System and method for multi-mode command input

Abstract

A controlling device has a moveable touch sensitive panel positioned above a plurality of switches. When the controlling device senses an activation of at least one of the plurality of switches when caused by a movement of the touch sensitive panel resulting from an input at an input location upon the touch sensitive surface, the controlling device responds by transmitting a signal to an appliance wherein the signal is reflective of the input location upon the touch sensitive surface.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method for remotely controlling one or more devices and/or a user interface, the method comprising:
 detecting a user input event at a portion of a user input device of a remote control;   determining whether the user input event is a click event or a touch event;   mapping a control command to the user input event based on whether the user input event is a click event or a touch event and on the portion of the user input button at which the user input event was detected; and   for a particular portion of the user input element at which the user input event was detected, causing a first control command to be executed in response to determining that the user input event is a click event and causing a second control command to be executed in response to determining that the user input event is a touch event;   wherein a threshold associated with a depression of the user input element is used to determine whether the user input event is a click event or a touch event.   
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the user input element comprises a touch sensing device and wherein detecting the user input event at the portion of the user input device comprises determining an X/Y location of a touch upon the touch sensing device. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the threshold associated with the depression comprises a threshold associated with a depression of a metallic dome underlying the user input element. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the second control command comprises a graphical user interface navigational control command. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , comprising causing indicia to be displayed on a display device for indicating to a user a plurality of control commands transmittable from the remote control via user interaction with the input element. 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising enabling a user to selectively map different control commands of a plurality of control commands to different user input events receivable via the user input element. 
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising enabling a user to selectively map different control commands of a plurality of control commands to different portions of the user input element. 
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein control commands transmitted from the remote control are executable through interaction with the graphical user interface when displayed on a display screen. 
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the first and/or second control command is a command for remotely controlling a controlled device and the method further comprising executing the first and/or second control command at the controlled device. 
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein a unique control command is mapped to each portion of the user input element for each of at least a click input event and a touch input event. 
     
     
         12 . A remote control system for remotely controlling one or more devices and/or a user interface, the remote control system comprising:
 a plurality of user input elements, each of the user input elements configured to receive a user input event;   a plurality of sensors associated with a one of the plurality of user input elements, the sensors being configured to generate sensor data in response to a user input event being received at the one of the plurality of user input elements;   user input event detection logic configured to receive the sensor data and identify whether the user input event received at the one of the plurality of user input elements was a click event or a touch event, or another user input event; and   command selection logic configured, for a particular portion of the user input element at which the user input event was received, to cause a first control command to be executed in response to determining that the user input event received at the one of the plurality of user input elements was a click event and to cause a second control command to be executed in response to determining that the user input event received at the one of the plurality of user input elements was a touch event;   wherein a threshold associated with a depression of the user input element is used to determine whether the user input event is a click event or a touch event.   
     
     
         13 . The remote control system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the user input element comprises a touch sensing device and wherein the command selection logic detects the user input event at the particular portion of the user input device by determining an X/Y location of a touch upon the touch sensing device. 
     
     
         14 . The remote control system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the threshold associated with the depression comprises a threshold associated with a depression of a metallic dome underlying the user input element. 
     
     
         15 . The remote control system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the second control command comprises a graphical user interface navigational control command. 
     
     
         16 . The remote control system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein control commands transmitted from the remote control system are executable through interaction with the graphical user interface when displayed on a display screen. 
     
     
         17 . The remote control system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the first and/or second control command is a command for remotely controlling a controlled device and the first and/or second control command is executed at the controlled device. 
     
     
         18 . The remote control system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein a unique control command is mapped to each portion of the user input element for each of at least a click input event and a touch input event. 
     
     
         19 . The remote control system as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising remote control user customization logic, the remote control user customization logic being configured to enable a user to selectively map different control commands to different portions of the one of the plurality of user input elements.