Remote control and pointing device

Claim 2

In a system having a host computer and at least one target device wherein said host computer comprises of a central processing unit (CPU), memory for storing a plurality of control functions, a video output display, a control device for generating position data relative to movement of said control device for display on said video output display and for remotely controlling said target device currently supported by said host computer, said control device comprising: host system configuration means for generating a plurality of operating modes on said host computer to be selected by said control device and for generating control data to operate said target device, said control data corresponding to one of said plurality of operating modes selected; cursor control means coupled to said host system configuration means for generating position data to said video output display, said cursor control means being capable of selecting one of said plurality of operating modes from said host system configuration means by controlling said video output display through said position data; receiver means coupled to said cursor control means for receiving said control data from said host system configuration means; encoder means coupled to said receiver means for modulating said control data corresponding to said one selected mode to generate modulated control data; transmitter means coupled to said encoder means for transmitting said modulated control data representative of said one selected mode to said target device.

Claim 3

A control device according to claim 1, wherein said cursor control means comprises: position means for generating displacement signals representing the movement of said cursor control means relative to said position means, said cursor control means emitting a continuous signal during the movement; and decoder means coupled to said cursor control means for generating said position data to said video output display responsive to said displacement signals.

Claim 4

A control device according to claim 1, wherein said host system configuration generates said plurality of operating modes to be selected through a graphical user interface menu displayed on said video output display, one of said plurality of operating modes being selected by said position data.

Claim 5

A control device according to claim 3, wherein said host system configuration means comprises: remote control means for retrieving remote control functions stored in said memory of said host computer system when selected as one of said plurality of operating modes and transferring said remote control functions to said target device through said encoder means and said transmitter means; learn control means for updating said memory of said host computer system with the control functions associated with a second target device not previously coupled to said system when selected as one of said plurality of operating modes, said control functions associated with said second target device being subsequently invoked by said remote control means; cursor mode means for activating said cursor control means when selected as one of said plurality of operating modes.

Claim 6

A control device according to claim 4, said host system configuration means further comprising: network control means for retrieving network control functions store in said memory of said host computer system when selected as one of said plurality of operating modes and when said system is coupled to a third target computer through a network, said network control means transferring said network control functions to said target device through said encoder means and said transmitter means.

Claim 7

A control device according to claim 5, wherein transmitter means transmits said modulated control data in infrared signal.

Claim 8

A control device according to claim 2, wherein said position means generates said displacement signals by reflecting said continuous signal from said cursor control means and said decoder means comprises an optical input for receiving the reflected continuous signal.

Claim 9

In a system having a host computer and at least one target device wherein said host computer comprises of a central processing unit (CPU), memory for storing a plurality of control functions, a video output display, a method of generating position data relative to movement of said control device for display on said video output display and of remotely controlling said target device currently supported by said host computer, said method comprising the steps of: generating a plurality of operating modes on said host computer on host system configuration means to be selected by said control device and for generating control data to operate said target device, said control data corresponding to one of said plurality of operating modes selected; generating position data to said video output display through cursor control means coupled to said host system configuration means, said cursor control means being capable of selecting one of said plurality of operating modes from said host system configuration means by controlling said video output display through said position data; receiving said control data from said host system configuration means by receiver means coupled to said cursor control means; modulating said control data corresponding to said one selected mode to generate modulated control data through encoder means coupled to said receiver means; transmitting said modulated control data representative of said one selected mode to said target device on transmitter means coupled to said encoder means.

Claim 10

In a system having a host computer and at least one target device wherein said host computer comprises of a central processing unit (CPU), memory for storing a plurality of control functions, a video output display, a method of generating position data relative to movement of said control device for display on said video output display and of remotely controlling said target device currently supported by said host computer, said method comprising the steps of: generating a plurality of operating modes on said host computer on host system configuration means to be selected by said control device and for generating control data to operate said target device, said control data corresponding to one of said plurality of operating modes selected; generating position data to said video output display through cursor control means coupled to said host system configuration means, said cursor control means being capable of selecting one of said plurality of operating modes from said host system configuration means by controlling said video output display through said position data; receiving said control data from said host system configuration means by receiver means coupled to said cursor control means; modulating said control data corresponding to said one selected mode to generate modulated control data through encoder means coupled to said receiver means; transmitting said modulated control data representative of said one selected mode to said target device on transmitter means coupled to said encoder means.

Claim 11

A method according to claim 8, wherein the step of generating position data to said video output display through cursor control means comprises: generating displacement signals representing the movement of said cursor control means relative to said position means on position means, said cursor control means emitting a continuous signal during the movement; and generating said position data to said video output display responsive to said displacement signals on decoder means coupled to said cursor control means.

Claim 12

A method according to claim 8, wherein the step of generating a plurality of operating modes on said host computer comprises generating through a graphical user interface menu displayed on said video output display, one of said plurality of operating modes being selected by said position data.

Claim 13

A method according to claim 10, wherein the step of generating a plurality of operating modes on said host computer on host system configuration means comprises: retrieving remote control functions stored in said memory of said host computer system through remote control means when selected as one of said plurality of operating modes and transferring said remote control. functions to said target device through said encoder means and said transmitter means; updating said memory of said host computer system on learn control means with the control functions associated with a second target device not previously coupled to said system when selected as one of said plurality of operating modes, said control functions associated with said second target device being subsequently invoked by said remote control means; activating said cursor control means through cursor mode means when selected as one of said plurality of operating modes.

Claim 14

A method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of: retrieving network control functions store in said memory of said host computer system through network control means when selected as one of said plurality of operating modes and when said system is coupled to a third target computer through a network, said network control means transferring said network control functions to said target device through said encoder means and said transmitter means.

Claim 15

A method according to claim 12, wherein said transmitter means transmits said modulated control data in infrared signal.

Claim 16

A method according to claim 9, wherein said position means generates said displacement signals by reflecting said continuous signal from said cursor control means and said decoder means comprises an optical input for receiving the reflected continuous signal.

Claim 17

In a multimedia system having a host computer and a plurality of target devices supported by said host computer, wherein said host computer comprises of a central processing unit (CPU), memory, a graphical user interface (GUI)-based video output display, a control device for generating cursor control on said video output display and for operating said plurality of target devices, said control device comprising: host system configuration means coupled to said CPU for generating a plurality of operating modes for each of said plurality of target devices on said GUI-based video output display, said host system configuration means generating control data for each of said plurality of operating modes capable of controlling said plurality of target devices by retrieving said control data from said memory; control means coupled to said host system configuration means for selecting one of said plurality of operating modes for one of said plurality of target devices through said GUI-based video output display, said control means causing said host system configuration means to transmit said control data corresponding to one of said plurality of operating modes for one of said plurality of target devices; receiver means coupled to said control means for receiving said control data from said host system configuration means; modulator means coupled to said receiver means for modulating said control data with infrared signal; transmitter means coupled to said modulating means for transmitting said infrared signal modulated with said control data to said one of said plurality of target devices; optical interface means coupled to each of said plurality of target devices for receiving said infrared signal such that said control data operates said one of plurality of target devices when received by said target devices.

Claim 18

In a multimedia system having a host computer and a plurality of target devices supported by said host computer, wherein said host computer comprises of a central processing unit (CPU), memory, a graphical user interface (GUI)-based video output display, a control device for generating cursor control on said video output display and for operating said plurality of target devices, said control device comprising: host system configuration means coupled to said CPU for generating a plurality of operating modes for each of said plurality of target devices on said GUI-based video output display, said host system configuration means generating control data for each of said plurality of operating modes capable of controlling said plurality of target devices by retrieving said control data from said memory; control means coupled to said host system configuration means for selecting one of said plurality of operating modes for one of said plurality of target devices through said GUI-based video output display, said control means causing said host system configuration means to transmit said control data corresponding to one of said plurality of operating modes for one of said plurality of target devices; receiver means coupled to said control means for receiving said control data from said host system configuration means; modulator means coupled to said receiver means for modulating said control data with infrared signal; transmitter means coupled to said modulating means for transmitting said infrared signal modulated with said control data to said one of said plurality of target devices; optical interface means coupled to each of said plurality of target devices for receiving said infrared signal such that said control data operates said one of plurality of target devices when received by said target devices.

Claim 19

A control device according to claim 15, wherein said host system configuration means further comprises update means for adding an additional target device to said plurality of target devices already supported by said host computer, said update means storing corresponding control data in said memory.

Claim 20

A control device according to claim 16, wherein said control means comprises an optical cursor control and reflective pad for controlling cursor movement on said GUI-based video output display.