IP Library Granted Patent US 10,181,260
Granted Patent B2
US 10,181,260 · App. 14/153,938 · Granted Jan 15, 2019

Audible feedback for input activation of a remote control device

Inventors: Adam Schafer (Littleton, CO); Joseph Tomko (Castle Rock, CO); Jeremy Mickelsen (Denver, CO)
Assignee: ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.
G08C17/02G08C17/00G08C23/04G08C2201/32
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,181,260
App. No.
14/153,938
Granted
Jan 15, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of informing a user of an identity of an input of a remote control device is presented. In the method, user activation of one of the inputs of the remote control device is detected. An audible signal associated with the activated input is determined. Each of the inputs of the remote control device is associated with a unique one of a plurality of audible signals. The audible signal associated with the activated input is produced to inform the user of the identity of that input.

Claims (42)

1. A method of informing a user of an identity of inputs of a remote control device, wherein the remote control device is configured to selectively control a plurality of controlled devices, the method comprising:

detecting user activation of one of a plurality of inputs of the remote control device for a period of time;

identifying a currently controlled device from the plurality of controlled devices;

comparing the detected period of time with a time threshold;

in response to the detected period of time being longer than the time threshold, the method further comprising:

activating a function associated with the activated one of the plurality of inputs;

determining an audible signal associated with the activated one of the plurality of inputs associated with control of the currently controlled device, wherein each of the plurality of inputs of the remote control device is associated with a unique one of a plurality of audible signals;

producing the audible signal associated with the activated one of the plurality of inputs; and

emitting the audible signal, wherein the emitted audible signal associated with the currently controlled device has at least one characteristic that is different from a same characteristic associated with audible signals from other ones of the plurality of controlled devices; and

in response to the detected period of time being less than the time threshold, the method further comprising:

activating the function associated with the activated one of the plurality of inputs.

2. A method of informing a user of an identity of inputs of a remote control device, wherein the remote control device is configured to selectively control a plurality of controlled devices, the method comprising:

detecting user activation of one of a plurality of inputs of the remote control device for a period of time;

identifying a currently controlled device from the plurality of controlled devices;

comparing the detected period of time with a time threshold;

in response to the detected period of time being longer than the time threshold, the method further comprising:

activating a function associated with the activated one of the plurality of inputs;

determining an audible signal associated with the activated one of the plurality of inputs, wherein each of the plurality of inputs of the remote control device is associated with a unique one of a plurality of audible signals; and

producing an audible signal associated with the activated one of the plurality of inputs for a time period associated with the currently controlled device,

wherein each of the plurality of controlled devices are each associated with one of a plurality of different time periods that audible signals are produced; and

in response to the detected period of time being less than the time threshold, the method further comprising:

activating the function associated with the activated one of the plurality of inputs.

3. A method of informing a user of an identity of inputs of a remote control device, the method comprising:

detecting user activation of one of a plurality of inputs of the remote control device for a period of time;

comparing the detected period of time with a time threshold;

in response to the detected period of time being longer than the time threshold, the method further comprising:

activating a function associated with the activated one of the plurality of inputs;

determining an audible signal associated with the activated one of the plurality of inputs, wherein each of the plurality of inputs of the remote control device is associated with a unique one of a plurality of audible signals;

producing the audible signal associated with the activated one of the plurality of inputs at a first audio volume when a first controlled device is controlled by the remote control device; and

producing the audible signal associated with the activated one of the plurality of inputs at a second audio volume when a second controlled device is controlled by the remote control device; and

in response to the detected period of time being less than the time threshold, the method further comprising:

activating the function associated with the activated one of the plurality of inputs.

4. A method of informing a user of an identity of inputs of a remote control device, the method comprising:

detecting user activation of one of a plurality of inputs of the remote control device for a period of time;

comparing the detected period of time with a time threshold;

in response to the detected period of time being longer than the time threshold, the method further comprising:

activating a function associated with the activated one of the plurality of inputs;

determining an audible signal associated with the activated one of the plurality of inputs, wherein each of the plurality of inputs of the remote control device is associated with a unique one of a plurality of audible signals;

producing the audible signal associated with the activated one of the plurality of inputs for a first time period when a first controlled device is controlled by the remote control device; and

producing the audible signal associated with the activated one of the plurality of inputs for a second time period when a second controlled device is controlled by the remote control device; and

in response to the detected period of time being less than the time threshold, the method further comprising:

activating the function associated with the activated one of the plurality of inputs.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 30, 2021
From: DISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION; DISH NETWORK L.L.C.; DISH TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.
To: U.S. BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058295/0293 →
CONVERSION Recorded Jul 2, 2019
From: ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.
To: DISH TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 049671/0857 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 17, 2014
From: SCHAFER, ADAM; TOMKO, JOSEPH; MICKELSEN, JEREMY
To: ECHOSTAR TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 031994/0372 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 12638247 · Dec 15, 2009
Related Publication 20140125465A1 · May 8, 2014