U.S. patent application number 11/621976 was filed with the patent office on 2007-07-26 for remote control method having gui function, and system using the same.
Invention is credited to Jeong Hyun Kim.
Application Number | 20070174869 11/621976 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 19715030 |
Filed Date | 2007-07-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070174869 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim; Jeong Hyun |
July 26, 2007 |
REMOTE CONTROL METHOD HAVING GUI FUNCTION, AND SYSTEM USING THE
SAME
Abstract
A remote control method and system embody a graphic user
interface. The present invention includes a remote controller
having a touch pad and a digital television having a GUI. That is,
a viewer can select a menu displayed on the digital television by
using the touch pad. It is thus possible to overcome control
limitations of the remote controller, namely complexity of the
rapidly-developed functions of the television. In addition, the
viewer can watch menus displayed on the screen of the digital
television, operate the touch pad and execute a wanted control
operation. As a result, the viewer can easily conveniently control
the digital television through simple operations of the remote
controller.
Inventors: |
Kim; Jeong Hyun;
(Seongnam-si, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LEE, HONG, DEGERMAN, KANG & SCHMADEKA
660 S. FIGUEROA STREET
Suite 2300
LOS ANGELES
CA
90017
US
|
Family ID: |
19715030 |
Appl. No.: |
11/621976 |
Filed: |
January 10, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10268187 |
Oct 10, 2002 |
7174518 |
|
|
11621976 |
Jan 10, 2007 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
725/37 ; 348/734;
348/E5.103; 725/38 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 2005/443 20130101;
H04N 21/47 20130101; H04N 21/42224 20130101; H04N 5/4403 20130101;
H04N 21/47217 20130101; H04N 21/4828 20130101; G06F 3/0482
20130101; H04N 5/44582 20130101; H04N 21/485 20130101; H04N 5/44543
20130101; H04N 21/42204 20130101; G06F 3/03547 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
725/037 ;
725/038; 348/734 |
International
Class: |
H04N 5/44 20060101
H04N005/44; G06F 13/00 20060101 G06F013/00; G06F 3/00 20060101
G06F003/00; H04N 5/445 20060101 H04N005/445 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 11, 2001 |
KR |
2001-0062645 |
Claims
1-14. (canceled)
15. A method for remotely controlling a graphic user interface
(GUI) on a display screen, the method comprising: displaying a
pointer on a display screen, in response to a user interacting with
a remote control device wirelessly communicating with a GUI
controller of the display screen; and selecting an option from a
GUI menu displayed on the display screen, in response to a user
interacting with a pointing mechanism embedded in the remote
control device, wherein the user controls position of the pointer
on the display screen by interacting with the pointing
mechanism.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising performing an
operation related to content displayed on the display screen, in
response to the user selecting an option from the GUI menu.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein the pointing mechanism is a
touchpad.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein the display device is a
television set.
19. The method of claim 15, wherein the GUI menu provides options
for allowing a user to select a broadcast content to view.
20. The method claim 15, wherein the GUI menu provides options for
allowing a user to interact with a DVR control menu comprising at
least one of a play button, a stop button, a fast forward button
and a fast rewind button.
21. A method for remotely communicating with a display screen, the
method comprising: displaying a pointer on a display screen, in
response to a user interacting with a remote control device
wirelessly communicating with a controller of the display screen;
and selecting an object displayed on the screen, in response to a
user interacting with a pointing mechanism embedded in the remote
control device, wherein the user control position of the pointer on
the display screen by interacting with the pointing mechanism.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the object is a feature of a
graphic user interface (GUI) menu.
23. The method of claim 21, wherein the object is associated with
content displayed on the display screen.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein the content is provided to the
display screen, in response to a signal received from a video
content provider.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a remote control method and
system, which can provide a digital television for embodying a
user-friendly GUI environment by using a remote controller having a
touch pad.
[0003] 2. Background of the Related Art
[0004] Recently, a lot of viewers have been fascinated by a
television due to visual attraction of the television which is an
image medium for transmitting image information including a variety
of contents.
[0005] In addition, an increasing number of viewers use a video
cassette recorder (VCR) which stores image information in a
magnetic tape and allows the viewers to repeatedly watch it in a
wanted time.
[0006] A digital television taking advantages of the television and
VCR have been rapidly spread. Differently from the VCR which stores
image information in the magnetic tape, the digital television
includes a next generation recording device for installing a hard
disk drive (HDD) in a settop box or television body, and storing a
real-time broadcasting program of the television in the HDD.
Therefore, the viewers can watch the broadcasting program stored in
the HDD anytime, and also can edit it to create their own
programs.
[0007] The digital television includes a CPU for controlling the
whole television, a ROM for storing an operating system and a
playback software, and an HDD which is a large capacity storing
medium.
[0008] In basic functions, the digital television which temporarily
stores a program from a broadcasting station and replays it later
is not that different from the general VCR. However, since the
digital television uses the HDD instead of the magnetic tape, it
removes deformation of the magnetic tape and easily detects and
edits a wanted part.
[0009] In addition, the digital television is linked to an
electronic program guide (EPD) function for frequently receiving a
recent schedule of broadcasting programs and reservation-recording
wanted programs. In the reservation recording, the viewer can
easily operate the television merely by selecting a wanted menu of
the broadcasting menus displayed on the screen. Moreover, the
digital television can simultaneously record a few programs,
instantaneously stop a live program, or repeatedly replay a
previous scene.
[0010] The digital television basically supports a replay function
and is linked to broadcasting service companies for allowing the
viewers to interactively watch programs.
[0011] As described above, the digital television is added with a
variety of functions for providing lots of information to the
viewers.
[0012] However, key operations for controlling each function are
too complicated for young or aged people to conveniently use the
digital television.
[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional remote controller
including number keys and menu keys. Referring to FIG. 1, the
conventional remote controller has a restricted number of menu keys
due to its limited size. Therefore, in order to perform control
operations for complicated functions of the digital television, the
same menu key is pressed several times.
[0014] That is, complicated key operations are essential to execute
an increasing number of functions of the digital television. As a
result, the remote controller cannot cope with difficult control
operations of the general digital television or other image
media.
[0015] Especially, the digital television needs frequent
interactive controls of the viewers. Such complicated key
operations prevent the viewers from using the functions of the
digital television.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] An object of the invention is to solve at least the above
problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the
advantages described hereinafter.
[0017] Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to solve
the foregoing problems by providing a remote control method and
system which embodies a graphic user interface.
[0018] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
remote controller including a touch pad for controlling a graphic
user interface.
[0019] The foregoing and other objects and advantages are achieved
by providing a remote control method including a GUI function which
includes: transmitting, at a remote control means, a touch pad
signal mode set up by a button key operation of a viewer to an
image display means; displaying, at the image display means, menu
selection information in a window type in a GUI environment
according to the touch pad signal mode; transmitting, at the remote
control means, a touch control signal generated by a touch pad
contact of the viewer to the image display means; and executing, at
the image display means, the displayed menu selection information
according to the touch control signal.
[0020] The remote control method including the GUI function further
includes a step for the image display means to distinguish the
touch pad signal mode and button signal mode received from the
remote control means, and supply them to a corresponding control
unit.
[0021] The menu selection information includes a main manual for
allowing the viewer to select a menu and a pointer for designating
the menu selected by the viewer.
[0022] The touch control signal is a movement position signal
having movement distance/direction information of the pointer
generated when the viewer moves by a predetermined distance in a
state where he/she maintains a first contact position to the touch
pad.
[0023] In addition, the touch control signal is a menu selection
signal generated when the viewer maintains the first contact
position to the touch pad over a predetermined time, or when he/she
continuously contacts the first position to the touch pad.
[0024] According to another aspect of the invention, a remote
control system including a GUI function includes: a remote control
means having a button processing unit for generating a button
signal in response to a button key press of a viewer; a touch pad
control unit for generating a touch control signal in response to a
touch pad contact of the viewer; and a signal transmitting unit for
remotely transmitting the signals from the button processing unit
or touch pad control unit, and an image display means having a
signal receiving unit for receiving the signals from the signal
transmitting unit; a signal control unit for receiving the signals
from the signal receiving unit and distinguishing modes of each
signal; an image control unit for executing the operation according
to a button signal included in the button signal mode, when the
mode distinguished by the signal control unit is a button signal
mode; and a GUI control unit for displaying a main manual and a
pointer on the screen in a GUI environment, and controlling the
pointer according to a touch pad operation of the viewer, when the
mode distinguished by the signal control unit is a touch pad signal
mode, wherein the pointer is moved corresponding to be moved from a
reference position of the touch pad.
[0025] The GUI control unit performs the control operation to
recognize characters which the viewer inputs to the touch pad and
to search information corresponding to the characters.
[0026] The remote control means varies the previously-set button
signal mode into the touch pad signal mode and enables the touch
pad control unit, when the viewer selects a menu button key among
the button keys.
[0027] According to another aspect of the invention, a remote
controller for remotely controlling a digital television includes:
a button unit having a plurality of button keys including a menu
button key for enabling a touch pad at its one side; the touch pad
installed at the other side of the button unit, and contacted by a
viewer for executing menu selection information displayed on the
digital television; a button key control unit for varying a
previously-set button signal mode into a touch pad signal mode
according to a menu button key operation of the viewer; a touch pad
control unit for generating a touch control signal including a
movement position signal and a menu selection signal according to a
touch pad contact of the viewer; and a signal transmitting unit for
remotely transmitting the touch pad signal mode from the button key
control unit or the touch control signal from the touch pad control
unit to the digital television.
[0028] Additional advantages, objects, and features of the
invention will be set forth in part in the description which
follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary
skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be
learned from practice of the invention. The objects and advantages
of the invention may be realized and attained as particularly
pointed out in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] The invention will be described in detail with reference to
the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to
like elements wherein:
[0030] FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional remote controller;
[0031] FIG. 2 illustrates a remote controller having a touch pad in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0032] FIG. 3 is a structure view illustrating a remote control
system which embodies a graphic user interface in accordance with
the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a remote control method which
embodies the graphic user interface in accordance with the
preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 5 shows a main picture for control by the touch pad in
accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0035] FIG. 6 shows a picture for selecting a search menu in the
main picture of FIG. 5;
[0036] FIG. 7 shows a picture for selecting a stream control menu
in the main picture of FIG. 5; and
[0037] FIG. 8 shows a picture for selecting a broadcasting guide
menu in the main picture of FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0038] The following detailed description will present a remote
control method having a GUI function and a system using the same
according to a preferred embodiment of the invention in reference
to the accompanying drawings.
[0039] FIG. 2 illustrates a remote controller having a touch pad in
accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows an external appearance of the remote controller and
FIG. 3 shows detailed additional hardware. As shown in FIG. 2, the
remote controller includes a touch pad 200 for generating a touch
control signal by a contact of a viewer at its one side, and a
button unit 210 having a plurality of menu keys 214 and number keys
212 at the other side. Here, the plurality of menu keys 214 include
basic keys such as a POWER button key, a MENU button key, a CHANNEL
button key and a VOLUME button key. Among the plurality of menu
keys 214, the MENU button key is used to vary a previously-set
button signal mode into a touch pad signal mode for enabling the
touch pad 200. That is, when the viewer presses the MENU button
key, the button signal mode previously set up as `DEFAULT` for
performing operations of the basic keys is varied into the touch
pad signal mode. Accordingly, the viewer can control al the
functions of the digital television in a GUI environment by using
the touch pad 200 of the remote controller, except for the basic
keys.
[0040] The viewer can input wanted characters or control commands
to the touch pad 200 by using a finger or stylus. Here, a method
for inputting the characters to the touch pad 200 is embodied by
preparing a function of recognizing a writing style of the viewer.
The method for inputting the characters to the touch pad 200 has
been publicly known, and thus explanations thereof are omitted.
[0041] The touch control signal generated by the contact of the
viewer is divided into a movement position signal and a menu
selection signal. The movement position signal shows movement
distance/direction information of a pointer generated when the
viewer moves by a predetermined distance in a state where he/she
maintains a first contact position to the touch pad 200. The menu
selection signal is generated when the viewer maintains the first
contact position to the touch pad 200 over a predetermined time, or
when he/she continuously contacts tie first contact position to the
touch pad 200.
[0042] As explained above, the button unit 210 is composed of the
plurality of menu keys 214 and number keys 212. The plurality of
menu keys 214 include only menus for executing control operations
by one button key press. Such menus are basic button keys for
controlling the digital television (310 of FIG. 3), for example,
the POWER button key, the MENU button key, the CHANNEL button key
and the VOLUME button key. The number keys 212 include commands for
controlling the digital television instead of the menu keys, so
that the viewer can control the digital television by using
specific number keys.
[0043] FIG. 3 is a structure view illustrating the remote control
system which embodies a graphic user interface in accordance with
the preferred embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated
in FIG. 3, the remote control system includes a remote controller
300, and a digital television 310 for remotely receiving a control
signal from die remote controller 300, performing a corresponding
control operation and displaying the result on the screen in the
GUI environment. Here, the digital television 310 is exemplified,
but any kind of means for displaying the result on the screen in
the GUI environment according to the control signal from the remote
controller 300 can be employed.
[0044] The remote controller 300 includes a button key control unit
301, a touch pad control unit 303 and a signal transmitting unit
305.
[0045] The button key control unit 301 generates a button signal in
response to a press of the plurality of menu keys 214 and number
keys 212 included in the button unit 210 as shown in FIG. 2. When
the MENU button key of the menu keys 214 is pressed, the button key
control unit 301 varies the previously-set button signal mode into
the touch pad signal mode, and transmits it to the digital
television 310 through the signal transmitting unit 305, thereby
controlling the mode selection information including the main
manual and pointer to be displayed on the screen in the GUI
environment. When the mode is varied into the touch pad signal
mode, the touch pad control unit 303 is enabled to recognize the
contract to the touch pad 200.
[0046] When the viewer contacts the touch pad 200, the touch pad
control unit 303 recognizes the contact and generates the
corresponding touch control signal. As explained above, the touch
control signal includes the movement position signal for moving the
pointer in the menu selection information displayed on the screen
of the digital television 310, and the menu selection signal for
selecting a specific menu among the plurality of menus existing in
the main manual of the menu selection information.
[0047] That is, when the viewer contacts a point of the touch pad
200, the touch pad control unit 303 recognizes the position as a
reference position (X, Y) of the pointer. When the viewer maintains
the current contact position, moves by a predetermined distance and
stops in a certain position, the touch pad control unit 303
recognizes the stop position as a final movement position (X', Y').
The touch pad control unit 303 generates the movement position
signal showing the movement distance and direction information by
using the reference position and the final movement position. The
pointer displayed on the screen of the digital television 310 is
moved according to the movement position signal.
[0048] When the pointer displayed on the screen of the digital
television 310 is positioned on the specific menu, if the viewer
intends to select the specific menu, the viewer maintains the
contact state in one position of the touch pad 200 over a
predetermined time, or continuously contacts one position of the
touch pad 200. Accordingly, the touch pad control unit 303
recognizes it as a signal for selecting the specific menu,
generates the menu selection signal, and controls the specific menu
to be executed on the digital television 310.
[0049] The digital television 310 includes a signal receiving unit
311, an amplifying unit 313, a signal control unit 315, an image
control unit 317 and a GUI control unit 319.
[0050] The signal receiving unit 311 receives the control signal
from the remote controller 300, such as the touch pad signal mode,
button signal and touch control signal, and the amplifying unit 313
amplifies the control signal.
[0051] The signal control unit 315 distinguishes the signal mode on
the basis of the control signal amplified in the amplifying unit
313. That is, the signal control unit 315 confirms whether the
control signal is the button signal mode or touch pad signal mode.
Since the button signal mode is generally set up in DEFAULT, the
signal control unit 315 only confirms whether the mode is the touch
pad signal mode. In order to use the touch pad 200, the viewer
should operate the MENU button key of the button unit 210 of the
remote controller 300. Accordingly, the button signal mode is
varied into the touch pad signal mode, and the menu selection
information is displayed on the screen by the signal control unit
315 in the GUI environment through the GUI control unit 319.
[0052] When the control signal inputted to the signal control unit
315 is the button signal mode, the control signal is inputted to
the image control unit 317, for turning on/off power, changing a
channel, or adjusting a volume.
[0053] Conversely, when the control signal is the touch pad signal
mode, the control signal is inputted to the GUI control unit 319 by
the signal control unit 315, and the control operation such as
pointer movement, specific menu selection or character search is
executed according to the control signal. When the viewer inputs a
wanted writing style to the touch pad 200 by contact, the remote
controller 300 recognizes the writing style, generates the touch
control signal, and transmits it to the GUI control unit 319 to
display characters.
[0054] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the remote control method
which embodies the graphic user interface in accordance with the
preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4,
when the viewer intends to use a variety of menu functions of the
digital television 310 in the GUI environment by using the touch
pad 200 of the remote controller 300, the viewer presses the MENU
button key included in the button unit 210 of the remote controller
300. The previously-set button signal mode is varied into the touch
pad signal mode by the MENU button key press of the viewer, thereby
enabling the touch pad control unit 303 (S410). Or, each of control
operation of the digital television (310) can be directly executed
when the viewer touches one of menu keys displayed on the touch pad
(200), without varying into the touch pad signal mode.
[0055] In addition, the remote controller 300 transmits the varied
touch pad signal mode to the digital television 310, and the
digital television 310 displays the menu selection information on
the screen in the GUI environment in response to the touch pad
signal mode (S420). Here, the menu selection information is
preferably displayed in a window type.
[0056] As shown in FIG. 5, the menu selection information is
composed of the main manual selected by the viewer, and a pointer
for selecting and executing a specific menu in the main manual.
That is, the main manual includes a basic menu, a basic control
menu, a search menu, a stream control menu, a broadcasting guide
menu and a help menu. The basic menu may include sub menus such as
a channel setup menu for setting up a channel, an image menu for
adjusting brightness and contrast to protect eyes of the viewer,
and a period control menu.
[0057] The basic control menu may include sub menus such as a
bedtime reservation menu for turning off the digital television 310
after a setup time, and a format menu for formatting the HDD.
[0058] As depicted in FIG. 6, the search menu has input windows for
a broadcasting program title, main actor, director and whole
search. Accordingly, when the viewer selects the search menu by
using the touch pad 200 of the remote controller 300, inputs wanted
characters to each input window, and selects `SEARCH` by moving the
pointer, the image display means searches a broadcasting program
satisfying the conditions input by the viewer among the
broadcasting programs stored in the built-in HDD.
[0059] As explained above, the viewer inputs characters by using
the touch pad 200 and displays the result on the digital television
310. Such a character input method has been used for a personal
digital assistant (PDA). When the characters input by the viewer
through the touch pad 200 are patternized and transmitted to the
digital television 310, the GUI control unit 319 of the digital
television 310 restores the patternized signals into characters and
displays them in the corresponding position of the screen.
[0060] Referring to FIG. 7, the stream control menu may include a
replay menu, a stop menu for capturing a specific scene, a fast
forward menu for fast playing the program, a fast backward menu for
rewinding the program, and a record menu for recording a specific
scene.
[0061] As shown in FIG. 8, the broadcasting guide menu may include
information on a real-time broadcasting program provided by an EPD
database built by a broadcasting program service company.
[0062] As illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 8, the viewer can select and
execute a wanted menu or sub menu by moving the pointer displayed
on the digital television 310 by using the touch pad 200 of the
remote controller 300.
[0063] Still referring to FIG. 4, when the viewer displays the menu
selection information on the screen in the GUI environment by using
the MENU button key of the button unit 210 of the remote controller
300, the viewer can select a wanted menu in the menu selection
information by using the touch pad 200 of the remote controller
300. That is, in order to move the pointer, when the viewer moves
by a predetermined distance in a state where he/she maintains a
contact state in one position of the touch pad 200, the remote
controller 300 calculates the movement distance and direction
information from the touch pad 200, and generates the movement
position signal.
[0064] So as to select a specific menu in the menu selection
information displayed on the digital television 310, when the
viewer maintains a contact state in one position of the touch pad
200 over a predetermined time or continuously contacts it, the
remote controller 300 recognizes the contact state by the viewer on
the touch pad 200, and generates the menu selection signal.
[0065] As a result, the remote controller 300 transmits the touch
control signal including the movement position signal and/or menu
selection signal generated by the contact of the viewer to the
touch pad 200 to the digital television 310 through the signal
transmitting unit 305 (S430).
[0066] The digital television 310 executes the menu selection
information according to the touch control signal from the remote
controller 300 (S440). That is, when the touch control signal is
the movement position signal, the digital television 310 moves the
pointer displayed on the screen in response to the movement
position signal. In addition, when the touch control signal is the
menu selection signal, the digital television 310 selects and
executes a specific menu at the same time in response to the menu
selection signal.
[0067] As discussed earlier, in accordance with the present
invention, in a variety of functions which have been controlled by
the button keys of the general remote controller, the functions
except for the basic functions can be controlled by the main manual
and pointer provided in the GUI environment. That is, it is
possible to easily control various functions of the digital
television by simple operations of the remote controller.
[0068] Moreover, the remote controller can be embodied without
using the plurality of button keys, which removes complexity and
improves convenience.
[0069] While the invention has been shown and described with
reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form
and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
[0070] The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely
exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present
invention. The present teaching can be readily applied to other
types of apparatuses. The description of the present invention is
intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the
claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be
apparent to those skilled in the art. In the claims,
means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures
described herein as performing the recited function and not only
structural equivalents but also equivalent structures.
* * * * *