Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
     This application claims the benefit of and is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/103,895, filed on Apr. 16, 2008, which claims the benefit of and is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/290,358, filed on Nov. 30, 2005, which claims the benefit of U.S. Application No. 60/634,680, filed on Dec. 9, 2004, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The following relates generally to controlling devices and, more particularly, to a controlling device having a dual-mode, touch-sensitive display. 
     Manufacturers typically provide a controlling device with an appliance and, as such, different appliance types of different manufacturers are often commanded with different controlling devices, also referred to as “remote controls.” To minimize the number of individual controlling devices a user requires, universal controlling devices have been developed. Accordingly, universal controlling devices for commanding various operational functions of various types of appliances of various manufacturers have become quite widespread. By way of example, universal controlling devices are described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,959,810, 5,255,313 and 5,552,917. 
     For selecting which of multiple appliances a universal controlling device is to command, a universal controlling device may allow a user to place, i.e., configure, the universal controlling device into an operational mode whereby the function keys will be used to transmit commands to a “primary” target appliance that has been associated with that operational mode. For example, a “TV” operational mode may be selected to place the universal controlling device into an operational mode whereby function keys are used to transmit commands primarily to a designated television, a “VCR” mode may be selected to place the universal controlling device into an operational mode whereby function keys are used to transmit commands primarily to a designated VCR, etc. A universal controlling device may also be provided with an ability to be configured in a “home theater” operational mode (i.e., one established to facilitate a particular activity), a “user” operational mode (i.e., one established for a particular user), a “room” operational mode (i.e., one established for a particular room), or the like (collectively referred to hereinafter as a “home theater” operational mode). In a “home theater” operation mode, the universal controlling device will generally be adapted to command multiple target appliances. For example, a “home theater” mode may be established whereby volume function keys are used to transmit volume control commands to an amplifier, transport function keys are used to transmit transport control commands to a VCR, channel function keys are used to transmit channel control commands to a cable box, picture control function keys are used to transmit picture control commands to a television, etc. 
     In the case of universal controlling device having a display, various function keys, such as those appropriate for the various operational modes, are typically presented to a user in multiple, different user interfaces each comprising one or more displayed soft keys. For example, commonly assigned U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2003/0103088 (Ser. No. 10/288,727) discloses a universal controlling device application for use in connection with a hand-held device having a display, e.g., a personal digital assistant (“PDA”), wherein the display is utilized to present the multiple, different user interfaces. While the use of a display advantageously allows a universal controlling device to present multiple, different user interfaces to allow for the command of operational functions of one or more appliances, what is needed is a universal controlling device wherein the display is further adapted to provide remote, cursor control functionality. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with this and other needs, the following generally discloses a universal controlling device having a dual-mode, touch-sensitive display which is switchable between two operational modes. In one operational mode, the display provides one or more graphical user interfaces comprised of graphical user interface icons that are selectable to command operational functions of one or more appliances. In a second operational mode, the display provides pointer control where motions made by a stylus or finger in contact with the touch-sensitive display result in corresponding motions of a pointer on a display located remotely from the universal controlling device, such as a display connected with a personal computer, a TV, or the like. 
     A better appreciation of the objects, advantages, features, properties, and relationships of the disclosed controlling devices will be obtained from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings which set forth illustrative embodiments which are indicative of the various ways in which the principles described hereinafter may be employed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For use in better understanding the exemplary universal controlling device described hereinafter reference may be had to the following drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of exemplary components of an exemplary universal controlling device; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an isometric view of an exemplary universal controlling device constructed utilizing the components of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary system environment in which the exemplary universal controlling device of  FIG. 2  may be utilized; and 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary flow of data within the exemplary system environment of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following discloses a controlling device  100  having a dual-mode, touch-sensitive face panel. In one operational mode of the controlling device  100 , the face panel is utilized to accept input to cause a transmission of at least one command to at least one appliance. In a second operational mode of the controlling device  100 , the face panel is utilized to accept input for the purpose of controlling a cursor or pointer on a larger, second device, such as a personal computer, television, or the like. 
     To provide the dual modes of operation, the controlling devices  100  may include, as needed for a particular application, a processor  300  coupled to a ROM memory  304 , a key matrix  340  (e.g., a touch-sensitive surface  344  placed over a liquid crystal display (LCD) alone or in combination with hard keys  342  (LCD)), transmission circuit(s)  310 , receiver circuit(s)  308  and/or transceiver circuit(s) (e.g., IR and/or RF), a non-volatile read/write memory  306 , a means  302  to provide feedback to the user (e.g., LED, display, speaker, and/or the like), a means  315  (such as a microphone, etc.) for receiving additional non-keypress input from the user, and means for providing visual and/or audio cues to the user, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The means for providing visual and/or audio cues to the user, to disseminate information to the user, may be embodied as key illumination means, a sound or voice synthesizer circuit, and/or a digital recording and playback circuit (e.g., to allow a user to playback sound or voice tags input via a microphone or otherwise downloaded into the controlling device). The key illumination means may be in the form of separate elements, such as LEDs  320 ,  322 , and  324 , either directly associated with a hard key matrix  342 . In the case where the controlling device  100  includes hard keys, an exemplary molded-in key  332  is shown as operative with key matrix circuit  330 , 331 . 
     To control the operation of the controlling device  100 , the ROM memory  304  may include executable instructions that are intended to be executed by the processor  300 . In this manner, the processor  300  may be programmed to control the various electronic components within the remote control  100 , e.g., to monitor a power supply (not shown), to cause the transmission of signals, control the key illumination means  320 ,  322 , and  324 , sound circuits, etc. The non-volatile read/write memory  306 , for example an EEPROM, battery-backed up RAM, Smart Card, memory stick, or the like, may be provided to store setup data and parameters as necessary. While the memory  304  is illustrated and described as a ROM memory, memory  304  can also be comprised of any type of readable media, such as ROM, RAM, SRAM, FLASH, EEPROM, or the like. Preferably, the memory  304  is non-volatile or battery-backed such that data is not required to be reloaded after battery changes. In addition, the memories  304  and  306  may take the form of a chip, a hard disk, a magnetic disk, and/or an optical disk. 
     To cause the controlling device  100  to perform an action, the controlling device  100  is adapted to be responsive to events, such as a sensed user interaction with the touch pad overlaying the key matrix  344 , interaction with the hard key matrix  342 , receipt of a transmission via receiver  308 , etc. In response to an event, appropriate instructions within the memory  304  may be executed. For example, when a function command key is activated on the controlling device  100 , the controlling device  100  may retrieve a command code corresponding to the activated function command key from memory  304  and transmit the command code to an intended target appliance in a format recognizable by that appliance. 
     It will be appreciated that the instructions within the memory  304  can be used not only to cause the transmission of command codes and/or data to the appliances, but also to perform local operations. While not limiting, local operations that may be performed by the controlling device  100  may include displaying information/data, favorite channel setup, macro key setup, function key relocation, user programming of favorite channel selections, etc. A further, local operation is the ability to “lock” function keys across device operational modes as described in previously referenced U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2003/0025840. Examples of still further local operations can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,481,256, 5,959,751, and 6,014,092. 
     For creating a correspondence between a command code and a function command key, data may be entered into the controlling device  100  that functions to identify an intended target appliances by its type and make (and sometimes model). Such data allows the controlling device  100  to transmit recognizable command codes in the format appropriate for such identified appliances. Typically, intended target appliances are identified for each operational mode of the controlling device  100 . Since methods for setting up a controlling device to command the operation of specific home appliances are well-known, such methods need not be described in greater detail herein. Nevertheless, for additional information pertaining to setup procedures, the reader may turn to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,959,810, 5,614,906, and 6,225,938. It will also be appreciated that a controlling device  100  may be set up to command an appliance  102  by being taught the command codes needed to command such appliance as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,623,887. Still further, it will be understood that command codes may be pre-stored in the controlling device  100  or the controlling device  100  may be upgradeable, for example via use of receiver  308 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the universal controlling device  100  may be utilized to command functional operations of multiple appliances, such as those typically found in a home entertainment center. Thus, appliances controllable by the universal controlling device  100  may include VCRs  400 , DVD and CD players  402 , cable set-top boxes and satellite receivers  404 , AV receivers  406 , televisions  408 , as well as lighting, heating, etc. without limitation. Typically, commands are transmitted to such appliances using an IR protocol. The universal controlling device  100  may also be utilized to command functional operations of a home theater personal computer (“HTPC”)  410 . An HTPC  410  is typically a PC that is set up at the home entertainment center and is used mainly for home entertainment functions such as for playing back music and video files, playing DVDs, and for viewing digital photos. The HTPC  410  may be connected to the Internet and may also be used for viewing Internet browser content, such as news, email, search results, and the like. Preferably, the universal controlling device  100  utilizes an RF protocol when communicating with the HTPC  410  which allows for communications beyond line-of-sight. In this regard, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , communications with the HTPC  410  may be made by means of a USB RF transceiver converter  412 . The USB converter device  412  includes a converting microcontroller and antenna for receiving and converting a data-stream transmitted in the RF domain by the universal controlling device  100  into USB messages for transmission to the HTPC  410 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 2 , an exemplary embodiment of a universal controlling device  100  is illustrated. In the illustrated embodiment, the various components of  FIG. 1  are encased within a housing  502  which also provides access to various of the hard keys  342  and the touch screen display in the form of a dual-mode touch-sensitive display  504 . By way of further example, the touch-sensitive display  504  may be 320×240 pixel LCD with a clear touch-sensitive digitizing layer covering the display. As will be well understood, the touch-sensitive display  504  is supported by circuitry which provides the position of a stylus  506  (storable within the housing  502 ) or finger in contact with touch-sensitive digitizer layer to a microprocessor, i.e., a touch-sensitive digitizing sub-system that provides locations and motions of a stylus or finger in contact with touch-sensitive digitizing layer to the operating system and application software for the purpose of allowing the user to control the software application. As further illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the universal controlling device  100  may also include a plurality of hard keys or mechanical buttons  342  or controlling various functions on target devices. It is to be understood that the function of the mechanical buttons  342  may change based on the mode of the universal controlling device  100  to thereby allow activations of the mechanical buttons to control various functions on various of the target devices. 
     For providing dual-mode functionality, the application software of the universal controlling device  100  preferably includes instructions which allow the touch-sensitive digitizer sub-system to switch between control of the local application software on the universal controlling device  100  and control of a computer pointer  420  for the purpose of mousing, i.e., the process of moving a positionable pointer, such as the pointer on a Windows brand PC desktop  422 . To this end, the application software may also include a motion scaling function for use in the pointer control mode. Thus, the application software of the universal controlling device  100  will allow the universal controlling device  100  to operate in a first operational mode, in which the display presents a graphical user interface comprised of icons to control one or more of a plurality of audio-visual equipment (target devices), including a TV, VCR, DVD, satellite box, AV receiver and a HTPC, and a second operational mode, in which a pointer is controlled. 
     In the first operational mode, the universal controlling device  100  may be used to command various conventional operational functions of the home appliances. For example, the universal controlling device  100  may be used to select a specific media playback device, such as a DVD player  402 , as the input to the AV receiver  406 , resulting in the display of the DVD output on TV  408 . In such a process, 4-way navigation mechanical buttons  510  and center select button  518  would typically be used to navigate through selections and menus displayed on the TV  408 . Additionally, soft buttons displayed on display  504  as well as mechanical buttons  342  would typically be programmed to control operational functions of the DVD player  402 , AV receiver  406 , and the TV  408 , for example as part of a “home theater” mode. Thus, when operating within the first operational mode, when the user activates a mechanical button or soft button, an command code specific to an operational function on a specific target device is typically sent to target device. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , in the second operational mode, i.e., the pointer control mode, touch-sensitive digitizing sub-system on the universal controlling device  100  is used as a mousing (pointer control) input device for the HTPC  410 . In one embodiment, a pointer-mode activation button  512 , shown in  FIG. 2 , allows the universal controlling device  100  to be toggled between the first operational mode and the second operational or pointer control mode. As will be appreciated, one or more of the feedback components of the universal controlling device may be utilized to inform the user as to which of the operational modes the universal controlling device  100  have been configured into as a result of actuation of the pointer-mode activation button  512 . 
     When the universal controlling device  100  is placed into the pointer control mode, position information output from touch-sensitive digitizer sub-system is converted into a data-stream and is sent via a (RF or IR) transmitter to the USB (RF or IR) receiver converter  412  that is connected to a USB port on the HTPC  410 . USB receiver converter  412  converts the received data-stream into mouse position messages that are sent to the Windows brand operating system of the HTPC  410  via the USB connection. The HTPC  410  may thus use the data provided by the touch-sensitive digitizing sub-system of the universal controlling device  100  identically to data received from a USB mouse, e.g., to control movement of a displayed pointer. This is illustrated in  FIG. 4  which demonstrates that, when stylus  506  is moved across the dual-mode display  504 , displayed pointer  420  is moved in a corresponding direction on a HTPC desktop  422  displayed on TV  408 . Further, a scaling function in the software application may be provided to insure that motions made using a stylus or a finger correspond usably to motions of a PC pointer on the HTPC desktop especially in cases where the LCD on the universal controlling device  100  is in portrait orientation and HTPC GUI desktop  422  is in landscape orientation. 
     In the preferred embodiment, all of the user interface functions typically associated with mousing are included through use of the pointer control mode of the universal controlling device  100  such as: double-tapping to stick the pointer to a window bar, dragging the window across the desktop, and single tapping to release; double-tapping to open a window or start an application; etc. Additionally, with reference to  FIG. 1 , when the universal controlling device  100  is in pointer control mode, two of the mechanical buttons  514 / 516  may be programmed to function as the left and right mouse buttons, as per the functions on such buttons on a mouse or on a laptop PC trackpad. 
     In a yet further embodiment, the universal controlling device  100  may be switched between the first operational mode and the pointer control mode is switched by actuation of a soft button located on LCD display  504 . Still further, the system may be provided with a media management and playback control application running on the HTPC  410  that provides media database browsing and media playback control whereby the advanced remote is used in the first operational mode to conventionally command functional operations of appliances, i.e., a mode wherein graphical user interface elements on the TV display are navigated by using the 4-way switch  510  and center select  518  mechanical buttons, and the second operational mode to command pointer operations. To this end, the system may be adapted wherein the HTPC  410  communicates to the universal controlling device  100  to allow the universal controlling device to toggle between the first operational mode and the pointer control operational mode when the media management and playback control application is entered and exited from the media management and playback control state. For example, when the media management and playback control application is exited, a message may be sent from the application to the universal controlling device  100  via a RF communications link where, upon receipt of this message, the universal controlling device  100  is switched to the pointer control operational mode. It will also be understood that, in cases where the universal controlling device  100  is utilized to command the HTPC  100  to enter and exit the media management and playback control state, the state of the HTPC  100  may be tracked internally within the universal controlling device  100 . For example, when a command is issued from the universal controlling device  100  for the purpose of causing the HTPC  100  to exit the media management and playback control application the universal controlling device  100  is also caused to switch to the pointer control operational mode. 
     While various concepts have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those concepts could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. For example, the universal controlling device  100  may include a WLAN transceiver subsystem for communicating with and controlling devices connected to a WLAN, including the HTPC  410 . Additionally, while the embodiments presented above are described in the context of a universal controlling device (i.e. a controlling devices capable of commanding the operation of multiple classes of appliances devices from multiple manufacturers) as being most broadly representative of controlling devices in general, it will be appreciated that the teachings of this disclosure may be equally well applied to other controlling devices of narrower capability without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. As such, the particular concepts disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any equivalents thereof. 
     All documents cited within this application for patent are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Technology Category: h