WO2001039147A1

WO2001039147A1 - Method and apparatus for acknowledging input from a remote controlling device by a computing device

Info

Publication number: WO2001039147A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/032465
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eugene Rzucidlo; Ricky Rand
Original assignee: Future Tv Technologies, Ltd.
Priority date: 1999-11-29
Filing date: 2000-11-29
Publication date: 2001-05-31
Also published as: AU2050701A; WO2001039147A8

Abstract

A user presses a button on a remote controller (120) to transmit a signal from the controller to a set top box (100). The set-top box (100) is provided with a sensor (102) to detect the signal and a controller (103) to convert the received signal into visual and audio signals. These visual and audio signals can be transmitted to, respectively, a video display monitor to display a visual indicator of the received signal, and to a speaker (101) to broadcast an audible indicator of the received signal. The user can specify the visual indicator to be displayed, and the audible indicator to be broadcast.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ACKNOWLEDGING INPUT FROM A REMOTE CONTROLLING DEVICE BY A COMPUTING DEVICE

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/167,872 of Rand, et. al. filed November 29, 1999 which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to providing a user with positive feedback when an electronic device requiring the user to enter input has actually received the input. In particular, this invention is directed to providing a user of a remote controller for a media display system with visual and audio feedback when the system has received a signal from the controller.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Remote key or button input systems are a standard component of many consumer electronics devices . An example of such a device is the keypad on the remote controller for a video cassette recorder (VCR) or television (TV) . Electronics devices that make use of these key entry systems include, in addition to those described above, telephones, and video-on-demand (VOD) or media-on-demand (MOD) subscriber services. A typical user setup for illustrative purposes can include a set-top box (STB) that receives video input from either a VCR or from a VOD service provider via a cable and is connected to a video display monitor. The STB is controlled by a controller which contains one or more buttons or keys (hereinafter collectively referred to as buttons) . Although a typical controller is a remote controller that communicates with the STB via a wireless connection, a controller can be connected to the STB via a cable connection.

The controller transmits an electronic signal to the STB when a button is pressed. The user can control the system by pointing the remote controller at the STB and pressing a button. On many remote devices, a button makes no sound when pressed, and thus the only way for the user to know that a button press signal was received is to see if the STB responds to the button press. Moreover, even if pressing a button does produce a sound, that sound is not indicative of whether the STB has actually received a signal from the controller device. Many users watch videos on their monitor with the lights dimmed or off, and thus cannot see what button was pressed. In addition, the user's attention may frequently be diverted when the remote button is pressed, so that the user may not be watching the monitor to see if the STB responds to the remote command. Such a user would not be aware if the button press mechanism was malfunctioning and not generating a signal.

Thus, there has been a long-felt need for a method and apparatus for informing the user of when the STB has actually received the remote input. Visual feedback is satisfactory if the user is actually watching the monitor, but is inadequate if not. Thus, both visual and auditory feedback are needed to inform the user of whether and/or when the STB actually received the button press signal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a viewer with audio and visual feedback for confirming the reception of a button press signal from a remote control device. In a first embodiment, a sound is generated by the STB's speaker once the STB has received the button press signal. In a second embodiment, a visual representation of a controller button pressed by a user will be displayed on a display device and a sound will be heard from the STB's speaker once the STB has received the button press signal. For example, if the user presses the volume button on the remote, the STB will display that button on the monitor along with the volume bar, and emit a sound. In addition, the STB will emit sounds as the user raises or lowers the volume.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 depicts one preferred embodiment of the invention, which comprises a set-top box (STB) 100 for a MOD system that is connected to a video display monitor 110 and is controlled by a remote controller 120. Although the invention is described herein in terms of a remote controller, the invention is in not way limited to a remote controller, and a cable-connected controller can also be utilized. STB 100 is connected to monitor 110 via cable 105, and STB 100 is connected to a MOD service provider by connection 130. Remote controller 120 is provided with a plurality of buttons upon an upper surface that control STB 100. In order to control the STB 100, the user points the remote 120 at the STB 100 and presses a button, causing remote 120 to transmit an electromagnetic signal to STB 100. This signal can be, for example, an infra-red (IR) signal or a radio- frequency (RF) signal. STB 100 possess a sensor 102 that receives the signal from the remote 120, and controller 103 to decode the signal, activate the appropriate function, and provide visual and audio feedback to the user. The techniques for designing sensors and controllers are well known in the art, as are techniques for generating visual and audio feedback, and need not be described herein.

FIG. 1 depicts remote controller 120 directing a signal to STB 100. That signal is detected by sensor 102, and is decoded by controller 103. In one embodiment of the invention, controller 103 directs speaker 101 to emit a sound upon receipt of a button press signal. In the example depicted in FIG. 1, in which the user has pressed the volume button, controller 103 directs speaker 101 to emit a distinct sound each time the user presses an appropriate button on remote 120 to adjust the volume. The sound can be, for example, a bell sound, however, any sound is within the scope of the invention. In a preferred embodiment, the user can select the type of sound. Since volume is controlled locally by STB 100, there is no reason to inform the provider of this signal, and thus no reason to wait for an acknowledgement from the provider. Similarly, if the user presses the pause key, controller 103 causes speaker 101 to emit a sound once it has received the pause signal to indicate receipt thereof .

In another preferred embodiment, controller 103 will both generate a visual representation of the button whose signal was received, and direct the speaker to emit a sound. Thus, referring to FIG. 1, controller 103 generates a visual representation of the button pressed on the controller, and causes monitor 110 to display the visual representation 140 of the button, which in this example is the volume button, and below the button display on monitor 110 volume bar 141 with volume level indicator 145 is displayed. As the user presses a button on remote 120 to adjust the volume level, controller 103 will cause volume level indicator 145 to be displaced accordingly along the volume bar 141 displayed by monitor 110. Simultaneously, controller 103 causes speaker 101 to emit sounds as controller 103 decodes volume level change signals from controller 120. Similarly, if the user pressed the pause button on remote 120 and directs a signal to sensor 102, controller 103 generates a visual representation of that button and causes monitor 110 to display it, while controller 103 causes speaker 101 to emit a sound. The methods of programming an STB to emit a sound upon receipt of a signal are well known in the art, as are methods of programming an STB to display a visual representation of an object, such as a button, on a video display monitor. Although this embodiment is described in terms of emitting sounds and visually displaying the key just pressed, other forms of audio and visual feedback are possible and may be created by those skilled in the art . In particular, in an especially preferred embodiment, the invention can provide the user with the means for specifying the sound to be emitted from the speaker and customizing the appearance of the key or button on the display device, or specifying the image to be displayed on the monitor as feedback. The means for allowing a user to specify a sound or image are well known in the art. The example given here is for illustrative purposes only, and the invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described above. It is evident that numerous alternative modifications, variations, and uses will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing disclosure.

Claims

CLAIMSWHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method of acknowledging input from a remote controlling device by a computing device attached to a speaker, said method comprising the steps of: transmitting a signal from a remote controlling device to a computing device; receiving the signal by the computing device; and generating an audible indicator from said speaker in response to receiving said signal from said remote controlling device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying a visual indicator on a display monitor attached to said computing device in response to receiving said signal from said remote controlling device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the visual indicator may be varied in accordance with a preset specification.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the audible indicia m y be varied in accordance with a preset specification.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device is a set top box that is connected to a media-on- demand network.

6. An apparatus for acknowledging input from a remote controlling device by a computing device comprising: a remote controlling device adapted to transmitting a signal to a computing device; a sensor attached to said computing device to receive said signal; and means for the computing device to generate an audible indicator in response to receiving said signal from said remote controlling device; wherein the computing device, upon receipt of said signal by said sensor from said computing device, generates an audible indicator of said received signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a speaker connected to said computing device to broadcast the audible indicator.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising: means for the computing device to generate a visual indicator in response to receiving said signal from said remote controlling device; wherein the computing device, upon receipt of said signal by said sensor from said computing device, generates the visual indicator of said received signal .

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a video display device connected to said computing device to display the visual indicator.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising means for specifying the visual indictor.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the means for specifying the visual indicator comprises a data entry screen operable by a user.

12. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising means for specifying the audible indictor.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the means for specifying the audible indicator comprises a data entry screen operable by a user.

14. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the computing device is a set-top-box connected to a media-on-display network.