32results about "Carrier remote controlling" patented technology

A user interface for multimedia centers advantageously utilizes hand-held inertial-sensing user input devices to select channels and quickly navigate the dense menus of options. Extensive use of the high resolution and bandwidth of such user input devices is combined with strategies to avoid unintentional inputs and with dense and intuitive interactive graphical displays.

In accordance with the present invention, commercials are provided to a subscriber at the start of or during their use of an interactive television application. Further in accordance with the invention, a subscriber may select to pay for use of the interactive television application by watching a specified amount of commercials in connection with use of the application. The subscriber can thereby reduce or avoid any additional payment for such services. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the subscriber is prompted to determine the payment method preferred by the subscriber payment method includes receiving commercials as an option in lieu of or in addition to traditional payment methods such as pay-per-view, pay-per-use pay-per-play and subscription based.

A multiple recording device management system including an intermediate multiple recording device managing apparatus, a vehicle recording device mounted in a police vehicle and synced to the managing apparatus, and a personal recording device carried by a police officer and wirelessly synced to the managing apparatus. The managing apparatus is operable to detect when the vehicle recording device, personal recording device, or any other synced device in range has begun recording and to transmit a communication signal to any synced recording device in range indicating that the recording device should begin recording and to further transmit a time stamp to synced recording devices for corroborating recorded data.

A portable control unit that interacts with a variety of types of media equipment. The control unit searches for media equipment (including media players) located within an area and retrieves user interaction information corresponding to discovered media players. The control unit can be instructed to control any of the discovered media players. The control unit uses the retrieved user interaction information to adapt. The control unit may periodically, or when relocated, look for new media players in its neighborhood. The control unit interacts with multiple multimedia sources that supply video and / or audio to the media players. The control unit may have a screen on which it displays a video in addition to controlling selection and presentation of a video and / or an audio in any one of the discovered media players. The control unit maintains an updateable media guide that provides a list of multimedia elements available for viewing and / or listening.

A portable control unit that interacts with a variety of types of media equipment. The control unit searches for media equipment (including media players) located within an area and retrieves user interaction information corresponding to discovered media players. The control unit can be instructed to control any of the discovered media players. The control unit uses the retrieved user interaction information to adapt. The control unit may periodically, or when relocated, look for new media players in its neighborhood. The control unit interacts with multiple multimedia sources that supply video and / or audio to the media players. The control unit may have a screen on which it displays a video in addition to controlling selection and presentation of a video and / or an audio in any one of the discovered media players. The control unit maintains an updateable media guide that provides a list of multimedia elements available for viewing and / or listening.

A video recording and playback device (10) incorporates a processor (114) for processing the video signal to detect the presence of commercial messages. Video and audio event detectors (102, 104) detect the presence of events in the signal as it is recorded. The timing relationship of the detected events is analyzed to classify the video segments between events as program material or as commercial messages. After a program is recorded, control marks are generated (132) to indicate the beginning and end of commercial groups so that they will be skipped during subsequent replay of the recorded program.

A multiple recording device management system including an intermediate multiple recording device managing apparatus, a vehicle recording device mounted in a police vehicle and synced to the managing apparatus, and a personal recording device carried by a police officer and wirelessly synced to the managing apparatus. The managing apparatus is operable to detect when the vehicle recording device, personal recording device, or any other synced device in range has begun recording and to transmit a communication signal to any synced recording device in range indicating that the recording device should begin recording and to further transmit a time stamp to synced recording devices for corroborating recorded data.

A remote control that includes multiple fast forward modes and a skip mode.

A remote control that includes multiple fast forward modes and a skip mode.

A function control apparatus, which controls the functions of an image processing apparatus using a remote control, includes a remote control signal receiver receiving a remote control signal output from the remote control; a memory unit storing major function information and additional function information of the image processing apparatus; a controller causing the additional function information stored in the memory unit to be displayed and causing an additional function that is selected based on the displayed additional function information to be performed, in response to the remote control signal containing a request to display the additional function information; and a display unit displaying the additional function information controlled by the controller. The additional function information is displayed as on-screen-display (OSD) data.

A signal recording / reproducing apparatus includes a first power source unit which generates necessary electric power signals from a commercial power source, a second power source unit which generates a necessary electric power signal from a battery, a recording signal processing unit, and a reproduced signal processing unit. The apparatus further includes time measuring instrument which is supplied with the electric power from the second power source unit, and a charging unit which charges the battery with the electric charges. Whenever the time measuring instrument measures a predetermined time, the generation of the electric power signals from the first power source unit is started, and the battery is charged with the electric charges by the charging unit.

Digital compressed codes, associated with advertisements enable a user to selectively record additional information, which would be broadcast on a television channel at a later time. The advertisement could be print advertisement or broadcast advertisement on television or radio. The user enters the digital code (I code) associated with an advertisement into a unit with a decoding means which automatically converts the code into CTL (channel, time and length). The unit within a twenty four hour period activates a VCR to record information on the television channel at the right time for the proper length of time. The decoded channel, time and length information can be communicated directly to a VCR and used by the VCR directly to automatically activate the VCR to record a given television information broadcast corresponding to the communicated channel, time and length. Alternately, the channel, time and length information can be decoded directly in a remote control unit and only start record, stop record and channel selection commands sent to the VCR at the appropriate times. Algorithms for decoding the I codes can be a function of time to ensure security of the decoding method. A method is included for use of the I codes with cable channels.

A video playback apparatus receives a control signal from a remote control device having a multipurpose key and assigns alternative functions to the received signal depending on the duration of time the control signal is received. For example, the remote may have a combination skip-forward multipurpose key which when pressed for less than a predetermined period such as one second, causes the video playback apparatus to invoke its skip mode, and when pressed for more than the predetermined period causes the video playback apparatus to invoke its forward, fast forward, or super fast forward mode, depending on the duration of time the key is pressed beyond invocation of the forward mode.

A video playback apparatus receives a control signal from a remote control device having a multipurpose key and assigns alternative functions to the received signal depending on the duration of time the control signal is received. For example, the remote may have a combination skip-forward multipurpose key which when pressed for less than a predetermined period such as one second, causes the video playback apparatus to invoke its skip mode, and when pressed for more than the predetermined period causes the video playback apparatus to invoke its forward, fast forward, or super fast forward mode, depending on the duration of time the key is pressed beyond invocation of the forward mode.

A function control device and method thereof using a remote controller having a minimum number of buttons. The equipment that uses the remote control to control the functions of the image processing equipment includes: a remote control signal receiver, which receives the remote control signal output by the remote control; a storage unit, which stores the main and additional function information of the image processing equipment; a controller, which displays additional function information when the remote control signal contains When a request is made, control the display of the additional function information stored in the storage unit, and control the execution of the function selected based on the displayed additional function information; the display unit displays the additional function information under the control of the controller. Additional function information is displayed in the form of on-screen display data. Therefore, the number of buttons on the remote controller can be minimized. Even if system functions are updated or new functions are added to the system, it is not necessary to upgrade the remote controller to include new function buttons, but to use the original remote controller to control the system operation. Also, the time it takes for the user to learn to use the remote controller can be minimized.

Digital compressed codes, associated with advertisements enable a user to selectively record additional information, which would be broadcast on a television channel at a later time. The advertisement could be print advertisement or broadcast advertisement on television or radio. The user enters the digital code (I code) associated with an advertisement into a unit with a decoding means which automatically converts the code into CTL (channel, time and length). The unit within a twenty four hour period activates a VCR to record information on the television channel at the right time for the proper length of time. The decoded channel, time and length information can be communicated directly to a VCR and used by the VCR directly to automatically activate the VCR to record a given television information broadcast corresponding to the communicated channel, time and length. Alternately, the channel, time and length information can be decoded directly in a remote control unit and only start record, stop record and channel selection commands sent to the VCR at the appropriate times. Algorithms for decoding the I codes can be a function of time to ensure security of the decoding method. A method is included for use of the I codes with cable channels.

An information processing apparatus for allowing a user at a remote location to make easy and quick reservation of a TV program for unattended recording over a network. In step S103, the user accesses an EPG server to get an HTML-based TV program information screen displayed on the user's camera-equipped digital mobile telephone and reserves through the screen a desired program for unattended recording. In response, a main control unit of the telephone requests the EPG server to attach recording reservation data about the program reserved by the user to an e-mail and to send the e-mail to the user's personal computer along with the attachment. Given the send request, the EPG server retrieves the recording reservation data from an EPG information database in step S112, and attaches the retrieved data to an e-mail via the internet before sending the e-mail to the personal computer in step S113, the personal computer being located remotely such as in the user's home.

A playing device of multimedia consists of a body including a housing space and a signal receiving element, and a remote controller including functional keys and signal emitting element. It features that the remote controller can be installed on housing space of multimedia playing device body for being used as normal keys or it can be taken out from multimedia playing device body for being used to control multimedia playing device at remote distance.

There is provided a remote controller facilitating the operation concerning reproduction of recorded program data and having a user-friendly function. The remote controller (50) transmits an operation signal of a digital recording / reproducing device (10) which has recorded television programs. The remote controller (50) includes a power button (60) for turning on / off power of a TV for displaying the output data of the digital recording / reproducing device (10) and a reproduction button (80) for reproducing program data. The reproduction button includes: a first operation unit (81) which has time marks from 1 o'clock to 24 o'clock and can be rotated rightward and leftward; a second operation unit (82) which is formed on the first operation unit (81) with a smaller size than the outer diameter of the first operation unit (81),has time marks from Sunday to Saturday and can be rotated rightward and leftward; and a reproduction decision unit (83) formed on the second operation unit (82) with a smaller size than the outer diameter of the second operation unit (82) for deciding the day-of-week mark and the time mark specified by the first operation unit (81) and the second operation unit (82).