Systems, methods, and media for providing an enhanced remote control having multiple modes

{
  "publication_number": "US9740304B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Systems, methods, and media for providing an enhanced remote control having multiple modes",
  "abstract": "Systems, methods, and media for providing a multipurpose remote control are provided. In some implementations, a system for controlling a media device is provided, the system comprising: a hardware processor connected to a touch sensor, a directional input region, and a motion sensor, wherein the hardware processor is configured to: detect that the touch sensor is activated for a predetermined period of time; and upon detecting that the touch sensor has been activated for the predetermined period of time, switching from a first mode to a second mode, wherein: the first mode comprises controlling a highlighted region displayed on the media device in response to an input provided on the directional input region and selecting an item corresponding to the highlighted region in response to depression of the touch sensor; and the second mode comprises controlling a position of a cursor displayed on the media device in response to an output of the motion sensor, selecting an item corresponding to the position of the cursor in response to depression of the touch sensor, and inhibiting the display of the highlighted region.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A remote control device for controlling a media device, the system comprising: a hardware processor connected to a touch sensor disposed at a surface of the remote control device, a depressible directional input region disposed at the surface of the remote control device and around a periphery of the touch sensor, and a motion sensor that detects movement of the remote control device, wherein the hardware processor is configured to: detect that the touch sensor is activated for a predetermined period of time; and upon detecting that the touch sensor has been activated for the predetermined period of time, switching from a first mode to a second mode, wherein: the first mode comprises deactivating the motion sensor, controlling a highlighted region displayed on the media device in response to an input provided on the directional input region, and selecting an item corresponding to the highlighted region in response to depression of the touch sensor; and the second mode comprises activating the motion sensor, causing a cursor that was not displayed in the first mode to be displayed on the media device, controlling a position of the cursor in response to an output of the motion sensor indicating motion of the remote control device, selecting an item corresponding to the position of the cursor in response to depression of the touch sensor, and inhibiting the display of the highlighted region.",
    "2. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the touch sensor further comprises at least one of: a capacitive touch sensor, a resistive touch sensor, and a piezoelectric touch sensor.",
    "3. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the hardware processor is further configured to detect a signal from the touch sensor that is indicative of a presence of a conductor in proximity to a surface of the touch sensor.",
    "4. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the touch sensor further comprises a plurality of touch sensitive detectors, and wherein the hardware processor is further configured to control a page displayed by the media device in response to receiving one or more signals from one or more of the plurality of touch sensitive detectors indicative of motion relative to one or more of the plurality of touch sensitive detectors.",
    "5. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the second mode further comprises controlling a position of a viewport displayed on the media device in response to receiving one or more signals indicative of an input provided on the directional input region.",
    "6. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the second mode further comprises detecting that the touch sensor is not activated for a second predetermined period of time, and wherein the hardware processor is further configured to switch from the second mode to the first mode upon detecting that the touch sensor has not been activated for the second predetermined period of time.",
    "7. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the first mode further comprises detecting a predetermined motion in response to receiving one or more signals from the motion sensor, and wherein the hardware processor is further configured to switch from the first mode to the second mode in response to detecting the predetermined motion.",
    "8. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the second mode further comprises controlling a position of a selected item displayed on the media device to coincide with the position of the cursor displayed on the media device in response to detecting continued depression of the touch sensor.",
    "9. A method for controlling a media device, the method comprising: detecting, using a hardware processor of a remote control device, that a selectable touch sensor disposed at a surface of the remote control device is activated for a predetermined period of time; and upon detecting that the selectable touch sensor has been activated for the predetermined period of time, switching from a first mode to a second mode, wherein: the first mode comprises deactivating a motion sensor that detects movement of the remote control device, causing a position of a highlighted region displayed by the media device to be controlled in response to the hardware processor receiving a signal indicative of a directional input from a depressible directional input region disposed at the surface of the remote control device and around the periphery of the touch sensor and causing an item corresponding to the highlighted region displayed by the media device to be selected in response to the hardware processor receiving a signal indicative of selection of the selectable touch sensor; and the second mode comprises activating the motion sensor, causing a cursor that was not displayed in the first mode to be displayed on the media device, causing a position of the cursor to be controlled in response to the hardware processor receiving a signal from the motion sensor indicative of motion of the remote control device, selecting an item corresponding to the position of the cursor in response to the hardware processor receiving a signal indicative of selection of the selectable touch sensor, and causing display of the highlighted region to be inhibited.",
    "10. The method of claim 9, wherein detecting that the selectable touch sensor is activated further comprises detecting a signal indicative of activation of at least one of: a capacitive touch sensor, a resistive touch sensor, and a piezoelectric touch sensor.",
    "11. The method of claim 9, wherein detecting that the selectable touch sensor is activated further comprises detecting a signal from the selectable touch sensor that is indicative of a presence of a conductor in proximity to a surface of the selectable touch sensor.",
    "12. The method of claim 9, further comprising: detecting a signal indicative of motion across one or more of a plurality of touch sensitive detectors; and causing a page displayed by the media device to be changed in response to the hardware processor detecting the signal indicative of motion across one or more of the plurality of touch sensitive detectors.",
    "13. The method of claim 9, wherein the second mode further comprises causing a position of a viewport displayed by the media device to be controlled in response to the hardware processor receiving one or more signals indicative of a directional input.",
    "14. The method of claim 9, wherein the second mode further comprises detecting that the selectable touch sensor is not activated for a second predetermined period of time, and switching from the second mode to the first mode upon detecting that the selectable touch sensor has not been activated for the second predetermined period of time.",
    "15. The method of claim 9, wherein the first mode further comprises detecting a predetermined motion in response to receiving one or more signals from the motion sensor, and switching from the first mode to the second mode in response to detecting the predetermined motion.",
    "16. The method of claim 9, wherein the second mode further comprises causing a position of a selected item displayed by the media device to coincide with the position of the cursor displayed by the media device in response to the hardware processor detecting a signal indicative of continued selection of the selectable touch sensor.",
    "17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for controlling a media device, the method comprising: detecting that a selectable touch sensor disposed at a surface of a remote control device is activated for a predetermined period of time; and, upon detecting that the touch sensor has been activated for the predetermined period of time, switching from a first mode to a second mode, wherein: the first mode comprises deactivating a motion sensor that detects movement of the remote control device, causing a position of a highlighted region displayed by the media device to be controlled in response to receiving a signal indicative of a directional input from a depressible directional input region disposed at a surface of the remote control device and around the periphery of the touch sensor and causing an item corresponding to the highlighted region displayed by the media device to be selected in response to a receiving a signal indicative of selection of the selectable touch sensor; and the second mode comprises activating the motion sensor, causing a cursor that was not displayed in the first mode to be displayed on the media device, causing a position of the cursor to be controlled in response to receiving a signal from the motion sensor indicative of motion of the remote control device, selecting an item corresponding to the position of the cursor in response to receiving a signal indicative of selection of the selectable touch sensor, and causing display of the highlighted region to be inhibited.",
    "18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein detecting that the selectable touch sensor is activated further comprises detecting a signal indicative of activation of at least one of: a capacitive touch sensor, a resistive touch sensor, and a piezoelectric touch sensor.",
    "19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein detecting that the selectable touch sensor is activated further comprises detecting a signal from the selectable touch sensor that is indicative of a presence of a conductor in proximity to a surface of the selectable touch sensor.",
    "20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises: detecting a signal indicative of motion across one or more of a plurality of touch sensitive detectors; and causing a page displayed by the media device to be changed in response to detecting the signal indicative of motion across one or more of the plurality of touch sensitive detectors.",
    "21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the second mode further comprises causing a position of a viewport displayed by the media device to be controlled in response to receiving one or more signals indicative of a directional input.",
    "22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the second mode further comprises detecting that the selectable touch sensor is not activated for a second predetermined period of time, and switching from the second mode to the first mode upon detecting that the selectable touch sensor has not been activated for the second predetermined period of time.",
    "23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the first mode further comprises detecting a predetermined motion in response to receiving one or more signals from the motion sensor, and switching from the first mode to the second mode in response to detecting the predetermined motion.",
    "24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the second mode further comprises causing a position of a selected item displayed by the media device to coincide with the position of the cursor displayed by the media device in response to the hardware processor detecting a signal indicative of continued selection of the selectable touch sensor."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The disclosed subject matter relates to systems, methods, and media for providing an enhanced remote control having multiple modes.\n\nMany users like to multi-task while watching television. In some cases, a user may like to access webpages, such as a social networking website or a search engine website, or chat with a friend while watching television. These activities can draw the user away from television to a personal computer, a cell phone, or another network connected device.\n\nSome television systems allow the user to display Internet content along with television content. Such a television system can allow the user to perform searches for content that is available on the Internet. For example, a user may browse to a website for accessing a search engine. At the search engine website, the user enters a search query that generally includes words, phrases, and/or other operators describing what the user is searching for. The search engine processes the search query and returns search results to the user. Such search results generally include links to webpages or other content available on the Internet that are responsive to one or more terms in the search query. The user can then select a link in the search results to navigate to the corresponding webpage. To control such a television system, a remote control that allows the user to navigate through television content is typically supplemented with a wireless keyboard that allows the user to navigate through Internet content.",
  "cpc": [
    "G06F 3/0346",
    "G08C 17/00",
    "G08C 17/02",
    "G08C 2201/30",
    "G08C 2201/32",
    "G08C 2201/40",
    "G08C 2201/92",
    "G08C 2201/93"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G06F 3/0346",
    "G08C 17/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Google LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Alok Chandel",
    "Pierre-Yves Laligand"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2013-03-13",
  "publication_date": "2017-08-22",
  "grant_date": "2017-08-22",
  "priority_date": "2013-03-13",
  "application_number": "US-201313800891-A",
  "family_id": "50478577",
  "cited_by_count": 15,
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}