U.S. patent application number 12/960343 was filed with the patent office on 2011-03-31 for remote control apparatus for consumer electronic appliances.
This patent application is currently assigned to TESSERA TECHNOLOGIES IRELAND LIMITED. Invention is credited to Petronel Bigioi, Sumat Mehra, Eran Steinberg.
Application Number | 20110078348 12/960343 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36593106 |
Filed Date | 2011-03-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110078348 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Steinberg; Eran ; et
al. |
March 31, 2011 |
Remote Control Apparatus for Consumer Electronic Appliances
Abstract
An apparatus for the remote wireless control of a consumer
electronic audio visual appliance such as a TV set, and/or for
internet uploading, includes a remote control handset and a
wireless receiver for connection to the appliance. The remote
control unit is adapted to transmit audio and/or visual data (A/V
data) and control codes to the receiver. The receiver is responsive
to the A/V data and control codes to control the appliance to play
and/or display the A/V data. The remote control unit includes a
reader for a storage medium for A/V data, or a cable or wireless
interface to an A/V acquisition device such as digital video or
digital still camera or digital music player or recorder.
Inventors: |
Steinberg; Eran; (San
Francisco, CA) ; Mehra; Sumat; (San Jose, CA)
; Bigioi; Petronel; (Galway, IE) |
Assignee: |
TESSERA TECHNOLOGIES IRELAND
LIMITED
Galway
IE
|
Family ID: |
36593106 |
Appl. No.: |
12/960343 |
Filed: |
December 3, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12712126 |
Feb 24, 2010 |
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12960343 |
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11123972 |
May 6, 2005 |
7685341 |
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12712126 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
710/72 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/42204 20130101;
H04N 21/42206 20130101; H04N 21/6175 20130101; H04N 21/4117
20130101; H04N 5/44582 20130101; H04N 21/43637 20130101; H04N
21/8153 20130101; H04N 21/4113 20130101; H04N 21/47 20130101; H04N
21/43615 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
710/72 |
International
Class: |
G06F 13/12 20060101
G06F013/12 |
Claims
1. A remote control handset for the remote wireless control of a
consumer electronic (CE) appliance, comprising means for receiving
audio or visual data, or both (hereinafter "A/V" data) from an A/V
device at an interface of a remote control handset, wherein the
interface of the remote control handset comprises a processor and a
display unit, and the A/V device being electrically connected to
the remote control handset for providing the A/V data to the remote
control handset; means for processing A/V data prior to
transmission to a wireless receiver coupled to the CE appliance,
said processing of the data prior to said transmission comprising:
adjusting a parametric input to the processing, including color,
exposure, brightness, or blur, or combinations thereof, initiating
customized image processing, or both, wherein the remote control
handset comprises one or more arrow key input buttons to permit
panning, zooming or scrolling, or combinations thereof; means for
transmitting the A/V data and control codes to the wireless
receiver or CE appliance, or both, wherein the wireless receiver or
CE appliance, or both, is configured to be responsive to the A/V
data and control codes from the remote control handset to control
the CE appliance to output the A/V data, including directly or
indirectly controlling the CE appliance for playing, displaying,
transitioning or editing the A/V data, or combinations thereof;
means for controlling A/V data processing at the wireless receiver
or CE appliance, or both, in response to metadata associated with
the A/V data, said metadata including image processing
modifications performed on the remote control handset, wherein the
processing at the wireless receiver or CE appliance, or both,
includes dust or other blemish removal, motion blur compensation,
transition effects, color correction, exposure correction, red eye
reduction, rotating, panning, scrolling or cropping, or editing an
object, selecting which objects to display, or erasing and
reordering objects, or combinations thereof; wherein the means for
controlling the A/V data processing with the remote control handset
including means for holding the remote control handset in a single
hand of a user and, using a push-button image processing interface
including multiple push-buttons of the remote control handset,
means for selectably depressing the buttons with one or more
fingers or a thumb or both of the same hand within which the remote
control handset is being held by the user; and means for outputting
processed A/V data or a processed image, or both, based on the A/V
data processing.
2. An apparatus for a remote wireless control of a consumer
electronic (CE) appliance, comprising: a remote control handset
that directly or indirectly control the CE appliance via a wireless
receiver for playing, displaying, transitioning or editing audio or
visual data, or both (hereinafter "A/V" data), or combinations
thereof, including a processor and a push-button image processing
interface including multiple push-buttons to be depressible by one
or more fingers or a thumb or both of a same hand within which the
remote control handset is being held by a user, and an A/V device
electrically connected to the remote control handset, the A/V
device being configured to provide the A/V data to the remote
control handset; and wherein interface of the remote control
handset comprises a display unit, and wherein the remote control
handset processes the A/V data prior to transmission for output at
the CE appliance, wherein to process the A/V data prior to said
transmission, the remote control handset comprises one or more of:
one or more remote control keys to adjust a parametric input to the
processing, including color, exposure, brightness, or blur, or
combinations thereof, or one or more special function keys to
initiate customized image processing, or one or more arrow key
input buttons to permit panning, zooming or scrolling, or
combinations thereof; and wherein the remote control unit is
configured to transmit the A/V data and control codes wirelessly to
the CE appliance or to the wireless receiver, or both; and wherein
the CE appliance or the wireless receiver, or both, is configured
to be responsive to the A/V data and the control codes from the
remote control handset, and to process the A/V data responsive to
metadata associated with the A/V data, said metadata including
image processing modifications performed on the remote control
handset, and to output the A/V data at the CE appliance, and
wherein the CE appliance or the wireless receiver, or both, is also
configured to process the A/V data, including dust or other blemish
removal, motion blur compensation, transition effects, color
correction, exposure correction, red eye reduction, rotating,
panning, scrolling or cropping, or editing an object, selecting
which objects to display, or erasing and reordering objects, or
combinations thereof, under the push-button control of the remote
control handset for providing a processed image or processed A/V
data, or both, to be output at the CE appliance based on the
processed image data.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the remote control
handset is further configured to directly control the CE
appliance.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the remote control
handset is configured to indirectly control the CE appliance
through the receiver.
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said remote control
handset further comprises an internal storage for storing A/V
data.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said remote control
handset comprises internal storage, wherein A/V data is saved on
said internal storage.
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said interface is
configured according to Picture Transfer Protocol ("PTP").
8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the A/V device
comprises a digital stills camera.
9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the A/V device
comprises a digital video camera.
10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the A/V device
comprises a digital audio player.
11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the consumer
electronic appliance comprises a display unit.
12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the display unit
comprises a television set.
13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the display unit
is controlled directly by the wireless receiver.
14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the remote control
unit is configured for automatically processing A/V data prior to
transmission to the wireless receiver.
15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the wireless
receiver is configured for processing the A/V data prior to playing
or displaying the data, or both, on the CE appliance.
16. A method for the remote wireless control of a consumer
electronic (CE) appliance, comprising receiving audio or visual
data, or both (hereinafter "A/V" data) from an A/V device at an
interface of a remote control handset, wherein the interface of the
remote control handset comprises a processor and a display unit,
and the A/V device being electrically connected to the remote
control handset for providing the A/V data to the remote control
handset; processing A/V data prior to transmission to a wireless
receiver coupled to the CE appliance, said processing of the data
prior to said transmission comprising one or more of: adjusting a
parametric input to the processing, including color, exposure,
brightness, or blur, or combinations thereof, or initiating
customized image processing, or both, or the remote control handset
comprises one or more arrow key input buttons to permit panning,
zooming or scrolling, or combinations thereof; transmitting the A/V
data and control codes to the wireless receiver or CE appliance, or
both, wherein the wireless receiver or CE appliance, or both, is
configured to be responsive to the A/V data and control codes from
the remote control handset to control the CE appliance to output
the A/V data, including directly or indirectly controlling the CE
appliance for playing, displaying, transitioning or editing the A/V
data, or combinations thereof; controlling A/V data processing at
the wireless receiver or CE appliance, or both, in response to
metadata associated with the A/V data, said metadata including
image processing modifications performed on the remote control
handset, wherein the processing at the wireless receiver or CE
appliance, or both, includes dust or other blemish removal, motion
blur compensation, transition effects, color correction, exposure
correction, red eye reduction, rotating, panning, scrolling or
cropping, or editing an object, selecting which objects to display,
or erasing and reordering objects, or combinations thereof; wherein
the remote control handset is configured to be held in a single
hand of a user and, using a push-button image processing interface
including multiple push-buttons of the remote control handset, the
buttons are configured to be selectably depressed with one or more
fingers or a thumb or both of the same hand within which the remote
control handset is being held by the user; and outputting processed
A/V data or a processed image, or both, based on the A/V data
processing.
17. The method as in claim 16, further comprising directly
controlling the CE appliance.
18. The method as in claim 16, further comprising indirectly
controlling the CE appliance through the wireless receiver.
19. The method as in claim 18, wherein said controlling indirectly
through the wireless receiver comprises controlling the receiver to
control the CE appliance for playing, displaying, transitioning or
editing said A/V data, or combinations thereof.
20. The method as in claim 16, further comprising storing A/V data
at an internal storage.
21. The method as in claim 16, further comprising configuring said
interface according to Picture Transfer Protocol ("PTP").
22. The method as in claim 16, wherein the A/V device comprises a
digital stills camera.
23. The method as in claim 16, wherein the A/V device comprises a
digital video camera.
24. The method as in claim 16, wherein the A/V device comprises a
digital audio player.
25. The method as in claim 16, further comprising automatically
processing A/V data prior to transmitting to the wireless
receiver.
26. One or more processor readable storage devices having processor
readable code embodied thereon, said processor readable code for
programming one or more processors to perform a method for the
remote wireless control of a consumer electronic (CE) appliance,
the method comprising: receiving audio or visual data, or both
(hereinafter "A/V" data) from an A/V device at an interface of a
remote control handset, wherein the interface of the remote control
handset comprises a processor and a display unit, and the A/V
device being electrically connected to the remote control handset
for providing the A/V data to the remote control handset;
processing A/V data prior to transmission to a wireless receiver
coupled to the CE appliance, said processing of the data prior to
said transmission comprising one or more of: adjusting a parametric
input to the processing, including color, exposure, brightness, or
blur, or combinations thereof, or initiating customized image
processing, or both, or the remote control handset comprises one or
more arrow key input buttons to permit panning, zooming or
scrolling, or combinations thereof; transmitting the A/V data and
control codes to the wireless receiver or CE appliance, or both,
wherein the wireless receiver or CE appliance, or both, is
configured to be responsive to the A/V data and control codes from
the remote control handset to control the CE appliance to output
the A/V data, including directly or indirectly controlling the CE
appliance for playing, displaying, transitioning or editing the A/V
data, or combinations thereof; controlling A/V data processing at
the wireless receiver or CE appliance, or both, in response to
metadata associated with the A/V data, said metadata including
image processing modifications performed on the remote control
handset, wherein the processing at the wireless receiver or CE
appliance, or both, includes dust or other blemish removal, motion
blur compensation, transition effects, color correction, exposure
correction, red eye reduction, rotating, panning, scrolling or
cropping, or editing an object, selecting which objects to display,
or erasing and reordering objects, or combinations thereof; wherein
the remote control handset is configured to be held in a single
hand of a user and, using a push-button image processing interface
including multiple push-buttons of the remote control handset, the
buttons are configured to be selectably depressed with one or more
fingers or a thumb or both of the same hand within which the remote
control handset is being held by the user; and outputting processed
A/V data or a processed image, or both, based on the A/V data
processing.
27. The one or more storage devices of claim 26, further comprising
a program for directly controlling the CE appliance.
28. The one or more storage devices of claim 26, further comprising
a program for indirectly controlling the CE appliance through the
wireless receiver.
29. The one or more storage devices of claim 28, wherein said
controlling indirectly through the wireless receiver comprises
controlling the wireless receiver to control the CE appliance for
playing, displaying, transitioning or editing said A/V data, or
combinations thereof.
30. The one or more storage devices of claim 26, further comprising
a program for reading the A/V data for transmitting to the wireless
receiver.
31. The one or more storage devices of claim 26, further comprising
an internal storage for storing printer data.
32. The one or more storage devices of claim 26, further comprising
a program for configuring said interface according to Picture
Transfer Protocol ("PTP").
33. The one or more storage devices of claim 26, wherein the A/V
device comprises a digital camera.
34. The one or more storage devices of claim 26, wherein the A/V
device comprises a digital video camera.
35. The one or more storage devices of claim 26, wherein the A/V
device comprises a digital audio player.
36. The one or more storage devices of claim 26, further comprising
a program for processing A/V data prior to transmitting to the
wireless receiver.
37. An apparatus for the remote wireless control of internet
uploading, comprising a remote control handset that is configured
to directly or indirectly control the CE appliance for playing,
displaying, transitioning or editing audio or visual data, or both
(hereinafter "A/V" data), or combinations thereof, including a
processor and a push-button image processing interface including
multiple push-buttons configured to be depressible by one or more
fingers or a thumb or both of a same hand within which the remote
control handset is being held by a user, and an A/V device
electrically connected to the remote control handset, the A/V
device being configured to provide internet content to the remote
control handset; and wherein the remote control handset for
transmitting the internet content wirelessly to a wireless receiver
coupled to an internet upload device, or directly to the internet
upload device, or both, for uploading content to be accessible on
the internet, wherein the interface of the remote control handset
comprises a display unit; and wherein the remote control unit is
configured for processing A/V data, prior to uploading content to
be accessible on the internet; wherein to process the data prior to
said uploading, the remote control handset comprises one or more
of: one or more remote control keys to adjust a parametric input to
the processing, including color, exposure, brightness, or blur, or
combinations thereof, or one or more special function keys to
initiate customized image processing, or one or more arrow key
input buttons to permit panning, zooming or scrolling, or
combinations thereof; and wherein the remote control handset is
configured to transmit the A/V data and control codes wirelessly to
the wireless receiver or the internet upload device, or both, and
wherein the wireless receiver or internet upload device, or both,
is configured to be responsive to the internet content and control
codes from the remote control handset, and to process the A/V data
responsive to metadata associated with the A/V data, and to control
the internet uploading of the content, and wherein the wireless
receiver or internet upload device, or both, is also configured to
process the A/V data, including dust or other blemish removal,
motion blur compensation, transition effects, color correction,
exposure correction, red eye reduction, rotating, panning,
scrolling or cropping, or editing an object, selecting which
objects to display, or erasing and reordering objects, or
combinations thereof, under the push-button control of the remote
control handset for providing a processed image or processed A/V
data, or both, to be uploaded at the internet upload device based
on the processed image data.
38. The apparatus as claimed in claim 37, wherein the remote
control handset is further configured to directly control the
internet upload device.
39. The apparatus as claimed in claim 37, wherein the remote
control handset is configured to indirectly control the internet
upload device through the wireless receiver.
40. The apparatus as claimed in claim 37, wherein the A/V device
comprises a digital stills camera.
41. The apparatus as claimed in claim 37, wherein the A/V device
comprises a digital video camera.
42. The apparatus as claimed in claim 37, wherein the A/V device
comprises a digital audio player.
43. The apparatus as claimed in claim 37, wherein the remote
control unit is configured for automatically processing internet
content prior to transmission to the wireless receiver or internet
upload device, or both.
44. The apparatus as claimed in claim 37, wherein the wireless
receiver or internet upload device, or both, is configured for
automatically processing the internet content prior to internet
uploading.
Description
PRIORITY
[0001] This application is a Division of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 12/712,126, filed Feb. 24, 2010, which is a Continuation
of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/123,972, filed May 6, 2005,
now U.S. Pat. No. 7,685,341, which is hereby incorporated by
reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to a wireless remote control apparatus
for consumer electronic (CE) appliances, and to systems and methods
for transferring and controlling audio and/or visual data
(hereinafter "A/V data) from acquisition devices, through a
wireless remote control apparatus, and onto an output display
devices.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Traditionally, domestic homes have contained stand-alone CE
appliances such as TV sets or single add-on appliances such as VCR
and DVD players which allow the recording of TV shows and playing
of pre-recorded movies. However, the last few years have seen a
substantial growth in audio and visual content derived from digital
appliances and made available to consumers in digital form.
Examples include digital cameras for digital imaging and MP3
digital encoding for audio data, as well as digital video cameras.
Broadly speaking most consumers now find digital content more
flexible and useful than conventional analog media. However,
although most digital content can be readily managed and
post-processed on a conventional desktop computer, this is not
necessarily the best location for a consumer to enjoy such
content.
[0006] Accordingly a new generation of peripheral add-on CE
appliances have emerged, such as Picture Display Devices and Media
Adapters, whose goal is to enable the viewing of digital content
using more conventional CE appliances such as a TV set. A Media
Adapter is an appliance which can receive digital content over a
network connection and convert it to standard RCA, S-Video, HDTV or
DV output for presentation on a standard TV set. Typically such an
appliance sources its content from a networked desktop
computer.
[0007] The PrismIQ Media Adapter (www.prismiq.com) is a good
state-of-art example of such an appliance. It allows audio, video
and still photo content located on a networked home computer to be
viewed on a home TV-set. The PrismIQ features audio and video
outputs which allow it to be connected directly to a standard TV
set. It may be networked with the home computer via either wired,
or wireless network connections. The main PrismIQ appliance can
then be managed by the user with a conventional remote control
unit, thus allowing the display of digital content on the TV set
from a couch in the living room. Even with the PrismIQ, however,
digital content is first loaded onto a desktop computer and
pre-processed by a specialized server application prior to being
accessible by the user from the comfort of his living MOM.
[0008] Picture Display Devices such as Digital-Album by Nixvue
Systems Ltd. (www.nixvue.com), generally include a "set-top box"
which plugs physically into a television set and contains one or
more readers for a removable storage medium, such as a memory card,
containing audio and/or visual data content. Operating picture
display devices, however, involves users plugging the removable
storage medium into the box, returning to their seats and
activating then remote control unit. This becomes awkward if users
have multiple removable memory cards that they wish to review or
organize. That is, operating picture display devices involves users
moving from the couch to the TV set or box in order to switch
removable memory cards.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] An apparatus is provided, in accordance with one aspect of
the invention, for remote wireless control of a consumer electronic
(CE) appliance and/or of internet uploading. The apparatus for CE
control includes a remote control unit and a wireless receiver for
direct or indirect connection to the CE appliance. The remote
control unit is adapted to transmit audio and/or visual data
(hereinafter "A/V data"; visual data including video or still image
data, or both) and control codes to the receiver. The receiver is
responsive to the A/V data and control codes from the remote
control unit to control the appliance to play and/or display the
A/V data.
[0010] Preferably, the same remote control unit may also be adapted
to directly control the consumer electronic appliance.
The remote control unit preferably includes a reader for a
removable storage medium for A/V data. The A/V data transmitted to
the receiver is read from the storage medium. Alternatively, the
remote control unit may include a cable or wireless interface for
signal connecting to an A/V acquisition device, such as a digital
still camera, digital video camera or digital audio player, e.g.,
using an industry accepted interface.
[0011] In one embodiment a remote control handset and a memory card
reader subsystem are combined into an integrated appliance. In
another embodiment, a remote control handset and an interface to a
digital media acquisition device are combined into another
integrated appliance. These integrated appliances allow digital
media, particularly digital images, to be accessed directly by a
consumer from a removable memory card, or an acquisition device,
and to be subsequently transmitted over a wireless link for direct
display on a TV set or other digital display appliance. This has
the advantageous of eliminating the need for the user to move from
the couch to the TV set just to switch removable memory cards.
[0012] The apparatus for control of an internet uploading device
(e.g., a pc computer connected to a web server) includes a remote
control unit and a wireless receiver for direct or indirect control
of an internet uploading device. The remote control unit is adapted
to transmit internet content and control codes to the receiver. The
receiver is responsive to the content and control codes from the
remote control unit to control the uploading of the internet
content, e.g., to a web page or database. Other features described
with respect to the CE appliance control apparatus may be utilized
in the internet upload apparatus.
[0013] A method for the remote wireless control of a consumer
electronic (CE) appliance is also provided. A/V data is received
from an A/V acquisition device at an interface of a remove control
unit. The A/V data and control codes are transmitted to a wireless
receiver coupled to a CE appliance. The receiver is configured to
be responsive to the data and control codes received from the
remote control unit to control the CE appliance to play and/or
display or otherwise output the A/V data. Other features described
with respect to the CE appliance and internet upload control
apparatuses may be utilized with the method.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] Preferred and alternative embodiments are described below by
way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0015] FIG. 1-a is a block diagram of an embodiment including a
removal storage medium reader wherein the output device is a
display device such as a television set.
[0016] FIG. 1-b is a block diagram of an embodiment including a
cable-based USB interface to the acquisition device.
[0017] FIG. 1-c is a block diagram of an embodiment wherein the
output device is a printer.
[0018] FIG. 1-d is a block diagram of an embodiment wherein the
output device is an Internet upload device.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a further embodiment including
a remote control signal connecting wirelessly with a digital
camera.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a camera adaptor unit.
[0021] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a remote
control handset.
[0022] FIG. 5 is workflow diagram illustrating operation of a
system in accordance with a preferred embodiment, including two
alternative sources of digital images.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] FIG. 1-a is a block diagram of a system in accordance with a
preferred embodiment. Referring to FIG. 1-a, the system includes a
remote control unit 200, which may preferably be implemented as a
handset, the embodiment illustrated at FIG. 4, and/or a docking
station. The remote control unit 200 of FIG. 1-a is shown
communicatively coupled with a wireless receiver 310. The remote
control unit 200 comprises a main processor 220. The main processor
is preferably an embedded processor such as a dedicated
system-on-chip integrated circuit, for example, a standard ARM or
MIPS based embedded system. The processor 220 shown in FIG. 1-a is
interfaced to a number of peripheral subsystems commonly found in
consumer remote control units: a user interface console 230 and a
wireless communications chip 240. The user interface console 230
is, for example, a keyboard subsystem allowing the user to select
and initiate various control functions by initiating the wireless
transfer of control codes to a remote CE appliance such as a TV set
or other display unit 300.
[0024] FIG. 1-c illustrates another embodiment wherein, instead of
a display unit 300 such as a television set or other electronic
audio and/or visual display device, the display unit 300 of FIGS.
1-a and 1-b is replaced by a hardcopy device such as a color
printer 390. In the embodiment of FIG. 1-c, a printer driver 395 is
also used instead of the display driver subsystem 360 shown in
FIGS. 1-a and 1-b.
[0025] Another embodiment is illustrated at FIG. 1-d, wherein the
data is internet content that may be communicated to an internet
upload device 398, such as a pc or other processor-based device
that is connected to a web server. The content may be uploaded to a
web page or a database or other construct that is accessible via
the internet.
[0026] Many remote control units 200 also feature an optional image
display 234, for example, a LCD display. The display 234 may be an
uncomplicated alphanumeric display, or may be a more sophisticated
graphical color LCD display or any other display device known to
those skilled in the art. A wireless communication chip 240 is
preferably employed to communicate control codes (instructions) to
the remote CE appliance 300, 390. An infrared based means of
transmitting control codes may be employed, or alternative
communication means such as Bluetooth or WiFi, WUSB or WLAN may be
used. Such Radio Frequency communications may use an antenna 248.
These and other subsystems may be used including those that may be
common to domestic remote control units for direct control of a CE
appliance 300, e.g., those that bypass wireless receiver 310.
[0027] The remote control unit 200 preferably also incorporates a
removable storage medium reader 210, for example, a card reader
subsystem for accessing data from removable storage media such as
compact flash data cards. Alternatively, as illustrated at FIG.
1-b, the remote control unit 200 may have a cable or wireless
signal communication interface to an A/V device. As utilized
herein, the term "interface" is meant to be any architecture for
permitting communication of the A/V data from the A/V device to the
remote control unit 200 including a card reader 210, USB or other
cable interface 212, or wireless interface. A digital camera 100
may communicate A/V data to the remote control unit 200 through a
common cable communication system, such as may be installed on many
standardized A/V devices. Such communication system may be a USB
master 212 which interfaces with the device 100 through a USB slave
connector 102, or a proprietary interface such as ImageLink.
Interfacing with such A/V devices may be made using known protocols
such as ISO-15740 command language for cameras also known as
Picture-transfer-Protocol or PTP. In this scenario, the remote
control unit 200 can also act as a docking station for the A/V
device 100.
[0028] A system in accordance with a preferred embodiment has the
advantage that digital audio and/or visual (A/V) content data may
be accessed by the remote control unit 200 from removable storage
media in the reader 210 or via a cable or wireless interface from
the device 100. Moreover, such data, stored in internal storage
(not shown) in the device 100, may be further managed, manipulated,
combined and otherwise processed by the processor 220 on the remote
control unit 200. After this data has been accessed and suitably
prepared, it may be transmitted to the remote wireless receiver 310
along with a sequence of control codes instructing the receiver 310
as to the handling and playing/displaying of the data.
[0029] The wireless receiver 310 of FIGS. 1-a and 1-b includes a
main processor 320, preferably an embedded processor, typically a
dedicated system-on-chip integrated circuit. This processor 320 is
connected to two main peripheral subsystems: a wireless
communication chip 340 with antenna 348 and a display driver
subsystem 360, for example, an RGB/NTSC/PAL/D1/VGA/HDTV/D1-4
interface which is connected, in turn, to a CE display unit such as
a conventional TV set 300. The wireless communication chip 340 is
employed to receive, via the wireless connection 250, control codes
transmitted from the remote control unit 200 and, in addition, A/V
data which is read from the removable storage medium inserted into
the remote control unit 200.
[0030] The protocol used on the wireless connection 250 may be
generic or a specific protocol for the imaging devices used.
Examples include using similar protocol between image acquisition
devices and hosts such as PTP or in the wireless case PTP-IP or MTP
over IP ("MTP-IP"). In the embodiment illustrated at FIG. 1-c,
wherein the output device is a printer 390, such protocols as
PictBridge may be used to transfer the data over wireless
connection 250. The CE display unit 300 of the embodiments
illustrated at FIGS. 1-a and 1-b is preferably a digital display
unit such as an LCD panel or HDTV.
[0031] When A/V content data is received, it will typically be
preceded by an identifier indicating the type or format of the
content (i.e. audio, visual or both) and may also incorporate
additional metadata including recording image processing
modifications performed on the remote control unit 200. Image
processing may alternatively or additionally be performed by the
processor 320 on the receiver 310. The receiver-side image
processing may be responsive to metadata associated with the A/V
content data. As an example, a user may program a slideshow
sequence on the remote control unit 200 and then transmit the
resulting A/V data to the receiver 310. Further image processing,
including transition effects, redeye removal, blemish removal such
as from dust, and/or motion blur compensation can be performed in
the receiver 310 prior to the actual rendering of the slideshow
image sequence on a TV or other display unit 300. Such image
processing may also be managed directly from the remote control
unit 200. Thus, the receiver 310 may directly control the display
unit 300 to play (in the case of audio or movies) and/or display
(in the case of still images) the A/V content data.
[0032] Alternatively, remote control unit 200 may control the unit
300 indirectly via the receiver. Such control may include the
transition between objects, editing the object, selecting which
objects to display, and/or erasing and reordering objects. Editing
objects may include operations such as color correction, red eye
reduction, rotation, exposure correction, and cropping.
[0033] Another embodiment is illustrated at FIG. 2. In this
embodiment, the remote control unit 200 is preferably the same as
or similar to that described in the FIGS. 1-a through 1-c. In this
case, however, the wireless receiver 410 is connected to a digital
camera 400 or similar imaging appliance. An advantage of this
alternative embodiment is that a digital camera will, typically,
incorporate a display subsystem 460 which allows it to be connected
to a conventional audiovisual CE appliance such as a TV set 300.
Furthermore, the latest digital cameras incorporate WLAN or
Bluetooth subsystems. Accordingly, a digital camera with such
wireless communications and display subsystems can be modified to
take advantage of the remote control unit 200 with removable
storage reader 210. In other words, in this embodiment the receiver
410 controls the display unit 300 to play and/or display the A/V
content data via digital camera 400.
[0034] In a practical exemplary implementation of this alternative
embodiment, the camera is a PTP-enabled digital camera, such as may
be described at (i) "Digital camera connectivity solutions using
the picture transfer protocol (PTP)" to Bigioi, P.; Susanu, G.;
Corcoran, P.; Mocanu, I and published in IEEE Transactions on
Consumer Electronics, volume 48, issue 3, p 417-427, August 2002;
or (ii) PTP/ISO-15740 PTP Specification, available from
http://www.i3a.org/downloads_it10.html, which are hereby
incorporated by reference. The camera 400 is preferably connected
to an adapter unit 370 such as that illustrated in block form at
FIG. 3. The adapter unit 370 of FIG. 3 may correspond generally to
wireless communication chip 440 of FIG. 2. The camera adapter unit
370 incorporates a USB connection 372, which allows a PTP-enabled
digital camera to be connected to the adapter system. It further
provides a PTP stack 374, which provides access to the PTP
functionality of the digital camera. The adapter also incorporates
a WLAN interface module 380, which provides connectivity to an
external wireless network. This module 370 may be replaced by
Infrared, Bluetooth or Powerline communications modules. Implicitly
contained within the WLAN communications module is a TCP/IP stack
(or a Bluetooth, Infrared or Powerline stacks as appropriate to the
physical communication chip be used).
[0035] A PTP/IP stack 378 is also incorporated in the main adapter,
thus providing remote access to the PTP functionality of the
camera. One further software module is preferably used to fully
enable wide-area networking support for remote access to the
PTP-enabled digital camera. This is a multiple virtual session
emulation module 376. This module 376 is preferably used because
the PTP protocol that is designed to support point-to-point
communications between a camera and a desktop computer typically
does not support the concept of multiple connected devices or
multiple concurrent device sessions. Support for these concepts is
embodied in the PTP/IP protocol, but this also requires some
OS-level support from the device within which the PTP/IP stack is
implemented. Thus, as the PTP/IP stack is not directly implemented
within the generic PTP camera, it is necessary to provide some
emulation support for device and session IDs within the adapter
itself. Wireless receivers 310, 410 have been shown as separate
components in the illustrative embodiments. However, they could be
incorporated into the display unit 300 or digital camera 400.
[0036] FIG. 4 illustrates a physical implementation of a remote
control unit 700 corresponding to the unit 200 shown in the block
diagrams of FIGS. 1-a, 1-b, 1-c and 2. The remote control unit 700,
which may be similar in form and function to conventional known
remote control units, preferably exhibits some additional features
designed to accommodate the principle elements of the embodiments
described herein.
[0037] First, it may incorporate a slot 780 in the casing of the
remote control unit to accommodate the insertion and removal of a
removable storage medium into the reader 210 (see FIG. 1-a).
Alternatively, slot 780 may be a USB master plug 212 (see, e.g.,
FIG. 1-b) which will accept a USB cable from the camera 100. In
addition, it may incorporates special function keys 770 to initiate
customized image processing algorithms which can enhance or improve
the digital content that may be accessed and further managed,
manipulated, combined or otherwise processed on the remote control
unit 700.
[0038] In addition to automated image processing functions, the
remote control unit 200, 700 may optionally incorporate a graphical
LCD display 710 which can display images loaded from the removable
storage medium subsystem 210. This allows for additional image
processing and enhancement functions to be performed on the remote
control unit 700 where user input from the remote control keys 762,
764 may be used to adjust a parametric input to the image
processing and functions such as brightness or exposure.
[0039] Further advanced functionality can be achieved using more
complex user input such as may be obtained from an "arrow-key"
input button 720 which can allow accurate panning, zooming and
scrolling of a selected image. An OK/Enter button is indicated at
728 and an ON/OFF button is indicated at 750 of FIG. 4.
[0040] An exemplary workflow is illustrated in FIG. 5 for the
transmission of, in this example, still images. At block 110, a
memory card is removed from a digital camera or similar imaging
device, and then inserted into the card reader of the remote
control unit at block 120. A communications link is then
automatically or manually activated between the remote control unit
200, 700 and the wireless receiver at block 130. According to this
embodiment, the receiver may be an adapter connected to a standard
TV set, or alternatively an adapter connected to a digital camera
with a display output suitable for providing a signal to a TV set.
As stated, these adapter units may be incorporated internally
within the TV set or digital camera, rather than being separate
appliances.
[0041] Alternatively, the functions illustrated at block 130 may be
operated on an intermediate device such as a centralized remote
control box, a digital camera or a home server that will indirectly
control the receiver.
[0042] After the communications channel between the remote control
unit and the receiver is established, the user may next initiate a
sequence of image transfers between the remote control unit and the
receiver at block 140. These transfers may be a sequential display
of all the images stored on a memory card, or may alternatively be
sequenced by the user, or randomly sequenced. The system may
optionally provide support for an interactive user interface (UI)
wherein the remote control unit enables a video overlay subsystem
within the host device to be activated. The user may then navigate
the displayed overlay UI using the remote control keys and thus
achieve a more advanced control over the sequencing and transitions
for a slide-show display of the images. Finally, at block 180, the
images are displayed on the television set.
[0043] FIG. 5 also illustrates an alternative embodiment of the
system work-flow wherein the images are received wirelessly (not
shown) or via a tethered communication (see FIG. 1-b) from a
digital camera at block 112. Image processing (e.g. downsampling)
at block 114 and local storage at block 116 functions are performed
by the remote control unit prior to initiating the communications
link at block 130, and subsequently transmitting a slideshow of the
images at block 140 for display on a user's TV set at block 180.
The example of FIG. 5 may be applied to video and/or audio data, as
well, and it may be applied to output at a printer (see FIG.
1-c).
Alternative Embodiments
[0044] The following publications, as well as other publications
cited above and below herein, and the background, invention
summary, brief description of the drawings and abstract, are hereby
incorporated by reference as disclosing alternative embodiments or
features not otherwise described in detail above:
[PTP] PTP/ISO-15740, "Picture Transfer Protocol Specification",
http://www.i3a.org/downloads_it10.html; [USB] USB Device Working
Group, "USB Still Image Capture Device Definition",
http://www.usb.org/developers/devclass_docs/usb_still_img10.pdf;
[CIPA] CIPA, "CIPA DC-001-2003 Digital Photo Solutions for Imaging
Devices",
http://www.cipajp/pictbridge/contents_e/03overview_e.html; [PB] P.
Bigioi, G. Susanu, P. Corcoran and I. Mocanu, "Digital Camera
Connectivity Solutions using the Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP)",
ICCE 2002 and IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics, vol. 48,
number 3, pp. 417-427, August 2002; [PTP-IP] PTP/IP Draft
Specification--for review purposes only
www.fotonation.com/products; [UPNP] UPNP Forum http://www.upnp.org;
[MTP]; see Media Transfer Protocol Specification
msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnwmt/html/mtp_-
spec. asp.;
[0045] The A/V acquisition device 100 that the remote control unit
210 communicates with, in accordance with preferred and alternative
embodiments herein, may include an industry accepted (whether as
de-facto or de-juro) standard Application Interface Protocol
("API"), or Command Language, that describes the means of
retrieving data from the acquisition device. Examples of such
interfaces include ISO-15740, aka "Picture-Transfer-Protocol" or
"PTP", which describes a command language between digital cameras
and receiving devices; see PTP/ISO-15740, "Picture Transfer
Protocol Specification", www.i3a.org/downloads_it10.html.
[0046] Such command languages may also have a transport layer
component which can be tethered or IP based such as USB Still Image
Device Class definition which correlates to the implementation of
PTP over USB; see USB Device Working Group, "USB Still Image
Capture Device Definition",
www.usb.org/developers/devclass_docs/usb_still_img10.pdf or PTP
over IP ("PTP-IP") which correlates to the implementation of PTP
over Internet Protocols; see PTP/IP Draft
Specification--www.fotonation.com/products.
[0047] There may be a specified protocol on top of the PTP for
output of images. One example is PictBridge (see, "CIPA DC-001-2003
Digital Photo Solutions for Imaging Devices",
http://www.cipajp/pictbridge/contents_e/03overview_e.html for
specification) which describes such output protocol that may be
used in an embodiments for printing purposes.
[0048] Another protocol is the Universal Plug-and-Play Orienting
protocol [uPNP]. In generic multi media device cases, such protocol
may be Multi Media Transfer Protocol ("MTP").
[0049] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments
described above herein, which may be amended or modified without
departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in
the appended claims, and structural and functional equivalents
thereof. In addition, in methods that may be performed according to
preferred embodiments herein and that may have been described above
and/or claimed below, the operations have been described in
selected typographical sequences. However, the sequences have been
selected and so ordered for typographical convenience and are not
intended to imply any particular order for performing the
operations.
* * * * *
References