Handheld Touch Controller for Set-Top Box Game Interaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Set-top boxes (STBs) lack a touch controller, making it difficult to effectively control electronic games installed on them when used with a television as a display device.
Innovation Solution
A handheld electronic apparatus with a touch display panel provides a gamepad mode and screen capturing mode, enabling virtual gamepad interfaces and image capture to simulate real gamepad operations and control specific game functions on the STB.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a touch controller is added to the STB, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a handheld electronic apparatus as an intermediary device between the user and the STB. This mediator provides the touch controller functionality on the handheld device rather than integrating it into the STB, allowing users to control STB games through the handheld device's touch panel while avoiding the complexity increase of adding a touch controller to the STB itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The handheld electronic apparatus serves multiple functions: it acts as a remote control, provides a virtual gamepad interface, displays captured game images, and enables touch-based control. This multi-functional approach allows a single device to replace what would otherwise require separate components or STB integration, improving ease of operation without increasing STB complexity.
2Ease of operation
If a virtual gamepad interface is provided, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of a physical gamepad interface on the handheld electronic apparatus. The virtual gamepad interface replicates the functionality of a real gamepad (with buttons, directional controls, etc.) but in software form on the touch display panel. This allows users to control games without requiring physical gamepad hardware or STB integration, improving ease of operation while keeping the STB itself simple.
3Adaptability or versatility
If screen capturing mode is enabled, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The handheld electronic apparatus implements screen capturing mode to display actual game images from the STB, enabling users to interact with the game as it appears on the television. This adds versatility to the handheld device, allowing it to function both as a virtual gamepad controller and as a display interface for direct touch control of game elements, improving adaptability without requiring STB complexity changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between different control modes (virtual gamepad mode and screen capturing mode) based on user needs and game requirements. This dynamic adaptability allows the handheld device to adjust its functionality in real-time, providing the most appropriate control interface for different gaming scenarios while maintaining relatively simple hardware architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling STB game, a remote control system and a handheld electronic apparatus are provided. After the handheld electronic apparatus is connected to the STB, when a gamepad mode is enabled, a virtual gamepad interface is displayed through a touch display panel of the handheld electronic apparatus, so as to simulate an operation method of a real gamepad. When the screen capturing mode is enabled, a game image of the display is captured and displayed on the touch display panel of the handheld electronic apparatus, and a specific function set in the game image is controlled through the touch display panel.