Method and apparatus for controlling a pointer display based on the handling of a pointer device

Abstract

A pointing device includes a navigation unit that generates position signals that indicate where a pointer is directed. The pointing device includes a selection unit that generates selection signals that indicate that a selection is made. The pointing device includes a sensor unit that generates an active signal that indicates that the pointing device is being handled. A transmission unit is coupled to the navigation unit, selection unit, and sensor unit. The transmission unit transmits the position signals, selection signals, and active signal to a remote location.

1 . A wireless remote control unit for an entertainment system comprising: 
 a sensor unit that generates an active signal to display a pointer on a display device of the entertainment system independent of the selection of any position direction, any command, and any option; and    a transmission unit, coupled to the navigation unit, to transmit the active signal to a wireless receiver of an entertainment system.    
   
   
       2 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor unit comprises a pressure sensor.  
   
   
       3 . The unit of  claim 2 , wherein the pressure sensor is located where a person using the wireless remote control unit would have to depress it.  
   
   
       4 . The unit of  claim 2 , wherein the pressure sensor is located on the bottom of the wireless remote control unit.  
   
   
       5 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor unit comprises a motion sensor.  
   
   
       6 . The unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a navigation unit to generate position signals to direct the position of the pointer on the display device and wherein the transmission unit further transmits the position signals to the wireless receiver of the entertainment system.  
   
   
       7 . The unit of  claim 6 , wherein the navigation unit comprises a trackball.  
   
   
       8 . The unit of  claim 6 , wherein the navigation unit comprises a finger pad.  
   
   
       9 . The unit of  claim 6 , wherein the navigation unit comprises a plurality of navigation buttons.  
   
   
       10 . The unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a selection unit to generate selection signals indicating a selection of an option related to the position of the pointer on the display device and wherein the transmission unit further transmits the selection signals to the wireless receiver of the entertainment system.  
   
   
       11 . A pointing device, comprising: 
 a navigation unit to generate position signals indicating where a pointer is to be directed on a display device;    a selection unit to generate selection signals indicating when a selection is made;    a sensor unit, independent of the navigation unit and the selection unit, to generate an active signal indicating that the pointing device is being handled; and    a transmission unit coupled to the navigation unit, the selection unit and the sensor unit to receive the position signals, the selection signals and the active signal and transmit them to a remote location.    
   
   
       12 . The pointing device of  claim 11 , wherein the position signals describe a coordinate on a defined coordinate system of the display device to move the pointer.  
   
   
       13 . The pointing device of  claim 11 , wherein the navigation unit comprises at least one of a trackball, a touch pad, a joystick, and a plurality of navigation buttons.  
   
   
       14 . The pointing device of  claim 11 , wherein the selection unit comprises a button so that a user can make a selection by positioning the pointer with the navigation unit and pushing the selection button.  
   
   
       15 . The pointing device of  claim 11 , wherein the selection signals are effective to notify a computer system at the remote location that a selectable identifier on a display device has been selected.  
   
   
       16 . The pointing device of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor unit is triggered when the pointing device is being used.  
   
   
       17 . The pointing device of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor unit is triggered whenever the navigation unit or the selection unit is being used.  
   
   
       18 . The pointing device of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor unit comprises a pressure sensor.  
   
   
       19 . The pointing device of  claim 11 , wherein the pressure sensor is located where a person using the pointing device would have to depress it.  
   
   
       20 . The pointing device of  claim 18 , wherein the pressure sensor is located on the bottom of the pointing device.  
   
   
       21 . The pointing device of  claim 18 , wherein the sensor unit comprises a motion sensor.  
   
   
       22 . The pointing device of  claim 11 , wherein the transmission unit transmits to a wireless interface of an entertainment system.  
   
   
       23 . The pointing device of  claim 22 , wherein the active signal is effective to display the pointer on a display device of the entertainment system.