WO2008007295A2

WO2008007295A2 - Scrolling wheel sends scroll commands at fixed times

Info

Publication number: WO2008007295A2
Application number: PCT/IB2007/052573
Authority: WO
Inventors: Keong H. Sim; Beng T. Peh
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Priority date: 2006-07-11
Filing date: 2007-07-03
Publication date: 2008-01-17
Also published as: WO2008007295A3

Abstract

A remote control device counts recurrent events during user interaction with a scroll button. The rate of interaction determined the number of events per time period of predetermined length. Upon expiry of the time period, the control command is sent that is representative of the number of events that occurred in the time period elapsed.

Description

Scrolling wheel sends scroll commands at fixed times

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a system comprising a user interface and a controllable functionality associated with a control parameter whose value is controllable through the user interface. The invention also relates to an apparatus accommodating the functionality, and to a control device with a user interface for use in the system. The invention further relates to a method of enabling, via a data network, user interaction with a controllable functionality associated with a control parameter, and to software for implementing a user interface.

BACKGROUND ART User interfaces comprising rotary wheels are known from, e.g., WO

01/053925 (attorney docket US 000012); WO 06/017477; and US 20030128192 (attorney docket US 028002). Such rotary wheels are being used for parametric control of a functionality of an apparatus.

WO 01/053925 discloses user control of a jumping highlight on a TV display monitor via a set- top box in order to select a user-interactive item in a Web document. To control the speed of the jumping highlight, the user manipulates a jog wheel on a remote control device. According to the orientation and speed of rotation of the wheel, the remote issues TAB or SHIFT+TAB IR commands at a higher or lower rate.

WO 06/017477 (equivalent to US 20060028454 herein incorporated by reference) discloses a scroll sensor providing a touch sensitive control input surface for a plurality of control functions. The input surface is divided into a plurality of regions. Each region is assigned to one of the plurality of control functions. At least one of these control functions accepts parametric control input. A first touch is received at one of the regions on the input surface. The control function assigned to the touched region is selected. If the selected control function is one of the control functions accepting parametric control input, a second touch on the input surface is received as parametric control input during an activation period for the selected control function. The second touch may be received as parametric control input at any point of the input surface. US 20030128192, herein incorporated by reference, relates to a computing apparatus with a user- interface to assist the user in searching for information from a data array. In an example, the data array is an ordered list of addresses. In a UI so equipped, the user experiences a particular sequence of events. The user begins at a point on a list of addresses. After the user rotates a jog/shuttle knob, the list rolls down a low rate. As the user rotates the jog/shuttle knob further the scroll accelerates. After a predetermined time or number of items, a helper character is displayed. This character may represent a first letter of a name or a first digit of a telephone number. The UI displays the helper character to the user. The user continues to hold the position of the jog/shuttle knob until a help character, corresponding to his/her desired selection, appears. The user releases the jog/shuttle knob and may step through among a smaller group of data to locate the particular selection by incrementally rotating the knob from the neutral position.

The known remote controls that include a rotary wheel communicate with an external device in a manner such that when the wheel is being rotated, the device responds to the control commands sent from the remote control during the rotation of the wheel. When the wheel is being rotated, one or more switches are made to open or close its contacts in synchronism with the wheel's rotation. At every closing or opening of the contacts, a predefined command control is sent out to which the device responds. The wheel can also be made in the form of a resistive sensor or a capacitive sensor instead of the switch, with rotation data being transmitted by the sensor. It is observed that it does not matter how fast or how slow the rotary wheel is rotating, the increment or decrement of the parametric control is always in single steps. Hence, in cases wherein the scroll list or video playback is long, the rotary wheel has to be rotated many times to reach the particular selection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide an ergonomic user interface. To this end, the inventors propose a system (100) comprising a user interface (102) and a controllable functionality (104) associated with a control parameter whose value is controllable through the user interface, wherein: the user interface comprises a component (106) for user interaction to enable a user to control the value by imparting a change to the component; the system comprises a counter (108) for counting a number of repetitive events occurring in a predetermined time interval during the user interaction, the counted number of events being representative of the rate of the change in the predetermined time interval; the system has conversion means (110) for converting the number into an instruction to control the value. Measuring the change imparted to the component is implemented by counting the number of events that occur within the predetermined time interval and, preferably are caused by the change. The associated instruction is issued after the time interval. Note that in the known systems each event causes an instruction to be issued and the more events per unit of time, the more instructions are being issued per unit time. The instructions are typically for incrementing or decrementing a parametric value of the controllable functionality. Separating in time the registering of the events and the issuing of the instructions has several advantages. One advantage is a more flexibility mapping of the number of events onto an instruction, e.g., increment or decrement of the value. For example, the mapping of the number counted onto the increments or decrements (i.e., the transfer function) does not need to be a linear mapping. A relatively low number of events per interval may indicate that the user is attempting to fine-tune the value of the parameter, and a relatively high number may indicate that the user is attempting to home in on a desired value range fast. In the fine-tuning scenario, a small change in the parameter value is preferable, whereas in the homing-in scenario a larger change is preferable. Accordingly, the number of events per time interval counted in different scenarios need not be proportional to the change in the value in different scenarios. This feature can readily be implemented using programmable circuitry or software. Also, in contrast with the known systems, the time available to send a control command or instruction is not restricted to the time between successive events. If the time between successive events becomes too short for a command or instruction to be issued, the known system malfunctions. In the invention, this problem is avoided by separating in time the registering of the events and the issuing of the instructions or commands.

An embodiment of the invention relates to the system of claim 1, wherein the conversion means comprises a first converter (112) for converting the number into a control command, and a second converter (114) to convert the control command into the instruction. For example, the system has a control device (e.g., a remote control device) and an apparatus controllable through the control device. The control device accommodates the user interface, the counter and the first converter. The apparatus accommodates the functionality and the second converter. An advantage of this configuration is that the apparatus only has to deal with simple commands that are basically only representative of the number of events counted. The apparatus then converts these simple commands into control instructions. The number of events communicated is then mapped locally to the relevant instructions. Again, some degree of flexibility is attained in that each apparatus in a multiple- apparatus environment, such as home entertainment equipment, is capable of processing uniform commands to derive instructions that may differ per individual apparatus. This feature can readily be implemented using programmable circuitry or software. Further embodiments of the invention are being discussed below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention is explained in further detail, by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a diagram of a system in the invention; Fig. 2 is a diagram of a design of a user interface in the invention; Fig. 3 is a time diagram illustrating operation of the invention. Throughout the figures, same reference numerals indicate similar or corresponding features.

DETAILED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the invention relates to a user interface with a rotary wheel. Rotation of the wheel by the user causes control commands to be sent to a controllable apparatus, e.g., for scrolling through a list of selectable items in a menu being displayed, or for adjusting a virtual slider for sound volume control or fast forward of video, for controlling the orientation of a camera, etc. For further applications, see WO 06/017477 mentioned above. The user interface can be accommodated in, e.g., the apparatus itself, or in a remote control device communicating with the apparatus via a wireless connection. Furthermore, the user interface can be virtual, i.e., rendered on a touch screen at a client that communicates with a server via a data network such as the Internet. Within this context, reference is made to WO 06/017477 mentioned above. The virtual wheel can be dragged through user interaction with the touch screen so as to mimic a physical wheel being rotated. In this manner, the user interface of the invention provides parametric control to the user and can be interesting to service providers on the Internet. For sake of briefness, the terms "apparatus" and "client" will be used herein interchangeably.

The inventors propose an interactive, easy and quick control of, e.g., a scrollable list or of video playback content. The user is able to control the scrolling speed or video playback speed in fast/slow forward or fast/slow reverse interactively and at the rate determined by the speed of rotation of the rotary wheel.

An aspect of the invention is based on implementing a fixed period of time between sending control commands when the wheel is being rotated. This means that whenever the wheel is being rotated, the resulting commands are transmitted after fixed intervals of time. For example, the commands are sent every 100 milliseconds. Within this fixed interval of time, the number of times in which the contacts in the switch of the rotary wheel are opened or closed is being monitored and stored. In the case of a resistive or capacitive sensor on the rotary wheel, data on rotation from these sensors are being monitored and stored. At the end of this fixed interval of time, the accumulated number of times the switch of the rotary wheel has been opened or closed, or rotation data from sensor, is sent to the external device. It is noted that only one command will be transmitted to the external device. This command contains the number of steps for the external device to increment or decrement. In an embodiment, the rotary wheel is on a remote control. The remote control is used to transmit command controls to the external device. In this embodiment, the external device supports a long scroll list, for example music/icons/picture list. When the rotary wheel is being rotated at a fast speed, the variable step speed control commands are sent to the external device. The scrolling speed of the list on the external device is according to the speed value of the command controls. The invention therefore also relates to the method in which the rotary wheel is used together with the sending of command controls at a fixed interval, including the manner of use such that if the rotary wheel is rotated in a fast manner, the scroll list will increase or decrease in variable steps of value (e.g., steps of 5 or 10 units), and if the rotary wheel is rotated in a slow manner, the scroll list will increase or decrease in small steps of value, with a minimum value of a step of one unit. The scroll list can be in the form of icons/pictures list, video playback, channels list and volume control. It is noted that the scroll list is a function on the external device. The external device can display a scrolling user interface according to US Patent US 2002/0109709 Al. In another embodiment, the external device support video playback, for example, six hours of recorded video. Whenever the rotary wheel is being rotated, the video playback can fast forward or fast rewind according to the variable step speed at which the rotary wheel is rotated. When the rotation stops, the video continues to playback at normal speed or pause depending on previous state of the playback. In another embodiment, the external device supports program channels. When the rotary wheel is rotated, the displayed channel number and program name on the external device changes according to the variable speed while the existing viewing channel remains on screen. When the rotation stops and either after a delay, or upon activating the action key (for example the "OK" key) on the remote control, the existing viewing channel switches to the newly selected channel. Fig.l is a diagram of a system 100 in the invention. System 100 comprises a user interface (UI) 102 and a functionality 104 controllable through user interface 102. Functionality 104 is associated with a control parameter whose value is controllable through UI 102. UI 102 comprises a component 106 for user interaction to enable a user to control the parameter value by imparting a change to component 106. System 100 further comprises a counter 108 for counting a number of repetitive events occurring in a predetermined time interval during the user interaction. The counted number of events is representative of the rate of the change imparted to component 106 in the predetermined time interval. System 100 also has conversion means 110 for converting the number into an instruction to control the value of the control parameter of functionality 104. Conversion means 110 may comprise a first converter 112 for converting the number counted into a control command, and a second converter 114 for converting the control command into an instruction to change the parameter value associated with functionality 104. Conversion means 110 may also directly map the number counted onto the instruction. An advantage of splitting up the conversion of the counted number into a control instruction resides in the segmentation of system 100. For example, converter 112 issues simple commands only representative of the number counted, whereas converter 114 issues the relevant instructions to functionality 104 based on the counted numbers. The commands are uniform, whereas the instructions may differ per functionality addressed in a multi- functionality environment. In the latter case, converter 114 is specific to a specific one of these functionalities. UI 102 and functionality 104 may be accommodated in a single entity such as a physical apparatus, or may be spatially or even geographically distributed entities. In an embodiment of the invention UI 102 comprises a remote control device and functionality 104 is a useful function of an electronic apparatus controllable through UI 102. UI 102 and functionality 104 communicate via a communication path using, e.g., an infrared (IR) or a radio frequency (RF) protocol. Elements 102, 106, 108 and 112 are then accommodated in the remote control device, and elements 114 and 104 are accommodated in the apparatus. In another embodiment UI 102 is implemented on a touch screen of a client in a client-server network and functionality 104 is implemented in an application run on a server interacted with via a data network such as the Internet. The client has then implemented elements 102, 106, 108, and 112, whereas the server accommodates element 104. Element 114 may reside at either, but preferably at the server to simplify communication. Using a touch screen at the client allows implementing the invention in software: elements 102, 106, 108, 112 can then be provided in software to be installed at the client. In an embodiment of the invention, component 106 comprises for example a physical element, e.g., a slider or a rotary wheel such as a jog wheel or a scroll wheel. Actuation of such physical component opens or closes switches at a certain rate indicative of the component's motion, and the number of switches closing or opening per predetermined time interval is then counted. Sensors other than mechanical switches may be used. This is not being discussed here in further detail as sliders and rotary wheels as user interface components are well known in the art. In an alternative embodiment, component 106 comprises a virtual element, e.g., it is integrated with a touch pad or a touch screen. The user then imparts a change to the component by dragging his/her finger across the pad. A touch pad is then being used in a same manner as if it where an exposed part of a physical scroll wheel. A touch screen enables to display graphics that give visual feedback to the user upon a user interaction. For example, an image of a jog wheel could be rendered that, upon user interaction, changes its appearance in agreement with the direction and speed of the user dragging his/her finger.

Fig. 2 shows an example for the design of a UI 102 with a full rotary wheel implemented as one of three rings. The innermost ring 202 serves as the activation key or confirmation ("OK") key. The next outer ring 106 serves as the rotary wheel. The outermost ring 204 accommodates directional navigation keys (up, down, left and right). The design could be implemented in hardware, with parts 106, 202 and 204 being physical components. As an example, parts 204 and 106 can be physically integrated with one another so as to form a single physical unit. The design could also be implemented using a touch sensitive surface connected to electronic circuitry for processing the user input, or using software for rendering the proper graphics on a touch screen and for carrying out the operations upon receiving user input.

Fig. 3 is a diagram 300 illustrating a temporal picture of events as a result of user interaction with the user interface in the invention, and the consequent issuing of the control commands. Diagram 300 shows a timeline 302 with the instants at which an event is registered as a result of user input. Timeline 302 is divided into time intervals 304, 306 and 308 of uniform and predetermined length. In interval 304, a single event 310 is registered, in interval 306 two events 312 are being registered, and in interval 308, six events 314 are being registered. Diagram 300 also shows on the same timeline 302 timeslots 316, 318 and 320 wherein the control commands are being issued representative of the number of events registered in the preceding interval. In timeslot 316, the command is issued that is associated with the number of events registered in interval 304. In timeslot 318, the command is issued that is associated with the number of events registered in interval 306. In timeslot 320, the command is issued that is associated with the number of events registered in interval 308. As is clear, there is now a timeslot available for issuing commands that is much larger than the time difference between successive ones of events 314.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A system (100) comprising a user interface (102) and a controllable functionality (104) associated with a control parameter whose value is controllable through the user interface, wherein: the user interface comprises a component (106) for user interaction to enable a user to control the value by imparting a change to the component; the system comprises a counter (108) for counting a number of repetitive events occurring in a predetermined time interval during the user interaction, the counted number of events being representative of the rate of the change in the predetermined time interval; the system has conversion means (110) for converting the number into an instruction to control the value.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the conversion means comprises a first converter (112) for converting the number into a control command, and a second converter (114) to convert the control command into the instruction.

3. The system of claim 2, comprising a control device accommodating the user interface, the counter and the first converter.

4. The system of claim 2, comprising an apparatus accommodating the functionality and the second converter.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the component comprises a physical element.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the component comprises a virtual element.

7. A control device for use in the system of claim 3.

8. An apparatus for use in the system of claim 4.

9. A method of enabling via a data network user interaction with a controllable functionality associated with a control parameter, the method comprising providing a user interface that has a component (106) for user interaction to enable a user to control the value by imparting a change to the component, a counter for counting a number of repetitive events occurring in a predetermined time interval during the user interaction, the counted number of events being representative of the rate of the change in the predetermined time interval; and conversion means (110) for converting the number into an instruction to control the value.

10. Software for installing on a data processing system for a user interface for control (102) of a controllable functionality (104) associated with a control parameter whose value is controllable through the user interface, wherein the software comprises: means for implementing a component (106) for user interaction to enable a user to control the value by imparting a change to the component; a counter (108) for counting a number of repetitive events occurring in a predetermined time interval during the user interaction, the counted number of events being representative of the rate of the change in the predetermined time interval; the system has conversion means (110) for converting the number into an instruction to control the value.