# US 12,114,034 B2 · Grid system and method for remote control

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- Number: US 12,114,034 B2
- Document ID: US12114034B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/236,683
- Filed: 2023-08-22
- Published: 2023-12-07
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2013-06-26
- Assignees: DISH Technologies L.L.C.
- Applicants: DISH Technologies L.L.C.
- Inventors: Henry Gregg Martch; Luke VanDuyn
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12114034B2

## CPC

- H04N 21/42206: {characterized by hardware details}
- G08B 6/00: Tactile signalling systems, e.g. tactile personal calling systems
- G08C 17/02: using a radio link
- H04N 21/41265: {having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device (unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204)}
- H04N 21/42213: {for facilitating data entry}
- H04N 21/42218: {for mapping a matrix of displayed objects on the screen to the numerical key-matrix of the remote control}
- H04N 21/42224: {Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control}
- H04N 21/42228: {the reprogrammable keys being displayed on a display screen in order to reduce the number of keys on the remote control device itself}
- H04N 21/4821: {using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time}
- G08C 23/04: using light waves, e.g. infrared
- G08C 2201/30: User interface
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G08C: TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS (fluid pressure transmitting systems F15B; mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member into a different variable G01D5/00; mechanical control systems G05G)

## Abstract

A remote control system and related method for controlling a video device are presented. The remote control system contains a plurality of buttons arranged in a grid pattern that correspond to user selectable options displayed on a display screen arranged in the same grid pattern. The user selects options on the screen by pressing the corresponding button on the remote control.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A remote control, comprising:
at least one processor;
a plurality of buttons arranged in a grid pattern on the remote control that each have functionality that changes from being in a standard mode to being in a grid mode in response to a first signal from a video device and changes from being in the grid mode to being in the standard mode in response to a second signal from the video device, each of the plurality of buttons arranged in the grid pattern having at least one pre-set function of the standard mode labeled on the remote control that is performed only when in the standard mode and each of the plurality of buttons arranged in the grid pattern instead act, only when in the grid mode, to select a corresponding user selectable option displayed in a grid pattern of a plurality of user selectable options on a user interface of the video device; and
at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor, the at least one memory having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause operations to be performed including:
the remote control changing from the standard mode to the grid mode, wherein the remote control is not in the standard mode and the grid mode at a same time, the standard mode and grid mode are not operational on the remote control at the same time, and the grid mode and standard mode are independent of each other, wherein changing from the standard mode to the grid mode changes the functionality of the plurality buttons arranged in the grid pattern from the labeled pre-set functions of the standard mode to functioning as corresponding buttons to the plurality of user selectable options on the user interface of the video device;
the remote control changing from the grid mode to the standard mode in response to the receiving, from the video device, the second signal to enter into the grid mode, wherein changing from the grid mode to the standard mode changes the functionality of the plurality buttons arranged in the grid pattern to the labeled pre-set functions of the standard mode from the plurality of user selectable options that were previously displayed on the user interface of the video device.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The remote control of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise providing tactile feedback when a user moves their finger from one of the buttons to another of the buttons.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The remote control of claim 2, wherein the tactile feedback is a physical structure positioned between each of the plurality of buttons arranged in the grid pattern.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The remote control of claim 1, wherein, when in grid mode, a user touching a “guide” button from the plurality of buttons arranged in a grid pattern on the remote control, and that is labeled on the remote control with a pre-set “guide” function of the standard mode, highlights a corresponding user selectable option of a letter displayed in the grid pattern of the plurality of user selectable options on the user interface of the video device to type the letter into a search query or other text input.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The remote control of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:
receiving input indicative of a user selection between the remote control being in the grid mode and standard mode; and
changing the functionality of the plurality buttons arranged in the grid pattern between the labeled pre-set functions of the standard mode to functioning as corresponding buttons and the plurality of user selectable options on the user interface of the video device in response to receiving the input indicative of the user selection between the remote control being in the grid mode and the standard mode.