HK1135778B - Systems and methods for controlling a display - Google Patents

Description

System and method for controlling display

Background

Program guides, such as television program guides for display on televisions, are common. These guides typically allow access to program information on an hourly basis over a longer period of time, often on a weekly basis. In view of this fact, and the fact that many conventional television service providers offer a large number of channels for viewing, it is apparent that a television program guide may contain a significant amount of information about program schedules when considered in its entirety. In addition, many guides now make it possible to obtain detailed information about a particular program, thereby multiplying the total amount of information that can be obtained through the program guide.

Designers of program guides and guide display schemes face the challenge of creating systems and displays by which users can easily manage and access the vast amount of information available. A common approach is to associate information with time and channel and display the information in a two-dimensional array having channels that extend continuously along one (typically horizontal) axis and time that extends sequentially along an orthogonal (typically vertical) axis. However, the amount of intelligible information that can be displayed feasibly on a television screen is determined primarily by the minimum font size that can be reasonably viewed at normal viewing distances and in many applications cannot be less than 18 dots (the average font size of printed content is typically between 9 and 11 dots as a basis for comparison). For conventional television, this factor limits the content that can be displayed to about 40 text characters per line and no more than 25 lines per display. Typically, this is much less than the display capacity required at any one time to display all the information contained in the program guide. As such, only a limited portion of the array is typically displayed at any one time, thereby allowing the displayed portion to have a magnitude reasonably sufficient for viewing.

To access the non-displayed portion of the guide, the guide user is typically provided with a remote control device that includes four directional buttons for scrolling horizontally and vertically through the array. The system can be visualized as shown in fig. 1, where the entire array of information 110 is expanded and a smaller window 120 is moved in front of the array, through which the array is viewed. Typically, this scrolling is accomplished by moving through the guide in a single time/frequency band step, or by incrementing or decrementing the time/channel by discrete amounts. In addition, many remote controls additionally include the ability to enter a particular channel number to be displayed, such that a portion of the array containing the specified channel and nearby channels is displayed. By either approach, the ability to search for specific information throughout the array is limited, and browsing through the program guide can be tedious and time consuming.

Drawings

FIG. 1 illustrates a display system consistent with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a display system configured according to an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram of the remote control apparatus of fig. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective schematic view of the display system of FIG. 2 illustrating one possible relationship between remote control movement and display modification according to an embodiment.

Fig. 5a-5d are schematic perspective views of a display system, which is configured in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 6 is two perspective views of a display schematically illustrating movement and magnification of a portion of a displayed program guide according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6a is a schematic perspective view of a television including an exemplary map for locating the position of displayed data within data available for display.

Fig. 7 is two perspective views of a display, schematically illustrating movement and magnification of a portion of displayed program content according to an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 8 is four perspective views of a display schematically illustrating movement and enlargement of a portion of a displayed program guide, selection of a program, and movement and enlargement of a portion of displayed program content according to an exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 9a-9d are schematic perspective views of a display control system integrated with an existing display system according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a display control system configured in accordance with another exemplary embodiment that includes a remote control device and a processing device.

Detailed Description

Example embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments and examples are shown. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

Referring again to FIG. 1, there is shown a conceptual representation of an exemplary scheme for displaying content, in this case presented in the form of an array 110. Array 110 may represent, for example, all data available for presentation. For example, less than the entire array 110 may be displayed in the display device 120, since the magnification of the content is large enough that only a portion of the total available content may be displayed. To then access the portion of array 110 not shown, a different portion of array 110 can be summoned for display in device 120. Conceptually, this scheme may be equivalent to the array 110 moving relative to the display device 120.

Referring to fig. 2 and 3, a display system 200 configured in accordance with an exemplary embodiment is shown. The system 200 includes means for controlling the display, such as a remote control 202. Remote control 202 includes a motion sensor 304 that detects motion of remote control 202 and provides an indication of the movement. For example, the motion sensor 304 may include a series of accelerometers for detecting acceleration of the remote control device 202 in multiple directions, each accelerometer configured to output an electrical signal (e.g., a current) proportional to the acceleration in a particular direction. Alternatively, the motion sensor 304 may include a signal transceiver for interacting with the transponder to determine position and/or movement. The motion sensor 304 may also include a system that transmits signals and determines location based on received reflections of such signals. In yet another embodiment, motion sensor 304 may include a geomagnetic sensor.

In one embodiment, the motion sensor 304 includes one or more gyroscopes. The gyroscope may be used to measure movement of remote control 202, such as by measuring angular velocity/rotation of remote control 202 about one or more axes. In general, the gyroscope or gyroscopes may be arranged, for example, to form a gyrocompass, an inertial navigation system, or some other configuration that allows for position detection based on gyroscope movement. In some cases, the gyroscope may be combined with a distance sensor.

Remote control 202 may also include a transmitter 306. The transmitter 306 may be configured to receive an indication of one or more types of movement of the remote control device 202 directly from the motion sensor 304 or indirectly via other components, such as a signal conditioner and/or a processor. As described in more detail below, the transmitter 306 may then transmit a signal based on the detected movement of the remote control 202, the signal configured to initiate a display change of data displayed in a remote display device, such as the television 208. The remote control 202 may also include a user interface 210, possibly including a keypad or other dedicated buttons (e.g., volume buttons), etc.

Remote control 202 may satisfy various functional needs via motion-based control. For example, remote control 202 may be configured to transmit a signal, e.g., to turn television 208 off, when remote control 202 is turned sideways. Alternatively, the remote control device may transmit a signal that, for example, causes the channel of the television 208 to change to the next higher channel, for example, when the remote control device 202 is flipped up. Other functions of the television 208 (or some other display device) may be controlled via movement of the remote control 202, such as modifying the volume or modifying the brightness or contrast of an image. In each of these cases, the motion sensor 304 may detect the movement and send a signal indicative of the movement to, for example, the processor 318. The processor 318 may receive the signal and send it (or a representation thereof) to the transmitter 306 for transmission to the television/television controller. The processor 318 may be configured to condition or adjust signals received from the sensor 304 before passing such signals to the transmitter 306 in the following manner: such that the signal is suitable for the transmitter 306, an external device (e.g., such as the television 208) that will receive the signal transmitted from the transmitter 306, or both.

Referring to fig. 3 and 4, in one embodiment, remote control 402 may define a principal axis m extending along the length of remote control 402 and a transverse axis t orthogonal to the principal axis and generally in a plane generally defined by an upper surface 412 (which, for example, includes user interface 410) of remote control 402. The normal axis n may then be defined as an axis orthogonal to both the major axis m and the transverse axis t. A user of remote control 402 may manually position remote control 402 such that major axis m points toward television 408 and lateral axis t and normal axis n define a plane that is substantially parallel to the screen of television 408. The remote control device 402 may be configured to: in response to rotation of remote control 402 about horizontal axis t, where such rotation is detected and indicated by motion sensor 304, transmitter 306, possibly in conjunction with processor 318, transmits a first signal that causes television 408 to translate data (e.g., a program guide) displayed on television 408 in a first lateral direction (e.g., up or down as defined with respect to television 408). The remote control device 402 may be further configured to: transmitter 306 transmits a second signal that causes television 408 to translate the displayed data in a second lateral direction (e.g., left or right as defined with respect to television 408) in response to rotation of remote control 402 about normal axis n. The remote control device 402 may be further configured to: transmitter 306 transmits a third signal in response to translation of remote control 402 along principal axis m, which causes television 408 to change the magnification of the displayed data.

An example of the above-described scheme for controlling display data is now described in connection with fig. 5a-5 d. In fig. 5a, the content is displayed on a display device 508. The content is represented by a grid, each column of the grid being marked with a consecutive number and each row of the grid being sequentially labeled with a number. It should be understood that the entirety of the data available for presentation extends beyond the data displayed in device 508. In fig. 5b, remote control 502 has rotated around n and the content has shifted in the display to simulate a left-hand movement of the grid relative to device 508. In fig. 5c, remote control 502 has rotated around t and the content has shifted in the display to simulate a downward movement of the grid relative to device 508. Finally, in fig. 5d, remote control 502 has been translated along m and towards the display, and the content has appeared to have been enlarged such that less of the grid is seen in display 508.

Using the above approach, in some cases, remote control 502 may be used to zoom in or out on information displayed on television 508 and move through all data available for display when less than the total amount of data is actually displayed, such that one or more portions of data logically adjacent to the displayed data are subsequently displayed. This approach may be useful, for example, when remote control 502 is used in conjunction with a program guide 601 displayed on television 508, as illustrated in fig. 6 and 6 a. In this case, the program information may be arranged as a typical program guide in a tabular form with axes with respect to time and channel. Alternatively, the program information may be grouped according to the user's favorite programs, genres, themes, etc. Regardless of the manner in which the program information is arranged, remote control 502 may be used to zoom out the display (e.g., by moving remote control 502 away from television 508, as in fig. 5d) to locate a desired area in the data, and then move to that area (e.g., by rotating remote control 502 about horizontal axis t and normal axis n) and zoom in on that area (e.g., by moving remote control 502 toward television 508) for eliciting further details about the associated program. In the event that less than all of the available data is displayed on the television 508, a map 614 may be displayed, the map 614 indicating the location of the currently viewed data in a broader data set that includes the displayed data, or perhaps in the total data set (e.g., as defined by the minimum allowable magnification) available for display. In other embodiments, the content may be translated or magnified in a manner opposite to that described above; this would simulate, for example, the movement of a human hand when changing the location of the material being viewed (e.g., a program guide in a newspaper).

As illustrated in fig. 7, the remote control 502 and the scheme for manipulating displayed data described in connection with fig. 5a-5d may also be used in connection with viewing program content 701. For example, the user may wish to zoom in on the picture because the user is visually impaired and/or hearing impaired and reads the lips of a person to keep up with the program and thus aid reading through a larger picture, or because the user likes a more detailed view of the display. In such a case, remote control 502 may be used to zoom in on a portion of the displayed program. As with the program guide, the location of the displayed data within the data range available for display may be indicated by a map 714, the map 714 being displayed on the television 508, for example, with the program. Referring to fig. 8, the pan and zoom capabilities of remote control 502 (fig. 5a-5d) may also be utilized in an integrated manner when moving between program guide data and program content data. That is, the program guide may be scanned at varying magnifications using remote control 502 until the desired program is clear and then selected for viewing. Once a program has been selected for viewing, the user can zoom in on the program to whatever extent is desired. In either case, a map may be included in the display (or elsewhere) to orient the user in the data whenever the user views less than all of the available data.

Although the above embodiments have been described as comprising transmitting the first, second and third signals, it is not necessary that all three signals be transmitted together at any one time or be transmitted together. The remote control may be configured to transmit only a signal referred to as the third signal, such that there is no first or second signal. Also, in some embodiments, any or all of the signals may be transmitted at once, possibly in response to a compound movement of the remote control (e.g., simultaneous translation and rotation of the remote control). In some cases, such signals may be embedded within each other, such as by frequency multiplexing of the signals transmitted via infrared light.

Referring to fig. 3 and 9a-9b, embodiments of remote control 902 may be used in conjunction with separately produced/manufactured television and/or television program distribution systems (e.g., cable television, satellite television, etc.). In such a case, remote control 902 may include memory 316 and processor 318 capable of storing and executing software, respectively. In some cases, remote control 902 may be configured such that a user may select once or continuously the type of device to which remote control 902 is docked. The software will then allow the processor 318 to appropriately modify or condition the signal to be transmitted by the transmitter 306 so that it can be received and understood by the television 908 and/or the program distribution system in question (e.g., cable/satellite television transceiver 920). In some cases, this may allow remote control 902 to emulate, and thus possibly replace, a remote control device specifically manufactured for use with a television and/or program distribution system in question and allowing horizontal and/or vertical scrolling functionality in conjunction with a program guide or other display.

Referring to fig. 9c-9d and 10, remote control 902 may also be a component of display control system 1000. In addition to remote control 902, system 1000 may include a processing device 922, processing device 922 being configured to receive signals transmitted from remote control 902 (i.e., transmitted by transmitter 1006, transmitter 1006 possibly in communication with motion sensor 1004, processor 1018, memory 1016, and/or user interface 1010). For example, processing device 922 may include a receiver 1028 that receives signals transmitted by transmitter 1006. In response to receiving such a signal, processing device 922 may initiate a display change in data displayed by a display device, such as television 908. In some embodiments, processing device 922 and television 908 and/or cable/satellite transceiver 920 may be spaced apart from remote control 902 such that remote control 902 remotely affects the displayed data.

Processing device 922 may communicate directly with television 908, with cable/satellite television transceiver 920, or with some other device that acts as an intermediary. For example, as shown in fig. 9c, processing device 922 may communicate with transceiver 920 such that data received from a source is processed by processing device 922 in accordance with signals received from remote control 902 before reaching transceiver 920. In other embodiments, data may first be received by the transceiver 920 before being transmitted to the processing device 922. Alternatively, as shown in fig. 9d, data may be communicated from a data source to transceiver 920 and on to television 908, with processing device 922 separately communicating (via a wireless link in the illustrated embodiment) with transceiver 920 in response to signals received from remote control 902. In some cases, processing device 922 can replace transceiver 920 and provide a communication link between a data source and television 908, such as where processing device 922 is integrated with transceiver 920.

Processing device 922 may include a processor 1026, and may further include, or otherwise be in communication with, memory 1024. In some embodiments, memory 1024 may store instructions executable on processor 1026 that allow processing device 922 to communicate with a variety of different televisions and/or transceivers. In other embodiments, instructions stored in memory 1024 may allow processor 1026 to receive raw signals from motion sensor 1004 and discern movement of remote control 902 based on those signals such that very little processing power is required in remote control 902. In general, processing may be distributed between remote control 902 and processing device 922 in any desired manner.

One advantage provided by the embodiments of the remote control and display control system described above is that the paradigm employed in searching data is similar to that naturally employed in manually browsing large data areas for portions for further inspection. That is, people tend to view data in general in order to sort the information sufficiently to focus on the most interesting parts (e.g., when viewing a program guide in a newspaper, people typically view the time and date to find the required time, and then focus further on identifying the required channel). Therefore, the use of the above-described embodiment is made easier by the relation with the naturally employed search technique.

In the foregoing specification, various embodiments of the claimed invention have been described. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims that follow. For example, although embodiments of the invention have been described as relating to a display system, other embodiments may be used to control an audio system or some other type of system that may or may not disseminate content to users. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Claims (19)

1. An apparatus for controlling a display, comprising:

a motion sensor for detecting and providing indications of multiple types of movement of the apparatus, the apparatus being movable by a single user; and

a transmitter to receive indications of the plurality of types of movement and to transmit a plurality of signals corresponding to the plurality of types of movement of the apparatus, wherein the plurality of transmitted signals are embedded with one another and are configured to initiate a display change of data displayed in a remote display device in response to the plurality of types of movement;

wherein the data displayed in the remote display device comprises program guide data; and is

Wherein the display change includes an enlargement of the displayed program guide data, the enlargement enlarging a plurality of channels and times included in the program guide data displayed prior to the enlargement, and eliciting a display of further details about a program associated with the enlarged plurality of channels and times.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a memory and a processor configured to: obtaining indications of the plurality of types of movement and providing corresponding signals to be transmitted by the transmitter by executing instructions stored in the memory.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor comprises one or more gyroscopes.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to: the display remote control device is simulated by transmitting first and second signals that simulate signals transmitted by the display remote control device when vertical and horizontal scrolling functionality is utilized in conjunction with a program guide display.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the apparatus defines orthogonal principal and lateral axes, the gyroscope being configured to: providing an indication of rotation of the device about the transverse axis and about a normal axis orthogonal to a plane defined by the primary axis and the transverse axis; and the transmitter is configured to: transmitting respective first and second signals that cause the display device to translate the displayed data in first and second lateral directions in response to the indication of device rotation about the lateral and normal axes, respectively, such that one or more portions of data logically adjacent to the displayed data are subsequently displayed.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the gyroscope is configured to: providing an indication of translation of the device along the primary axis; and the transmitter is configured to: transmitting a third signal responsive to the indication that the device is translated along the principal axis, the third signal capable of changing a magnification of the displayed data.

7. A system for controlling a display, comprising:

a remote control device comprising:

a motion sensor to detect and provide indications of a plurality of types of movement of the remote control device; and

a transmitter to receive indications of the plurality of types of movement and to transmit a plurality of signals corresponding to the plurality of types of movement of the remote control device; and

a processing device configured to receive the plurality of signals and initiate a display change in data displayed by a display device;

wherein the processing device:

receiving the plurality of signals transmitted by the remote control device while the data displayed by the display device includes program guide data for a program guide; and

in response to the plurality of signals transmitted by the remote control device while the data displayed by the display device includes the program guide data of the program guide, initiating one or more changes to the displayed program guide data, the one or more changes including zooming in on a plurality of channels and times included in the program guide data displayed prior to the zooming in, the zooming in resulting in the display of further details about a program associated with the zoomed in plurality of channels and times.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the processing device and the display device are spaced apart from the remote control device.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the processing device is configured to: a display control system associated with the display device and providing input to the display control system to affect a change in the data displayed in the display device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the remote control device defines orthogonal primary and transverse axes, the primary axis extending along a length of the remote control device and the transverse axis oriented orthogonal to the primary axis and in a plane generally defined by an upper surface of the remote control device, the motion sensor configured to: providing an indication of rotation of the remote control device about the lateral axis and about a normal axis orthogonal to a plane defined by the primary and lateral axes; the transmitter is configured to: transmitting said plurality of signals including at least first and second signals in response to said indication of rotation of the remote control device about said transverse and normal axes, respectively; and the processing device is configured to: the first and second signals are received and first and second inputs are provided to the display control system to respectively simulate vertical and horizontal scrolling functions utilized in conjunction with a program guide display by causing the display device to translate the displayed data in first and second lateral directions such that one or more portions of data logically adjacent to the displayed data are subsequently displayed.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the motion sensor comprises one or more gyroscopes.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the remote control device defines orthogonal major and transverse axes, the major axis extending along a length of the remote control device and the transverse axis oriented orthogonal to the major axis and in a plane generally defined by an upper surface of the remote control device, the one or more gyroscopes configured to: providing an indication of rotation of the remote control device about the lateral axis and about a normal axis orthogonal to a plane defined by the primary and lateral axes; the transmitter is configured to: transmitting the plurality of signals comprising first and second signals in response to the indication of rotation of the remote control device about the lateral axis and the normal axis, respectively; and the processing device is configured to receive the first and second signals and cause the display device to translate the displayed data in respective first and second lateral directions such that one or more portions of data logically adjacent to the displayed data are subsequently displayed.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more gyroscopes are configured to: providing an indication that the remote control device is translated along the primary axis; the transmitter is configured to: transmitting a third signal in response to the indication that the remote control device is translated along the primary axis; and the processing device is configured to: receiving the third signal and causing the display device to change a magnification of the displayed data.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processing device is configured to: causing the display device to display a map concurrently with the displayed data, the map indicating a location of the displayed data in a broader data set that includes the displayed data.

15. The system of claim 7, wherein the processing device:

receiving a selection signal transmitted by the remote control device while the data displayed by the display device includes the amplified plurality of channels and times, the selection signal indicating a user selection of program content represented by the amplified plurality of channels and times;

initiating display of the selected program content by the display device in response to the selection signal;

receiving one or more movement-based signals transmitted by the remote control device while the display device is displaying the program content; and

initiating one or more changes to the display of the program content in response to the one or more movement-based signals transmitted by the remote control device while the display device is displaying the program content, the one or more changes including zooming in on a portion of the displayed program content.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the motion sensor further comprises a distance sensor in combination with the one or more gyroscopes.

17. The system of claim 7, wherein the motion sensor comprises a signal transceiver for interacting with a transponder to detect at least one of a position and/or a movement of the remote control device.

18. A method for controlling a display, comprising:

providing a remote control device defining orthogonal principal and lateral axes and configured to be movable by an individual user, the principal axis extending along a length of the remote control device, the lateral axis oriented orthogonal to the principal axis and in a plane generally defined by an upper surface of the remote control device;

detecting rotation of the remote control device about the horizontal axis and generating a first signal configured to scroll program guide data displayed on the remote display device in a first direction;

detecting rotation of the remote control device about a normal axis and generating a second signal configured to scroll the displayed program guide data in a second direction, the normal axis being orthogonal to a plane defined by the major and transverse axes and the second direction being orthogonal to the first direction;

detecting a translation of the remote control device along the horizontal axis and generating a third signal configured to change a magnification of the displayed program guide data; and

transmitting the first, second, and third signals such that:

scrolling the program guide data displayed on the remote control device in the first direction;

scrolling the program guide data displayed on the remote control device in the second direction;

enlarging the displayed program guide data, the enlarging a plurality of channels and times included in the program guide data displayed prior to the enlarging, and eliciting a display of further details about programs associated with the enlarged plurality of channels and times.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing an indicator of the display device and adjusting the remote control device in response to the indicator of the display device such that signals transmitted by the remote control device are compatible with the display device.