US20170064368A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20170064368A1
Application number: US15/250,931
Authority: US
Inventors: Gaylord Yu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Bowers and Wilkins Group Ltd
Priority date: 2015-08-30
Filing date: 2016-08-30
Publication date: 2017-03-02
Also published as: US10448091B2; US10085059B2; US20170264948A1; US9973811B2; US20170264949A1; US20170272812A1; US20170064382A1; US20170060400A1; US9894409B2; US20170060510A1; US9860592B2; US10097881B2; US20170262021A1; US20170064388A1; US10390080B2

Abstract

A portable electronic device with a touch-sensitive display (such as a cellular telephone) provides a wireless remote control for an entertainment device (such as a consumer-electronic device). After receiving, from the portable electronic device, user-interface activity information that specifies a change in a state of the entertainment device, an audio/video (A/V) hub provides the user-interface activity information to the entertainment device and determines device-state information about the entertainment device, which specifies a current state of the entertainment device. Until the device-state information indicates that the change in the state has occurred, the A/V hub: provides: the user-interface activity information to entertainment device; and determines additional device-state information indicating about the entertainment device that indicates whether the change in the state has occurred. In addition, the A/V hub may provide feedback (such as a visual indicator or sensory-feedback instructions) to a user about the status of the change in the state.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/211,827, “User Interface Based on Device-State Information,” filed on Aug. 30, 2015, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Field

The described embodiments relate to feedback techniques, including dynamically repeating commands until a change in a state of an entertainment device is detected.

However, it can be difficult to use user interfaces. For example, many electronic devices, which can be wirelessly controlled using portable electronic devices, have complicated functionality. Because it is often difficult to adapt the user interfaces, a user can be forced to navigate through a complicated set of options, which may confuse the user. Consequently, the user may make errors, such as activating the wrong functionality or getting lost in a large set of options. These errors frustrate users, and can degrade the user experience.

SUMMARY

The described embodiments include a portable electronic device. This portable electronic device includes: a touch-sensitive display; an antenna; an interface circuit, coupled to the antenna, which communicates with an audio/video (A/V) hub; and a control circuit coupled to the touch-sensitive display and the interface circuit. During operation, the control circuit receives user-interface activity information specifying activation of a virtual command icon in a user interface displayed on the touch-sensitive display, where the activation of the virtual command icon specifies a change in a state of an entertainment device (such as an A/V display device, e.g., a television). Then, the control circuit provides, via the interface circuit, the user-interface activity information to the A/V hub. Moreover, the control circuit receives, via the interface circuit, device-state information from the A/V hub indicating whether the change in the state of the entertainment device has occurred. When the change in the state of the entertainment device has not occurred, the control circuit performs, until the change in the state of the entertainment device has occurred, operations of: providing, via the interface circuit, the user-interface activity information to the A/V hub; and receiving, via the interface circuit, additional device-state information from the A/V hub indicating whether the change in the state of the entertainment device has occurred.

Note that, when the change in the state of the entertainment device has not occurred, the control circuit may provide, until the change in the state of the entertainment device has occurred, feedback that indicates that the change in the state of the entertainment device is being implemented. For example, providing the feedback may involve displaying a visual indicator in the user interface on the touch-sensitive display that indicates that the change in the state of the entertainment device is being implemented. Alternatively or additionally, providing the feedback may involve providing, to the A/V hub, instructions for the visual indicator that indicates that the change in the state of the entertainment device is being implemented, where the visual indicator is to be displayed on the entertainment device.

Furthermore, when the control circuit receives the user-interface activity information again, the control circuit may provide sensory feedback that indicates that the change in the state of the entertainment device is being implemented. For example, the portable electronic device may include a vibration actuator coupled to the control circuit, and providing the sensory feedback may involve activating the vibration actuator. However, in other embodiments another type of sensory feedback is provided.

In some embodiments, the control circuit includes: a processor coupled to the interface circuit; and a memory, coupled to the processor, which stores a program module that is executed by the processor. The program module may include instructions for at least some of the operations performed by the portable electronic device.

Another embodiment provides a computer-program product for use with the portable electronic device. This computer-program product includes instructions for at least some of the operations performed by the portable electronic device.

Another embodiment provides a method for communicating the change in the state of the entertainment device. This method includes at least some of the operations performed by the portable electronic device.

Note that, when the change in the state of the entertainment device has not occurred, the control circuit may provide, until the change in the state of the entertainment device has occurred, the feedback that indicates that the change in the state of the entertainment device is being implemented. For example, providing the feedback may involve providing, via the interface circuit, the visual indicator to the portable electronic device for display in the user interface to indicate that the change in the state of the entertainment device is being implemented. Alternatively or additionally, providing the feedback may involve providing, to the entertainment device, the visual indicator for display on the entertainment device, where the visual indicator indicates that the change in the state of the entertainment device is being implemented.

Furthermore, when the control circuit receives the user-interface activity information again from the portable electronic device, the control circuit may provide, via the interface circuit, a sensory-feedback instruction to the portable electronic device that, when performed by the portable electronic device, indicates that the change in the state of the entertainment device is being implemented. For example, the sensory-feedback instruction may instruct the portable electronic device to activate the vibration actuator.

In some embodiments, the control circuit includes: a processor coupled to the interface circuit; and a memory, coupled to the processor, which stores a program module that is executed by the processor. The program module may include instructions for at least some of the operations performed by the A/V hub.

Another embodiment provides a computer-program product for use with the A/V hub. This computer-program product includes instructions for at least some of the operations performed by the A/V hub.

Another embodiment provides a method for communicating the change in the state of the entertainment device. This method includes at least some of the operations performed by the A/V hub.

This Summary is provided merely for purposes of illustrating some exemplary embodiments, so as to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the subject matter described herein. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the above-described features are merely examples and should not be construed to narrow the scope or spirit of the subject matter described herein in any way. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter described herein will become apparent from the following Detailed Description, Figures, and Claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system with electronic devices wirelessly communicating in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for identifying an entertainment device in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure

FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating communication among the electronic devices inFIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for displaying a user interface in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a drawing illustrating communication among the electronic devices inFIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for providing a user interface in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a drawing illustrating communication among the electronic devices inFIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for communicating a change in a state of an entertainment device in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for communicating a change in a state of an entertainment device in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a drawing illustrating communication among the electronic devices inFIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a state-detection circuit in one of the electronic devices ofFIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for detecting an entertainment device in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a drawing illustrating a state diagram for one of the electronic devices inFIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a drawing illustrating a user interface in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15 is a drawing illustrating a user interface in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16 is a drawing illustrating a user interface in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 17 is a drawing illustrating a user interface in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 18 is a drawing illustrating a user interface in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 19 is a drawing illustrating a user interface in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 20 is a drawing illustrating a user interface in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram illustrating one of the electronic devices ofFIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Table 1 provides sets of commands in menus for different entertainment devices in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Note that like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the drawings. Moreover, multiple instances of the same part are designated by a common prefix separated from an instance number by a dash.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

By providing feedback to the user about the status of the change in the state of the entertainment device, this feedback technique may provide intuitive information to the user. For example, the feedback may provide situation awareness to the user, so that the user does not repeatedly attempt to activate the virtual command icon. In addition, the feedback may help keep the user from becoming frustrated (which may occur in existing approaches where the user is unaware about the status of the change in the state of the entertainment device). Therefore, the feedback technique may make it easier for the user to use the portable electronic device as a wireless remote control, and may allow the user to effectively use the user interface to control the entertainment device (such as the A/V hub, an A/V display device and/or a consumer-electronic device) with fewer errors or mistakes. Consequently, the feedback technique may improve the user experience when using the portable electronic device, the A/V hub and the entertainment device.

In the discussion that follows the portable electronic device, the A/V hub and/or the A/V display device may include radios that communicate packets or frames in accordance with one or more communication protocols, such as: an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard (which is sometimes referred to as ‘Wi-Fi®,’ from the Wi-Fi® Alliance of Austin, Tex.), Bluetooth® (from the Bluetooth Special Interest Group of Kirkland, Wash.), a cellular-telephone communication protocol, a near-field-communication standard or specification (from the NFC Forum of Wakefield, Mass.), and/or another type of wireless interface. In the discussion that follows, Wi-Fi is used as an illustrative example. For example, the cellular-telephone communication protocol may include or may be compatible with: a 2^ndgeneration of mobile telecommunication technology, a 3^rdgeneration of mobile telecommunications technology (such as a communication protocol that complies with the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 specifications by the International Telecommunication Union of Geneva, Switzerland), a 4^thgeneration of mobile telecommunications technology (such as a communication protocol that complies with the International Mobile Telecommunications Advanced specification by the International Telecommunication Union of Geneva, Switzerland), and/or another cellular-telephone communication technique. In some embodiments, the communication protocol includes Long Term Evolution or LTE. However, a wide variety of communication protocols may be used. In addition, the communication may occur via a wide variety of frequency bands. Note that the portable electronic device, the A/V hub and/or the A/V display device may communicate using infra-red communication that is compatible with an infra-red communication standard (including unidirectional or bidirectional infra-red communication).

Communication among electronic devices is shown inFIG. 1, which presents a block diagram illustrating asystem100 with a portable electronic device110 (such as a remote control or a cellular telephone), an A/V hub112, A/V display device114 (such as a television, a monitor, a computer and, more generally, a display associated with an electronic device) and one or more consumer-electronic devices116 (e.g., a radio receiver, a video player, a satellite receiver, an access point that provides a connection to a wired network such as the Internet, a media or a content source, a consumer-electronic device, a set-top box, over-the-top content delivered over the Internet or a network without involvement of a cable, satellite or multiple-system operator, etc.). (Note that A/V hub112, A/V display device114, and the one or more consumer-electronic devices116 are sometimes collectively referred to as ‘components’ insystem100. However, A/V hub112, A/V display device114, and the one or more consumer-electronic devices116 are sometimes referred to as entertainment devices.) In particular, portableelectronic device110 and A/V hub112 may communicate with each other using wireless communication, and A/V hub112 and other components in system100 (such as A/V display device114 and the one or more consumer-electronic devices116) may communicate using wireless and/or wired communication. During the wireless communication, these electronic devices may wirelessly communicate while: transmitting advertising frames on wireless channels, detecting one another by scanning wireless channels, establishing connections (for example, by transmitting association requests), and/or transmitting and receiving packets or frames (which may include the association requests and/or additional information as payloads, such as user-interface information, device-state information, user-interface activity information, data, A/V content, etc.).

As described further below with reference toFIG. 21, portableelectronic device110, A/V hub112, A/V display device114 and the one or more consumer-electronic devices116 may include subsystems, such as: a networking subsystem, a memory subsystem and a processor subsystem. In addition, portableelectronic device110 and A/V hub112, and optionally one or more of A/V display device114 and/or the one or more consumer-electronic devices116, may include radios118 in the networking subsystems. (Note that radios118 may be instances of the same radio or may be different from each other.) More generally, portableelectronic device110 and A/V hub112 (and optionally one or more of A/V display device114 and/or the one or more consumer-electronic devices116) can include (or can be included within) any electronic devices with the networking subsystems that enable portableelectronic device110 and A/V hub112 (and optionally one or more of A/V display device114 and/or the one or more consumer-electronic devices116) to wirelessly communicate with each other. This wireless communication can comprise transmitting advertisements on wireless channels to enable electronic devices to make initial contact or detect each other, followed by exchanging subsequent data/management frames (such as association requests and responses) to establish a connection, configure security options (e.g., Internet Protocol Security), transmit and receive packets or frames via the connection, etc.

As can be seen inFIG. 1, wireless signals120 (represented by a jagged line) are transmitted from radio118-1 in portableelectronic device110. These wireless signals are received by at least A/V hub112. In particular, portableelectronic device110 may transmit packets. In turn, these packets may be received by a radio118-2 in A/V hub112. This may allow portableelectronic device110 to communicate information to A/V hub112. WhileFIG. 1 illustrates portableelectronic device110 transmitting packets, note that portableelectronic device110 may also receive packets from A/V hub112.

In the described embodiments, processing of a packet or frame in portableelectronic device110 and A/V hub112 (and optionally one or more of A/V display device114 and/or the one or more consumer-electronic devices116) includes: receivingwireless signals120 with the packet or frame; decoding/extracting the packet or frame from receivedwireless signals120 to acquire the packet or frame; and processing the packet or frame to determine information contained in the packet or frame (such as the information associated with a data stream). For example, the information from portableelectronic device110 may include user-interface activity information associated with a user interface displayed on touch-sensitive display124 in portableelectronic device110, which a user of portableelectronic device110 uses to control A/V hub112, A/V display device114 and/or one of the one or more consumer-electronic devices116. Alternatively, the information from A/V hub112 may include device-state information about a current device state of A/V display device114 or one of the one or more consumer-electronic devices116 (such as on, off, play, rewind, fast forward, a selected channel, selected content, a content source, etc.), or may include user-interface information for the user interface (which may be dynamically updated based on the device-state information and/or the user-interface activity information). Furthermore, the information from A/V hub112 and/or one of the one or more consumer-electronic devices116 may include audio and video that are displayed on A/V display device114. (However, as noted previously, the audio and video may be communicated between components insystem100 via wired communication. Therefore, as shown inFIG. 1, there may be a wired cable or link, such as a high-definition multimedia-interface (HDMI)cable122, between A/V hub112 and A/V display device114.)

Note that the communication between portableelectronic device110 and A/V hub112 (and optionally one or more of A/V display device114 and/or the one or more consumer-electronic devices116) may be characterized by a variety of performance metrics, such as: a data rate, a data rate for successful communication (which is sometimes referred to as a ‘throughput’), an error rate (such as a retry or resend rate), a mean-square error of equalized signals relative to an equalization target, intersymbol interference, multipath interference, a signal-to-noise ratio, a width of an eye pattern, a ratio of number of bytes successfully communicated during a time interval (such as 1-10 s) to an estimated maximum number of bytes that can be communicated in the time interval (the latter of which is sometimes referred to as the ‘capacity’ of a channel or link), and/or a ratio of an actual data rate to an estimated data rate (which is sometimes referred to as ‘utilization’). Moreover, the performance during the communication associated with different channels may be monitored individually or jointly (e.g., to identify dropped packets).

The communication between portableelectronic device110 and A/V hub112 (and optionally one or more of A/V display device114 and/or the one or more consumer-electronic devices116) inFIG. 1 may involve one or more independent, concurrent data streams in different wireless channels (or even different Wi-Fi communication protocols) in one or more connections or links, which may be communicated using multiple radios. Note that the one or more connections or links may each have a separate or different service set identifier on a wireless network in system100 (which may be a proprietary network or a public network). Moreover, the one or more concurrent data streams may, on a dynamic or packet-by-packet basis, be partially or completely redundant to improve or maintain the performance metrics even when there are transient changes (such as interference, changes in the amount of information that needs to be communicated, movement of portableelectronic device110, etc.), and to facilitate services (while remaining compatible with the Wi-Fi communication protocol) such as: channel calibration, determining of one or more performance metrics, performing quality-of-service characterization without disrupting the communication (such as performing channel estimation, determining link quality, performing channel calibration and/or performing spectral analysis associated with at least one channel), seamless handoff between different wireless channels, coordinated communication between components, etc. These features may reduce the number of packets that are resent, and, thus, may decrease the latency and avoid disruption of the communication and may enhance the experience of one or more users or viewers of content on A/V display device114.

As noted previously, a user may control A/V hub112, A/V display device114 and/or one of the one or more consumer-electronic devices116 via the user interface displayed on touch-sensitive display124 on portable electronic device. In particular, at a given time, the user interface may include one or more virtual icons that allow the user to activate, deactivate or change functionality or capabilities of A/V hub112, A/V display device114 and/or one of or more consumer-electronic devices116. For example, a given virtual icon in the user interface may have an associated strike area on a surface of touch-sensitive display124. If the user makes and then breaks contact with the surface (e.g., using one or more fingers or digits, or using a stylus) within the strike area, portable electronic device110 (such as a processor executing a program module) may receive user-interface activity information indicating activation of this command or instruction from a touch-screen input/output (I/O) controller, which is coupled to touch-sensitive display124. (Alternatively, touch-sensitive display124 may be responsive to pressure. In these embodiments, the user may maintain contact with touch-sensitive display124 with an average contact pressure that is usually less than a threshold value, such as 10-20 kPa, and may activate a given virtual icon by increase the average contact pressure with touch-sensitive display124 above the threshold value.) In response, the program module may instruct an interface circuit in portableelectronic device110 to wirelessly communicate the user-interface activity information indicating the command or instruction to A/V hub112, and A/V hub112 may communicate the command or the instruction to the target component in system100 (such as A/V display device114). This instruction or command may result in A/V display device114 turning on or off, displaying content from a particular source, performing a trick mode of operation (such as fast forward, reverse, fast reverse or skip), etc.

One problem with using existing remote controls to control the operation of another component or entertainment device is that the remote control does not receive any feedback from the entertainment device. For example, many existing remote controls use infra-red communication. However, typically existing infra-red communication protocols are unidirectional or one-way communication, i.e., from a remote control to the entertainment device. Consequently, the remote control usually does not have any knowledge of the effects of the commands or instructions that are communicated to the entertainment device. In particular, the remote control is typically unaware of a current state of the entertainment device, such as whether the entertainment device is in: a power-on state, a power-off state, a playback state, a trick-mode state (such as fast forward, fast reverse, or skip), a pause state, a standby (reduced-power) state, a record state, a state in which content associated with a given content source (such as cable television, a satellite network, a web page on the Internet, etc.) is received or provided, and/or another state. (Note that one or more of the states may be nested or concurrent with each other, such as the power-on state and the playback state.) By operating blindly in this way, existing remote control are unable to leverage knowledge of the current state of the entertainment device to improve the user experience.

Using the device-state information A/V hub112 and/or portableelectronic device110 may dynamically adapt the user interface displayed on touch-sensitive display124 on portableelectronic device110. For example, as described further below with reference toFIGS. 4 and 5, A/V hub112 may provide, via radio118-2, device-state information to portableelectronic device110 specifying a current state of the given entertainment device. (Thus, the feedback technique may include bidirectional or two-way communication between A/V hub112 and portableelectronic device110.) As shown inFIGS. 14-20, after radio118-1 receives the device-state information, portable electronic device110 (such as a program module executed in an environment, e.g., an operating system, in portable electronic device110) may generate a user interface that includes one or more virtual command icons associated with the current state and one or more related states of the given entertainment device. As illustrated by the available commands shown inFIG. 13, the one or more related states may be related to the current state in a state diagram (which may be stored in memory in portable electronic device110) by corresponding operations that transition the given entertainment device from the current state to the one or more related states. Then, portableelectronic device110 may display the user interface on touch-sensitive display124.

In some embodiments, A/V hub112 provides information specifying the type of the given entertainment device, the manufacturer of the given entertainment device, and/or context information that specifies a context of content (such as A/V content) displayed on the entertainment device (such as A/V display device114). For example, the context may include a type of the content (such as sports, television, a movie, etc.), a location in the content (such as a timestamp, an identifier of a sub-section in the content and/or a proximity to a beginning or an end of the content), etc. In these embodiments, the one or more virtual command icons (and, thus, the user interface) may be based on the type of the given entertainment device, the manufacturer and/or the context. Thus, only virtual command icons that are relevant to the given entertainment device, the manufacturer and/or the context may be included in the user interface.

Moreover, when the user activates one of the virtual command icons in the user interface, the touch-screen I/O controller in portableelectronic device110 may provide user-interface activity information specifying activation of a virtual command icon in the one or more virtual command icons, where the activation of the virtual command icon specifies a transition of the given entertainment device from the current state to a new current state in the state diagram. As noted previously, the activation of the virtual command icon may involve a user of portableelectronic device110 contacting touch-sensitive display124 within a strike area of the virtual command icon and then releasing the contact. In response to receiving the user-interface activity information, portableelectronic device110 may: modify the user interface to change the one or more virtual command icons based on the new current state; and display the modified user interface on touch-sensitive display124. Note that portableelectronic device110 may wait to change the one or more virtual command icons until the device-state information received from A/V hub112 indicates that the given entertainment device has transitioned to the new current state in response to a command or an instruction associated with the activation of the one of the virtual command icons. Thus, portableelectronic device110 may repeatedly perform the generating and the displaying operations so that the user interface is dynamically updated as the current state changes.

Alternatively or additionally, as described further below with reference toFIGS. 6 and 7, instead of portableelectronic device110 generating the user interface, A/V hub112 may generate user-interface information that specifies the user interface (or instructions specifying objects or graphical information in the user interface) based on the one or more related states in the state diagram (which may be stored in memory in A/V hub112) and one or more of: the device-state information, the type of the given entertainment device, the manufacturer of the given entertainment device, the context, and/or user-interface activity information specifying activation (by the user) of one of the virtual command icons in the user interface (which may be received, via radios118, from portable electronic device110). Then, A/V hub112 may provide, via radios118, the user-interface information to portableelectronic device110 for display on touch-sensitive display124.

Furthermore, as described further below with reference toFIGS. 8-10, the device-state information may be used by portableelectronic device110 to ensure that commands or instructions have been received and executed by the designated recipient entertainment device insystem100. If the device-state information indicates that a command or instruction was not executed, portableelectronic device110 may resent the command or instruction. Alternatively, if the device-state information indicates that the command or instruction is being processed, portableelectronic device110 may not resent the command or instruction, and may provide feedback to the user of portableelectronic device110 so that the user is aware that the command or instruction is being processed and may not continue to activate a virtual command icon in the user interface in frustration.

The feedback may originate on portableelectronic device110 and/or A/V hub112. For example, in response to device-state information, portable electronic device110 (such as a processor executing a program module) may: generate and display in the user interface a visual indicator that the change in the state of the entertainment device is being implemented; and/or activate a sensory-feedback mechanism (such as a vibration mechanism, a vibration actuator, a light, or a speaker). Alternatively, A/V hub112 (such as a processor executing a program module) may: generate and provide, via the interface circuit in A/V hub112, the visual indicator to portableelectronic device110 for display in the user interface to indicate that the change in the state of the entertainment device is being implemented; and/or provide a sensory-feedback instruction that activates the sensory-feedback mechanism in portableelectronic device110.

Furthermore, the visual indicator may include or specify a current contact area of a user's finger(s), a stylus or a pen on touch-sensitive display124, which may allow the user to navigate to a virtual command icon by looking at A/V display device114 instead of the user interface displayed on touch-sensitive display124. This capability may be useful to the user, such as in cold environments where the user and portableelectronic device110 may be covered by a blanket. In a variation on this embodiment, the visual indicator may specify or represent a current location in the user interface and/or touch-sensitive display124 that is activated. This may be useful in embodiments where the user interacts with the user interface without contacting the surface of touch-sensitive display124 (such as based on time-of-flight measurements, a laser pointer, etc.).

In this way, the user interface may be dynamically updated as the components insystem100 respond to commands or instructions received from portableelectronic device110 and/or A/V hub112, so that the currently relevant one or more virtual icons are included in the user interface. This capability may simplify the user interface and make it easier for the user to navigate through and/or use the user interface. Alternatively or additionally, portableelectronic device110 may ensure that commands or instructions are resent, as needed. Consequently, the feedback technique may reduce user errors and/or confusion when using portableelectronic device110 and/or A/V hub112, and may ensure that components insystem100 respond to user commands and instructions, which individually and/or collectively may improve the user experience.

Although we describe the network environment shown inFIG. 1 as an example, in alternative embodiments, different numbers or types of electronic devices may be present. For example, some embodiments comprise more or fewer electronic devices. As another example, in another embodiment, different electronic devices are transmitting and/or receiving packets or frames. While portableelectronic device110 and A/V hub112 are illustrated with a single instance of radios118, in other embodiments portableelectronic device110 and A/V hub112 (and optionally one or more of A/V display device114 and/or the one or more consumer-electronic devices116) may include multiple radios.

We now describe embodiments of a feedback technique.FIG. 2 presents a flowdiagram illustrating method200 for identifying an entertainment device, which may be performed by an A/V hub, such as A/V hub112 (FIG. 1). This A/V hub may include: an input connector that can electrically couple to an entertainment device, where the input connector is compatible with a high-definition multimedia-interface (HDMI) standard; and a state-detection circuit coupled to at least one pin in the input connector (such as a transition minimized differential signaling or TMDS data1 shield), where, when the entertainment device is electrically coupled to the input connector, the state-detection circuit establishes a ground loop between the electronic device and the entertainment device. During operation, the A/V hub (such as a control circuit or control logic, e.g., a processor executing a program module and/or or a circuit, which is electrically coupled to the input connector and/or the state-detection circuit) detects whether there is electrical coupling (operation210) between the entertainment device and the input connector using the state-detection circuit.

When the content activity is detected (operation218), the A/V hub provides a set of second control commands (operation220) associated with different providers of entertainment devices until the A/V hub detects a change in a state (operation222) of the entertainment device via the input connector and the state-detection circuit. Note that the set of second control commands may include commands associated with a variety of states of the entertainment device and/or which may result in a variety of changes in the state of the entertainment device. In an exemplary embodiment, power-off control commands or standby control commands associated with different providers for the type of entertainment device may be provided to the entertainment device until the change in the state is detected (such as significant change in the number of packets or frames communicated to and/or from the entertainment device).

Furthermore, when the electrical coupling between the entertainment device and the input connector is detected (operation210) and before providing the set of first control commands (operation216), the A/V hub may attempt to identify the entertainment device by optionally providing consumer-electronics-control commands (operation212) to the entertainment device (which may include commands supported by the Consumer Electronics Control capability supported by the HDMI standard and certain entertainment devices). If the attempt is unsuccessful (operation214), then the A/V hub may provide the set of first control commands (operation216). (Thus, the A/V hub may use the set of first control commands and/or a set of second control commands to identify at least some entertainment devices without using the Consumer Electronics Control capability.)

As described further below with reference toFIG. 11, the state-detection circuit may include: an energy-dissipation component (such as a resistor) electrically coupled to a power-supply voltage and at least the one pin; an energy-storage component (such as a capacitor) electrically coupled to at least the one pin and ground; and a bi-directional voltage clamp (such as a varistor or a Verner diode), in parallel with the energy-storage component, electrically coupled to at least the one pin and ground.

Moreover, detecting whether there is electrical coupling between the entertainment device and the input connector (operation210) may involve: setting at least the one pin as an input, where at least the one pin is then pulled to the power-supply voltage by the A/V hub; measuring a voltage on at least the one pin; and detecting the electrical coupling between the entertainment device and the input connector when the voltage on at least the one pin is less than or equal to a predefined value (such as when the voltage on at least the one pin is approximately ground).

Furthermore, when the electrical coupling between the entertainment device and the input connector is detected (operation210), the A/V hub may: set at least the one pin as an output and electrically couple at least the one pin to ground; and measure a second voltage on a hotplug-detect pin in the input connector. When the second voltage on the hotplug-detect pin is less than or equal to the predefined value, the A/V hub may set at least the one pin as an input and repeat the measurement of the voltage on at least the one pin. Alternatively, when the voltage equals or exceeds a second predefined value (such as when the voltage is approximately the power-supply voltage), the A/V hub may repeat the detecting whether there is electrical coupling between the entertainment device and the input connector (operation210). Additionally, when the voltage is less than or equal to the predefined value, the A/V hub may identify the state of the entertainment device (e.g., the A/V hub may provide the set of first control commands, provide the set of second control commands, and/or may monitor the content activity, such as a data stream to and/or from the entertainment device). Note that the state may include: powered off; and standby. However, the state may include a variety of other states.

Additionally, when the second voltage on the hotplug-detect pin is less than or equal to the predefined value and when the voltage is less than or equal to the predefined value, the A/V hub may repeat setting at least the one pin as the output and electrically coupling at least the one pin to ground.

Note that based on the first control command(s) that resulted in the content activity and the second control command(s) that resulted in the change in the state, the entertainment device may be identified. Moreover, based on the identified entertainment device, the A/V hub may access one or more predefined and/or predetermined commands associated with the entertainment device. Then, using device-state information for the entertainment device, a user interface displayed on the portable electronic device and/or on a display in an A/V hub display device may be dynamically adapted or adjusted.

FIG. 3 presents a drawing illustrating communication among the electronic devices inFIG. 1, which presents a drawing illustrating communication between portableelectronic device110, A/V hub112 andentertainment device310. In particular,processor310 and state-detection circuit312 may detectelectrical coupling314 withentertainment device318. Whenelectrical coupling314 is detected,processor310 may instructinterface circuit316 to provide the set of first control commands320 toentertainment device318. Then,processor310 may, viainterface circuit316, monitorcontent activity322 associated with entertainment device318 (such as content activity represented by a data stream betweenentertainment device318 and A/V hub112). Alternatively or additionally,processor310 may, via state-detection circuit312, determine a change inpower state324.

Whencontent activity322 and/or a change inpower state324 is detected (which indicates thatentertainment device318 responded to a particular first control command, and thus specifies a type of entertainment device318),processor310 may instructinterface circuit316 to provide the set of second control commands326 toentertainment device318. Furthermore,processor310 may, viainterface circuit316, monitorcontent activity328 associated with entertainment device310 (such as content activity represented by a data stream betweenentertainment device318 and A/V hub112). Alternatively or additionally,processor310 may, via state-detection circuit312, determine a change inpower state330. A change incontent activity328 and/orpower state330 for a particular second control command may specify the provider ofentertainment device318.

Using the type of the entertainment device and the provider ofentertainment device318,processor310 may identify332

entertainment device

318.

In an exemplary embodiment, when state-detection circuit312 detectselectrical coupling314 withentertainment device318,processor310 instructsinterface circuit316 to provide power-on commands for certain manufacturers or providers of consumer-electronic devices (or entertainment devices) and/or for certain types or classes of consumer-electronic devices. A response to a particular power-on command may provide initial classification information, which may specify the manufacturer or provider of a consumer-electronic device, or a class or type of consumer-electronic device (such as a DVD player). Note that the power-on commands may be provided in an intelligent manner. For example, the power-on command for a low-probability consumer-electronic device (such as a regular, non-Blu-ray DVD player) may be provided last. In contrast, the power-on command for a high-probability consumer-electronic device (such as a set-top box), which may be the majority of the consumer-electronic devices that are used with the A/V hub, may be provided first.

After determining the initial classification information,processor310 may instructinterface circuit316 to provide play or another menu command(s) to refine the classification information by determining a sub-type classification. For example, there may be three different types of DVD players from a particular manufacturer (which are used as an illustration of a consumer-electronic device). Based on differences in the menu of commands available to a remote control for the three different types of DVD players, the other menu command(s) may be selected. The response to the other menu command(s) may provide differential information that allows the classification information to be refined. Thus, a play command may be sent to one type of DVD player, and a stop command may be sent to another type of DVD player.

The determined classification information may allow the user interface to be automatically customized for the specific type of DVD player that the user has, without requiring that the user is aware of any of the specific details (such as the specific numerical model number that they purchased). Instead, all the user needs to know is that they have a DVD player from a particular manufacturer (as opposed to the specific type of DVD player).

FIG. 4 presents embodiments of a flowdiagram illustrating method400 for displaying a user interface, which may be performed by a portable electronic device, such as portable electronic device110 (FIG. 1). During operation, the portable electronic device receives, via an interface circuit in the portable electronic device, device-state information (operation410) from an A/V hub specifying a current state of an entertainment device. Then, the portable electronic device generates a user interface (operation414) that includes one or more virtual command icons associated with the current state and one or more related states of the entertainment device that are related to the current state in a state diagram by corresponding operations that transition the entertainment device from the current state to the one or more related states. Next, the portable electronic device displays the user interface on a touch-sensitive display (operation416).

In some embodiments, the portable electronic device optionally receives, via the interface circuit, classification information for the entertainment device (which specifies a type of the entertainment device and/or a manufacturer of the entertainment device), and/or context information (operation412) that specifies a context of A/V content displayed on the entertainment device. In these embodiments, the portable electronic device generates the user interface (operation414) based on: the type of the entertainment device, the manufacturer of the entertainment device, and/or the context.

Moreover, the portable electronic device may optionally receive, via the interface circuit, user-interface activity information (operation418) specifying activation of a virtual command icon in the one or more virtual command icons, where the activation of the virtual command icon specifies a transition of the entertainment device from the current state to a new current state in the state diagram. For example, the activation of the virtual command icon may involve a user of the portable electronic device contacting the touch-sensitive display within a strike area of the virtual command icon and then releasing the contact. In response to receiving the user-interface activity information, the portable electronic device may optionally: modify the user interface (operation420) to change the one or more virtual command icons based on the new current state; and display the modified user interface (operation420).

Embodiments of the feedback technique are further illustrated inFIG. 5, which presents a drawing illustrating communication between portableelectronic device110 and A/V hub112. In particular,processor516 in A/V hub112 may determine device-state information518, such as a current state ofentertainment device512. For example, A/V hub112 may determine device-state information518 based on packets or frames communicated514 withentertainment device512 viainterface circuit510. Then,processor516 may instructinterface circuit510 to wirelessly communicate device-state information518 to portableelectronic device110. In addition,processor516 may instructinterface circuit510 to wirelessly communicate additional information to portableelectronic device110, such as: a type ofentertainment device512, a manufacturer ofentertainment device512, and/or context information specifying a context of A/V content displayed onentertainment device512.

Afterinterface circuit520 in portableelectronic device110 receives device-state information518, the type, the manufacturer, and/or the context information,processor522 may generate user interface524 (or instructions for objects or graphical information in user interface524) based on: a state diagram of entertainment device512 (which may be stored in memory in portable electronic device110), device-state information518, the type, the manufacturer, and/or the context information. For example,processor522 may generate instructions for the objects or graphical information that includes or specifies user interface524, including display-specific information, such as: a location where the graphical information is to be displayed on touch-sensitive display124 (TSD124) having a particular type, display size, and/or an aspect ratio or geometry, e.g., an aspect ratio of 5:4 or 4:3 with a display diagonal of at least 3.5 or 5 in. (These values are for purposes of illustration only, and a wide variety of display sizes, aspect ratios and types may be used in touch-sensitive display124.) Furthermore, generating user interface524 may involve calculating a two or three-dimensional model and/or rendering operations, such as: two or three-dimensional projection, ray tracing, shading, coloring, texturing, illumination effects, texture mapping, and/or anti-aliasing. In the case of a three-dimensional touch-sensitive display124, the rendering operations may include calculating one or more images that include or represent: image parallax, motion parallax (based on motion of the user relative to touch-sensitive display124) and/or prehension (which may allow the user to perceive three-dimensional tactile or haptic interaction with objects).

Then,processor522 may display user interface524 on touch-sensitive display124 via touch-screen I/O controller526.

Subsequently, while a user is using portableelectronic device110, touch-screen I/O controller526 may provide user-interface activity information530 toprocessor522 based on user interaction528 with touch-sensitive display124, such as: the user making or breaking contact with a surface of touch-sensitive display124, moving a touch contact point on the surface, etc. Then,processor522 may instructinterface circuit520 to communicate user-interface activity information530 to A/V hub112.

Afterinterface circuit510 in A/V hub112 receives user-interface activity information530,interface circuit510 may communicate user-interface activity information530 toentertainment device512. Then, A/V hub112 may determine device-state information534 based on packets or frames communicated532 withentertainment device512 viainterface circuit510. Next,processor516 may instructinterface circuit510 to wirelessly communicate device-state information534 to portableelectronic device110.

Furthermore, afterinterface circuit520 in portableelectronic device110 receives device-state information534,processor522 may generate user interface536 (or instructions for objects or graphical information in user interface536) based on: the state diagram ofentertainment device512, device-state information536, the type, the manufacturer, and/or the context information. Next,processor522 may displayuser interface536 on touch-sensitive display124 via touch-screen I/O controller526. In this way, portableelectronic device110 and A/V hub112 may dynamically adapt the user interface as the current state ofentertainment device512 changes.

Alternatively or additionally, as noted previously, user-interface information that specifies the user interface may be generated by the A/V hub.FIG. 6 presents embodiments of a flowdiagram illustrating method600 for providing a user interface, which may be performed by an A/V hub, such as A/V hub112 (FIG. 1). During operation, the A/V hub determines, via a processor in the A/V hub, device-state information (operation610), wherein the device-state information specifies a current state of an entertainment device. Then, the A/V hub generates, based on the determined device-state information, user-interface information that specifies a user interface (operation612) that includes one or more virtual command icons associated with the current state and one or more related states of the entertainment device that are related to the current state in a state diagram by corresponding operations that transition the entertainment device from the current state to the one or more related states. Next, the A/V hub provides the user-interface information (operation614) to a portable electronic device for display on a touch-sensitive display in the portable electronic device.

Note that the A/V hub may optionally generate the user-interface information based on: a type of the entertainment device, a manufacturer of the entertainment device, and/or context information that specifies a context of A/V content displayed on the entertainment device. Thus, in these embodiments, the one or more virtual command icons and/or their locations in the user interface may be based on: the type of the entertainment device, the manufacturer of the entertainment device, and/or the context.

Moreover, the A/V hub may optionally receive, via the interface circuit, user-interface activity information (operation616) specifying activation of a virtual command icon in the one or more virtual command icons, where the activation of the virtual command icon specifies a transition of the entertainment device from the current state to a new current state in the state diagram. For example, the activation of the virtual command icon may involve a user of the portable electronic device contacting the touch-sensitive display within a strike area of the virtual command icon and then releasing the contact. In response to receiving the user-interface activity information, the A/V hub may optionally: modify the user-interface information (operation618) to change the one or more virtual command icons based on the new current state; and provide, via the interface circuit, the modified user-interface information (operation620) for display on the touch-sensitive display in the portable electronic device.

Embodiments of the feedback technique are further illustrated inFIG. 7, which presents a drawing illustrating communication between portableelectronic device110 and A/V hub112. In particular,processor516 in A/V hub112 may determine device-state information518, such as a current state ofentertainment device512. For example, A/V hub112 may determine device-state information518 based on packets or frames communicated514 withentertainment device512 viainterface circuit510.

Then,processor516 may generate user-interface information710 that specifies user interface524 (or instructions for objects or graphical information in user interface524) based on: a state diagram ofentertainment device512, device-state information518, a type ofentertainment device512, a manufacturer ofentertainment device512, and/or context information. For example,processor516 may generate instructions for the objects or graphical information that includes or specifies user interface524, including display-specific information, such as: a location where the graphical information is to be displayed on touch-sensitive display124 (TSD124) having a particular type, display size, and/or an aspect ratio or geometry, e.g., an aspect ratio of 5:4 or 4:3, with a display diagonal of at least 3.5 or 5 in. (These values are for purposes of illustration only, and a wide variety of display sizes, aspect ratios and types may be used in touch-sensitive display124.) Furthermore, generating user-interface information710 may involve calculating a two or three-dimensional model and/or rendering operations, such as: two or three-dimensional projection, ray tracing, shading, coloring, texturing, illumination effects, texture mapping, and/or anti-aliasing. In the case of a three-dimensional touch-sensitive display124, the rendering operations may include calculating one or more images that include or represent: image parallax, motion parallax (based on motion of the user relative to touch-sensitive display124) and/or prehension (which may allow the user to perceive three-dimensional tactile or haptic interaction with objects).

Then,processor516 may provide user-interface information710 to portableelectronic device110. Afteruser interface520 receives user-interface information710,processor522 may display user interface524 on touch-sensitive display124 via touch-screen I/O controller526.

Afterinterface circuit510 in A/V hub112 receives user-interface activity information530,interface circuit510 may communicate user-interface activity information530 toentertainment device512. Then, A/V hub112 may determine device-state information534 based on packets or frames communicated532 withentertainment device512 viainterface circuit510. Next,processor516 may generate user-interface information712 that specifies user interface536 (or instructions for objects or graphical information in user interface536) based on: the state diagram ofentertainment device512, device-state information534, the type, the manufacturer, and/or the context information.

Furthermore,processor516 may instructinterface circuit510 to wirelessly communicate user-interface information712 to portableelectronic device110. Afterinterface circuit520 in portableelectronic device110 receives user-interface information712,processor522 may displayuser interface536 on touch-sensitive display124 via touch-screen I/O controller526. In this way, portableelectronic device110 and A/V hub112 may dynamically adapt the user interface as the current state ofentertainment device512 changes.

Note that, when the change in the state of the entertainment device has not occurred (operation816), the portable electronic device may optionally provide, until the change in the state of the entertainment device has occurred, feedback (operation822) that indicates that the change in the state of the entertainment device is being implemented. For example, providing the feedback (operation822) may involve displaying a visual indicator in the user interface on the touch-sensitive display that indicates that the change in the state of the entertainment device is being implemented. Alternatively or additionally, providing the feedback (operation822) may involve providing, to the A/V hub, instructions for the visual indicator that indicates that the change in the state of the entertainment device is being implemented, where the visual indicator is to be displayed on the entertainment device.

Furthermore, when the portable electronic device optionally receives the user-interface activity information again (operation824), such as when the user activates the virtual command icon in the user interface again, the portable electronic device may optionally provide sensory feedback (operation826) that indicates that the change in the state of the entertainment device is being implemented. For example, the portable electronic device may include a vibration actuator coupled to the control circuit, and providing the sensory feedback may involve activating the vibration actuator. However, in other embodiments another type of sensory feedback (such as a flashing light and/or sound) is provided.

Note that, when the change in the state of the entertainment device has not occurred (operation916), the A/V hub may optionally provide, until the change in the state of the entertainment device has occurred, feedback (operation922) that indicates that the change in the state of the entertainment device is being implemented. For example, providing the feedback (operation922) may involve providing, via an interface circuit in the A/V hub, a visual indicator to the portable electronic device for display in the user interface to indicate that the change in the state of the entertainment device is being implemented. Alternatively or additionally, providing the feedback (operation922) may involve providing, to the entertainment device, the visual indicator for display on the entertainment device, where the visual indicator indicates that the change in the state of the entertainment device is being implemented.

Furthermore, when the A/V hub optionally receives the user-interface activity information again (operation924) from the portable electronic device (such as when the user activates the virtual command icon in the user interface again), the A/V hub may provide, via the interface circuit, a sensory-feedback instruction (operation926) to the portable electronic device that, when performed by the portable electronic device, indicates that the change in the state of the entertainment device is being implemented. For example, the sensory-feedback instruction may instruct the portable electronic device to activate the vibration actuator. However, in other embodiments another type of sensory feedback (such as a flashing light or sound) is provided.

FIG. 10 presents a drawing illustrating communication among the electronic devices inFIG. 1, which presents a drawing illustrating communication between portableelectronic device110, A/V hub112 and entertainment device910. In particular, while a user is using portableelectronic device110, touch-screen I/O controller526 may provide user-interface activity information1012 toprocessor522 based on user interaction1010 with touch-sensitive display (TSD124), such as the user making or breaking contact with a surface of touch-sensitive display124 (i.e., specifying activation of the virtual command icon in the user interface that specifies the change in the state of the entertainment device). Then,processor520 may instructinterface circuit520 to communicate user-interface activity information1012 to A/V hub112.

Afterinterface circuit510 in A/V hub112 receives user-interface activity information1012,interface circuit510 may provide user-interface activity information1012 to entertainment device512 (such as A/V display device114 or one of consumer-electronic devices116 inFIG. 1). Then,processor516 may determine device-state information1016 indicating whether the change in the state ofentertainment device512 has occurred based onsubsequent communication1014 between A/V hub112 andentertainment device512.

However, because the communication between portableelectronic device110 and A/V hub112 is bidirectional, the situational awareness about the state ofentertainment device512 can be used to keep the user informed about the status of the user's instruction to change the state ofentertainment device512 and to prevent the user from becoming frustrated. In particular, portableelectronic device110 and/or A/V hub112 may provide feedback to the user about the status of the change in the state ofentertainment device512.

For example, when the change in the state ofentertainment device512 has not occurred,processor522 may optionally provide, until the change in the state ofentertainment device512 has occurred, feedback that indicates that the change in the state ofentertainment device512 is being implemented. In particular,processor522 may optionally generate visual indicator1022 (such as instructions for graphical information or an object that indicates that the change in the state ofentertainment device512 is being implemented), which is provided to touch-screen I/O controller526 and then displayed onTSD124. Alternatively or additionally,processor522 may optionally instructinterface circuit520 to providevisual indicator1022 to A/V hub112. This visual indicator may be received byinterface circuit510 and forwarded to entertainment device510 (or an A/V display device) for display to the user. Note that if touch-screen I/O controller526 subsequently provides user-interface activity information1026 toprocessor522 based on user interaction1024 with TSD124 (such as when the user activates the virtual command icon in the user interface again),processor522 may optionally provide an instruction forsensory feedback1028 to a sensory-feedback mechanism (not shown) (such as a light, a speaker and/or an eccentric-rotating-mass actuator or a linear-resonant actuator) that indicates the change in the state ofentertainment device512 is being implemented (so that the user does not continue to activate the virtual command icon in frustration). Alternatively or additionally,processor522 may optionally instructinterface circuit520 to provide user-interface activity information1026 to A/V hub112.

Note that generating visual indicator1022 (or instructions for visual indicator1022) based on user-

interface activity information

1012 or1026 and/or device-

state information

1016 or1020 may involve generating instructions for an object or graphical information that includes or specifies visual feedback, such as a partially transparent graphical overlay that can be displayed on portableelectronic device110 and/or A/V display device114. The graphical information may include display-specific information, such as: a location where the graphical information is to be displayed on a display having a particular type, display size, and/or an aspect ratio or geometry, e.g., an aspect ratio of 5:4 or 4:3 with a display diagonal of at least 3.5 or 5 in., or an aspect ratio of 16:9 with a display diagonal of at least 50 in. (These values are for purposes of illustration only, and a wide variety of display sizes, aspect ratios and types may be used in portableelectronic device110 and/or A/V display device114.) Furthermore, generatingvisual indicator1022 may involve calculating a two or three-dimensional model (such as a model of the virtual icons in the user interface, which may be based on the state diagram) and/or rendering operations, such as: two or three-dimensional projection, ray tracing, shading, coloring, texturing, illumination effects, texture mapping, and/or anti-aliasing. In the case of a three-dimensional display in A/V display device114, the rendering operations may include calculating one or more images that include or represent: image parallax, motion parallax (based on motion of the user relative to A/V display device114) and/or prehension (which may allow the user to perceive three-dimensional tactile or haptic interaction with objects). For example,visual indicator1022 may include graphical information, such as: flashing a representation of the virtual command icon, changing a line thickness in the virtual command icon and/or adding a graphical symbol (such as an hour glass or a watch face). When displayed on A/V display device114,visual indicator1022 may include a graphical representation of the user interface, including locations or a layout of one or more virtual command icons.

In this way, the feedback technique may leverage knowledge of the device-state information to keep the user information about the status of their instruction to change the state of the entertainment device. In the process, the feedback technique may reduce user frustration, and thus may improve user satisfaction when using the portable electronic device, the A/V hub and/or the entertainment device.

Consequently, methods200 (FIG. 2),400 (FIG. 4),600 (FIG. 6)800 (FIG. 8) and/or900 (FIG. 9) may reduce user errors or mistakes when using the user interface, which may improve the user experience when using the portable electronic device and/or the A/V hub.

In some embodiments of methods200 (FIG. 2),400 (FIG. 4),600 (FIG. 6)800 (FIG. 8) and/or900 (FIG. 9), there may be additional or fewer operations. For example, in a more general version of method200 (FIG. 2), when the entertainment device is electrically coupled to the input connector, the state-detection circuit may determine a state of the entertainment device and/or an identify the entertainment device. Moreover, the order of the operations may be changed, and/or two or more operations may be combined into a single operation.

As noted previously, the device-state information (such as whether an entertainment device is: electrically coupled to A/V hub112 inFIG. 1, in a power-on state, in a power-off state, and/or another state, e.g., a playback state, a pause state, a stop state, etc.) may be determined using hardware (such as a state-detection circuit) and/or software (which may be executed by a processor and, more generally, a control circuit).FIG. 11 presents a block diagram illustrating a state-detection circuit1110 in A/V hub112 (FIG. 1). In A/V hub112 (FIG. 1), input connector1112 (which may be compatible with an HDMI standard) may be electrically coupled to an entertainment device. State-detection circuit1110 may be coupled to atleast pin1114 ininput connector1112, so that, when the entertainment device is electrically coupled toinput connector1112, state-detection circuit1110 establishes a ground loop between A/V hub112 (FIG. 1) and the entertainment device. For example,pin1114 may include a transition minimized differential signaling (TMDS) data1 shield. (Alternatively,pin1114 may include a TMDS data1 shield.) Moreover, state-detection circuit1110 may include: an energy-dissipation component (such as resistor1116) electrically coupled to a power-supply voltage and pin1114 (which may provide electrostatic-discharge protection); an energy-storage component (such as capacitor1118) electrically coupled topin1114 and ground; and a bi-directional voltage clamp (such asvaristor1120 or a Verner diode), in parallel withcapacitor1118, electrically coupled topin1114 and ground. For example,resistor1116 may be 150 kΩ andcapacitor1118 may be 0.047 g. In some embodiments, state-detection circuit1110 includes a general-purpose input/output (GPIO)device1126 coupled topin1114. The behavior (such as an input pin, an output pin, enabled or disabled) ofGPIO device1126 may be controlled using control signals or instructions fromcontrol logic1124.

Alternatively or additionally, duringoperation control logic1124 may detect whether there is electrical coupling between the entertainment device andinput connector1112 using state-detection circuit1110 (FIG. 11). When the electrical coupling between the entertainment device andinput connector1112 is detected,control logic1124 may: setpin1114 as an output andelectrically couple pin1114 to ground; and measure the second voltage on hotplug-detectpin1122 ininput connector1112. When the second voltage on hotplug-detectpin1122 is less than or equal to the predefined value,control logic1124 may setpin1114 as an input and measure a voltage onpin1114. Moreover, when the voltage equals or exceeds the second predefined value,control logic1124 may repeat detecting whether there is electrical coupling between the entertainment device andinput connector1112. Furthermore, when the voltage is less than or equal to the predefined value,control logic1124 may identify the current state of the entertainment device. In some embodiments, control logic1124: provides a control command to the entertainment device; and identifies an additional state of the entertainment device based on content (such as A/V content) that is provided and/or received by the entertainment device in response to the control command. For example, the control command may include: a play command, and/or a trick-mode command (such as fast forward or fast skip, slow forward or slow skip, fast reverse, or slow reverse).

FIG. 13 presents a drawing illustrating a state diagram1300 of a given entertainment device inFIG. 1. This state diagram specifies the available commands in different menus for the given entertainment device that are relevant based on a current state of the given entertainment device. (Examples of the sets of commands in menus for different entertainment devices are shown in Table 1.) Thus, based on the device-state information, particular subsets of the available commands may be included or displayed in a user interface, such as a subset of the available commands that are relevant next states that can be accessed by the user (by activating a virtual command icon, e.g., by contacting a surface of a touch-sensitive display within a strike area associated with the virtual command icon, and then breaking contact with the surface of the touch-sensitive display) from the current state of the given entertainment device.

TABLE 1

	Menu 1	Menu 2	Menu 3
Device	Commands	Commands	Commands

Cable/DVR	Volume	Record	Live TV
	up/down
	Mute	Numbers	Info
	DVR	—	Input
	Channel	—	Menu
	up/down
	Guide	—	Zoom
	Play/Pause	—	Exit
	Fast	—	Help
	forward/rewind
	Prev/last	—	Clear
Cable	Volume	—	—
	up/down
	Mute	—	—
	Guide	—	—
	Channel	—	—
	up/down
	Record	—	—
DVR	Volume	—	—
	up/down
	Mute	—	—
	Play/Pause	—	—
	Fast	—	—
	forward/rewind
	Channel	—	—
	up/down
Streaming	Volume	—	—
	up/down
	Mute	—	—
	D-pad	—	—
	Home	—	—
	Play/Pause	—	—
	Fast	—	—
	forward/rewind
DVD	Volume	—	—
	up/down
	Mute	—	—
	Play/Pause	—	—
	Fast	—	—
	forward/rewind
	Chapter	—	—
	skip/prev
	Menu	—	—
	D-Pad	—	—
	Chapter select	—	—
Receiver	Volume	—	—
	up/down
	Mute	—	—
	Menu	—	—
	D-pad	—	—
CD player/MP3	Volume	—	—
player dock	up/down
	Mute	—	—
	Source	—	—
	D-pad	—	—
	Mute	—	—
	Play	—	—
	Guide	—	—
Gaming	Volume	—	—
	up/down
	Mute	—	—
	D-pad	—	—
	Select	—	—
	Back	—	—
	Transport	—	—
TV	Volume	—	—
	up/down
	Mute	—	—
	D-pad	—	—
	Channel	—	—
	up/down
	Apps	—	—
User Online	Volume	—	—
Content	up/down
	Mute	—	—
	D-pad	—	—
Other	Volume	—	—
	up/down
	Mute	—	—
	D-pad	—	—
	Channel	—	—
	up/down
	Apps	—	—
Computer	Volume	—	—
	up/down
	Mute	—	—
	D-pad	—	—
	Mouse	—	—

For example, if the device-state information indicates that the device is in a power-off state, the user interface may initially only include one virtual command icon, which, when activated by a user, may power on the given entertainment device. This is shown inFIG. 14, which presents a drawing illustrating auser interface1400 on a touch-sensitive display124 in portableelectronic device110 inFIG. 1. In particular,user interface1400 includes avirtual command icon1410 corresponding to a power-on command. In this case, strike or contact area1412 associated withvirtual command icon1410 may be much larger (e.g., as large as user interface1400).

Aftervirtual command icon1410 has been activated by the user, the user interface may include one or more virtual command icons that are associated with the current state and one or more related states of the entertainment device that are related to the current state in a state diagram by corresponding operations that transition the entertainment device from the current state to the one or more related states. Furthermore, the user interface may exclude one or more additional virtual command icons associated with one or more unrelated states of the entertainment device that are unrelated to the current state by direct transitions in the state diagram. Thus, as shown inFIG. 15, which presents a drawing illustrating auser interface1500 on a touch-sensitive display124 in portableelectronic device110 inFIG. 1, after the given entertainment device is powered on,user interface1500 may include avirtual command icon1510 corresponding to a play command and avirtual command icon1512 that, when activated, powers off the given entertainment device. However, a virtual command icon corresponding to a stop command may not be displayed because it is not relevant to the current state of the entertainment device.

In some embodiments, a given operation directly transitions the given entertainment device from the current state to one of the additional states without passing through an intermediate state in the state diagram. These operations, and their associated states, may be the ones that are relevant at any given time for inclusion in the user interface.

While power-off and power-on were used as illustration of states of the given entertainment device, in other embodiments the current state includes one of a wide variety of states that are different than the power-off state or the power-on state.

For example, as shown inFIG. 16, which presents a drawing illustrating a user interface1600 on a touch-sensitive display124 in portableelectronic device110 inFIG. 1, after virtual command icon1510 (FIG. 15) has been activated by the user, user interface1600 may include: avirtual command icon1610 corresponding to a fast-forward command, avirtual command icon1612 corresponding to a slow-forward command, avirtual command icon1614 corresponding to a stop command, avirtual command icon1616 corresponding to a slow-reverse command, avirtual command icon1618 corresponding to a fast-reverse command, and avirtual command icon1620 corresponding to a main menu.

FIG. 17-20 present drawings of user interfaces on a touch-sensitive display124 in portableelectronic device110 inFIG. 1. In particular,FIG. 17 presents a user interface1700 that can be used to select a particular entertainment device, such as a DVR. When the DVR is selected, the appropriate set of virtual command icons may be displayed based on the current state of the DVR. This is shown inFIG. 18, which presents user interface1800. Similarly, when user interface1900 inFIG. 19 is used to select a Blu-ray player,user interface2000 inFIG. 20 with the appropriate set of virtual command icons may be displayed.

We now describe embodiments of an electronic device.FIG. 21 presents a block diagram illustrating an electronic device2100, such as portableelectronic device110, A/V hub112 or A/V display device114 inFIG. 1. This electronic device includesprocessing subsystem2110,memory subsystem2112,networking subsystem2114 andoptional feedback subsystem2134.Processing subsystem2110 includes one or more devices configured to perform computational operations. For example,processing subsystem2110 can include one or more microprocessors, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), microcontrollers, programmable-logic devices, and/or one or more digital signal processors (DSPs). One or more of these components in processing subsystem are sometimes referred to as a ‘control circuit.’

Memory subsystem

2112 includes one or more devices for storing data and/or instructions forprocessing subsystem2110 andnetworking subsystem2114. For example,memory subsystem2112 can include dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), and/or other types of memory. In some embodiments, instructions forprocessing subsystem2110 inmemory subsystem2112 include: one or more program modules or sets of instructions (such asprogram module2122 or operating system2124), which may be executed byprocessing subsystem2110. Note that the one or more program modules may constitute a computer-program mechanism, such as a computer program or software. Moreover, instructions in the various modules inmemory subsystem2112 may be implemented in: a high-level procedural language, an object-oriented programming language, and/or in an assembly or machine language. Furthermore, the programming language may be compiled or interpreted, e.g., configurable or configured (which may be used interchangeably in this discussion), to be executed byprocessing subsystem2110.

In addition,memory subsystem2112 can include mechanisms for controlling access to the memory. In some embodiments,memory subsystem2112 includes a memory hierarchy that comprises one or more caches coupled to a memory in electronic device2100. In some of these embodiments, one or more of the caches is located inprocessing subsystem2110.

In some embodiments,memory subsystem2112 is coupled to one or more high-capacity mass-storage devices (not shown). For example,memory subsystem2112 can be coupled to a magnetic or optical drive, a solid-state drive, or another type of mass-storage device. In these embodiments,memory subsystem2112 can be used by electronic device2100 as fast-access storage for often-used data, while the mass-storage device is used to store less frequently used data.

Networking subsystem

2114 includes one or more devices configured to couple to and communicate on a wired and/or wireless network (i.e., to perform network operations), including:control logic2116, interface circuits2118 and associatedantennas2120. (WhileFIG. 21 includesantennas2120, in some embodiments electronic device2100 includes one or more nodes, such asnodes2108, e.g., pads, which can be coupled toantennas2120. Thus, electronic device2100 may or may not includeantennas2120.) For example,networking subsystem2114 can include a Bluetooth networking system, a cellular networking system (e.g., a 3G/4G network such as UMTS, LTE, etc.), a universal serial bus (USB) networking system, a networking system based on the standards described in IEEE 802.11 (e.g., a Wi-Fi networking system), an Ethernet networking system, and/or another networking system. Note that the combination of a given one of interface circuits2118 and at least one ofantennas2120 may constitute a radio. In some embodiments,networking subsystem2114 includes a wired interface, such as HDMI interface2130 (which may include a state-detection circuit).

Networking subsystem

2114 includes processors, controllers, radios/antennas, sockets/plugs, and/or other devices used for coupling to, communicating on, and handling data and events for each supported networking system. Note that mechanisms used for coupling to, communicating on, and handling data and events on the network for each network system are sometimes collectively referred to as a ‘network interface’ for the network system. Moreover, in some embodiments a ‘network’ between the electronic devices does not yet exist. Therefore, electronic device2100 may use the mechanisms innetworking subsystem2114 for performing simple wireless communication between the electronic devices, e.g., transmitting advertising or beacon frames and/or scanning for advertising frames transmitted by other electronic devices as described previously.

Within electronic device2100,processing subsystem2110,memory subsystem2112,networking subsystem2114 andoptional feedback subsystem2134 are coupled together usingbus2128.Bus2128 may include an electrical, optical, and/or electro-optical connection that the subsystems can use to communicate commands and data among one another. Although only onebus2128 is shown for clarity, different embodiments can include a different number or configuration of electrical, optical, and/or electro-optical connections among the subsystems.

In some embodiments, electronic device2100 includes adisplay subsystem2126 for displaying information on a display (such as the communication warning message), which may include a display driver, an I/O controller and the display. Note that a wide variety of display types may be used indisplay subsystem2126, including: a two-dimensional display, a three-dimensional display (such as a holographic display or a volumetric display), a head-mounted display, a retinal-image projector, a heads-up display, a cathode ray tube, a liquid-crystal display, a projection display, an electroluminescent display, a display based on electronic paper, a thin-film transistor display, a high-performance addressing display, an organic light-emitting diode display, a surface-conduction electronic-emitter display, a laser display, a carbon-nanotube display, a quantum-dot display, an interferometric modulator display, a multi-touch touchscreen (which is sometimes referred to as a touch-sensitive display), and/or a display based on another type of display technology or physical phenomenon.

Furthermore,optional feedback subsystem2134 may include one or more sensor-feedback mechanisms or devices, such as: a vibration mechanism or a vibration actuator (e.g., an eccentric-rotating-mass actuator or a linear-resonant actuator), a light, one or more speakers, etc., which can be used to provide feedback to a user of electronic device2100 (such as sensory feedback about the status of a user instruction to change the state of one of the components insystem100 inFIG. 1).

Electronic device2100 can be (or can be included in) any electronic device with at least one network interface. For example, electronic device2100 can be (or can be included in): a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a subnotebook/netbook, a server, a tablet computer, a smartphone, a cellular telephone, a consumer-electronic device (such as a television, a set-top box, audio equipment, video equipment, etc.), a remote control, a portable computing device, an access point, a router, a switch, communication equipment, test equipment, and/or another electronic device.

Although specific components are used to describe electronic device2100, in alternative embodiments, different components and/or subsystems may be present in electronic device2100. For example, electronic device2100 may include one or more additional processing subsystems, memory subsystems, networking subsystems, and/or display subsystems. Moreover, while one ofantennas2120 is shown coupled to a given one of interface circuits2118, there may be multiple antennas coupled to the given one of interface circuits2118. For example, an instance of a 3×3 radio may include three antennas. Additionally, one or more of the subsystems may not be present in electronic device2100. Furthermore, in some embodiments, electronic device2100 may include one or more additional subsystems that are not shown inFIG. 21. Also, although separate subsystems are shown inFIG. 21, in some embodiments, some or all of a given subsystem or component can be integrated into one or more of the other subsystems or component(s) in electronic device2100. For example, in someembodiments program module2122 is included inoperating system2124.

Moreover, the circuits and components in electronic device2100 may be implemented using any combination of analog and/or digital circuitry, including: bipolar, PMOS and/or NMOS gates or transistors. Furthermore, signals in these embodiments may include digital signals that have approximately discrete values and/or analog signals that have continuous values. Additionally, components and circuits may be single-ended or differential, and power supplies may be unipolar or bipolar.

An integrated circuit may implement some or all of the functionality ofnetworking subsystem2114, such as one or more radios. Moreover, the integrated circuit may include hardware and/or software mechanisms that are used for transmitting wireless signals from electronic device2100 and receiving signals at electronic device2100 from other electronic devices. Aside from the mechanisms herein described, radios are generally known in the art and hence are not described in detail. In general,networking subsystem2114 and/or the integrated circuit can include any number of radios.

In some embodiments,networking subsystem2114 and/or the integrated circuit include a configuration mechanism (such as one or more hardware and/or software mechanisms) that configures the radios to transmit and/or receive on a given channel (e.g., a given carrier frequency). For example, in some embodiments, the configuration mechanism can be used to switch the radio from monitoring and/or transmitting on a given channel to monitoring and/or transmitting on a different channel. (Note that ‘monitoring’ as used herein comprises receiving signals from other electronic devices and possibly performing one or more processing operations on the received signals, e.g., determining if the received signal comprises an advertising frame, calculating a performance metric, performing spectral analysis, etc.) Furthermore,networking subsystem2114 may include at least one port (such as an HDMI port2132) to receive and/or provide the information in the data stream to A/V display device114 (FIG. 1) and/or one of the one or more consumer-electronic devices116 (FIG. 1).

While a communication protocol compatible with Wi-Fi was used as an illustrative example, the described embodiments may be used in a variety of network interfaces. Furthermore, while some of the operations in the preceding embodiments were implemented in hardware or software, in general the operations in the preceding embodiments can be implemented in a wide variety of configurations and architectures. Therefore, some or all of the operations in the preceding embodiments may be performed in hardware, in software or both. For example, at least some of the operations in the feedback technique may be implemented usingprogram module2122, operating system2124 (such as drivers for interface circuits2118) and/or in firmware in interface circuits2118. Alternatively or additionally, at least some of the operations in the feedback technique may be implemented in a physical layer, such as hardware in interface circuits2118.

Moreover, while the preceding embodiments included a touch-sensitive display in the portable electronic device that the user touches (e.g., with a finger or digit, or a stylus), in other embodiments the user interface is display on a display in the portable electronic device and the user interacts with the user interface without making contact or touching the surface of the display. For example, the user's interact(s) with the user interface may be determined using time-of-flight measurements, motion sensing (such as a Doppler measurement) or another non-contact measurement that allows the position, direction of motion and/or speed of the user's finger or digit (or a stylus) relative to position(s) of one or more virtual command icons to be determined. In these embodiments, note that the user may activate a given virtual command icon by performing a gesture (such as ‘tapping’ their finger in the air without making contact with the surface of the display). In some embodiments, the user navigates through the user interface and/or activates/deactivates functions of one of the components in system100 (FIG. 1) using spoken commands or instructions (i.e., via voice recognition) and/or based on where they are looking in the visual feedback displayed on A/V display device114 inFIG. 1 (e.g., by tracking the user's gaze or where the user is looking).

Furthermore, while A/V hub112 (FIG. 1) was illustrated as a separate component from A/V display device114 (FIG. 1), in some embodiments the components are combined into a single component or a single electronic device.

While the preceding embodiments illustrated the feedback technique with audio and video content, in other embodiments the feedback technique is used in the context of an arbitrary type of data or information. For example, the feedback technique may be used with home-automation data. In these embodiments, A/V hub112 (FIG. 1) may facilitate communication among and control of a wide variety of electronic devices, including electronic devices in addition to or other than entertainment devices. Thus, A/V hub112 (FIG. 1) and the feedback technique may be used to facilitate or implement the so-called Internet of things.

Moreover, while HDMI is used as an illustrative example of a content format in the preceding discussion, in other embodiments content that is compatible with another format or standard is used in the embodiments of the feedback technique.

In the preceding description, we refer to ‘some embodiments.’ Note that ‘some embodiments’ describes a subset of all of the possible embodiments, but does not always specify the same subset of embodiments.

The foregoing description is intended to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the disclosure, and is provided in the context of a particular application and its requirements. Moreover, the foregoing descriptions of embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration and description only. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the forms disclosed. Accordingly, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Additionally, the discussion of the preceding embodiments is not intended to limit the present disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.