DK178061B1 - A multimedia controller - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to method of operating a media player and in particular a method of instructing the player to provide media information from a collection of digital recordings. The invention as disclosed includes a device enabled as a multimedia controller in a configuration including two individual physical objects, and where each physical object has an identifier and at least one of the objects has means to detect events and to issue action commands accordingly. The user operates interactively the two objects simultaneously to perform a given functional selection to be executed by a remote media player. The two individual physical objects interact and exchange information and generate a control command according to the user handling of the two objects.

Description

A multimedia controller Technical Field

The present invention relates to method of operating a media player and in particular a method of instructing the player to provide events from predefined categorized list of events from a collection of digital recordings.

Various schemes have been devised to generate playlists from an input in the form of a whistled or hummed tune, or based on an automated analysis of the content of "typical" recordings. However, they all require the user to perform a value judgment and to initiate play according to an expressed playlist.

Thus, there is a need to accommodate modern living's desire for "individualized conformity" and to obtain as much entertainment for as little effort as possible in the hedonistic spirit.

Thus, the disclosed invention has a "play alike" behavior and gives the user the perception of playing a game at the same time as addressing specific desires of proving multimedia information to the user. A preferred embodiment is implemented in two or more balls also known as Chinese "Baoding balls"; These are rotated repeatedly to improve manual dexterity and strength, and are also said to assist in injury recovery.

Prior art US 2011/0306469 describes an exercise system comprising, among other things, Baoding balls. The balls are equipped with sensors such as an accelerometer for giving feedback to a user of the ball's position and speed. The balls are capable of discovering each other, delegating roles, and exchanging information through various modules embedded inside. After the discovery one of the balls is delegated with the task of gathering and reporting data to a feedback device. The feedback can be presented to the user through a display or voice media.

The present invention differs from the prior art mentioned above in that it is the relative position of the balls with each other that determines the caused effect, whereas the prior art discloses a system where it is the position of the balls in relation to the user's body that determines the feedback. A first aspect of the invention is: A device enabled as a multimedia controller in a configuration including at least two individual objects, and where each object has an identifier and at least one of the objects has means: o to detect events and to issue action commands accordingly, o to detect the other individual object being in close proximity, o to detect the other individual object being in physical contact, o to act as a master or to act as a slave according to a physical location relative to the other individual object , o and where an action command is issued from the master object caused by one or more of the events: the two objects are in physical contact and the user generates a finger touch on the surface of one of the objects, or the two objects have been in physical contact and the user generates a finger touch on the surface of one of the objects object.

Brief description of the figures

Figure 1,2,3 shows the concept of the invention including two objects.

Figure 4 shows the 3D domain in which the objects are related and operated.

Figure 5,6,7 displays the applied touch concept.

Figure 8 shows alternative embodiments of the invention.

Figure 9.10 display concepts of the control systems.

In a preferred embodiment a device as disclosed is implemented in two or more balls shaped objects, these being the objects by which the user interacts with a multimedia player or multimedia system. The multimedia files of any type can be controlled in the disclosed invention, this includes music, video games and the like. The following description is exemplified with music files.

The balls invite social interaction and contain an entertaining element when choosing multimedia information e.g. music, and provide an easy and playful interaction: • The balls can be used to select random music, as a social game or as an easy remote control to choose music that fits a particular activity. • The interaction is easy and playful and invites the user to play with the balls and see what happens. • The interaction is intuitive and easy without the user knowing anything about the technology. • Specific functions are related to specific operations a user may use; e.g. To turn a multimedia system on from stand-by mode, the two balls are pushed into physical contact with each other.

The concept of the control system applied to each of the balls includes a microprocessor and memory means enabled to be configured from a remote device and wirelessly. Thus load / reload of data that includes tables for mapping the detected input to related output / command may be adjusted according to specific system / user requirements. An appropriate structure of the data table is a standard "state / event processing matrix" including old state / new state transitions information, to take place within each of the balls and in the interaction among two or more balls.

One table per object (ball):

One table for the interaction among balls e.g. with two balls:

All data, names, relationships, data structures / records etc. may be defined and redefined accordingly, by means of an external system, e.g. via Smart Phone and an "App".

In the embodiment in which two or more balls are involved, the individual balls interact when providing the media information to the user. Interaction between the balls includes: • The balls are placed on the palm of a person's hand, and each ball may detect this as a touch on the surface of each ball. • The balls may be at the same level, i.e. same height relative to the palm. • If the hand / fingers are tilted, the balls may be at different levels, i.e. not the same height relative to the palm. • The balls may be aligned differently along a line, thus one ball is positioned as the first in a row, and the second ball is positioned as the second in a row. • The balls may be in physical contact with each other. • Each ball may be rotated around each axis in a 3-D space. • Each ball may be shaken, moved horizontally or vertically.

Thus, in a second aspect of the invention: A device where one or more of the objects has: • a unique identifier, • an inclination / tilt detector, • a position / order detector, • a movement detector, • a touch detector, • an event detection, and • an action command is issued based on combined input parameters from the detectors in the two objects.

The user may operate the balls in different modes of operation, e.g. but not limited to: • Have two balls on the palm of the hand and push (click) the balls together so they get in physical contact. One or more clicks may be applied. • Bringing one of the balls in a position closest to the index finger, thus this ball is considered to be the first-in-row. • Perform a touch / tap with the index finger on the surface of the first-in-row ball. • Perform a touch / tap with the index finger & middle finger simultaneously on the surface of the first-in-row ball. • Perform sliding movement with one or more fingers simultaneously on the surface of the first-in-row ball. • Perform a touch with the thumb finger on the surface of the second-in-row ball. • Perform a sliding movement with the thumb finger on the surface of the second-in-row ball. • Shake both of the balls simultaneously.

Each of the predefined legal combination of states and related events, as listed, is included in the predefined state / event table definition that reloadable according to predefined product requirements.

Thus, in a third aspect of the invention: A device where events include attributes of the contact between the two objects: • No contact, • A first and initial contact, • A second contact following the first contact, and optionally consecutively, • A third contact, a fourth contact and an n'th contact. A device where the objects are enabled by means of detecting a user handling of the object: o Turn, o Shake, o Move up / down, o Move back and forth, and o all performed with the object relative to a 3-D coordinate system.

Thus, in a further aspect of the invention: A device where the objects are enabled by means of detecting a user touch performed anywhere on the complete surface of the object as addressed in a 3-D coordinate system. A device where a user touch includes: o Physical contact with the user's palm, o Close proximity, without a direct physical contact, o Single touch by one or more fingers, o Single touch and pressure by one or more fingers, o Touch and slide by one or more fingers.

According to system requirements: • one ball may be configured to be the channel access and playlist management control unit (e.g., select, step up / down, scan, more-of-the-same); • Another ball may be configured to be the control unit for sound management (e.g. on / off, volume up / down, scene modes according to presets [sound system filter settings for a room]).

Examples of the user command to be sent to the media equipment under control are: • activate the system from stand-by, by default the most recent channel is selected by the system; • select a new channel, by the step up command; • adjust the sound volume, by the volume up command; • expand the perceived sound, by selecting the sound filter mode command; • Finally close down the system with the stand-by command.

Figures 1 and 2 show a preferred embodiment of the invention. A ball formed device (1) is enabled by means to identify itself, and to determine the position of it, the position being relative to placement and orientation in a coordinate system in which another device (2) may be located, and with which the ball formed device (1) interactively may exchange data and control.

The ball device may be configured with touch sensitive means on all surfaces, enabling the control function of step / search forward, play / pause / stop, step / search backward, and volume up / down and alike; these functional selections to be communicated to an external media player.

Having two or more balls, they may in combination constitute objects in a play game; in such a way that internal relationship and / or relative position of each of the balls referring to external object enables a plurality of functional combination, which is interpreted as one specific command to be sent a media player / rendering device for activation of one specific playlist.

The balls may be played onto a surface, e.g. a palm of a person's hand, and on which, the position of each ball may be determined.

In the preferred embodiment one ball is preconfigured to be the master (1) of the two or three balls. It communicates with the one or two other balls to determine the relative position (rank) of all the balls.

The master ball (1) communicates with, i.e. send control commands controls to the external media player, and optionally receive response from this.

Alternative criteria may determine which mode a ball may adapt, when enabled for user input. Criteria for the actual ball to be current are: • the ball being located highest, relative to the palm when inclined / tilted; • the ball being located highest, relative to the palm; • the ball being first in a row along a line as shown in Figure 2, as position / order, and o the two or more balls adapted to the different modes accordingly.

Figure 3 displays a physical contact being detected as an event that triggers one or more control command to be sent from the master ball to the media player. The ball may detect and process alternative events such as: • the first initial physical contact between two balls; • a second physical contact following the initial contact; • a third physical contact, a fourth and an nth following as consecutive contacts, and o send individual commands accordingly.

Figure 4 displays that one ball may be rotated back and forth around each axis relative to a 3D coordinate system and send individual commands accordingly.

The surface of each ball is enabled by standard means to detect touch and pressure performed by the user's finger; the user given events are interpreted and a related action processed by each ball as required.

Figure 5, 6, 7 display alternative input modes for the user to provide control commands: • a touch or a pressure on a single point; • tapping given as a sequence of single touches; • a single finger touch followed by a slide with the finger on the surface; • a touch given by two fingers followed by a slide with the fingers on the surface, and o send individual commands accordingly.

Figure 8 shows alternative embodiments of the invention. Basically a ball can be made of any material e.g. PVC, polycarbonate, glass, metal, aluminum.

To obtain the touch feature it is necessary to configure the surface of the ball with touch sensitive means, e.g. a capacitive sensing principle, having the alternatives: • a sandwich construction including an insulator and lead evaporated onto the surface; • a sandwich in terms of a foil including an insulator and lead mounted to the surface; • the surface being organized into fragments / tiles that may be individually addressed and sensed electrically.

Examples of fragments / tiles on geometric objects are illustrated on a globe, on a football and on a tennis ball.

Thus, the invention discloses an object which is embedded into a ball shaped object or into a polygon shaped object, and where the plurality of objects in combination constitutes a system controller.

Figure 9 shows a ball device embodiment of the invention. A microcomputer including memory means has the ability and means: • sense and detect user given input e.g. via a touch pad; • position, movement and Χ, Υ, Ζ orientation means, e.g. one or more accelerometers; • wireless communication means, e.g. Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, command out and status input; • data exchange means, for load / reload of configuration data; • signal / command means, e.g. an IR wireless system, for event activation sent to an external device; • optionally a user individual operation may be executed, with the person ID being sensed by fingerprint detection means.

Standard means are applied for the detection of position, movement, tilt, XYZ orientation, shaking, turning etc. The standard means include precision GPS means applied for toys and games may be used as ball position detection; the precision of these means allows position detection within approximately two mm., which is sufficient in the disclosed application. Supplemental standard means include accelerometers and inclination / tilt sensors.

Figure 10 displays the communication principles as required: • The two balls P1, P2 exchange information wirelessly to synchronize the detected events sensed on one ball P2 with the detected events sensed on ball P1, • The ball P1 validates the detected events and sends a control command, as an action based on the conclusion of the validation, to the multimedia system.

The invention as disclosed may be applied in a plurality of multimedia rendering systems, where a new and alternative approach to media access is required.

The method of the invention differs from prior art systems, where a more traditional search for music is known. The need for a more playful mode of entering music, based on a current situation including location, persons, and emotions. The invention as disclosed is applicable in two different types of applications: A system controller where the device is embedded in a ball shaped object, the device may operate as a standalone unit. A system controller where each of a plurality of devices is embedded in each own ball shaped object, and where the plurality of balls in combination constitutes a system controller.

Claims (9)

1. A device equipped as a multimedia controller in a configuration including at least two individual objects, each object having an identity code and at least one of the objects being provided with means: a. To detect events and to issue activation commands accordingly , b. to detect the other individual object in close proximity; c. to detect the other individual object in physical contact; d. to act as a master or to act as a slave, in accordance with a physical location. relative to the other individual object, e. and where an activation command is issued from the master object as a result of one or more of the events: i. the two objects are in physical contact and the user generates a touch on the surface of one of the objects. , or ii. the two objects have been in physical contact and the user generates a touch on the surface of one of the objects, f. and both of the two objects are equipped with: i. a unique identity code; ii. an inclination / tilt detector; iii. a position / order detector, iv. a motion detector, v. a touch detector, vi. an event detector, and vii. an activation command is issued based on a combination of input parameters, from the detectors in the two objects. A device according to claim 1, wherein the events include attributes for the contact between the two objects: a. No contact, b. A first and initial contact, c. A second contact after the first contact, and optionally consecutive, d. a third contact, a fourth contact, and a nth contact. A device according to claim 2, wherein the objects are provided with means for detecting a user's touch at any location on the complete surface of the object as addressed in a 3-D coordinate system. A device according to claim 3, wherein the objects are provided with means for detecting a user's handling of the object: a. Turning, b. Shaking, c. Moving up / down, d. Moving forward / backward, e. the object is relative to a 3-D coordinate system. A device according to claim 4, wherein a user touch includes: a. Physical contact with the user's palm, b. Immediate proximity, without a direct physical contact, c. Single touch with one or more fingers, d. Single touch and push with one finger or more fingers, e. flick and slide with one or more fingers. A device according to claim 5, wherein the objects are rotatable about any of the axes Χ, Υ, Ζ and addressed in a 3-D coordinate system. A device according to claim 6, wherein the operational state of the device is related to a current event. A device according to any of the claims, wherein an object is included in a ball-shaped item or in a multifaceted item. A device according to any claim, wherein one or more objects in combination form a system controller.