Abstract:
The disclosed embodiments relate to a system and method for entering text using a remote control. More specifically, there is provided a method comprising identifying a plurality of section keys for a keyboard display. Each of the section keys is associated with each of a plurality of sections of the keyboard display. The method also includes determining a plurality of remote key identifiers for a selected section of the keyboard display. The selected section is associated with a selected section key on the remote control. The method further includes determining a selected character of the keyboard display based on a selected second key on the remote control.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present disclosure involves remote-controlling a multimedia device. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a system for entering text using a remote control. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art, which may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure that are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art. 
         [0003]    Home theater and entertainment systems include any number of components, including various forms of display, sound, and media. These components may each use various parameters for their particular functions. For example, parental controls may request passwords or other content restriction parameters. In many cases, the components provide menus wherein a human user enters these parameters as text using a remote control. Typically, the remote control is a simple device, or not particularly configured to ease the entry of text characters. As such, text entry is typically clumsy, inefficient, and frustrating for the user. 
         [0004]    An improved system and/or method for entering text with a remote control is desirable. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Certain aspects commensurate in scope with the originally claimed concepts are set forth below. It should be understood that these aspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief summary of certain forms the embodiments might take and that these aspects are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Indeed, the invention may encompass a variety of aspects that may not be set forth below. 
         [0006]    The disclosed embodiments relate to a system and method for entering text using a remote control. More specifically, there is provided a system and method comprising selecting a section of an on-screen keyboard display using a first button on the remote control, and selecting a key of the on-screen keyboard display using a second button on the remote control, wherein the first button indicates the section, and the second button indicates the key. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Advantages present disclosure may become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a simplified block diagram of an exemplary system in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0009]      FIGS. 2A-2B  are diagrams of an exemplary on-screen keyboard display in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary technique for entering text using a remote control in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    One or more specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, not all features of an actual implementation are described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers&#39; specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure. 
         [0012]    Turn initially to  FIG. 1 , a block diagram of an exemplary system in accordance with one embodiment is illustrated and generally designated by a reference numeral  100 .  FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary system  100  incorporating and operable according to the principles of the present disclosure. Being exemplary, the system  100  represents physical embodiments of a multimedia device  122  and display  124 , operable in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. 
         [0013]    The multimedia device  122  may be a device for processing multimedia signals, such as a set top box device, digital video recorder, digital video disc (DVD) player, high-definition (HD) disc player, streaming device, and the like. The multimedia device  122  may be connected, or otherwise coupled to, the display  124 . Alternatively, in an example system  100 , the multimedia device  122  may be a television, which includes the display  124 . The display  124  may include speakers (not shown). The speakers may be connected, or otherwise coupled to, the display  124  or the multimedia device  122 . The multimedia device  122  has basic functionality and features consistent with typical television apparatus as well as the present functionality described herein. 
         [0014]    The multimedia device  122  is operable, configured or adapted to process digital television signals, digital audio/video (NV) content and the like (collectively, digital content), as well as analog television signals and analog NV content and the like (collectively, analog content) from various input sources available for the multimedia device  122 . It is noted, however, that the multimedia device  122  may process only digital content. The various input sources may include a A/V signals from a satellite or cable provider, tunable digital content, DVDs, HD video and audio content, and the like. In one embodiment, the source may be a server that streams NV content over a local area network, or a wide area network, such as the Internet. The multimedia device  122  may also include a hard drive  146 , or other storage device, for recording content. 
         [0015]    The multimedia device  122  includes an on-screen display (OSD) generator  126  that is operable to provide the graphics, text and the like for on-screen menus on the display  124 . The display  124  is further operable to display one or more menus or user selectable options in response to user input, television system signals, signals from components, and accept user input for selection of various options. The multimedia device  122  includes a signal processing unit  128  (e.g. a broadcast, cable, satellite, Internet protocol (IP) or similar signal processing unit) for functioning in the manner described herein. 
         [0016]    In addition to processing and playing content, the multimedia device  122  is also configured, adapted or operable to provide for display: text, graphics, pictures or the like, particularly for on-screen menus, messages or the like in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. The multimedia device  122  may also accept user input for controlling the multimedia device  122 , by accessing various menus for selection of menu choices, defaults, and the like. 
         [0017]    The multimedia device  122  accepts user input via a remote controller  140  that transmits user initiated input signals to a remote control signal receiver  142 . The remote  140  and remote receiver  142  may use infrared (IR), radio frequency (RF), or other transmission means. In an example embodiment, the display  124  also includes a remote receiver (not shown). The remote controller  140  includes selection buttons  150  and numeric buttons  152 , that are configured for easing entry of text characters in an on-screen menu. The selection buttons  150  may each be uniquely colored, and are described in greater detail with respect to  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B. In one embodiment, the remote  140  includes other buttons (not shown) that may be used in accordance with the operation of the numeric buttons  152  herein. The remote controller  140  is used to provide input with respect to menu options or choices, as well as for typical remote features such as, but not limited to, channel change inputs, volume control inputs, transport command inputs, settings inputs, and the like. The remote controller  140  may also be used to control the display  124  or other component connected, or otherwise coupled to, the multimedia device  122 . 
         [0018]    The multimedia device  122  may include a signal processing unit  128  that is operable, configured or adapted to process digital such as MPEG2 digital signals. The signal processing unit  128  may also provide analog signal processing if the multimedia device  122  supports analog signals. The signal processing unit  128  also provides control of the various apparatus components, features and functions of the multimedia device  122 , and the like. The multimedia device  122  further includes memory  130  storing program instructions  132 . The program instructions  132  are used by the multimedia device  122  (i.e. the processing  128  and the digital serial bus processing  138 ) for operation of the multimedia device  122  in accordance with the present principles. Additionally, the memory  130  may include a mapping. The mapping is described in greater detail with respect to  FIG. 3 . 
         [0019]    The multimedia device  122  may include a tuner  134  that is operable to receive tunable digital content. Additionally, the multimedia device  122  may include digital serial bus ports  136  for connection and communication with one or more DSB-compliant devices or components. The digital serial bus compliant devices or components may be a digital recording device having a hard disk drive, a DSB box, or the like. In an example embodiment, the digital serial bus is an IEEE 1394 digital serial bus and the components connected to the DSB ports  136  are IEEE 1394 compliant devices. The processing element  138  would thus perform IEEE1394 processing. Thus, the multimedia device  122  provides for recording functionality over the IEEE 1394 bus by establishing a connection between an IEEE 1394 compliant recordable device and an IEEE 1394 compliant recording device. 
         [0020]    In accordance with the claimed subject matter, the system  100  provides for display an on-screen menu that requests a text entry. In response, the system  100  provides for display an on-screen keyboard for selection of text characters for the requested entry. Specifically, the remote  140  is used to reduce each text character selection to a two-step process: section selection, and key selection, described in greater detail with respect to  FIGS. 2A and 2B . 
         [0021]      FIG. 2A  is an exemplary on-screen keyboard display  200  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. The keyboard display  200  includes a number of keys, including five highlighted keys  202 . Each highlighted key  202  corresponds to a section of the keyboard. Each highlighted key  202  also corresponds to one of the section keys  150  on the remote control  140 . As stated previously, the memory  130  may include the mapping. The mapping is a file that associates the section keys  202  with corresponding sections in the keyboard display  200 . The keys highlighted on the display  124  may be based on this mapping. By pressing the appropriate section key  150  on the remote  140 , the user selects the corresponding section of the keyboard display  200 . In one embodiment of the claimed subject matter, the section keys  150  are each a different color. In such an embodiment, each highlighted key is displayed using the color of the corresponding section key. Further, the multimedia device  122  may also provide an interface to enable assigning each section of the on-screen keyboard display  200  to a section key  150  on the remote  140 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 2B  is the exemplary on-screen keyboard display  200  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. The on-screen keyboard display  200  includes selected section  204 , with the corresponding keys highlighted. Each key in the selected section includes the text character and a remote key identifier corresponding to a key on the remote control  140 . In one embodiment of the claimed subject matter, the multimedia device  122  provides an interface to map each key in a section to a corresponding key on the remote control  140 . This may be included in the mapping. In another embodiment, the association between the keys in a section and the keys on the remote control  140  may be performed automatically. For example, the section key and the eight surrounding keys may be included in a section that maps to a corresponding numeric keypad layout on the remote control  140 . By pressing a numeric key  152 , the user may select the corresponding text character for the requested text entry. For example, to select the text character, “Q,” the user presses the numeric key  152  labeled, “1.” It is noted that the on-screen keyboard display  200  is merely an example. Embodiments of the claimed subject matter may include more keys, fewer keys, or a different character set. 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method  300  for entering text using a remote control in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. At block  302 , it may be determined that a text entry is being requested. In order to present the keyboard display  200  with highlighted section keys  202 , at block  304 , the section keys may be identified. At block  306 , on-screen keyboard may be provided for display with the section keys highlighted. As stated previously, the on-screen keyboard display  200  includes highlighted keys, indicating different sections  204 . The highlighted section keys  202  may each have a different color corresponding to a colored section key  150  on the remote  140 . At block  308 , the multimedia device  122  receives the selected section key  150  from the remote  140 . This may occur when the user presses the section key on the remote  140  with the same color as the corresponding section key  202  on the keyboard display  200 . 
         [0024]    As stated previously, in the keyboard display  200 , the selected section includes remote key IDs for each key. Accordingly, at block  310 , an association between the remote key IDs and the keys in the selected section is determined. At block  312 , the selected section may be provided. The remote key IDs are provided in association with the keys in the selected section. At block  314 , the multimedia device  122  receives a second selected key from the remote  140 . The second key may be one of the numeric keys  152  selected by the user. At block  316 , the key selected from the keyboard display  200  may be determined. For example, mapping may identify the selected key from the keyboard display  200 . At bloc  318 , the character in the selected key may be provided for display. In one embodiment, the text character may be provided to a text entry requester, e.g., a device connected to the DSB ports  136 . 
         [0025]    While the concepts herein may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the concepts are not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the following appended claims.