Interactive remote control
AssigneeVerizon Data Services Inc.
InventorsBrian F. ROBERTS, Donald H. RELYEA, Jr., Greg JOHNS, Heath STALLINGS
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A remote control that includes buttons on the side or bottom may be used to control television viewing provided through a set-top box. In one particular implementation, a method may include receiving, by the set-top box, a signal from the remote control indicating entry to an interactive input mode and receiving another signal from the remote control indicating motion of the remote control. The set-top box may identify an intended command based on the second signal and control television programming in response to the command.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- receiving, by a set-top box, a first signal from a remote control indicating entry to an interactive input mode;
- receiving a second signal, from the remote control, indicating motion of the remote control;
- identifying, when in the interactive input mode, a command for the set-top box based on the second signal;
- and
- controlling television programming in response to the command.
A device comprising:
- a receiver to receive signals sent from a remote control;
- a communication interface to receive television programming;
- logic to interpret the signals received from the remote control as button presses on the remote control and motion of the remote control;
- logic to implement an interactive input mode for the device in response to a button press on the remote control;
- logic to convert the interpreted signals, at least including interpreted signals that indicate motion of the remote control, to commands related to control of the television programming when in the interactive input mode;
- and
- logic to control the television programming based on the commands.
A set-top box device comprising:
- means for receiving a first signal from a remote control indicating entry to an interactive input mode;
- means for receiving a second signal, from the remote control, indicating motion of the remote control;
- means for identifying, when in the interactive input mode, a command for the set-top box based on the second signal;
- and
- means for controlling television programming in response to the command.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.