Remote control device and method of controlling other devices using the same

Abstract

Provided is a method of controlling an electronic device by using a remote control device comprising a touch screen, the method including selecting one of a plurality of functions supported by the electronic device via the touch screen, sequentially displaying a plurality of user interfaces, usable for controlling the function selected with an input detected by the touch screen, one-by-one, and controlling the electronic device by using one of the plurality of user interfaces that are sequentially displayed.

1 . A method of controlling an electronic device by using a remote control device comprising a touch screen, the method comprising:
 selecting one of a plurality of functions supported by the electronic device via the touch screen;   sequentially displaying each of a plurality of user interfaces on the touch screen, the plurality of user interfaces being usable for controlling the selected function with an input detected by the touch screen; and   controlling the electronic device by using one of the plurality of user interfaces that are sequentially displayed.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected function is a function of switching channels. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of user interfaces includes at least two selected from a group comprising a user interface for switching channels up and down, a user interface for inputting channel numbers, and a user interface for displaying a list of channels. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a first user interface, which is either a most frequently used user interface or a user interface designated by a user in advance, is displayed first in the sequentially displaying of each of the plurality of user interfaces on the touch screen. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the input detected by the touch screen is generated by touching the touch screen. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the input detected by the touch screen is generated by sliding while maintaining touch from a first location to a second location across the touch screen. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a task user interface which controls a function relevant to a task currently performed by the electronic device is further displayed on the touch screen when the plurality of user interfaces are sequentially displayed. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein, when the task is completed, the task user interface is no longer displayed on the touch screen. 
   
   
       9 . A remote control device for controlling an electronic device, the remote control device comprising:
 a touch screen which detects an input for selecting one of a plurality of functions supported by the electronic device and sequentially displays each of a plurality of user interfaces for controlling the selected function; and   a control unit which controls the electronic device through use of one of the plurality of user interfaces that are sequentially displayed.   
   
   
       10 . The remote control device of  claim 9 , wherein the selected function is a function of switching channels. 
   
   
       11 . The remote control device of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of user interfaces includes at least two selected from a group comprising a user interface for switching channels up and down, a user interface for inputting channel numbers, and a user interface for displaying a list of channels. 
   
   
       12 . The remote control device of  claim 9 , wherein the touch screen displays a first user interface, which is either a most frequently used user interface or a user interface designated by a user in advance, first from among the plurality of user interfaces. 
   
   
       13 . The remote control device of  claim 9 , wherein the input detected by the touch screen is generated by touching the touch screen. 
   
   
       14 . The remote control device of  claim 9 , wherein the input detected by the touch screen is generated by sliding while maintaining touch from a first location to a second location across the touch screen. 
   
   
       15 . The remote control device of  claim 9 , wherein the touch screen further displays a task user interface which controls a function relevant to a task currently performed by the electronic device when the plurality of user interfaces are sequentially displayed. 
   
   
       16 . The remote control device of  claim 9 , wherein, when the task is completed, the touch screen no longer displays the task user interface. 
   
   
       17 . A computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing a method of controlling an electronic device by using a remote control device comprising a touch screen, the method comprising:
 selecting one of a plurality of functions supported by the electronic device via the touch screen;   sequentially displaying each of a plurality of user interfaces on the touch screen, the plurality of user interfaces being usable for controlling the selected function with an input detected by the touch screen; and   controlling the electronic device by using one of the plurality of user interfaces that are sequentially displayed.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a current one of the plurality of user interfaces being displayed on the touch screen is changed by generating a switch command detected by the touch screen, the switch command indicating a request for the touch screen to display another one of the plurality of user interfaces. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the switch command is generated by touching the touch screen. 
   
   
       20 . The remote control device of  claim 9 , wherein a current one of the plurality of user interfaces being displayed on the touch screen is changed by generating a switch command detected by the touch screen, the switch command indicating a request for the touch screen to display another one of the plurality of user interfaces. 
   
   
       21 . The remote control device of  claim 20 , wherein the switch command is generated by touching the touch screen.