Integrated multi-function virtual slider remote control of animal collar

1. A computer program embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium and executable by a processor for providing a multi-function remote control for an electronic collar device for an animal, the computer program comprising logic configured to:

define a slider axis on a remote control touch input panel comprising a slider activation region, a first function output control region, and a second function output control region, the second function output control region comprising a plurality of second function intensity level sub-regions;

in response to detecting a tap and hold gesture in the slider activation region of the remote control touch input panel, initiating a virtual slider multi-function control operation configured to control an electronic collar device for an animal;

enabling the virtual slider multi-function control operation while the tap and hold gesture maintains continuous contact with the remote control touch input panel and disabling the virtual slider multi-function control operation in response to detecting a release gesture after the tap and hold gesture;

during the enabled virtual slider multi-function control operation, in response to detecting a slide gesture along the slider axis from the slider activation region to the first function output control region, generating a first function output control signal configured to initiate a first function at the electronic collar device, the first function output control signal comprising one of a vibration signal and a sound signal;

in response to detecting the slide gesture extending along the slider axis from the first function output control region to the second function output control region, generating a second function output control signal configured to initiate a second function at the electronic collar device, the second function output control signal comprising a shock signal; and

in response to detecting the slide gesture along the slider axis in the second function output control region from one of the second function intensity level sub-regions to another of the second function intensity level sub-regions, modifying the second function output control signal to increase an intensity level of the second function.

2. The computer program of claim 1 , wherein the tap and hold gesture comprises an edge gesture associated with the slider activation region.

3. The computer program of claim 1 , wherein the remote control touch input panel comprises a touchscreen display on a mobile communication device.

4. The computer program of claim 1 , wherein the first function output control region comprises a plurality of first function intensity level sub-regions.

5. The computer program of claim 4 , further comprising logic configured to:

in response to detecting the slide gesture along the slider axis in the first function output control region from one of the first function intensity level sub-regions to another of the first function intensity level sub-regions, modifying the generated first function output control signal to increase an intensity level of the first function.

6. A remote control for an electronic collar device for an animal, the remote control comprising:

a touch input panel;

a transmitter configured to wirelessly communicate with an electronic collar device for an animal;

a processor; and

a memory comprising a virtual slider multi-function control component executable by the processor, the virtual slider multi-function control component comprising logic configured to:

define a slider axis on the touch input panel comprising a slider activation region, a first function output control region, and a second function output control region, the second function output control region comprising a plurality of second function intensity level sub-regions;

in response to detecting a tap and hold gesture in the slider activation region of the touch input panel, initiate a virtual slider multi-function control operation configured to control the electronic collar device for an animal;

enable the virtual slider multi-function control operation while the tap and hold gesture maintains continuous contact with the touch input panel and disable the virtual slider multi-function control operation in response to detecting a release gesture after the tap and hold gesture;

during the enabled virtual slider multi-function control operation, in response to detecting a slide gesture along the slider axis from the slider activation region to the first function output control region, generate a first function output control signal configured to initiate a first function at the electronic collar device, the first function output control signal comprising one of a sound signal and a vibration signal;

in response to detecting the slide gesture extending along the slider axis from the first function output control region to the second function output control region, generate a second function output control signal configured to initiate a second function at the electronic collar device, the second function output control signal comprising a shock signal; and

in response to detecting the slide gesture along the slider axis in the second function output control region from one of the second function intensity level sub-regions to another of the second function intensity level sub-regions, modifying the second function output control signal to increase an intensity level of the second function.

7. The remote control of claim 6 , further comprising a sound output device configured to provide a first sound alert when the first function output control signal is generated and a second sound alert when the second function output control signal is generated.

8. The remote control of claim 6 , wherein the first function output control region comprises a plurality of first function intensity level sub-regions.

9. The remote control of claim 8 , further comprising logic configured to:

in response to detecting the slide gesture along the slider axis in the first function output control region from one of the first function intensity level sub-regions to another of the first function intensity level sub-regions, modifying the generated first function output control signal to increase an intensity level of the first function.

10. The remote control of claim 9 , wherein the touch input panel comprises a touchscreen display configured to display a current function and a current intensity level associated with the virtual slider multi-function control operation.

11. A method for providing a multi-function remote control for an electronic collar device for an animal, the computer program comprising logic configured to:

configuring a remote control touch input panel with a slider activation region, a first function output control region, and a second function output control region according to a stored virtual slider axis, the second function output control region comprising a plurality of second function intensity level sub-regions;

in response to detecting a tap and hold gesture in the slider activation region of the remote control touch input panel, initiating a virtual slider multi-function control operation configured to control an electronic collar device for an animal;

enabling the virtual slider multi-function control operation while the tap and hold gesture maintains continuous contact with the remote control touch input panel and disabling the virtual slider multi-function control operation in response to detecting a release gesture after the tap and hold gesture;

during the enabled virtual slider multi-function control operation, in response to detecting a slide gesture based on the stored virtual slider axis from the slider activation region to the first function output control region, generating a first function output control signal configured to initiate a first function at the electronic collar device, the first function output control signal comprising one of a vibration signal and a sound signal;

in response to detecting the slide gesture extending along the stored virtual slider axis from the first function output control region to the second function output control region, generating a second function output control signal configured to initiate a second function at the electronic collar device, the second function output control signal comprising a shock signal; and

in response to detecting the slide gesture along the stored virtual slider axis in the second function output control region from one of the second function intensity level sub-regions to another of the second function intensity level sub-regions, modifying the second function output control signal to increase an intensity level of the second function.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the tap and hold gesture comprises an edge gesture associated with the slider activation region.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first function output control region comprises a plurality of first function intensity level sub-regions.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

in response to detecting the slide gesture along the stored virtual slider axis in the first function output control region from one of the first function intensity level sub-regions to another of the first function intensity level sub-regions, modifying the generated first function output control signal to increase an intensity level of the first function.