U.S. patent application number 09/893562 was filed with the patent office on 2001-11-01 for home entertainment device remote control.
This patent application is currently assigned to Interlik Electronics, Inc.. Invention is credited to Branton, Steven B., Mossontte, Jeff, Segal, Jack A., Yates, WiIliam Allen.
Application Number | 20010035860 09/893562 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27001930 |
Filed Date | 2001-11-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010035860 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Segal, Jack A. ; et
al. |
November 1, 2001 |
Home entertainment device remote control
Abstract
A remote control for controlling a device having a display
screen provided with a movable object includes a touch pad. The pad
is operable such that the screen is mapped to the pad area. The pad
generates a signal indicative of an operator's touch on the pad. A
controller moves the object on the screen to the location on the
screen corresponding to the location of the touch on the pad. The
pad generates a gesture signal indicative of a gesture performed on
the pad corresponding to a control function. In response to an
operator performing a gesture on the pad the controller controls
the device to enable the control function corresponding to the
gesture performed on the pad.
Inventors: |
Segal, Jack A.; (Oxnard,
CA) ; Yates, WiIliam Allen; (Camarillo, CA) ;
Branton, Steven B.; (Ventura, CA) ; Mossontte,
Jeff; (Oxnard, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
James N. Kallis
Brooks & Kushman P.C.
22nd Floor
1000 Town Center
Southfield
MI
48075-1351
US
|
Assignee: |
Interlik Electronics, Inc.
546 Flynn Road
Camarillo
CA
|
Family ID: |
27001930 |
Appl. No.: |
09/893562 |
Filed: |
June 28, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09893562 |
Jun 28, 2001 |
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09413919 |
Oct 7, 1999 |
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09413919 |
Oct 7, 1999 |
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09363177 |
Jul 29, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
345/173 ;
348/E5.103 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/42204 20130101;
H03J 1/0025 20130101; H03J 2200/26 20130101; H01H 2009/0257
20130101; H04N 21/42224 20130101; H01H 2217/022 20130101; H04N
5/4403 20130101; H04B 1/202 20130101; H04N 2005/443 20130101; G06F
3/03547 20130101; H04N 21/47 20130101; H01H 9/0235 20130101; G06F
3/04883 20130101; H03J 9/06 20130101; A63F 2300/1068 20130101; H04N
2005/4408 20130101; H01H 2217/014 20130101; H04N 21/42208 20130101;
G06F 3/0488 20130101; H01H 2223/04 20130101; H04N 5/44582 20130101;
H01H 2239/016 20130101; A63F 2300/1075 20130101; G06F 1/1626
20130101; H01H 2239/066 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/173 |
International
Class: |
G09G 005/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A remote control for controlling a home entertainment device
having a display screen provided with a movable object, the remote
control comprising: a touch pad having a surface area for an
operator to touch, wherein the touch pad is operable with the
display screen such that the display screen is mapped to the touch
pad surface area, wherein the touch pad generates a signal in
response to an operator touching the touch pad surface area, the
signal being indicative of the location of the touch on the touch
pad surface area; and a controller operable with the touch pad for
receiving a signal from the touch pad in response to an operator
touching the touch pad surface area, wherein in response to an
operator touching the touch pad surface area the controller moves
the movable object on the display screen to the location on the
display screen corresponding to the location of the touch on the
touch pad surface area.
2. The remote control of claim 1 wherein: the controller moves the
movable object on the display screen to the location on the display
screen corresponding to the location of the touch on the touch pad
surface area independent of the location of the movable object on
the display screen prior to the touch on the touch pad surface
area.
3. The remote control of claim 1 wherein: the touch pad generates a
gesture signal in response to a gesture performed on the touch pad
surface area, the gesture signal being indicative of the gesture
performed on the touch pad surface area, each gesture performed on
the touch pad surface area corresponding to a home entertainment
device control function, wherein the controller is operable with
the touch pad for receiving a gesture signal from the touch pad in
response to an operator performing a gesture on the touch pad
surface area, wherein in response to an operator performing a
gesture on the touch pad surface area the controller controls the
home entertainment device to enable the control function
corresponding to the gesture performed on the touch pad surface
area.
4. The remote control of claim 1 wherein: the controller controls
the home entertainment device to enable a control function
corresponding to the location of the movable object on the display
screen in response to an operator touching the touch pad surface
area.
5. The remote control of claim 4 further comprising: a selection
actuator operable with the controller, wherein the controller
controls the home entertainment device to enable a control function
corresponding to the location of the movable object on the display
screen in response to an operator touching the touch pad surface
area and actuating the selection actuator.
6. The remote control of claim 4 wherein: the controller controls
the home entertainment device to enable a control function
corresponding to the location of the movable object on the display
screen in response to an operator touching the touch pad surface
area and then removing the touch from the touch pad surface
area.
7. The remote control of claim 1 wherein: the display screen
includes an electronic program guide listing programming choices,
the electronic program guide mapped to the touch pad surface area,
wherein the controller controls the home entertainment device to
select a programming choice corresponding to the location of the
movable object on the electronic programming guide in response to
an operator touching the touch pad surface area.
8. The remote control of claim 1 wherein: the display screen
includes a menu listing control functions for the home
entertainment device, the menu mapped to the touch pad surface
area, wherein the controller controls the home entertainment device
to select a control function for the home entertainment device
corresponding to the location of the movable object on the menu in
response to an operator touching the touch pad surface area.
9. The remote control of claim 1 wherein: the display screen
includes a keyboard having alphanumeric keys, the keyboard mapped
to the touch pad surface area, wherein the controller controls the
home entertainment device to select an alphanumeric key
corresponding to the location of the movable object on the menu in
response to an operator touching the touch pad surface area.
10. A method for controlling a home entertainment device having a
display screen provided with a movable object, the method
comprising: touching a touch pad of a remote control, wherein the
display screen is mapped to the touch pad; generating a touch
signal indicative of the location of the touch on the touch pad;
transmitting the touch signal; receiving the transmitted touch
signal; and moving the movable object on the display screen to the
location on the display screen corresponding to the location of the
touch on the touch pad in response to receiving the touch
signal.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein: moving the movable object on
the display screen includes moving the movable object on the
display screen to the location on the display screen corresponding
to the location of the touch on the touch pad independent of the
location of the movable object on the display screen prior to the
touch on the touch pad.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein: performing a gesture on the
touch pad; generating a gesture signal based on the gesture
performed on the touch pad; transmitting the gesture signal;
receiving the transmitted gesture signal; and determining a home
entertainment device control signal based on the gesture
signal.
13. The method of claim 10 wherein: controlling the home
entertainment device to enable a control function corresponding to
the location of the movable object on the display screen in
response to a touch signal.
14. The method of claim 10 wherein the display screen includes an
electronic program guide listing programming choices, the
electronic program guide mapped to the touch pad, the method
further comprising: controlling the home entertainment device to
select a programming choice corresponding to the location of the
movable object on the electronic programming guide in response to a
touch signal.
15. The method of claim 10 wherein the display screen includes a
menu listing control functions for the home entertainment device,
the menu mapped to the touch pad, the method further comprising:
controlling the home entertainment device to select a control
function for the home entertainment device corresponding to the
location of the movable object on the menu in response to a touch
signal.
16. The method of claim 10 wherein the display screen includes a
keyboard having alphanumeric keys, the keyboard mapped to the touch
pad, the method further comprising: controlling the home
entertainment device to select an alphanumeric key corresponding to
the location of the movable object on the menu in response to a
touch signal.
17. A method for controlling a home entertainment device configured
for at least one of cable video programming, Internet browsing,
Internet telephony, video cassette recording, and stereo receiving,
the home entertainment device having a display screen provided with
a movable object, the method comprising: touching a touch pad of a
remote control, wherein the display screen is mapped absolutely to
the touch pad; generating a touch signal indicative of the location
of the touch on the touch pad; transmitting the touch signal from
the remote control to the home entertainment device; receiving the
transmitted touch signal at the home entertainment device from the
remote control; and moving the movable object on the display screen
to the location on the display screen corresponding to the location
of the touch on the touch pad in response to receiving the touch
signal irrespective to the location of the movable object prior to
receiving the touch signal.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/413,919, filed on Oct. 7, 1999, entitled
"Home Entertainment Device Remote Control" which is a
continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 09/363,177, filed on Jul. 29, 1999, entitled "Remote Computer
Input Peripheral."
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention generally relates to remote controls
for controlling home entertainment devices and, more particularly,
to a remote control having a touch pad for controlling a home
entertainment device.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] Other than being remote, home entertainment (HE) device
remote controls are generally despised by human operators for a
variety of reasons. There are many reasons why HE remote controls
are not liked. HE remote controls are based on a button-centric
paradigm and usually contain too many buttons. This crowded
geography causes considerable confusion and intimidation and makes
it difficult to find the desired button. It is often dark in the
room in which HE remote controls are used. This makes it difficult
or impossible to read the legends on the crowded button layout.
[0004] Normal home entertainment viewing takes place at a distance
of 3 meters or more and the display being viewed is usually quite
large such as a TV having a diagonal viewing surface falling
between 27" to 72". The legends on HE remote controls are usually
twelve point type or smaller. For many operators, changing viewing
distance requires changing glasses or putting on reading
glasses.
[0005] Enhanced TV and related applications require the extensive
use of graphic user interfaces (GUI) and on-screen displays/menus.
An enhanced TV is a TV configured for cable video programming,
Internet browsing, Internet telephony, video cassette recording,
stereo receiving, and the like. The operator has to navigate
through various menus to use enhanced TV. Using up, down, right,
and left arrow keys to navigate these menus is difficult, slow, and
frustrating. The increasing number of television channels has given
rise to the electronic program guide (EPG). Because an EPG is a
dense grid of selections, using arrow keys to navigate is even more
difficult.
[0006] Interactive television requires text entry. The current
solution, a wireless keyboard, is undesirable in a living room
because many people cannot type, the keyboard does not fit the
decor of the living room, there is no place to set the keyboard
down to type on it, and people simply refuse to have computer
related material in living rooms. In addition, typing is associated
with work and is not desired to be in a room devoted to
entertainment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a remote control having a touch pad that recognizes
gestures performed on the touch pad for controlling a home
entertainment (HE) device.
[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
remote control having a touch pad operable with a display screen
for displaying a gesture performed on the touch pad.
[0009] It is a further object of the present invention to provide
an HE remote control having a touch pad operable with a display
screen for displaying a gesture performed on the touch pad in which
the display screen is mapped to the touch pad so that a gesture
performed on the touch pad surface area is scaled correspondingly
on to the display screen.
[0010] It is still another object of the present invention to
provide an HE remote control having a touch pad operable with a
display screen for providing an indication of an enabled home
entertainment device control function corresponding to a gesture
performed on the touch pad.
[0011] It is still a further object of the present invention to
provide an HE remote control having a touch pad operable with a
home entertainment device display screen provided with a movable
object such that in response to an operator touching the touch pad
the movable object is moved to the location of the display screen
corresponding to the location of the touch on the touch pad.
[0012] It is still yet another object of the present invention to
provide an HE remote control having a touch pad operable with a
home entertainment device display screen provided with a movable
object such that in response to an operator touching the touch pad
the movable object is moved to the location of the display screen
corresponding to the location of the touch on the touch pad thereby
enabling a control function corresponding to the location of the
movable object on the display screen for controlling an HE
device.
[0013] It is still yet a further object of the present invention to
provide an HE remote control having a touch pad operable with a
display screen provided with an electronic program guide listing
programming choices.
[0014] Still, it is still yet another object of the present
invention to provide an HE remote control having a touch pad
operable with a display screen provided with a menu listing control
functions for an HE device.
[0015] Still, it is still a further object of the present invention
to provide an HE remote control having a touch pad operable with a
keyboard provided with alphanumeric keys for controlling an HE
device.
[0016] In carrying out the above objects and other objects, the
present invention provides a remote control for controlling a home
entertainment device. The remote control includes a touch pad
having a surface area for an operator to touch for performing a
gesture thereon. The touch pad generates a signal in response to a
gesture performed on the touch pad surface area. The signal is
indicative of the gesture performed on the touch pad surface area.
Each gesture performed on the touch pad surface area corresponds to
a home entertainment device control function. A controller is
operable with the touch pad for receiving a signal from the touch
pad in response to a gesture performed on the touch pad surface
area. In response to receiving a signal from the touch pad the
controller controls the home entertainment device to enable the
control function corresponding to the gesture performed on the
touch pad surface area.
[0017] Further, in carrying out the above objects and other
objects, the present invention provides a remote control for
controlling a home entertainment device having a display screen
provided with a movable object. The remote control includes a touch
pad having a surface area for an operator to touch. The touch pad
is operable with the display screen such that the display screen is
mapped to the touch pad surface area. The touch pad generates a
signal in response to an operator touching the touch pad surface
area. The signal is indicative of the location of the touch on the
touch pad surface area. A controller is operable with the touch pad
for receiving a signal from the touch pad in response to an
operator touching the touch pad surface area. In response to an
operator touching the touch pad surface area the controller moves
the movable object on the display screen to the location on the
display screen corresponding to the location of the touch on the
touch pad surface area.
[0018] These and other features, aspects, and embodiments of the
present invention will become better understood with regard to the
following description, appended claims, and accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a remote control for
controlling a home entertainment device in accordance with the
present invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates a table showing two gesture sets with
corresponding home entertainment device control functions;
[0021] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a remote control
for controlling a home entertainment device in accordance with the
present invention;
[0022] FIG. 4 illustrates an electronic program guide displayed on
a display screen operable with the remote control for controlling a
home entertainment device;
[0023] FIG. 5 illustrates a menu listing control functions or menu
options for controlling a home entertainment device; and
[0024] FIG. 6 illustrates a keyboard having alphanumeric keys for
controlling a home entertainment device.
BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0025] Referring now to FIG. 1, a block diagram of a remote control
10 for controlling a home entertainment device in accordance with
the present invention is shown. Remote control 10 includes a touch
pad 12, a controller 14, and a display screen 16. Touch pad 12
includes a touch pad surface area for an operator to touch. Touch
pad 12 generates a signal in response to touching by an operator on
the touch pad. The signal is indicative of the location of the
touch on the touch pad. The signal may also be indicative of the
duration and the pressure of the touch on the touch pad for each
location being touched.
[0026] Touch pad 12 is operable with display screen 16 such that
the display screen is mapped to the touch pad. Preferably, display
screen 16 has a larger area than the area of touch pad 12 and the
mapping is scaled as a function of the ratio of the areas. Each
location on touch pad 12 has a corresponding location on display
screen 16. Display screen 16 is preferably the display screen used
by a home entertainment device such as a television screen. Display
screen 16 includes a movable object 18. Display screen 16 may be
separated from the home entertainment device and coupled directly
to touch pad 12.
[0027] Controller 14 is operable with touch pad 12 for receiving a
signal from the touch pad in response to an operator touching the
touch pad. Controller 14 moves movable object 18 on display screen
16 to the location on the display screen corresponding to the
location of the touch on touch pad 12 in response to an operator
touching the touch pad. Controller 12 controls the home
entertainment device to enable a control function corresponding to
the location of movable object 18 on display screen 16 in response
to an operator touching touch pad 12. Controller 14 may be coupled
directly or remotely located from touch pad 12. If remotely
located, touch pad 12 transmits infrared signals to communicate
with controller 14.
[0028] Preferably, controller 14 moves movable object 12 on display
screen 16 to the location on the display screen corresponding to
the location of the touch on touch pad 12 independent of the
location of the movable object on the display screen prior to the
touch on the touch pad. Thus, touch pad 12 is based on absolute
pointing. This means that wherever the operator touches touch pad
12 movable object 18 moves to the corresponding location on display
screen 16, regardless of the location of the movable object prior
to the touch. That is, the touching movement of the operator on
touch pad 12 is mapped absolutely on to display screen 16.
Traditional pointing devices such as a computer mouse use relative
pointing letting the operator move a cursor from one place to
another place on a display screen. That is, the movement of the
operator is mapped relative to the location from where the operator
moved.
[0029] The operator may touch pad 12 to perform a gesture thereon.
A gesture performed on touch pad 12 is a touch that corresponds to
an understood or recognizable pattern. In response to a gesture
performed on touch pad 12, the touch pad generates a gesture
signal. The gesture signal is indicative of the gesture performed
on the touch pad. Each gesture performed on touch pad 12
corresponds to a home entertainment device control function.
Controller 14 is operable with touch pad 12 for receiving a gesture
signal from the touch pad in response to an operator performing a
gesture on the touch pad. In response to an operator performing a
gesture on touch pad 12 controller 14 controls the home
entertainment device to enable the control function corresponding
to the gesture performed on the touch pad.
[0030] Referring now to FIG. 2, a table 20 illustrating two sets of
gestures 22, 24 is shown. Gestures 22,24 correspond to a set of
home entertainment device control functions 26. The set of home
entertainment device control functions 26 are used for controlling
a television and a video cassette recorder (VCR). For instance, a
gesture may be a stroke from right to left on touch pad 12 as shown
in line 9 of gesture set 22. This gesture corresponds to a control
function for playing the VCR. Another gesture may be a stroke from
left to right on touch pad 12 as shown in line 8 of gesture set 22.
This gesture corresponds to a control function for changing the
channel on the television to the previous channel.
[0031] A stroke on touch pad 12 constitutes all of the points
crossed by an operator's finger or stylus on the touch pad while
the finger or stylus is in continuous contact with the touch pad.
Where the stroke has an X and Y displacement, the direction of the
displacement is indicated in FIG. 2 by the arrowhead at the end of
the stroke. A "T" enclosed in a square represents a tap on touch
pad 12. An "H" enclosed in a square represents a hold on touch pad
12. Both the tap and hold do not have X and Y components. The tap
and hold are differentiated from one another by time. A tap is an
instantaneous touch on touch pad 12. A hold is a non-instantaneous
touch on touch pad 12.
[0032] For example, a gesture may be a stroke from the right to the
left followed by a hold as shown in line 2 of gesture set 22. This
gesture corresponds to a control function for turning up the volume
of the television. A gesture may be a tap as shown in line 11 of
gesture set 22. This gesture corresponds to stopping the VCR.
Similarly, a gesture may be a series of taps as shown in line 10 of
gesture sets 21, 22. This gesture corresponds to pausing the
VCR.
[0033] In general, gestures include one or more strokes.
Multi-stroke gestures are shown in FIG. 2 in the order the strokes
are performed on touch pad 12. Recognition of a gesture by touch
pad 12 does not depend on the relative position of successive
strokes on the touch pad. Of course, alternate gesture sets may be
used to replace the gesture sets shown or to correspond with
different home entertainment device control functions.
[0034] Gestures may also be alphanumeric characters traced on touch
pad 12. For instance, an operator may trace "9" on touch pad 12 to
change the television channel to channel "9". The operator may also
trace "M" to mute the volume of the television or trace "P" to play
the VCR.
[0035] Using gestures to control home entertainment devices has
many advantages. The operator has access to commands with no need
to look at remote control 10. Gestures decrease the number of
buttons on remote control 10. Remote control 10 can be upgraded
simply by adding recognizable gestures. Hardware changes are not
required meaning that there is no need to add, subtract, or change
physical buttons or legends.
[0036] Referring now to FIG. 3, a perspective view of a remote
control 30 for controlling home entertainment devices in accordance
with the present invention is shown. Remote control 30 includes a
touch pad surface area 32, a plurality of exposed control buttons
34, and a plurality of embedded control buttons 36. Control buttons
34 and 26 are used in conjunction with touch pad 12 and are
operable with controller 12 for selecting a control function for
controlling a home entertainment device.
[0037] In general, an operator uses touch pad 12 to point or move
movable object 18 to an on screen option displayed on display
screen 16. The operator then uses control buttons 34 and 36 to
select the option being pointed at by movable object 18 on display
screen 16. Remote control 30 is useful for harmonious bimodal
operation. In this mode, the operator uses one hand on touch pad 12
to point to an option on display screen 16. The operator uses the
other hand to hold remote control 30 and to make a selection by
actuating a control button 34, 36.
[0038] Remote control 30 may also be configured for one handed
operation. In this mode, control buttons 34, 36 are not needed. One
handed operation allows the operator to keep one hand free for
other purposes. For instance, to hold a drink while watching
television. To select an option, one finger is used on touch pad 12
to point to an option while another finger on the touch pad is used
on the touch pad to select the option. Another way to select an
option is to have one finger on touch pad 12 to point to an option
and then lifting that finger from the touch pad to select the
option.
[0039] Referring now to FIG. 4, an electronic program guide (EPG)
40 displayed on display screen 16 is shown. EPG 40 lists
programming choices 42. EPG 40 is displayed in a grid form with
television channels displayed from top to bottom with program start
times from left to right. EPG 40 is mapped to touch pad 12. When
EPG 40 first appears on display screen 16, the current channel is
highlighted. When the operator touches touch pad 12, the directly
corresponding program on display screen 16 is highlighted. For
example, if the operator touches the center of touch pad 12 then
the program nearest the center of display screen 16, i.e., EPG 40,
becomes highlighted. If the operator touches the extreme upper left
corner of touch pad 12, the upper most, left most program becomes
highlighted.
[0040] If the operator slides his finger to a different area of
touch pad 12, the currently highlighted program stays highlighted
until the finger reaches an area of the touch pad that corresponds
to a different program. The different program is then highlighted.
When the operator reaches the desired program, he may use one of
the selecting methods described above to select the program or
perform a control function. If the operator lifts his finger from
touch pad 12 and touches a different area, another directly
corresponding area is highlighted.
[0041] Referring now to FIG. 5, a menu 50 listing control functions
or menu options for a home entertainment device such as a VCR is
shown. As shown in FIG. 5, the VCR control functions or menu
options include Play, Stop, Pause, etc. Menu 50 is mapped to touch
pad 12. When an operator touches touch pad 12, the directly
corresponding menu option is highlighted. For example, if the
operator touches the center of touch pad 12, the menu option
nearest the center of display screen 16 becomes highlighted. In
general, highlighting and selecting control functions for menu 50
is performed similarly with respect to the highlighting and
selecting methods associated with EPG 40. The advantages of using
touch pad 12 for selecting options in menu 50 is that it is easier
and faster to use than arrow keys or mouse/cursor menus; it
decreases the button clutter that some button menus suffer from;
and it is not necessary to look at the remote control to select an
option.
[0042] Referring now to FIG. 6, a keyboard 70 having alphanumeric
keys for a home entertainment device is shown. Keyboard 70 is
mapped to touch pad 12. When an operator touches touch pad 12, the
directly corresponding keyboard key is highlighted. For example, if
the operator touches the center of touch pad 12, the "G" becomes
highlighted. If the operator touches the upper left corner of touch
pad 12, then "Q" becomes highlighted. Preferably, there are two
ways to use keyboard 70. The first method is based on harmonious
bimodal operation. An operator places his finger on touch pad 12
and then slides his finger until the desired key is highlighted.
The operator then selects the desired key by pressing a control
button 34, 36 without lifting his finger from touch pad 12. In the
second method, the operator places his finger onto touch pad 12 as
close as possible to the area corresponding to the desired key. The
operator then lifts his finger from touch pad 12 to select the
desired key.
[0043] Thus it is apparent that there has been provided, in
accordance with the present invention, a remote control for
controlling a home entertainment device that fully satisfies the
objects, aims, and advantages set forth above. While the present
invention has been described in conjunction with specific
embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives,
modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in
the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is
intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and
variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the
appended claims.
* * * * *