Abstract:
A media controller tablet is disclosed comprising: an ergonomic housing including a pair of complimentary curvilinear surfaces tapering from an upper end to a lower end, and a gripping surface in contact with one of the complimentary curvilinear surfaces wherein the gripping surface and the complimentary curvilinear surfaces are adapted to engage a human hand with a palm of the human hand in contact with one of the pair of complimentary curvilinear surfaces and a plurality of fingers of the human hand wrapped around the gripping surface; a controller embedded in the ergonomic housing and adapted to receive an input and wirelessly control a media device in accordance with the input; and a display integrated with the ergonomic housing and connected with the controller for displaying information about media content available for viewing on the media device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to wireless tablets. More specifically the present invention relates to wireless tablets for controlling multimedia appliances. 
         [0003]    2. Discussion of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Multimedia appliances have proliferated along with wireless remote control devices for controlling the appliances. These wireless remote control devices tend to be appliance specific. It is not uncommon for a homeowner to have multiple media appliances each having a separate and unique remote control for controlling the appliance. For example, the homeowner may have a television controller, a cable box controller, a stereo system controller and a Digital Video Disc (DVD) controller for controlling an integrated stereo and television system setup. This federated approach to controlling the individual devices that comprise a single multimedia experience is often confusing and frustrating. 
         [0005]    Several attempts have been made to create a universal controller for controlling all the devices that comprise the multimedia experience. These universal controllers are usually large and confusing to use. They feature many small buttons, frequently fifty or more, with some of the buttons being appliance unique and some of the buttons common to two or more appliances. For example, a screen navigation control button might be applicable only for controlling a television display menu driven by the cable box while a fast forward button might be used for controlling an on demand movie playing through the set top box, a movie playing through the DVD and an audio track playing through the stereo system. 
         [0006]    Tablet computing devices have also proliferated in recent years. Tablets have become smaller and easier to use and in many cases have processors and memory that provide computational power and data storage sizes similar to that of a Personal Computer (PC). As a result, many tablets have similar capabilities to a desktop PC such as a processor driven display, a wireless networking feature and a USB data transfer capability. Moreover, the tablets can be packaged inexpensively as relatively small devices. 
         [0007]    Those skilled in the art will recognize that there is a need for a small and easy to use multimedia controller having many of the features available in a desktop PC. The present invention addresses this need as well as others needs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In one embodiment, the invention can be characterized as a media controller tablet, comprising: an ergonomic housing including a pair of complimentary curvilinear surfaces tapering from an upper end to a lower end, and a gripping surface in contact with one of the complimentary curvilinear surfaces wherein the gripping surface and the complimentary curvilinear surfaces are adapted to engage a human hand with a palm of the human hand in contact with one of the pair of complimentary curvilinear surfaces and a plurality of fingers of the human hand wrapped around the gripping surface; a controller embedded in the ergonomic housing and adapted to receive an input and wirelessly control a media device in accordance with the input; and a display integrated with the ergonomic housing and connected with the controller for displaying information about media content available for viewing on the media device. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, the invention can be characterized as a handheld media device controller, comprising: a housing adapted to be cradled in a hand; a controller located substantially within the housing for controlling a media device; and a display coupled to the housing for displaying content that corresponds to media content available through the media device. 
         [0010]    In a further embodiment, the invention may be characterized as a remote control device for controlling a plurality of media devices, the remote control device having: a housing adapted to be held in a hand; a controller inside the housing adapted to receive content information from each of the plurality of media devices; and a display coupled to the housing for displaying the content information from each of the plurality of media devices. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The above and other aspects, features and advantages of several embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of a multimedia controller tablet in communication with exemplary multimedia devices according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of a multimedia controller tablet showing a guide page according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of a multimedia controller tablet showing a DVD page according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of a multimedia controller tablet showing a TV page according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is an illustration of a multimedia controller tablet showing an audio page according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a functional block diagram of a multimedia controller tablet according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
       [0018]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    The following description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing the general principles of exemplary embodiments. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims. 
         [0020]    Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrase “in one embodiment”, “in an embodiment”, or similar language throughout the specification may, but does not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment. 
         [0021]    Referring first to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary multimedia environment  100  and a multimedia controller tablet  102  are shown according to an embodiment of the invention. The multimedia controller tablet  102  is in communication with a PC  104  through a cable  106  and in communication with the internet  108  through a wireless internet access network  110 . The multimedia controller tablet  102  is also in communication with a plurality of multimedia devices  111  that comprise; a stereo system  112  that includes a receiver  114 , a left speaker  116  and a right speaker  118 ; and a television system  120  that includes a television  122 , a cable box  124  and a DVD player  126 . The multimedia controller controls the multimedia devices  111  through a plurality of wireless data links  127 , specifically wireless data links  128 ,  130 ,  132 . 
         [0022]    The multimedia tablet controller  102 , explained further hereinafter, is operable to exchange data with the PC  104  through the cable  106 . Cable  106  in several embodiments is a USB cable with the multimedia table controller and PC  104  having USB compliant USB jack or port. Other embodiments feature other types of cables and other types of wired line protocols. Still other embodiments feature a wireless connection between the multimedia controller  102  and the PC  104 . The wireless protocol for the wireless connection may be any wireless protocol that facilitates an appropriate data exchange. An appropriate wireless protocol might for example be the Bluetooth networking protocol. 
         [0023]    In this embodiment, the multimedia controller tablet  102  is operable to download television programming guides as well as video and music files (i.e. video tracks and audio tracks) from the personal computer  102 . It can be appreciated that the multimedia controller tablet  102  has a processor and memory and can store and execute a variety of computational algorithms and data structures. The multimedia controller tablet  102  is also operable to download application software and software updates for the multimedia controller tablet  102 . Application software might, for example, include software modules for controlling one or more of the plurality of multimedia devices  111  and software modules for generating appropriate multimedia controller tablet  102  user interfaces. One example of application software might be software modules that generate the user interface and wireless commands for controlling the Sony Bravia television set. 
         [0024]    The multimedia controller table  102  is also operable to connect to the internet  108  through a wireless internet access network  110 . The wireless internet access network  110  might be for example a WiFi network. The wireless internet access network  110  might also be for example a virtual network created by establishing a local area network with an internet access gateway, such as PC  104 , that in turn may be connected to the internet through a DSL line, cable modem or other communication device. 
         [0025]    The multimedia controller  102  is also in communication with the plurality of multimedia devices  111  through the plurality of wireless data links  127 . In this embodiment, the plurality of wireless data links  127  are two way data links established according to the Bluetooth protocol. In other embodiments, the data links are one way data links from the multimedia controller  102  to the plurality of multimedia devices  111 . In several embodiments, the plurality of wireless data links  127  are radio frequency data links or infrared data links. 
         [0026]    In this embodiment, the multimedia tablet controller  102  is operable to receive information from the plurality of multimedia devices  111 . For example, the multimedia controller may receive program guide data from the cable box  124  or information about the DVD content available on a DVD from the DVD player  126 . In other embodiments, the multimedia tablet controller receives guide data and other multimedia information from the PC  104  or the internet  108 . The transfer of data from a stereo receiver  114 , television set  120  or any other communication capable device is also contemplated. Synch operations to synch information stored in the multimedia tablet controller  102  and the plurality of multimedia devices  111 , the PC  104  or any other networked device is also contemplated. 
         [0027]    Referring next to  FIG. 2 , a multimedia tablet controller  200  according to an embodiment of the invention is shown. The multimedia tablet controller  200  is packaged in an ergonomic housing  202  that includes a pair of complimentary curvilinear surfaces  204 ,  206 . The first curvilinear surface  204  is curved to engage the palm of a hand. The second curvilinear surface  206  is in contact with a gripping surface  208 . The ergonomic housing  202  has a display  210  integrated with the ergonomic housing  202  and a controller (not shown) embedded inside the ergonomic housing  202 . The ergonomic housing  202  also has a microphone  212  and USB port (not shown). 
         [0028]    The pair of complimentary curvilinear surfaces  204 ,  206  cooperates with the gripping surface  208  to provide a user of the multimedia tablet controller  200  with ergonomic surfaces for cradling the device in the hand, and operating the device with either the cradling hand or another hand. Preferably, the gripping surface  208  is substantially composed of an elastic material with the gripping surface  208  deforming to accommodate the grip of the cradling hand. 
         [0029]    The multimedia tablet controller  200  has a plurality of buttons  214  located in the upper right portion of the ergonomic housing  202 . The plurality of buttons in this embodiment includes a DVD button  216 , a TV button  218 , an on/off button  220 , a volume pair  222  a channel pair  224 , and a menu button  226 . On the left side of the ergonomic housing  202  a track ball  228  and select button  230  are provided. 
         [0030]    The plurality of buttons  214  in this embodiment, are configured on the right upper portion of the ergonomic housing  202 , a position that allows the buttons to be easily selected using the right thumb of the cradling hand. The buttons  214  provide the user with some of the most basic control functions available. The DVD button  216  focuses control of the plurality of buttons  214  for operations on the DVD. The TV button  218  focuses control of the plurality of buttons  214  for operations on the television. The on/off button turns the TV, DVD or other selected device on and off. The volume pair  222  raises and lowers the volume of a selected device and the channel pair  224  raises or decrements the channel of a selected device. A menu button  226  allows the user to command the display of a menu screen on the selected device or on the display  210 . 
         [0031]    In this embodiment, the display  210  is a touch screen display and the user may make selections via touch input to the screen. In other embodiments the track ball  228  and the select button  230  are used for user input. The use of a stylus pen, keyboard and other input mechanisms is also contemplated. 
         [0032]    The display  210  has a select bar  228  located at the top of the display. In this embodiment, the select bar  228  allows the user to choose a guide page, a DVD page, a TV page or an audio page. Below the select bar  228  is a current page line  230  that indicates the page that is currently selected. In this case, the current page line  230  indicates that the guide page is currently selected. In alternate embodiments, the guide portion of the select bar  228  may be highlighted, bolded, enlarged or otherwise emphasized to indicate that the guide page is currently selected. 
         [0033]    Below the current page line  230  is a mode line  232  that shows the current display mode. In this case, the display mode is preview mode. A title line  234  is provided underneath the mode line  232  that indicates the title of a movie being previewed. In this case the title is “Tin Man”. An elapsed time indicator  236  is also provided showing the amount of time remaining in the “Tin Man” preview. A summary area  238  is also provided with a text preview of the movie. The summary area might be populated with a text summary for the Tin Man. The text summary might for example read: 
         [0034]    A young girl and three strange companions embark on a quest in a magical realm in this miseries update of the classic L Frank Baum tale. MPGA Rating: None User Rating: Five stars. Your Rating: Two stars. 
         [0035]    Provided next to the text summary in the summary area  238  is a video preview area  240  for showing a preview, trailer, or the like of a movie. In this case, a trailer for the movie “Tin Man” might be showing. An audio track from the Tin Man may also be played through a speaker  212  embedded in the housing  202 . Below the summary area  238  and the video preview  240  is a numeric keypad  242  that allows the user to select a different channel for preview. Below the numeric keypad  242  a mute button  244  is provided to mute the audio track. Next to the mute button  244  is a channel view button  246  for viewing an alternate user interface that may show for example a menu with all the channels available. 
         [0036]    Those skilled in the art will readily recognize that the display area can be used to display a variety of graphical user interfaces (GUIs). For example, a GUI can be provided for viewing a page having a picture in picture of a current playing movie, for displaying a page having a television programming schedule, a page having a movie schedule, a page having a satellite radio schedule, a page having on-demand list, a page having an electronic programming guide, or any other multimedia related page. The GUIs may also be directed to accessing content available only on the multimedia controller tablet  200  such as downloaded audio tracks, games or other executable programs or data. 
         [0037]    Referring next to  FIG. 3 , a multimedia tablet controller  300  showing a DVD page according to an embodiment of the invention is shown. The multimedia tablet has a housing  302  with a display  304  integrated in the housing  302 . The display  304  shows the DVD page. The DVD page includes a select bar  306  located at the top of the display. In this embodiment, the select bar  306  allows the user to choose a guide page, a DVD page, a TV page or an audio page. Below the select bar  306  is a current page line  308  that indicates the type of page that is currently selected. In this case, the current page line  308  indicates that the DVD page is currently selected. In alternate embodiments, the guide portion of the select bar  306  may be highlighted or emphasized to indicate that the DVD page is currently selected. 
         [0038]    Just above the current page line  308  is a rewind select key  310  for commanding the DVD player to go backward in play time. Next to the rewind select key  310  is a stop key  312  for commanding the DVD player to stop playing. Next to the stop key  312  is a fast forward key  314  for commanding the DVD player to jump forward in play time. Underneath the stop button  312  is a pause button  318  for pausing the DVD player. 
         [0039]    Below the pause button  318  is a series of keys for navigating DVD menu pages. There is an up button  320  a down button  322 , a right button  324  and a left button  326  as well as a select button  328 . A DVD play status bar  324  underneath the series of keys is also provided. 
         [0040]    It can be appreciated that the basic DVD command buttons  310 ,  312 ,  314 ,  316 ,  318  are configured in a simple and easy to understand configuration. The configuration is consistent with the configuration of the control keys on many conventional remote control devices making the use of command buttons  310 ,  312 ,  314 ,  316 ,  318  intuitive to new users of the multimedia controller tablet  300 . The button motif is also consistent with many stereo systems and the layout motif can be applied to other GUI&#39;s for controlling these devices as well. The series of keys for navigating the DVD menus  320 ,  322 ,  324 ,  326  are also provided in a simple and easy to understand configuration consistent with many conventional remote control devices. Advantageously, the command buttons  310 ,  312 ,  314 ,  316 ,  318  and DVD menus  320 ,  322 ,  324 ,  326  configuration is not fixed and as the user selects different pages only the buttons applicable to the need be displayed. The status bar  326  at the bottom provides a quick and intuitive indication of how much of the DVD content has been viewed. 
         [0041]    In this embodiment, the display  304  is a touch screen display and selection of the buttons can be accomplished by touching the corresponding area of the display. In other embodiments a track ball  330  and a select key  332  can be used to select the buttons. In still other embodiments, the track ball  330  and select key  332  may be used to navigate the DVD screen. 
         [0042]    One skilled in the art will recognize that the DVD page as well as other multimedia control GUI&#39;s can be embodied in a variety of formats. The DVD page may be tailored for use with a particular DVD player according to the preferences of a particular user or any other criteria. The versatility of a touch screen display allows for easy navigation and intuitive GUIs for navigating pages and controlling multimedia devices. 
         [0043]    Referring next to  FIG. 4 , a multimedia tablet controller  400  showing a TV page according to an embodiment of the invention is shown. The multimedia controller tablet has a housing  402  with a display  404  integrated in the housing  402 . The display  404  shows the TV page. The TV page includes a select bar  406  located at the top of the display. In this embodiment, the select bar  406  allows the user to choose a guide page, a DVD page, a TV page or an audio page. Below the select bar  406  is a current page line  408  that indicates the TV page that is currently selected and being displayed. In alternate embodiments, the guide portion of the select bar  406  may be highlighted or emphasized to indicate that the TV page is currently selected. 
         [0044]    Below the current page line  408  a numeric keypad  409  is shown with a pip  410  button and an on/off button  412 . The numeric keypad  409  can be used for selecting television channels. The picture in picture button  410  allows the user to command a picture in picture display on the television set. The on/off button allows a user to easily turn the television set on or off. 
         [0045]    Referring next to  FIG. 5 , a multimedia tablet controller  500  showing an audio page according to an embodiment of the invention is shown. The multimedia tablet has a housing  502  with a display  504  integrated in the housing  502 . The display  504  shows the audio page. The audio page includes a select bar  506  located at the top of the display. In this embodiment, the select bar  506  allows the user to choose a guide page, a DVD page, a TV page or an audio page. Below the select bar  506  is a current page line  508  that indicates the audio page that is currently selected and being displayed. In alternate embodiments, the audio portion of the select bar  506 , may be highlighted or emphasized to indicate that the audio page is currently selected and being displayed. 
         [0046]    Below the current page line  508  is a status indicator  510  that indicates the status of the current track being played. An artist line  512  shows the artist as Keiko Lee and a track listing  514  lists the tracks available. In this case, track  1  is “Imagine”, track  2  is “Love Dance”, track  3  is “My Romance”, track  4  is “I Saw the Light”, track  5  is “Don&#39;t Explain”, track  6  is “Human Nature”, track  7  is “What a Wonderful World and track  8  is “My Love”. A display  516  next to the artist line  512  and the track listing  514  provides a video area  516  for playing a related video, displaying album art or the like. On the lower half of the display area is a rewind select key  518  for commanding the audio player to go backward in play time. Next to the rewind select key  518  is a stop key  520  for commanding the audio player to stop playing. Next to the stop key  520  is a play key  522  for commanding the audio player to play and a fast forward key  524  for commanding the audio player to jump forward in play time. Underneath the stop button  520  is a pause button  526  for pausing the audio player. 
         [0047]    Underneath the pause button  526  a volume button  528  is provided as well as a slider  530 . The volume button  526  allows a user to adjust the output volume and the slider  530  allows for advancing or reversing in time the play of the audio track. Advantageously these buttons have a look and feel similar to an audio track player on a PC. 
         [0048]    Referring next to  FIG. 6 , a functional block diagram  600  of a multimedia controller tablet according to an embodiment of the invention is shown. The multimedia controller has a processor  602  functionally linked to a memory  604 , a display  606 , input keys  608 , a USB interface  610 , a WiFi interface  612 , a Bluetooth interface  614 , and an infrared (I/R) port  616 . 
         [0049]    The processor  602  communicates with the memory  604  and they cooperate to save multimedia controller tablet programs and data. The programs include control modules for controlling multimedia devices as well as modules for controlling the internal functions of the multimedia controller tablet. The memory  604  may also store video, audio tracks, user preferences, programs, applications, display drivers, networking protocols, calculation engines, and the like. The processor  602  also drives the display  606 . The display  606  is preferably a touch screen display that allows the user to make control inputs and selections to the multimedia controller tablet. The processor  602  is also connected with the input keys  608  for receiving track ball inputs, select key inputs, button inputs, key inputs and the like entered by a user. 
         [0050]    The processor  602  also communicates with the USB interface  610  to facilitate wired data exchange between the multimedia controller tablet and an external device such as a PC. The processor  602  also communicates with a WiFi interface  612  for wireless data exchange between the multimedia controller tablet and internet enabled devices. The processor communicates with a Bluetooth interface  614  for wireless data exchange with multimedia devices and other devices in the proximate area. The processor  616  also communicates with the IR port for sending infrared commands to multimedia devices in the immediate area. 
         [0051]    It can be appreciated that the USB interface  610 , the WiFi interface  612  and the Bluetooth interface  614  may provide a high bandwidth two way data bridge between the processor  602  and a multimedia device, computer or other storage device. The multimedia device computer or other storage device in turn may have a database or a virtual connection with a database. Data stored in the multimedia device or accessible by the multimedia device, such as electronic programming guides, digital music, movie trailers or other information may be virtually accessed, executed or stored for later use by the multimedia controller tablet through the WiFi interface  612  or the Bluetooth interface  614 . Similarly, programs and data stored or executed on the multimedia controller tablet such as user preferences, user selections, voice recordings, digital music, and video trailers may be shared with other multimedia devices. The use of the multimedia device as a data conduit between multimedia devices, computers and other devices is also contemplated. 
         [0052]    It can be appreciated that the multimedia tablet controller may have two way or one way communication links with a multimedia device. For example, in a preferred embodiment the USB interface  610 , the WiFi interface  612  and the Bluetooth interface  614  support bidirectional communication, while the I/R port  616  supports one way communication. 
         [0053]    Processor  602  is also functionally connected with a microphone and speakers  618 . The microphone and speakers  618  providing an audio input and output for the multimedia controller tablet. Audio input could be stored as a recording in memory  604  or could be processed by the processor  602  to extract a voice command. The voice command could in turn be used to control one of the multimedia devices. 
         [0054]    Those skilled in the art will recognize there are many structural and functional embodiments of the multimedia controller tablet. Many of the functional units described in this specification have been labeled as modules, in order to more particularly emphasize their implementation independence. For example, a module may be implemented as a hardware circuit comprising custom VLSI circuits or gate arrays, off-the-shelf semiconductors such as logic chips, transistors, or other discrete components. A module may also be implemented in programmable hardware devices such as field programmable gate arrays, programmable array logic, programmable logic devices or the like. 
         [0055]    While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, examples and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.