Remote device control using gestures on a touch sensitive device

Abstract

A computing device includes a touch-sensitive area that is arranged and configured to receive one or more gestures, and a memory that is arranged and configured to store one or more device gestures, where the stored device gestures correspond to a selection of one or more remote devices and a processor that is operably coupled to the touch sensitive area and the memory. The processor is arranged and configured to compare the gestures received in the touch sensitive area to the stored device gestures, determine a selected remote device based on the comparison, and initiate contact with the selected remote device.

1 . A computing device, comprising:
 a touch-sensitive input device configured to receive gesture input;   a memory configured to store a gesture pattern associated with a particular remote device, the particular remote device in wireless communication with the computing device;   a communication interface to wirelessly communicate between the computing device and the particular remote device; and   a processor operably coupled to the touch-sensitive input device, the memory, and the communication interface, the processor configured to:
 determine, based on a gesture input and the gesture pattern, a selection of the particular remote device; and 
 output, to the communication interface, a wake-up signal configured to cause the particular remote device to transition to an active state. 
   
     
     
         2 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the memory stores a configurable period of time and the gesture pattern corresponds to multiple touches received within the configurable period of time. 
     
     
         3 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the gesture pattern corresponds to a plurality of simultaneous touches. 
     
     
         4 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the touch-sensitive input device comprises a plurality of different touch-sensitive areas; and   the gesture pattern corresponds to multiple simultaneous touches received at two or more touch-sensitive areas from the plurality of different touch-sensitive areas.   
     
     
         5 . The computing device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a display operably coupled to the processor;   
       wherein the processor is further configured to:
 output, for display on the display, a display screen for controlling the particular remote device. 
 
     
     
         6 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the gesture pattern associated with the particular remote device is customized by a user. 
     
     
         7 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the gesture pattern associated with the particular remote device is configured by a user. 
     
     
         8 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 output, to the communication interface, an unlock signal configured to cause the particular remote device to unlock for remote access by a user of the computing device.   
     
     
         9 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a processor, an indication of one or more gestures received at a touch-sensitive input device associated with a computing device;   determining, by the processor and based on a gesture pattern stored in a memory, a selection-of a remote device in wireless communication with the computing device, wherein the selection corresponds to the one or more gestures; and   outputting, to the remote device, a wake-up signal configured to cause the remote device to transition to an active state.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein:
 the touch-sensitive input device comprises a plurality of different touch-sensitive areas; and 
 the gesture pattern corresponds to multiple simultaneous touches received at two or more of the plurality different touch-sensitive areas and is uniquely associated with the remote device. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising:
 outputting, for display on a display associated with the computing device, a custom display screen for controlling the remote device. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the gesture pattern associated with the remote device is configured by a user. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising:
 after outputting the wake-up signal, outputting an unlock signal to the remote device configured to cause the remote device to unlock for remote access by a user of the computing device. 
 
     
     
         14 . A computing device, comprising:
 a touch-sensitive input device configured to receive gesture input;   a memory configured to store a gesture pattern associated with a particular remote device, the particular remote device in wireless communication with the computing device;   a communication interface to wirelessly communicate between the computing device and the particular remote device; and   a processor operably coupled to the touch-sensitive input device, the memory, and the communication interface, the processor configured to:
 determine, based on a gesture input and the gesture pattern, a selection of the particular remote device; and 
 output, to the communication interface, an unlock signal configured to cause the particular remote device to unlock for remote access by a user of the computing device. 
   
     
     
         15 . The computing device of  claim 14 , wherein the memory stores a configurable period of time and the gesture pattern corresponds to multiple touches received within the configurable period of time. 
     
     
         16 . The computing device of  claim 14 , wherein the gesture pattern corresponds to a plurality of simultaneous touches. 
     
     
         17 . The computing device of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the touch-sensitive input device comprises a plurality of different touch-sensitive areas; and   the gesture pattern corresponds to multiple simultaneous touches received at two or more touch-sensitive areas from the plurality of different touch-sensitive areas.   
     
     
         18 . The computing device of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a display coupled to the processor;   
       wherein the processor is further configured to:
 output, for display on the display, a display screen for controlling the particular remote device. 
 
     
     
         19 . The computing device of  claim 14 , wherein the gesture pattern associated with the particular remote device is configured by the user. 
     
     
         20 . The computing device of  claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 output, to the communication interface, a wake-up signal configured to cause the particular remote device to transition to an active state.