(12) United States Patent
`Dubi et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,132,105 B1
`Mar. 6, 2012
`
`USOO81321 05B1
`
`(54) CONTROL CODES FOR PROGRAMMABLE
`REMOTE SUPPLIED IN XML FORMAT
`
`(75) Inventors: Thomas James Dubil, Morgan Hill, CA
`(US): Stuart Peter McKechnie,
`Saratoga, CA (US); Rudy
`AlthEygely
`ugene Shteyn, Cupertino, CA (US);
`Stefaan M. Note, Berchem (BE); Frank
`Louis Boghe, Sunnyvale, CA (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V.,
`Eindhoven (NL)
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`-
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 629 days.
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/686,572
`TNO.
`pp
`9
`(22) Filed:
`Oct. 10, 2000
`
`WO
`WO
`
`. 79:
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`28. h R : 38. th et al .
`en et al. ......................
`6,407,594 B1
`6/2002 Milazzo et al.
`6,407,779 B1* 6/2002 Herz ............................. 348,734
`6,431,875 B1 ck
`8, 2002 Eliott et al. ...
`... 434,322
`6,437,836 B1* 8/2002 Huang et al. .......
`... 348,734
`gig. R. 339% Namhan et alr, 2.
`Itani ...................
`6,466,971 B1 * 10/2002 Humpleman et al. ........ 709/220
`6,546,419 B1 * 4/2003 Humpleman et al. ........ 709/223
`6,606,280 B1* 8/2003 Knittel ...............
`... 367,198
`6,769,129 B1* 7/2004 Perlman .......................... 725/8O
`6.956,496 B1 10/2005 Herz........
`... 340,825.22
`7,130,895 B2 * 10/2006 Zintel et al. ................... TO9.220
`2001/0002115 A1
`5/2001 Hwang et al.
`2001/0005197 A1* 6/2001 Mishra et al. ................. 34.5/100
`2002/0042915 A1
`4/2002 Kubischta et al. .............. 725/38
`2004/0090315 A1* 5/2004 Mackjust et al. ........ 340,426.13
`2005/0052423 A1
`3/2005 Harris et al. .................. 345/169
`2006/0200253 A1* 9/2006 Hoffberg et al. ................ TOOf 19
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`99.57649
`11, 1999
`OO17738 A1
`3f2OOO
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`“A Process and Tools for Multi-Modal Authoring of Web Content”.
`(2006.01)
`(51) also
`(52) U.S. Cl. ........ 715,740.715/748; 715,749,715/760. E. PCTPP,
`Sigal: Position Statement: Intelligent Control Via the Web; Future of
`71.5/716
`Embedded Internet-Embedded Workshop; Year Unknown, 2 page
`(58) Field of Classification Search .................. 345/740,
`Document.
`345/748, 749, 760, 716; 700/19, 20, 17,
`700/83: 341/175, 176, 169; 571/740, 748,
`571/749, 760, 716
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner — William L. Bashore
`Assistant Examiner — Mylinh Tran
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`An Internet service makes available control codes for use on
`a programmable universal remote. The remote controls CE
`equipment through IR or RF commands. A server Supplies the
`control codes as XML data that gets processed at the receiv
`s
`t top b
`PC th
`te itself for bei
`1
`er's set top box or P, or une remote itsell, Ior being properly
`installed on the remote.
`7 Claims, 1 Drawing Sheet
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,898,838 A
`4/1999 Wagner
`5,963,264 A * 10/1999 Jackson ........................ 348/460
`6,104,334 A * 8/2000 Allport ......................... 341,175
`6,111,569 A * 8/2000 Brusky et al. ................. 345,327
`6,133,847 A * 10/2000 Yang ............
`... 340,825.22
`6,157.319 A * 12/2000 Johns et al. .............. 340/825.72
`6,344,769 B1
`2/2002 Giuroiu
`6,374,296 B1 * 4/2002 Lim et al. ...................... 709,225
`
`
`
`6
`
`04
`
`06
`
`sts
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`XML application
`
`18
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`
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`Memory
`
`20
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`122
`
`Processor E.
`
`
`
`transmitter
`
`Roku EX1006
`U.S. Patent No. 7,589,642
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 6, 2012
`Mar. 6, 2012
`
`US 8,132,105 B1
`US 8,132,105 B1
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`1.
`CONTROL CODES FOR PROGRAMMABLE
`REMOTE SUPPLIED IN XML FORMAT
`
`US 8,132,105 B1
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The invention relates to remote control devices and to a
`service for enabling the programming of remote controls to
`be used with consumer electronics (CE) equipment.
`
`BACKGROUND ART
`
`Universal programmable remote control devices, e.g., the
`PRONTOTM made by Philips Electronics, are well known.
`The expression “universal remote' indicates a device that
`enables the end-user to control the majority of his/her collec
`tion of remotely controllable apparatus, regardless of the type
`or brand of the individual apparatus. This universal control
`lability is achieved, e.g., by accommodating on the remote a
`database of multiple sets of existing control (IR or RF) codes,
`each particular set being associated with a particular type of
`apparatus of a particular brand. The universal remote is user
`programmable and capable of learning or adopting new con
`trol codes and of associating them with a particular user
`defined soft key or hard button. The PRONTOTM, for
`example, has built-in RC-5 and RC-6 codes for Philips and
`Marantz equipment, IR-sending and IR-receiving eyes, and
`an RS232 serial port connector for after-market expansibility
`of the codes, e.g., via a PC. The PRONTOTM provides a GUI
`via an LCD touch screen and also has direct-access buttons
`for frequently used control functions. Built-in are customiz
`able device templates for full control; the options to assign
`control functions to icons or buttons; options to delete and
`create icons or buttons; options to program and edit macros; a
`keyboard with soft keys for (re-) labeling buttons, icons and
`templates or the GUI's control panels. In short, the
`PRONTOTM is highly customizable in terms of the GUIs
`lay-out, appearance, labeling, organization and in terms of
`programming, editing and customizing the control functions.
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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`The universal programmability of remote controls and
`other programmable or Software-upgradeable CE apparatus
`is a valuable asset. It is an incentive for third parties to offer
`value-added features to the equipment’s expandible function
`ality. In order to facilitate this, the inventors propose, among
`other things, to use a mark-up language format, preferably an
`XML (Extensible Markup Language) data format, in a ser
`vice for supplying IR or RF commands for being installed on
`a remote control. The data can be Supplied via a data network
`Such as the Internet, or on a carrier Such as a memory card.
`This data represents a control code to be installed on the
`remote that, whenactivated, determines the relevant IR or RF
`command. The data can be stored locally at the remote. An
`55
`XML application, such as an XSL stylesheet, at the receiving
`end, operates on the data under control of instructions in the
`stylesheet. This application is used, for example, for control
`of generating the proper IR or RF commands based on the
`received data and for generating a GUI as an, e.g., HTML
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`page on a Suitable display.
`If necessary, the data is converted to a proprietary format
`local to the remote before getting installed. An advantage of
`the invention resides in the fact that an open standard, such as
`XML/XSL for defining the behavior and appearance of a
`remote's GUI, allows development of supporting tools by
`third parties.
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`The invention relates specifically to a method of providing,
`in a mark-up language format, preferably XML data repre
`sentative of a control code for installation on a control device.
`Preferably, the data is provided via a data network, e.g., the
`Internet. The user is enabled to specify to a server on the
`network an apparatus for being controlled by the control
`device. The server then identifies a corresponding control
`code for being provided as the data in the mark-up language
`format. The method of the invention can comprise providing
`a GUI element for use on the control device, the GUI element
`being Supplied as further data in the mark-up language for
`mat. The GUI element can comprise a graphical representa
`tion of another remote control device. This latter feature is
`especially interesting if the universal programmable remote is
`to become the user's main remote for his/her CE equipment.
`It is assumed that the universal remote has a touch screen
`GUI. All relevant control codes of the separate remotes for
`individual pieces of equipment are now programmed in the
`universal remote using the scenario briefly discussed above
`and in more detail below. Assume that the universal remote,
`such as the PRONTOTM can reserve one or more graphical
`control panels per piece of equipment. That is, the control
`functionalities per piece of equipment are clustered. The
`invention now shapes the graphical representation of these
`panels as an image of the remote dedicated to that piece of
`equipment. That is, the universal remote displays an image of
`the dedicated remote with the control functionalities repre
`sented as soft keys where the dedicated remote provides hard
`keys. This enables quick recognition by the user and also
`allows the user to effortlessly switch between manipulating
`the universal remote and the dedicated remote. This feature
`can also be provided independent of the XML invention.
`Accordingly, the inventors propose to have a server provide
`data to an end-user, preferably in XML format, for program
`ming, setting up and control of local CE equipment. Using
`XML, the content/service provider does not need to support
`all possible target devices. Accordingly, the data can be Sup
`plied and put together without having to consider the particu
`larities of the destination platform on which the data is to be
`installed. An XML application (here: a parser) extracts the
`relevant items and attributes from the XML data received and
`transforms them to further data that can be installed and/or
`processed locally at the destination platform.
`The XML/XSL concept is widely known. It is being used to
`present data on browsers and to direct browser activity. XML
`enables to have common data formats in order to share the
`format as well as the data. XML separates the information to
`be rendered from the rendering instructions. XML describes
`data using tags. Custom tags enable the definition, transmis
`Sion, validation, and interpretation of data between applica
`tions. The tags specify what each piece of data represents.
`That is, the tags comprise the semantic information about the
`data. As a result, an electronic document in XML can be
`rendered in different manners. This concept is now applied in
`the invention to IR or RF remote controls. By being able to
`have control codes delivered to the end user as XML files,
`e.g., via the Internet, the user can process the files locally
`through appropriate applications on his/her PC or set-top box,
`or even on the remote itself, in order to set up the remote for
`control of CE equipment with the codes thus received.
`More specifically, the IR or RF codes are described using
`XML. A number of parameters can be defined using XML
`tags, for example, carrier frequency, duty cycle, protocol type
`(FSK, biphase, PWM. etc.), repetition time, on/off times of
`the signal, bit pattern of the command code, semantic mean
`ing of the code, type of device for which it is intended (CD,
`VCR, TV, DVD, etc.), the brand name of the specific protocol,
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`3
`etc. Preferably, these data fields are not all used within the
`remote: only the information required to transmit the actual
`IR or RF code needs to be stored. On a server, the brand name
`and device type can be used to run database queries, e.g., in
`order to allow selective downloads. For example, a set top box
`(STB) offers a dedicated service at its portal to download IR
`codes upon the user having entered input descriptive of the
`device to be controlled, its brand and type number.
`As to the remote's GUI, currently the PRONTOTM uses a
`proprietary format as a configuration file. This file contains
`information about the types and names of devices Supported
`by the PRONTOTM. Per device, the GUI is organized as a
`collection of pages. The GUI displays one page at the time. A
`specific page comprises one or more panels and soft keys or
`buttons. A button is graphically represented by, e.g., a labeled
`icon. A particular panel may comprise one or more panels
`and/or one or more further buttons. With each button and
`panel are associated certain properties, such as positions on
`the remote's display when rendered, labels, bitmaps, a func
`tion and its arguments (e.g., send--IR code, beep--Sound
`samples, jump--device and page number, delay+time, etc). In
`the invention, all this information is preferably described
`using the XML.format. This, in combination with XSL, is
`used to define the GUI of a touch screen remote.
`The invention enables the following scenario. The user
`notifies a dedicated server on the Internet of the purchase of
`the type, brand, serial number, etc., of a new CE apparatus for
`which he/she would like add the codes to the universal pro
`grammable remote. The remote has a touch screen and dis
`play monitor. The new apparatus has come with a simple
`proprietary remote. The server now downloads to the user's
`home network the control codes in XML format, plus a
`tagged file for creating a bitmap of the proprietary remote on
`the universal remote's display monitor. When the control
`codes and data for the bitmap generation have been installed,
`the user can control the new apparatus through the virtual
`remote displayed on the universal remote's touch screen dis
`play monitor. Touching the screen in the location of a graphic
`representation of a proprietary remote's button causes the
`universal remote to send the corresponding IR or RF code.
`Note that the XML tags determine the rendering of the graph
`ics image depending on the XSL stylesheet on the receiving
`platform.
`A further interesting aspect of the invention is the follow
`ing. The number of information appliances with Internet con
`45
`nectivity, e.g., enhanced TVs, set-top boxes (STBs), PDA's,
`Smartphones, etc., and with different capabilities, e.g., pro
`cessing power, memory capacity, display screen real estate,
`screen resolution, network connection, is rapidly growing.
`XML and XSL provide the basic building blocks of a frame
`work for generic and flexible information exchange over the
`Internet that can be tailored to different machine conditions
`and user preferences. This framework is now applied in the
`invention to build an electronic program guide (EPG) or
`electronic content guide (ECG) that adapts the representation
`of e.g., TV programs and other content information stored in
`an XML format to different information appliances and user
`profiles. Dynamically modified XSL stylesheets model the
`capabilities of the information appliance and the user prefer
`ences. The stylesheets translate and format the program infor
`mation represented in XML in a Web presentation language
`Such as HTML. In this manner, the semantics of the program
`information is separated from its presentation language Syn
`tax. The EPG or ECG is downloaded from the user's home
`network onto a programmable remote that has a touch screen
`capability. In addition, the EPG or ECG (see U.S. Ser. No.
`09/568,932, mentioned below) is provided together with con
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`trol codes in XML in order to enable a user to control, e.g.,
`selection of, and playing-out or recording a specific one of the
`programs in the EPG/ECG rendered on the remote's display.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`
`The invention is explained in further detail, by way of
`example, and with reference to the accompanying drawing,
`wherein FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system of the inven
`tion.
`
`DETAILED EMBODIMENTS
`
`XML is emerging as the universal format for structured
`documents and data on the Web. XML makes it relatively
`straightforward to define new document types, to author and
`manage documents and to transmit and share the documents
`across the Internet. XSL is used for defining stylesheets, and
`provides a language for translating XML documents and an
`XML vocabulary. XSL specifies the formatting of semantics.
`Information in XML format on the Web can be transformed in
`a presentation format such as HTML, WML or SMIL with
`XSL stylesheets. This separation of semantics and presenta
`tion makes possible platform customization and user person
`alization of Web content. In an XSL transformation, an XSL
`processor or application reads an XML documentandan XSL
`style sheet. Based on the instructions in the XSL style sheet,
`the XSL processor or application supplies a new XML,
`HTML or otherwise formatted document. The invention now
`uses this concept in a system or a service, wherein control
`codes for use on, e.g., a remote control device are being
`supplied in an open standard format, such as XML.
`The invention covers both the usage of XML for IR or RF
`codes and for the GUI. The codes can be described using a
`number of parameters defined by XML tags. Examples have
`been mentioned above: carrier frequency, duty cycle, proto
`col type (FSK, biphase, PWM. etc.), repetition time, on/off
`times of the signal, bit pattern of the command code, meaning
`of the code, type and brand of the device for which it is
`intended (CD, VCR, TV, etc.), the name of the specific control
`protocol, etc. Some of these data fields are used to enable to
`run a query on a server. Only that data required to have the
`remote send the particular control code is stored at the remote
`itself, or at an intermediate device such as the user's PC or
`set-top box. On the server, the brand name and device type is
`used to query the control code database to allow selective
`downloads.
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram with main components of an
`information processing system 100 in the invention. System
`100 comprises a server 102 connected via the Internet 104 to
`an appliance 106, e.g., a STB or a PC, at the user's home. The
`user has a universal programmable remote control device 108
`with a touch screen UI 110. Device 108 has a transmitter 112
`for sending an IR-control code or an RF-control code to
`electronics equipment (not shown), such as TVs, VCRs, CD
`players, STBs, DVD players, audio pre-amplifiers and tun
`ers, etc., on the home network. Remote control device 108 has
`an input 114, e.g., a serial or parallel port or an IR sensor or
`transceiver, for communicating with appliance 106.
`Server 102 has a database 116 with an inventory of IR and
`RF control codes for commercially available CE equipment
`of various brands and types. The service provider updates
`database 116 when new appliances are becoming available on
`the market. The codes are formatted as XML documents. That
`is, the relevant parameters of a particular control code or
`command are defined using XML tags. For example, tags are
`defined for the relevant controllable apparatus to which a
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`code pertains, for its type number, for the IR or RF carrier
`frequency, for the duty cycle, the protocol type, for the rep
`etition time, for the on/off times of the signal, etc. The brand
`name and device type tags are used to run database queries on
`server 102, e.g., in order to allow selective downloads.
`The user requests via appliance 106 a code set from server
`102 for control of the apparatus, type, brand, serial no., etc., as
`specified by the user and to be controlled via remote 108. This
`is achieved, e.g., by having the user fill out an electronic
`template at the services web site and returning the templates
`information to server 102. Server 102 runs a query and,
`assuming that there is a match, Supplies the associated set of
`codes via Internet 104 to appliance 106 as an XML document.
`Appliance 106 has an XML application 118 that extracts the
`databased on the relevant tags and interprets the data accord
`ing to the semantics of the tags in order to generate the control
`codes and/or the GUI panels for remote 108. The GUI panel
`is preferably, but not necessarily, an HTML page. The control
`codes and/or GUI panels are then supplied to remote 108 via
`input 114 for being installed. For example, remote 108 is set
`into a programming mode for receiving the code at input 114
`and for storing the code in a memory 120, e.g., a flash
`memory, under control of a processor 122. If UI 110 has a
`specific icon reserved for this control option, the user can
`instruct remote 108 to cause a driver 124 to control transmit
`ter 112 for sending the IR or RF code.
`As to the rendering of the graphical representation of the
`GUI at remote 108, the XML data matching the user's query
`at server 102 can be converted to the presentation data (WML,
`HTML, possibly CCF) at server 102 itself, using an XSL
`30
`stylesheet. However, in this case server 102 needs to have
`information about remote 108 as to, e.g., its specific screen
`size, resolution and Supported image format, so as to deter
`mine the correct XSL stylesheet to allow the data to be ren
`dered for this specific remote. Alternatively, in case remote
`108 receives its codes from server 102 via appliance 106, here
`an STB, part of the functionality to generate the GUI can be
`moved to appliance 106. Then, server 102 has only XML data
`but no stylesheets. This means that the service provider does
`not need to be aware of the target client device, here remote
`108. Appliance 102 accesses server 102 to obtain the control
`code data. Appliance 102 can easily obtain the information
`about the target device, here remote 108, and its manufacturer
`or distributor can provide the proper XSL stylesheet and
`software required to generate the target format (WML,
`HTML, CCF). In yet another configuration, the XSL infor
`mation and the XML/XSL combination is handled on the
`remote 108 itself, appliance 106 then merely being a conduit
`between server 102 and remote 108, wherein remote 108
`accommodates the stylesheet information itself.
`Note that conversion from an XML description into a dedi
`cated format supported by remote control 108 can also be
`applied to the IR or RF control codes themselves. Again the
`conversion can be performed at server 102, at appliance 106
`or at remote 108 itself.
`The invention could also be implemented using a tagging
`or mark-up language other than XML implement the inven
`tion, and other style-sheets than XSL.
`The following patent documents are incorporated herein
`by reference, among other things to provide a context for the
`current invention:
`U.S. Ser. No. 09/434,155 filed Nov. 4, 1999 for Martin
`Freeman and Bonghan Cho for REMOTE CONTROL
`DEVICE WITH LOCATION DEPENDENT INTER
`FACE. This document relates to a programmable remote
`65
`control unit that is capable of initiating retrieval of a
`control configuration from a storage device external to
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`the unit. The unit comprises a memory to store the
`retrieved control configuration; a display for display of
`icons representing the configuration; and a touch screen
`for entering a selection based on the icons displayed.
`The storage device is a component of a CE apparatus. By
`storing or backing-up the control configuration for a
`specific apparatus in the apparatus itself, the remote is
`made truly universally programmable.
`U.S. serial 09/427,821 filed Oct. 27, 1999 for Joost Kemink
`and Richard Sagar for PDA HAS WIRELESS MODEM
`FOR REMOTE CONTROL VIA THE INTERNET.
`This document discloses a PDA combined with a wire
`less modem to enable remote control of CE equipment
`via the Internet and a local home server.
`U.S. Ser. No. 09/271,200 filed Mar. 17, 1999 for Jan van Ee
`for FULLY FUNCTIONAL REMOTE CONTROL
`EDITOR AND EMULATOR. This document relates to
`a universal programmable remote control device. The
`device has programmability functions that enable the
`end-user to customize the device through editing or pro
`gramming the device's control functionalities. The pro
`gramming can be achieved via a PC. The control con
`figuration created via an editor on the PC can be
`downloaded into the device. The PC has emulator soft
`ware to test the configuration before downloading. The
`emulator software and the remote's control software are
`made identical as a consequence of a Software layer that
`abstracts from the remotes hardware. The emulator for
`the end-user is thus obtained as an almost free byproduct
`of the software development phase at the manufacturer.
`U.S. Ser. No. 09/160,490 filed Sep. 25, 1998 for Adrian
`Turner et al., for CUSTOMIZED UPGRADING OF
`INTERNET ENABLED DEVICES BASED ON
`USER-PROFILE. This document relates to a server sys
`tem that maintains a user profile of a particular end-user
`of consumer electronics network-enabled equipment
`and also has a database of new technical features for this
`type of equipment. If there is a match between the user
`profile and a new technical feature, and the user indi
`cates to receive information about updates or sales
`offers, the user gets notified via the network of the option
`to obtain the feature.
`U.S. Ser. No. 09/568,932 filed May 11, 2000 for Eugene
`Shteyn and Ruud Roth for ELECTRONIC CONTENT
`GUIDE RENDERS CONTENT RESOURCES
`TRANSPARENT. This document relates to a data man
`agement system on a home network. The system collects
`data that is descriptive of content information available
`at various resources on the network. The data is com
`bined in a single menu to enable the user to select from
`the content, regardless of the resource. Known EPG's
`still focus on the device or apparatus that provides the
`content information, rather than on the content informa
`tion itself regardless of its resource and/or regardless of
`its time of availability, e.g., broadcast. That is, the known
`guides are device-centric and broadcast-centric rather
`than content-centric, whereas the user is typically more
`interested in the “what of the content information than
`in the “wherefrom'. Recording devices with personal
`ization features in a digital context, such as the HDD
`based Personal TV Receiver from Tivo, are changing the
`perspective of selecting content information. However,
`it is no longer relevant to the consumer when what pro
`gram is being broadcasted by a broadcast station or
`Supplied by another service provider, Such as in a video
`on-demand service. With such a digital recorder there is
`always content information available for selection and
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`there is always content information that is available now.
`Further, content information is not limited to video or
`audio. Content also includes Internet pages, previews,
`ads, email, etc. Content is also not limited to what is
`being distributed in a broadcast, but instead can come
`from any resource, e.g., locally recorded on a previous
`occasion, interactive Internet sites, a DVD or CD juke
`box, etc. Relevant is that the content is immediately
`available to the consumer, regardless its resource, deliv
`ery mechanism or delivery time. Accordingly, the data
`management system combines the data of an EPG with
`other data for other types of content information, typi
`cally within the context of a home entertainment system.
`The system comprises a data base for representing
`Schedule information associated with scheduled content
`information from a content provider Such as abroadcast
`ing station or a video-on-demand (VOD) service. In
`addition, the database also represents inventory infor
`mation that is associated with content information avail
`able from another resource, e.g., as recorded at the con
`Sumer's digital Personal TV Receiver during previous
`broadcasts, or from a CD or DVDjukebox. Accordingly,
`the invention introduces a general type of guide, herein
`after referred to as an electronic content guide (ECG).
`U.S. Ser. No. 09/519,546 filed Mar. 6, 2000 for Erik Ekkel
`for PERSONALIZING CE EQUIPMENT CONFIGU
`RATION AT SERVER VIA WEB-ENABLED
`DEVICE. This document relates to facilitating the con
`figuring of CE equipment of the consumer by means of
`30
`delegating the configuring to an application server on the
`Internet. The consumer enters his/her preferences in a
`specific interactive Web page through a suitable user
`interface of an Internet-enabled device, such as a PC or
`set-top box or digital cellphone. The application server
`generates the control data based on the preferences
`entered and downloads the control data to the CE equip
`ment itself or to the Internet-enabled device.
`U.S. Ser. No. 09/062.364 filed Apr. 17, 1998, and now
`allowed, for Sung Choi and Jan van Ee for GRAPHI
`40
`CAL USER INTERFACE TOUCH SCREEN WITH
`AUTO ZOOM FEATURE. This document relates to a
`graphical user interface (GUI) touch screen for display
`ing a user-controllable function of an electronic device.
`The GUI comprises means for displaying the function as
`an icon. The function corresponds to a plurality of user
`selectable features. The icon is displayed with the plu
`rality of the user-selectable features at a first scale size.
`The GUI has means for displaying a subset of the dis
`played features at a second scale size that is larger than
`the first scale size, upon a user touching an area of the
`icon. This facilitates a selection of a select one of the
`Subset of features.
`U.S. Ser. No. 09/619,426 filed Jul.19, 2000 as a Continu
`ation-in-Part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/062,364, for Jan van Ee
`55
`for HAND-HELD WITH AUTO-ZOOM FOR
`GRAPHICAL DISPLAY OF WEB PAGE. This docu
`ment relates to a mobile phone that has a display with a
`touchscreen. The device has a browser and is capable of
`retrieving a Web page from the Internet. The page is first
`displayed in its entirety. The user can recognize the
`page's general lay-out and presence of hyperlinks.
`When the user touches a particular location on the touch
`Screen that corresponds to a portion of the page's image,
`the portion gets displayed so as to fill the display's area.
`Thus, the user can browse the Web with a display of
`limited size.
`
`50
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`45
`
`60
`
`65
`
`8
`With regard to the last two patent documents above incor
`porated by reference, the expanding icon serves to facilitate
`recognition and user-operation. It can be used to provide
`graphical representations of one or more standard remotes on
`the display of a universal programmable remote that has an
`LCD touch screen functionality, such as the PRONTOTM of
`Philips Electronics. The graphical representations can also be
`made to expand once selected. More specifically, on a touch
`screen remote such as the PRONTOTM, icons are provided,
`e.g., programmed as discussed above, that each symbolize the
`controls for a specific apparatus. The specific icon is a graphi
`cal representation of the standard remote for the specific
`apparatus. Touching the icon magnifies the image of the icon
`so that the buttons of the displayed standard remote are shown
`at a scale large enough to serve as soft keys. Once the
`PRONTOTM has been programmed, the user immediately
`knows how to operate the “softremote' represented by the
`expanded icon. Recognition is easy as there is no discrepancy
`between the soft remote and the hard remote emulated.
`U.S. Ser. No. 09/619,426 filed Jul.19, 2000 for Jan van Ee
`for HAND-HELD WITH AUTO-ZOOM FOR
`GRAPHICAL DISPLAY OF WEB PAGE. This docu
`ment relates to a handheld Such as a mobile phone or a
`remote control that has a display with a touch screen.
`The phone has a browser and is capable of retrieving a
`Web page from the Internet. The page is first displayed in
`its entirety. The user can recognize the page’s general
`lay-out and presence of hyperlinks. When the user
`touches a particular location on the touch screen that
`corresponds to a portion of the page’s image, the portion
`gets displayed so as to fill the displays area. Thus, the
`user can browse the Web with a display of limited size.
`Similarly, the remote has a limited screen real estate. The
`double-touch interaction enables the user to interact
`conveniently with control options represented by soft
`keys or icons that are logically clustered on the same
`virtual panel.
`U.S. Ser. No. 09/653,784 filed Sep. 1, 2000 for Frank Caris,
`Erik Ekkel and Tom Dubil for STB CONNECTS
`REMOTE TOWEBSITE FOR CUSTOMIZED CODE
`DOWNLOADS. This patent document relates to a set
`top box (STB) being marketed together with a program
`mable remote. The remote has a dedicated button to
`connect the STB to a specific server on the Internet. The
`consumer can notify the server of his/her other CE
`equipment, which he/she desires to be controllable
`through the same remote as the one that came with the
`STB. The server downloa