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US 8,456,534 B2Granted
Multi-directional remote control system and method
AssigneeI-Interactive LLC
InventorDavid L. Henty
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multi-directional remote control system and method is adapted for use with an entertainment system of a type including a display such as a monitor or TV and having display functions employing a mouse type control. The remote controller may be conveniently held in one hand of a user and still provides full mouse type functionality. The remote control system and method images the screen of the TV or other display to detect relative motion between the controller and screen. This position information is transmitted to the entertainment system for control of a cursor or other GUI interface.
Claims15
A method comprising:
- receiving image information from a video camera, the image information capturing a scene which includes at least part of a display device, wherein:
- the video camera is affixed to a user-manipulated device configured for carrying by a user;
- and
- the user-manipulated device comprises a remote control device or a controller;
- identifying a plurality of reference fields in the image information to provide identified reference information for controlling an application displayed on the display device, wherein the plurality of reference fields are displayed as part of graphical information displayed on the screen of the display device, the user-manipulated device capable of identifying the plurality of reference fields based on colors of the plurality of reference fields, based on shapes of the plurality of reference fields, and based on patterns of elements that comprise each reference field of the plurality of reference fields;
- generating position information based on the identified reference information, the position information expressing a position of the user-manipulated device relative to at least one reference field associated with the display device, wherein the position of the user-manipulated device is calculated based on a position of the video camera associated with the user-manipulated device;
- and
- controlling the application based on the generated position information.
5 more elements
A system comprising:
- a user-manipulated device, the user-manipulated device including a video camera associated therewith;
- a display device for presenting objects generated by an application;
- at least one reference field incorporated as graphical information displayed on a screen of the display device to provide reference information for controlling an application displayed on the display device, the user-manipulated device capable of identifying the at least one reference field based on one or more colors of the at least one reference field, based on a shape of the at least one reference field, and based on a pattern of elements that comprise the at least one reference field;
- and
- a position determination module configured to:
- receive image information from the video camera, the image information capturing a scene which includes at least part of the display device, wherein the user-manipulated device is carried by a user and the video camera moves with the user-manipulated device;
- identify said at least one reference field in the image information to provide identified reference information;
- and
- generate position information based on the identified reference information, the position information expressing a position of the video camera relative to said at least one reference field.
6 more elements
A system comprising:
- a user-manipulated device, the user-manipulated device including a video camera associated therewith;
- a display device for presenting objects generated by an application;
- a plurality of reference fields placed at defined positions relative to the display device, each reference field comprising a plurality reference elements arranged in a pattern, wherein a first pattern of a first plurality of reference elements differs from a second pattern of a second plurality of reference elements;
- and
- a position determination module configured to:
- receive image information from the video camera, the image information capturing a scene which includes at least part of the display device, wherein the user-manipulated device is carried by a user and the video camera moves with the user-manipulated device;
- identify said at least one reference field in the image information to provide identified reference information;
- and
- generate position information based on the identified reference information, the position information expressing a position of the video camera relative to said at least one reference field.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.