English:
[0001] The idea of a user controlling an electronic device remotely or from a distance has become ubiquitous ever since the invention of the remote control for a television. The simple television remote control has served its purpose adequately over the years because a television has limited functionality.
[0004] FIG. 1 illustrates a remote control device having a touch-sensitive display for displaying a dynamic user interface received from a computing device according to examples of the present disclosure;
[0005] FIG. 2 illustrates a remote control device having a touch-sensitive display displaying a keyboard user interface according to examples of the present disclosure;
[0006] FIG. 3 illustrates a remote control device having a touch-sensitive display displaying a media controls user interface according to examples of the present disclosure;
[0007] FIG. 4 illustrates a remote control device having a touch-sensitive display enclosed in a housing according to examples of the present disclosure; and
[0008] FIG. 5 illustrates a method for displaying a user interface received from a computing device on an interface device having a touch-sensitive display according to examples of the present disclosure.
[0009] Consumers are facing a usability problem trying to interface with personal computer entertainment stations remotely. For example, as personal computer screen sizes grow, users become more remote from the personal computer. To interact with the personal computer, the user may either relocate to be nearer to the personal computer or the user may use a remote control device. For example, a user may use an on-screen keyboard or traditional wired keyboard and mouse if the user is near the personal computer. However, if the user wishes to control the personal computer from a distance, the user may do so with a smart-phone application, a traditional wireless keyboard and/or mouse, or a remote control with keyboard and mouse (e.g., GoogleTM television remote). However, these solutions may not adequately address all of a user's needs for controlling the personal computer from a distance.
[0011] Various embodiments will be described below by referring to several examples of a remote control device having a touch-sensitive display for displaying a dynamic user interface. The sample remote control devices disclosed herein may receive a dynamic user interface from a computing device, display the dynamic user interface on the touch-sensitive display, receive an input from a user on the touch-sensitive display, and send a signal indicative of the received user input to the computing device.
[0012] In some implementations, a user may receive an enhanced experience when using a personal computer entertainment station by allowing the user to control the personal computer from a distance. In another example, a user may experience the benefits of using a single control device to control a personal computer entertainment station instead of multiple control devices. In another example, a user may be able to access custom menus and other features that may not be available using traditional control devices. These and other advantages will be apparent from the description that follows.
[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates a remote control device 100 having a touch-sensitive display 110 for displaying a dynamic user interface 120 received from a computing device 130 according to examples of the present disclosure. It should be understood that the computing system 130 may include any appropriate type of computing device, including for example smartphones, tablets, desktops, laptops, workstations, servers, smart monitors, smart televisions, digital signage, scientific instruments, retail point of sale devices, video walls, or the like.
[0014] The remote control device 100 receives the user interface 120 from the computing device 130 via a connection 140 through interface receiver module 150. The connection 140 may utilize wireless transmission methods, including WiFi, radio frequency, Bluetooth, infrared, or any other suitable transmission method.
[0015] The user interlace 120 may be received through interface receiver module 150, which may be of a type suitable for communicating with the computing device 130 via the connection 140. Upon receiving the user interface 120, the interface receiver module 150 may cause the touch-sensitive display 110 to display the user interface 120. In one example, the interface receiver module 150 may be a hardware module configured to receive and cause to be displayed the user interface 120. In another example, the interface receiver module 150 may comprise instructions to be executed on a processor, as described herein. In one example, the interface receiver module 150 may also receive and transmit a user input from the remote control device 100 to the computing device 130.
[0016] The user interface 120 may be dynamic and is determined by the computing device 130 based on the current activity of the computing device 130 and/or based on the desired input to be received from the user. For example, if the computing device 130 is playing a movie and is displaying the movie on a monitor or other display of the computing device 130, the computing device 130 may determine that the user interface 120 should display a set of media controls on the touch-sensitive display 110 of the remote control device 110.
[0017] Alternatively, if a user of the computing device 130 is browsing the web, a web browser may be displayed on a monitor or other display device of the computing device 130. The user may desire to interact with the web browser by manipulating a mouse pointer/cursor. In this example, the computing device 130 may determine that a user interface 120 for manipulating a mouse pointer/cursor is desired. The computing device 130 may send the user interface 120 for manipulating a mouse pointer/cursor to the remote control device 100 for displaying to the user and for receiving user input.
[0018] In this example, the user interface 120 on remote control device 100 may display or include a region for manipulating a mouse pointer/cursor. By moving its finger across the user interface 120 on remote control device 100, the user may cause the mouse pointer/cursor to move in a corresponding manner on the monitor or other display of the computing device 130. As shown in FIG. 1 , for example, the user interface 120 may be blank when the user interface 120 is configured to receive mouse pointer/cursor input. The user interface 120 may also display an interface for manipulating the mouse/pointer with the user's finger, for example.
[0019] In one example, the user interface 120 may support the use of gestures indicative of certain commands. For example, if a user wishes to zoom in or out on the content displayed on the monitor or other display device of computing device 130, the user may place two fingers on the user interface 120 and move them together or apart to zoom in or out respectively. In another example, the user may rotate the content by placing two fingers on the user interface 120 and moving the fingers clock-wise or counter-clock-wise to manipulate the content accordingly. Many other types of gestures may be supported for supporting a variety of commands including navigating and manipulating content and otherwise controlling the computing device 130. The gesture support may be useful when the user interface 120 is displaying a region for manipulating a mouse pointer/cursor and may also be useful with other types of user interfaces displayed on the user interface 120.
[0020] In another example, the computing device 130 may determine that displaying multiple user interfaces on the remote control device 100 simultaneously is desirable. For example, the computing device 130 may cause the touch-sensitive display 110 of remote control device 100 to display a keyboard user interface along with an interface for manipulating the mouse/pointer. Similarly, the computing device 130 may cause the touch- sensitive display 110 of remote control device 100 to display a media controls interface along with an interface for manipulating the mouse/pointer. If a photo editing application is being used by the user, a combination of a mouse/pointer interface, a keyboard interface, and a multi-touch control interface for supporting gestures may be displayed on the user interface 120, for example. Numerous combinations of combined interfaces are possible, and these examples are not limiting.
[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates a remote control device 200 having a touch-sensitive display 210 displaying a keyboard user interface 220 according to examples of the present disclosure. In this example, a computing device, such as the computing device 130 of FIG. 1 , determines that a textual input is desired from a user. For example, if a user is prompted to enter a username and password (or any other text), the computing device may cause the keyboard user interface 220 to be displayed on the remote control device 200. In another example, if an email application is being used, the keyboard user interface 220 may appear.
[0022] To do this, the computing device may send a keyboard user interface 220 to the remote control device 200 via interface receiver module 250 to enable the user to enter the desired textual input. The user may then enter the desired textual input by touching the touch-sensitive display 210 at a location indicative of the desired input (e.g. touch the "K" key to select the letter "K"). The keyboard user interface 220 shown in FIG. 2 illustrates merely one example of a keyboard layout and should not be seen as limiting. Other keyboard layouts may be used. For example, the keyboard user interface 200 may be customized with multiple languages, in varying sizes (such as for large or small hands), or even with custom keys.
[0023] FIG. 3 illustrates a remote control device 300 having a touch-sensitive display 310 displaying a media controls user interface 320 according to examples of the present disclosure. In this example, a computing device, such as the computing device 130 of FIG. 1 , determines that a media control input is desired from a user. These media controls may enable the user to play, pause, fast forward, rewind, or otherwise control the media content. For example, if the computing device is playing media content such as a movie or video, the computing device may provide a media controls user interface 320 to the user, enabling the user to control the media content.
[0024] To do this, the computing device may send a media controls user interface 320 to the remote control device 300 via interface receiver module 350 to enable the user to enter the desired media control input. The user may then select the desired media control input by touching the touch-sensitive display 310 at a location indicative of the desired input (e.g. touch the triangle play button to play the media content). The media controls user interface 320 shown in FIG. 3 illustrates merely one example of media controls and should not be seen as limiting. Other media controls may be used.
[0025] FIG. 4 illustrates a remote control device having a touch-sensitive display 410 enclosed in a housing 400a,b according to examples of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 shows merely one example configuration of a remote control device, and other configurations are possible.
[0026] In the example remote control device shown in FIG. 4, the housing 400a,b has an upper housing 400a and a lower housing 400b. The touch- sensitive display 410 may be positioned between the upper housing 400a and the lower housing 400b such that the touch-sensitive display 410 may be entirely enclosed by the housing 400a,b when the housing portions are brought together. In this example, the touch-sensitive display 410 may be manipulated by the user through the upper housing 400a. For example, the upper housing 400a may have a covering over the touch-sensitive display 410 to protect the touch-sensitive display 410 while allowing the user to interact with the touch-sensitive display 410. In another example, the upper housing 400a may include a cut-out portion through which the touch-sensitive display 410 is visible and accessible to the user.
[0027] In one example, the remote control device may also include a transceiver (not shown) for sending data to and receiving data from a computing device. Although a single transceiver may be utilized, multiple transceivers, or separate transmitters and receivers, may be used. The transceiver (or transmitter and receiver) enables the remote control device to receive a desired user interface from a computing device for displaying on the touch-sensitive display 410. The data sent to and from the remote control device may be transmitted wirelessly via radio frequency, WiFi, infrared, Bluetooth, or another suitable transmission method.
[0028] The remote control device may also include other hardware. For example, the remote control device may include a battery or other power source. The remote control device may also include a processor or a memory for storing instructions executed by the processor or on any other type of volatile or nonvolatile memory that stores instructions to cause a programmable processor to perform the techniques described herein. Alternatively or additionally, the example computing system 100 may include dedicated hardware, such as one or more integrated circuits, Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Application Specific Special Processors (ASSPs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), or any combination of the foregoing examples of dedicated hardware, for performing the techniques described herein. In some implementations, multiple processors may be used, as appropriate, along with multiple memories and/or types of memory.
[0029] In one example, the remote control device may include a memory for storing the user interface received from the computing device. Additionally, the memory may store a number of interfaces for displaying. The computing device may send a signal to the remote control device to cause one or more of the stored interfaces to be displayed. The remote control device may also include a port or multiple ports, such as for charging the remote control device or for connecting the remote control device to a computing device for charging or data communication.
[0030] FIG. 5 illustrates a method 500 for displaying a user interface received from a computing device on an interface device having a touch-sensitive display according to examples of the present disclosure. The method 500 may be performed by the remote control device 100 of FIG. 1 , for example, or on another suitable device. The method 500 may include: receiving, on an interface device, a desired user interface from a computing device (block 502); displaying, on a touch-sensitive display of an interface device, the received desired user interface (block 504); receiving, on the touch-sensitive display of the interface device, a user input related to the desired user interface (block 506); and sending, by the interface device, a signal to the computing device indicative of the received user input (block 508). Additional processes also may be included, and it should be understood that the processes depicted in Fig. 5 represent generalized illustrations, and that other processes may be added or existing processes may be removed, modified, or rearranged without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.
[0031] At block 502, the interface device receives a desired user interface from a computing device. For example, as a user interacts with the computing device, the computing device determines the desired user interface to display to the user based on the user's action (or desired user input type). The interface device then receives the desired user interface from the computing device. For example, if the computing device is playing a movie or video on the computing device's display, the computing device may determine to cause a media control interface to be displayed on the interface device.
[0032] After the interface device receives the desired user interface from the computing device at block 502, the touch-sensitive display of the interface device displays the desired user interface to the user at block 504. For example, if the computing device is playing a movie or video on the computing device's display, a media control interface may be displayed on the interface device.
[0033] At block 506, the touch-sensitive display of the interface device receives a user input related to the desired user interface. For example, if the computing device is playing a movie or video on the interface device, the user may wish to pause the movie or video. To do so, the user may press or select the "pause" button displayed on the touch-sensitive display of the interface device.

中文:
[0001]自从远程控制电视的发明之后,用户远程或从远处控制电子设备的想法已变得无处不在。由于电视具有有限的功能,多年来,简单的电视远程控制已充分地发挥了其作用。
[0004]图1图示了根据本公开的各示例的具有触敏显示器的远程控制设备,该触敏显示器用于显示接收自计算设备的动态用户界面;
[0005]图2图示了根据本公开的各示例的具有显示键盘用户界面的触敏显示器的远程控制设备;
[0006]图3图示了根据本公开的各示例的具有显示媒体控制用户界面的触敏显示器的远程控制设备;
[0007]图4图示了根据本公开的各示例的具有装入外壳内的触敏显示器的远程控制设备;以及
[0008]图5图示了根据本公开的各示例的在具有触敏显示器的界面设备上显示接收自计算设备的用户界面的方法。
[0009]消费者面临试图与个人电脑娱乐站远程连接的可用性问题。例如,随着个人电脑屏幕大小增加,用户离个人电脑更远。为了与个人电脑连接,用户可转移到与个人电脑更近的位置,或者用户可使用远程控制设备。例如,如果用户离个人电脑近,则用户可使用屏幕键盘或传统的有线键盘及鼠标。但是,如果用户希望从远处控制个人电脑,则用户可用智能电话应用程序、传统的无线键盘和/或鼠标、或具有键盘和鼠标的遥控器(例如,谷歌TM电视遥控器)这样做。但是,这些方案不能充分地解决用户从远处控制个人电脑的所有需要。
[0011]下面将通过参照具有用于显示动态用户界面的触敏显示器的远程控制设备的几个示例描述各种实施例。本文公开的示例的远程控制设备可接收来自计算设备的动态用户界面,在触敏显示器上显示动态用户界面,接收用户在触敏显示器上的输入,以及向计算设备发送表示接收的用户输入的信号。
[0012]在一些实现方式中,通过允许用户从远处控制个人电脑,当使用个人电脑娱乐站时,用户可得到增强的体验。在另一示例中,用户可体验使用单个控制设备而不是多个控制设备来控制个人电脑娱乐站的好处。在另一示例中,用户能够访问自定义菜单以及使用传统的控制设备可能不可用的其他特征。根据下面的描述,这些和其他优点将更明显。
[0013]图1图示了根据本公开的各示例的具有触敏显示器110的远程控制设备100,触敏显示器110用于显示接收自计算设备130的动态用户界面120。应理解,计算系统130可包括任何合适类型的计算设备,包括例如智能电话、平板电脑、台式电脑、膝上型电脑、工作站、服务器、智能显示屏、智能电视、数字标牌、科学仪表、销售设备零售点、电视墙,等等。
[0014]远程控制设备100通过界面接收器模块150、经由连接140接收来自计算设备130的用户界面120。连接140可利用无线传输方法,包括WiFi、射频、蓝牙、红外或任何其他合适的传输方法。
[0015]用户界面120可为通过界面接收器模块150接收的,界面接收器模块150可为适用于经由连接140与计算设备130通信的类型。一旦接收到用户界面120,界面接收器模块150可引起触敏显示器110显示用户界面120。在一个示例中,界面接收器模块150可为被配置成接收并引起显示用户界面120的硬件模块。在另一示例中,界面接收器模块150可包括将在处理器上执行的指令,如本文所描述的。在一个示例中,界面接收器模块150还可接收并向计算设备130传输来自远程控制设备100的用户输入。
[0016]用户界面120可为动态的,且由计算设备130基于计算设备130的当前活动和/或基于将从用户接收的期望的输入确定。例如,如果计算设备130正播放电影,且正在计算设备130的显示屏或其他显示器上显示电影,则计算设备130可确定用户界面120应在远程控制设备110的触敏显示器110上显示媒体控制集。
[0017]可选地,如果计算设备130的用户正浏览网页,则可在计算设备130的显示屏或其他显示设备上显示网页浏览器。用户可能期望通过操控鼠标指针/光标与网页浏览器交互。在这样的示例中,计算设备130可确定用于操控鼠标指针/光标的用户界面120是期望的。计算设备130可向为用户显示和接收用户输入的远程控制设备100发送用于操控鼠标指针/光标的用户界面120。
[0018]在这样的示例中,远程控制设备100上的用户界面120可显示或包括用于操控鼠标指针/光标的区域。通过在远程控制设备100上的用户界面120上移动其手指,用户可引起鼠标指针/光标以对应的方式在计算设备130的显示屏或其他显示器上移动。如图1中示出的,例如,当用户界面120被配置成接收鼠标指针/光标输入时,用户界面120可无变化。例如,用户界面120还可显示用于使用用户的手指操控鼠标/指针的界面。
[0019]在一个示例中,用户界面120可支持使用表示某些命令的手势。例如,如果用户希望放大或缩小在计算设备130的显示屏或其他显示设备上显示的内容,则用户可将两个手指放在用户界面120上,并且将它们移动到一块儿或使它们分离以分别进行放大或缩小。在另一示例中,用户可通过将两个手指放在用户界面120上,并且顺时针或逆时针移动手指来旋转内容,从而操控内容。可支持用于支持各种命令的许多其他类型的手势,命令包括导航以及操控内容或控制计算设备130。手势支持可在用户界面120正显示用于操控鼠标指针/光标的区域时有用,并且还可对用户界面120上显示的其他类型的用户界面有用。
[0020]在另一示例中,计算设备130可确定同时在远程控制设备100上显示多个用户界面是期望的。例如,计算设备130可引起远程控制设备100的触敏显示器110显示键盘用户界面以及用于操控鼠标/指针的界面。类似地,计算设备130可引起远程控制设备100的触敏显示器110显示媒体控制界面以及用于操控鼠标/指针的界面。例如,如果用户使用图片编辑应用程序,则鼠标/指针界面、键盘界面以及支持手势的多点触控界面的结合可显示在用户界面120上。结合的界面的许多组合是可能的,且这些示例不为限制。
[0021]图2图示了根据本公开的各示例的具有显示键盘用户界面220的触敏显示器210的远程控制设备200。在这样的示例中,像图1的计算设备130这样的计算设备确定期望用户的文本输入。例如,如果提示用户输入用户名和密码(或任何其他文本),则计算设备可引起键盘用户界面220被显示在远程控制设备200上。在另一示例中,如果正使用电子邮件应用程序,键盘用户界面220可能出现。
[0022]为了这样做,计算设备可经由界面接收器模块250向远程控制设备200发送键盘用户界面220,以使用户能够输入期望的文本输入。然后,用户可通过触摸触敏显示器210的表示期望的输入的位置来输入期望的文本输入(例如,触摸“K”键以选择字母“K”)。图2中示出的键盘用户界面220仅图示了键盘布局的一个示例,不应视为限制。可使用其他键盘布局。例如,可用多种语言、以各种大小(例如,针对较大或较小的手),或甚至用自定义键来自定义键盘用户界面200。
[0023]图3图示了根据本公开的各示例的具有显示媒体控制用户界面320的触敏显示器310的远程控制设备300。在这样的示例中,像图1的计算设备130这样的计算设备确定期望用户的媒体控制输入。这些媒体控制可使用户能够播放、暂停、快进、倒回或控制媒体内容。例如,如果计算设备正播放像电影或视频这样的媒体内容,则计算设备可向用户提供媒体控制用户界面320,使用户能够控制媒体内容。
[0024]为了这样做,计算设备可经由界面接收器模块350向远程控制设备300发送媒体控制用户界面320,以使用户能够输入期望的媒体控制输入。随后,用户可通过触摸触敏显示器310的表示期望的输入的位置来选择期望的媒体控制输入(例如,触摸三角形播放按钮以播放媒体内容)。图3中示出的媒体控制用户界面320仅图示了媒体控制的一个示例,不应视为限制。可使用其他媒体控制。
[0025]图4图示了根据本公开的各示例的具有装入外壳400a、b中的触敏显示器410的远程控制设备。图4仅显示了远程控制设备的一个示例的配置,并且其他配置是可能的。
[0026]在图4中示出的示例的远程控制设备中,外壳400a、b具有上部外壳400a以及下部外壳400b。触敏显示器410可被放置在上部外壳400a和下部外壳400b之间,使得外壳各部分被放在一起时,触敏显示器410可整个被外壳400a、b包住。在这样的示例中,触敏显示器410可由用户通过上部外壳400a操控。例如,上部外壳400a可具有触敏显示器410上的遮盖物,以保护触敏显示器410,同时允许用户与触敏显示器410交互。在另一示例中,上部外壳400a可包括开口部分,通过该开口部分,触敏显示器410可见且可由用户访问。
[0027]在一个示例中,远程控制设备还可包括收发器(未示出),用于向计算设备发送数据以及接收来自计算设备的数据。尽管可利用一个收发器,但是可以使用多个收发器,或单独的发射机和接收机。收发器(或发射机和接收机)使远程控制设备能够接收来自计算设备的期望的用户界面,以在触敏显示器410上显示。向远程控制设备发送以及来自远程控制设备的数据可通过射频、WiFi、红外、蓝牙或其他合适的传输方法无线地传输。
[0028]远程控制设备还可包括其他硬件。例如,远程控制设备可包括电池或其他电源。远程控制设备还可包括处理器或存储器,用于存储处理器执行或在任意其他类型的易失性或非易失性存储器上执行的指令,该任意其他类型的易失性或非易失性存储器存储引起可编程处理器实施本文描述的技术的指令。可选地或此外,示例的计算系统100可包括专用硬件,例如,一个或多个集成电路、特定应用集成电路(ASIC)、特定应用专用处理器(ASSP)、现场可编程门阵列(FPGA)或前面的专用硬件的各示例的任意结合,以实施本文描述的技术。在一些实现方式中,可视情况使用多个处理器以及多个存储器和/或多个类型的存储器。
[0029]在一个示例中,远程控制设备可包括用于存储接收自计算设备的用户界面的存储器。此外,存储器可存储多个界面以供显示。计算设备可向远程控制设备发送信号,以引起存储的界面中的一个或多个的显示。远程控制设备还可包括一个或多个端口,例如,用于充电远程控制设备或用于将远程控制设备连接至计算设备以进行充电或数据通信。
[0030]图5图示了根据本公开的各示例的在具有触敏显示器的界面设备上显示接收自计算设备的用户界面的方法500。方法500可例如由图1的远程控制设备100实施,或在另一合适的设备上实施。方法500可包括:在界面设备上接收来自计算设备的期望的用户界面(方框502);在界面设备的触敏显示器上显示接收的期望的用户界面(方框504);在界面设备的触敏显示器上接收与期望的用户界面有关的用户输入(方框506);以及通过界面设备向计算设备发送表示接收的用户输入的信号(方框508)。还可包括额外的过程,且应理解,图5中描绘的过程表示概括图示,且可增加其他过程或者移除、修改或重置已有的过程,而不脱离本公开的精神和范围。
[0031]在方框502,界面设备接收来自计算设备的期望的用户界面。例如,当用户与计算设备交互时,计算设备基于用户的动作(或期望的用户输入类型)确定期望的用户界面,以向用户显示。然后,界面设备接收来自计算设备的期望的用户界面。例如,如果计算设备正在计算设备的显示器上播放电影或视频,则计算设备可确定在界面设备上显示媒体控制界面。
[0032]界面设备在方框502接收来自计算设备的期望的用户界面之后,在方框504,界面设备的触敏显示器向用户显示期望的用户界面。例如,如果计算设备正在计算设备的显示器上播放电影或视频,则可在界面设备上显示媒体控制界面。
[0033]在方框506,界面设备的触敏显示器接收与期望的用户界面有关的用户输入。例如,如果计算设备正在界面设备上播放电影或视频,则用户可能希望暂停电影或视频。为了这样做,用户可按压或选择在界面设备的触敏显示器上显示的“暂停”按钮。