Remote control with feedback for blind navigation

• US 9,591,250 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2011
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Madison Patent Holdings (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Walker, Mark Leroy
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael
• Application Number:
  US14/349,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20140232944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,966 Days
• Field of Search: 348/734, 348/569, 340/12.22, 340/12.29, 340/12.54, 340/12.55, 340/13.21, 340/13.31, 340/13.32, 345156-158, 345/169
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations

Abstract

A user is provided with an indication of a button'"'"'s functionality on a viewing device before the button is actually selected. The user receives haptic/tactile feedback to let the user know that they are about to select a button and that its functionality indicator is shown on the viewing device. Thus, the haptic or tactile feedback in combination with on-screen display elements is utilized in a remote control device to eliminate the need for shifting focus away from a viewing device.

Claims

1. A control device that controls a viewing experience, the control device comprising:

at least one button and a plurality of interaction modes for interacting with the at least one button, the plurality of interaction modes including a select mode and a proximity mode, the control device is configured to;

initiate a display of at least one on-screen indicator on a viewing device, when the proximity mode is detected via a button on the control device, wherein the at least one on-screen indicator represents a function associated with the button;

generate a first haptic feedback, when the proximity mode is detected via the button; and

generate a second haptic feedback different from the first haptic feedback and execute the function associated with the button, when activation of the button is detected;

wherein when a given button is programmable and not configured, and the proximity mode or select mode of the given button has been activated, the control device is further configured to display on the viewing device one or more possible functions of the given button in a programmed state.

2. The control device of claim 1, wherein detection of the proximity mode includes detection of a hovering over the button or a touch of the button without depressing the button.

3. The control device of claim 1, wherein the at least one on-screen indicator on the viewing device indicates one or more functions for controlling the viewing experience, the one or more functions being associated with the button of the control device.

7. The control device of claim 1, wherein the viewing device is configured to display, when the proximity mode has been detected, the at least one on-screen indicator associated with the button on the control device.

4. A method for controlling a viewing experience with a control device having at least one button, which comprises a plurality of interaction modes for interacting with the at least one button, including a select mode and a proximity mode, the method comprising:

initiating, by the control device, a display of at least one on-screen indicator on a viewing device when the proximity mode of a button on the control device is detected, wherein the at least one on-screen indicator represents a function associated with the button;

generating, by the control device, a first haptic feedback, when the proximity mode is detected via the button;

generating, by the control device, a second haptic feedback different from the first haptic feedback, when activation of the button is detected;

executing, by the control device, the function associated with the button, when activation of the button is detected; and

displaying on the viewing device one or more possible functions of a given button in a programmed state, when the given button is programmable and not configured, and the proximity mode or select mode of the given button has been activated.

9. The method of claim 4, further comprising detecting a hovering over the button or a touch of the button without depressing the button.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one on-screen indicator on the viewing device indicates one or more functions for controlling the viewing experience, the one or more functions being associated with button of the control device.

5. A system that controls a viewing experience, the system comprising:

a control device for selecting a function associated with controlling the viewing experience, the control device having at least one button and a plurality of interaction modes for interacting with the at least one button, the plurality of interaction modes including a select mode and a proximity mode, the control device is configured to;

initiate a display of at least one on-screen indicator on a viewing device when the proximity mode is detected via a button on the control device, wherein the at least one on-screen indicator represents a function associated with the button;

generate a first haptic feedback, when the proximity mode is detected via the button;

generate a second haptic feedback different from the first haptic feedback and execute the function associated with the button, when activation of the button is detected; and

when the proximity mode is activated and the button is programmable and not configured, display on the viewing device a list of possible functionality indicators of the button, wherein the proximity mode is activated without depressing the button.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the control device initiates the on-screen indicator on the viewing device and the haptic feedback when hovering is detected over the button.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein a hovering input initiates the proximity mode, the at least one on-screen indicator providing feedback to indicate a function of a plurality of functions for controlling the viewing experience without depressing the button, and wherein the select mode executes the function associated with the controlling of the viewing experience.