(s): Pesin, Boris
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUERTAS TORRES, AYESHA E
• Application Number:
  US13/000,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20110131506A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,238 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/462 Content or additional data management, e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end, controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver

Abstract

A method performed in a transmitter operable to provide multiple functions, comprising identifying available functions, receiving input relating to a current user context, based on said context, selecting a subset of functions from said available functions, and dynamically generating said user interface, said user interface arranged to present user activatable items representing each of the functions in said subset, and, upon activation of one of said items, performing a function associated with said item in accordance with said user context. A system with a transmitter adapted to perform the method. The disclosed method and system creates a fully dynamic user interface where the context and user should be able to define what should be available where in the interface without additional programming.

Claims

1. A method performed in a mobile transmitter operable to

provide multiple functions for remote control of a controllable electronic equipment, said method comprising:

identifying available functions, wherein each function is provided for controlling a functionality to be performed by the controllable electronic equipment,

receiving input relating to a current user context, wherein said user context includes a physical location of said mobile transmitter, wherein the physical location is determined by the mobile transmitter,

based on said context, selecting a subset of functions from said available functions, and dynamically generating said user interface, said user interface arranged to present user activatable items for the controllable electronic equipment to be controlled, representing each of the functions in said subset, and

upon activation of one of said items, performing a function associated with said item in accordance with said user context, thereby controlling the corresponding functionality of the controllable electronic equipment,

wherein said user interface is automatically adapted when the mobile transmitter determines a change in the physical location of the mobile transmitter.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said subset is further limited based on user preferences received by the transmitter.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said user interface can be operated in a consistent way regardless of which functions that are available, the consistency of the user interface being dependent on a common presentation model for all available functions.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein a result from an activated item is used to activate another item.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said user interface is arranged to present at least one selector, said transmitter being programmed to, upon activation of said selector, activate a plurality of items, associated with said selector, simultaneously or in sequence.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitter is adapted to transmit commands to a plurality of controllers, and said physical location of said transmitter is in relation to said plurality of controllers.

6. A system for enabling user interaction with controllable electronic equipment, comprising:

a plurality of controllers, each connected to a piece of controllable electronic equipment and adapted to control said piece of controllable electronic equipment,

a mobile transmitter, adapted to transmit commands to said controllers for remote control of the controllable electronic equipment,

said transmitter being adapted to;

identify available functions, wherein each function is provided for controlling a functionality to be performed by the controllable electronic equipment,

receive input relating to a current user context, wherein said user context includes a physical location of said mobile transmitter, wherein the physical location is determined by the mobile transmitter,

based on said user context, select a subset of functions from said available functions, and to dynamically generate said user interface, said user interface arranged to present user activatable items for the controllable electronic equipment to be controlled, representing each of the functions in said subset,

wherein said transmitter is programmed to, upon activation of one of said items, perform a function associated with said item in accordance with said user context, thereby controlling the corresponding functionality of the controllable electronic equipment, and

wherein said user interface is automatically adapted when the mobile transmitter determines a change in the physical location of the mobile transmitter.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the transmitter and the controllers are arranged to communicate by means of a network.

9. The system according to claim 6, wherein said physical location of said transmitter is in relation to said plurality of controllers.