Gesture-based remote control

Abstract

A method and system for operating a remote-controlled device using a gesture-enabled remote control (RC) includes activating a communication link between the RC and the remote-controlled device. The remote-controlled device may implement a remote control context accommodating gesture commands generated by the RC. The RC may enable a user to generate gesture commands by performing gesture motions with the RC. Command data corresponding to gesture commands, along with selection commands from selection control inputs on the RC, may be sent to the remote-controlled device.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method, comprising:
 responsive to detecting a single upward movement of a remote control, identifying a context of a remotely controlled device; and   responsive to identifying the context of the remotely controlled device as a volume control context, wirelessly transmitting an increase volume command to the remotely controlled device.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 determining a spatial pattern corresponding to remote control motion; and   matching the spatial pattern to one of a set of particular spatial patterns.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 responsive to identifying the context of the remotely controlled device as a channel control context, wirelessly transmitting a channel up command to the remotely controlled device.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 responsive to detecting a single downward movement of the remote control, identifying the context of the remotely controlled device; and   responsive to identifying the context of the remotely controlled device as a volume control context, wirelessly transmitting a decrease volume command to the remotely controlled device.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 responsive to detecting the single downward movement of the remote control and identifying the context of the remotely controlled device as a channel change context, wirelessly transmitting a channel down command to the remotely controlled device.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 responsive to detecting multiple downward movements of the remote control, identifying the context of the remotely controlled device; and   responsive to identifying the context of the remotely controlled device as a volume control context, wirelessly transmitting a mute volume command to the remotely controlled device.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 responsive to detecting multiple upward movements of the remote control, identifying the context of the remotely controlled device; and   responsive to identifying the context of the remotely controlled device as a volume control context, wirelessly transmitting a restore volume command to the remotely controlled device.   
     
     
         28 . A remote control, comprising:
 a processor;   a wireless transceiver;   a motion detector; and   memory media accessible to the processor, including instructions executable by the processor, wherein execution of the instructions by the processor results in the processor performing operations including:
 responsive to detecting multiple downward movements of a remote control, identifying a context of a remotely controlled device; and 
 responsive to identifying the context of the remotely controlled device as a volume control context, wirelessly transmitting a mute volume command to the remotely controlled device. 
   
     
     
         29 . The remote control of  claim 28 , wherein the operations include:
 responsive to identifying the context of the remotely controlled device as a menu navigation context, wirelessly transmitting a scroll down multiple rows command to the remotely controlled device.   
     
     
         30 . The remote control of  claim 28 , wherein the operations include:
 responsive to detecting a single upward movement of the remote control, identifying the context of the remotely controlled device; and   responsive to identifying the context of the remotely controlled device as a volume control context, wirelessly transmitting an increase volume command to the remotely controlled device.   
     
     
         31 . The remote control of  claim 28 , wherein the operations include:
 responsive to detecting a single upward movement of the remote control and identifying the context of the remotely controlled device as a channel change context, wirelessly transmitting a channel up command to the remotely controlled device.   
     
     
         32 . The remote control of  claim 28 , wherein the operations include:
 responsive to detecting multiple upward movements of the remote control, identifying the context of the remotely controlled device; and   responsive to identifying the context of the remotely controlled device as a volume control context, wirelessly transmitting a restore volume command to the remotely controlled device.   
     
     
         33 . The remote control of  claim 28 , wherein the operations include:
 responsive to detecting multiple upward movements of the remote control, identifying the context of the remotely controlled device; and   responsive to identifying the context of the remotely controlled device as a menu navigation context, wirelessly transmitting a scroll up multiple rows command to the remotely controlled device.   
     
     
         34 . A non-transitory computer readable medium including processor executable program instructions that, upon execution by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 responsive to detecting multiple downward movements of a remote control, identifying a context of a remotely controlled device; and   responsive to identifying the context of the remotely controlled device as a volume control context, wirelessly transmitting a mute volume command to the remotely controlled device.   
     
     
         35 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 34 , wherein the operations include:
 responsive to identifying the context of the remotely controlled device as a menu navigation context, wirelessly transmitting a scroll down multiple rows command to the remotely controlled device.   
     
     
         36 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 34 , wherein the operations include:
 responsive to detecting multiple rightward movements of the remote control and identifying the context of the remotely controlled device as a digital video recorder playback context, wirelessly transmitting a fast forward command to the remotely controlled device.   
     
     
         37 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 34 , wherein the operations include:
 responsive to detecting multiple leftward movements of the remote control and identifying the context of the remotely controlled device as a digital video recorder playback context, wirelessly transmitting a rewind command to the remotely controlled device.   
     
     
         38 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 34 , wherein the operations include:
 responsive to detecting multiple upward movements of the remote control, identifying the context of the remotely controlled device; and   responsive to identifying the context of the remotely controlled device as a volume control context, wirelessly transmitting a restore volume command to the remotely controlled device.   
     
     
         39 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 34 , wherein the operations include:
 responsive to detecting multiple upward movements of the remote control, identifying the context of the remotely controlled device; and   responsive to identifying the context of the remotely controlled device as a menu navigation context, wirelessly transmitting a scroll up multiple rows command to the remotely controlled device.   
     
     
         40 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 34 , wherein the operations include:
 asserting a gesture enable signal via a communication channel between the remotely controlled device and the remote control, the asserted gesture enable signal indicating when gesture commands are allowed.