Circular Button Rotational Control for Media Playback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional remote control devices for online media distribution services have limited functionality, particularly with circular buttons that are primarily used for cursor movement, lacking the ability to control viewing options of streamed media beyond basic navigation.
Innovation Solution
A remote control device with a circular button or touchpad that converts rotational motion into linear data to enable adjustable control of streamed media content, allowing for forward and reverse playback operations without additional hardware modifications, using scripts to interpret the rotational data as linear changes in the media timeline.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the circular button is used only for cursor movement control, then the device complexity remains low, but the functionality and versatility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the circular button perform multiple functions: it serves as both a cursor control device and a media playback controller. By detecting rotational direction (clockwise for fast forward, counterclockwise for fast reverse) and implementing context-aware functionality, the same physical button controls both navigation and media playback without requiring additional hardware
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a script as an intermediary layer that intercepts rotational data from the circular button and translates it into different commands based on context. The script acts as a mediator between the hardware input and the application logic, enabling the circular button to trigger different functions (cursor movement vs. media control) without modifying the hardware itself
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional buttons are added to enable media control, then the functionality is enhanced, but the device complexity and button count increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for separate media control buttons by making the existing circular button multi-functional. The same button that controls cursor movement is also configured to control media playback based on rotational direction and context, thereby reducing the total number of buttons while maintaining enhanced functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of cursor control and media playback control into a single circular button. By combining these previously separate functions into one control element, the device achieves media control capability without increasing the button set or overall device complexity
3Adaptability or versatility
If the circular button controls only cursor movement with precise positional data, then the measurement precision is high, but the control capability for media playback is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic functionality where the circular button's behavior changes based on context. When media is playing, rotational gestures are interpreted as fast forward or fast reverse commands rather than precise positional movements. This dynamic adaptation allows the same input mechanism to serve different control purposes with appropriate precision levels for each context
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses, Methods, and Systems to enable the display of media content, the apparatus includes a remote control device; a keypad with a plurality of buttons for controlling a media player device; a circular button of the plurality of buttons that is configured to rotate in a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction; and in response to detected rotational motion either in the clockwise direction or the counterclockwise direction, the media player device is configured to cause an adjustable amount of forwarding or a reverse play operation in a position of playing streamed media content on a display device; wherein the adjustable amount of forwarding or reverse play operation of streamed media content corresponds to rotational motion detected of the circular button during the playing of the streamed media content.