Mobile Touchscreen Remote Control in Display Inhibited State
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, often enter a display-inhibited state after inactivity, requiring users to wake up the screen or unlock the device to continue controlling media playback on connected devices, which disrupts the user experience.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that allow controlling media playback devices using a touchscreen in a display-inhibited state by detecting the device, receiving inputs, and transmitting instructions to perform selected actions, enabling remote control functionality even when the screen is off or dimmed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the mobile device enters a display inhibited state to conserve power, then energy efficiency is improved, but the ability to control media playback devices is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the mobile device into two independent functional components: the display subsystem (which can be inhibited to save power) and the touch-sensitive display/input subsystem (which remains operational for receiving commands). This segmentation allows the device to maintain remote control functionality while reducing display power consumption, resolving the contradiction between energy efficiency and operational capability.
2Loss of energy
If the mobile device requires user interaction to wake the screen, then power consumption is reduced, but user convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism - the always-responsive touch-sensitive display - that bridges the gap between power-saving display inhibition and user control needs. Users can interact with the remote control interface through the touch-sensitive display even when the main display is inhibited, eliminating the need to wake the screen for basic media control operations and improving user experience while maintaining power savings.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the mobile device enters display inhibited state, then battery life is extended, but control responsiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the input processing functionality so that the touch-sensitive display and associated processing circuitry remain active and responsive even when the main display is inhibited. This segmentation ensures that control commands can be received and processed with full responsiveness while the display subsystem enters power-saving mode, thereby extending battery life without compromising control response speed.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and media for controlling a remote device using a touchscreen of a mobile device in a display inhibited state are provided. In some implementations, a method for controlling media playback devices is provided, the method comprising: detecting a media playback device to be controlled; determining that a touch-sensitive display of a mobile device has entered a display inhibited state in which presentation of a plurality of user interface elements is inhibited; receiving an input from the touch-sensitive display in the display inhibited state; selecting an action of the media playback device to be performed by determining that the received input corresponds to a user interface element from the plurality of user interface elements; and transmitting an instruction to perform the selected action to the media playback device.