Granted Patent B2

US 12,554,382 · App. 18/674,435 · Granted Feb 17, 2026

Inventors: Imran Chaudhri (San Francisco, CA); Stephen O. Lemay (Palo Alto, CA); Alan C. Dye (San Francisco, CA); Christopher Patrick Foss (San Francisco, CA); Lawrence Y. Yang (Bellevue, WA); David Chance Graham (Columbus, OH); Jonathan P. Ive (San Francisco, CA)

Assignee: Apple Inc.

G06F3/04842G06F3/04817G06F3/0488G06F3/04883G06F1/1626G06F1/163G06F1/1694G06F3/0346G06F2203/04105H04L67/025H04M1/72412H04M1/72415H04M1/72442H04M2250/12H04M2250/22

Abstract

Claims (123)

1 . An electronic device, comprising:

one or more sensors;

one or more processors;

a display:

a memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:

associating the electronic device with one or more target devices that are responsive to remote control out of a plurality of target devices, wherein the plurality of target devices includes a first target device and a second target device;

detecting, via the one or more sensors, a single gesture that is motion of the electronic device; and

in response to detecting the single gesture that is motion of the electronic device:

displaying, on the display, a first set of one or more graphical user interface objects representing controls for the one or more target devices;

in accordance with a determination that the electronic device is associated with the first target device, instructing the first target device to perform an operation; and

in accordance with a determination that the electronic device is associated with the first target device and the second target device, concurrently instructing the first target device and the second target device to perform the operation.

2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the display of the electronic device includes a touch-sensitive display, the one or more programs further including instructions for:

displaying a plurality of icons representing applications, including an icon representing a remote control application; and

receiving a first contact on the touch-sensitive display at a location of the icon,

wherein at least one of associating the electronic device with one or more target devices that are responsive to remote control and detecting the single gesture that is motion of the electronic device occurs after receiving the first contact.

3 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein instructing the first target device comprises instructing the first target device to pause or stop an operation; and

wherein concurrently instructing the first target device and second target device comprises concurrently instructing the first target device and the second target device to pause or stop an operation.

4 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein instructing the first target device comprises instructing the first target device to pause or stop playback of audio and/or visual content; and

wherein concurrently instructing the first target device and second target device comprises concurrently instructing the first target device and the second target device to pause or stop playback of audio and/or visual content.

5 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein associating the electronic device with one or more target devices that are responsive to re comprises identifying target devices that perform audio and/or visual playback.

6 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein associating the electronic device with one or more target devices that are responsive to remote control comprises identifying television or television set-top media playback devices.

7 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein associating the electronic device with one or more target devices that are responsive to remote control comprises receiving network service information sent by the one or more target devices.

8 . The electronic device of claim 1 , the one or more programs further including instructions for:

prior to detecting the single gesture that is motion of the electronic device, displaying, via the display, a second set of one or more graphical user interface objects for controlling operations of the one or more associated target devices.

9 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein associating the electronic device with one or more target devices that are responsive to remote control comprises:

receiving a user input; and

selecting the one or more target devices that are responsive to remote control based on the user input.

10 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the single gesture that is motion of the electronic device is a raise gesture.

11 . The electronic device of claim 1 , the one or more programs further including instructions for:

prior to detecting the single gesture that is motion of the electronic device, displaying, via the display, a graphical representation of the one or more target device that are responsive to remote control.

12 . The electronic device of claim 1 , the one or more programs further including instructions for:

prior to detecting the single gesture that is motion of the electronic device:

detecting a second plurality of target devices in proximity to the electronic device;

in accordance with a determination that a third target device of the second plurality of target devices is closest to the electronic device, displaying, via the display, a graphical representation of the third target device; and

in accordance with a determination that a fourth target device, different from the third target device, of the second plurality of target devices is closest to the electronic device, displaying, via the display, a graphical representation of the fourth target device.

13 . The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein:

displaying the graphical representation of the third target device includes:

displaying the graphical representation of the third target device at a first size; and

displaying the graphical representation of the fourth target device at a second size that is smaller than the first size; and

displaying the graphical representation of the fourth target device includes:

displaying the graphical representation of the fourth target device at the first size; and

displaying the graphical representation of the third target device at the second size.

14 . The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the displayed graphical representation is of a respective target device that is responsive to remote control that is selected.

15 . A method, comprising:

at an electronic device with a display and one or more sensors:

associating the electronic device with one or more target devices that are responsive to remote control out of a plurality of target devices, wherein the plurality of target devices includes a first target device and a second target device;

detecting, via the one or more sensors, a single gesture that is motion of the electronic device; and

in response to detecting the single gesture that is motion of the electronic device:

displaying, on the display, a first set of one or more graphical user interface objects representing controls for the one or more target devices;

in accordance with a determination that the electronic device is associated with the first target device, instructing the first target device to perform an operation; and

in accordance with a determination that the electronic device is associated with the first target device and the second target device, concurrently instructing the first target device and the second target device to perform the operation.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the display of the electronic device includes a touch-sensitive display, the method further comprising:

displaying a plurality of icons representing applications, including an icon representing a remote control application; and

receiving a first contact on the touch-sensitive display at a location of the icon,

wherein at least one of associating the electronic device with one or more target devices that are responsive to remote control and detecting the single gesture that is motion of the electronic device occurs after receiving the first contact.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein instructing the first target device comprises instructing the first target device to pause or stop an operation; and

wherein concurrently instructing the first target device and second target device comprises concurrently instructing the first target device and the second target device to pause or stop an operation.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein instructing the first target device comprises instructing the first target device to pause or stop playback of audio and/or visual content; and

wherein concurrently instructing the first target device and second target device comprises concurrently instructing the first target device and the second target device to pause or stop playback of audio and/or visual content.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein associating the electronic device with one or more target devices that are responsive to remote control comprises identifying target devices that perform audio and/or visual playback.

20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein associating the electronic device with one or more target devices that are responsive to remote control comprises identifying television or television set-top media playback devices.

21 . The method of claim 15 , wherein associating the electronic device with one or more target devices that are responsive to remote control comprises receiving network service information sent by the one or more target devices.

22 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

prior to detecting the single gesture that is motion of the electronic device, displaying, via the display, a second set of one or more graphical user interface objects for controlling operations of the one or more associated target devices.

23 . The method of claim 15 , wherein associating the electronic device with one or more target devices that are responsive to remote control comprises:

receiving a user input; and

selecting the one or more target devices that are responsive to remote control based on the user input.

24 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the single gesture that is motion of the electronic device is a raise gesture.

25 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

prior to detecting the single gesture that is motion of the electronic device, displaying, via the display, a graphical representation of the one or more target device that are responsive to remote control.

26 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

prior to detecting the single gesture that is motion of the electronic device:

detecting a second plurality of target devices in proximity to the electronic device;

in accordance with a determination that a third target device of the second plurality of target devices is closest to the electronic device, displaying, via the display, a graphical representation of the third target device; and

in accordance with a determination that a fourth target device, different from the third target device, of the second plurality of target devices is closest to the electronic device, displaying, via the display, a graphical representation of the fourth target device.

27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein:

displaying the graphical representation of the third target device includes:

displaying the graphical representation of the third target device at a first size; and

displaying the graphical representation of the fourth target device at a second size that is smaller than the first size; and

displaying the graphical representation of the fourth target device includes:

displaying the graphical representation of the fourth target device at the first size; and

displaying the graphical representation of the third target device at the second size.

28 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the displayed graphical representation is of a respective target device that is responsive to remote control that is selected.

29 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured to be executed by one or more processors of an electronic device with a display and one or more sensors, the one or more programs including instructions for:

associating the electronic device with one or more target devices that are responsive to remote control out of a plurality of target devices, wherein the plurality of target devices includes a first target device and a second target device;

detecting, via the one or more sensors, a single gesture that is motion of the electronic device; and

in response to detecting the single gesture that is motion of the electronic device:

displaying, on the display, a first set of one or more graphical user interface objects representing controls for the one or more target devices;

in accordance with a determination that the electronic device is associated with the first target device, instructing the first target device to perform an operation; and

in accordance with a determination that the electronic device is associated with the first target device and the second target device, concurrently instructing the first target device and the second target device to perform the operation.

30 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 29 , wherein the display of the electronic device includes a touch-sensitive display, the one or more programs further including instructions for:

displaying a plurality of icons representing applications, including an icon representing a remote control application; and

receiving a first contact on the touch-sensitive display at a location of the icon,

wherein at least one of associating the electronic device with one or more target devices that are responsive to remote control and detecting the single gesture that is motion of the electronic device occurs after receiving the first contact.

31 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 29 , wherein instructing the first target device comprises instructing the first target device to pause or stop an operation; and

wherein concurrently instructing the first target device and second target device comprises concurrently instructing the first target device and the second target device to pause or stop an operation.

32 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 29 , wherein instructing the first target device comprises instructing the first target device to pause or stop playback of audio and/or visual content; and

wherein concurrently instructing the first target device and second target device comprises concurrently instructing the first target device and the second target device to pause or stop playback of audio and/or visual content.

33 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 29 , wherein associating the electronic device with one or more target devices that are responsive to remote control comprises identifying target devices that perform audio and/or visual playback.

34 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 29 , wherein associating the electronic device with one or more target devices that are responsive to remote control comprises identifying television or television set-top media playback devices.

35 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 29 , wherein associating the electronic device with one or more target devices that are responsive to remote control comprises receiving network service information sent by the one or more target devices.

36 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 29 , the one or more programs further including instructions for:

prior to detecting the single gesture that is motion of the electronic device, displaying, via the display, a second set of one or more graphical user interface objects for controlling operations of the one or more associated target devices.

37 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 29 , wherein associating the electronic device with one or more target devices that are responsive to remote control comprises:

receiving a user input; and

selecting the one or more target devices that are responsive to remote control based on the user input.

38 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 29 , wherein the single gesture that is motion of the electronic device is a raise gesture.

39 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 29 , the one or more programs further including instructions for:

prior to detecting the single gesture that is motion of the electronic device, displaying, via the display, a graphical representation of the one or more target device that are responsive to remote control.

40 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 29 , the one or more programs further including instructions for:

prior to detecting the single gesture that is motion of the electronic device:

detecting a second plurality of target devices in proximity to the electronic device;

in accordance with a determination that a third target device of the second plurality of target devices is closest to the electronic device, displaying, via the display, a graphical representation of the third target device; and

in accordance with a determination that a fourth target device, different from the third target device, of the second plurality of target devices is closest to the electronic device, displaying, via the display, a graphical representation of the fourth target device.

41 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 40 , wherein:

displaying the graphical representation of the third target device includes:

displaying the graphical representation of the third target device at a first size; and

displaying the graphical representation of the fourth target device at a second size that is smaller than the first size; and

displaying the graphical representation of the fourth target device includes:

displaying the graphical representation of the fourth target device at the first size; and

displaying the graphical representation of the third target device at the second size.

42 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 40 , wherein the displayed graphical representation is of a respective target device that is responsive to remote control that is selected.

Continuity (7)

References Cited (400)