Systems and methods for using a touch screen are provided herein. In some exemplary embodiments, the touch screen is used as a backup remote to a display and can be used as a 3D pointing device. The touch screen can be an overlay on display surface to control the display. Alternatively, the touch screen can be retractable and ejectable from the display housing. In addition, the touch screen can be wearable. Further, the touch screen can function to control one or more devices, e.g., television, set-top box, DVR, gaming consoles.

Devices such a printer 4, television 3 and car door lock 2 are controlled wirelessly by a controller 5 which may consist of eye tracking glasses that detect the gaze angle of the user also include an orientation detector that receives rf packets from the devices, from which the orientation of the device can be detected. Control of the devices is performed wirelessly when the detected orientation of the device and the gaze detection angle adopt a predetermined relationship, for example when they become aligned.

The present application relates to a remote control device for controlling a plurality of controllable devices. The remote control device comprises at least two spaced apart antennas for receiving a radio signal from a same positioning device, a sending unit for sending a control signal, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to determine a position information of the remote control device in relation to the positioning device based on the radio signal, to select a controllable device of the plurality of controllable devices depending on the position information, and to send a control information for controlling the selected controllable device via the control signal with the sending unit to the selected controllable device.

A system for controlling operation of a ground treatment machine includes a hand-held device that wirelessly communicates with the ground treatment machine. The system includes a radio frequency and an infrared frequency wireless communications that are established between the hand-held device and the ground treatment machine. Instructions associated with operation of the machine are communicated to the machine from the hand-held device via the radio frequency communications. A status of the infrared wireless communication is utilized to assess the proximity of the ground working machine relative to the operator and the operating environment such that operation of the machine in accordance with the operational instructions can be interrupted if necessary.

An apparatus for enabling manipulation of one or more audio objects may include a processor and memory storing executable computer program code that cause the apparatus to at least perform operations including detecting at least one audio object and operating a pointer in a selected direction by a user. The computer program code may further cause the apparatus to detect a gesture of the pointer in response to the operating of the pointer in the selected direction. The computer program code may further cause the apparatus to control at least one characteristic of the detected audio object in response to the detected gesture of the pointer or an indication of a selection of the at least one characteristic. Corresponding methods and computer program products are also provided.

A remote controller is arranged for selecting a light source among a plurality of light sources. The remote controller has an omnidirectional transmitter and is arranged to instruct, by means of the omnidirectional transmitter, the light sources to transmit a directional signal comprising a code, which is unique for each light source. Further, the remote controller has a directional signal receiver, and is arranged to receive the directional signals from the light sources, and signal comparison circuitry connected with the directional signal receiver. The remote controller is arranged to select one of the light sources on basis of the received directional signals. Furthermore, the remote controller comprises a transmission indicator, which is arranged to generate an indication signal, indicative of a successful omnidirectional transmission, and it is arranged to initiate the selection of one of the light sources by means of the indication signal.

A handheld electronic apparatus, a remote control method, a home appliance system and a home appliance apparatus are disclosed. The handheld electronic apparatus comprises a network module, an orientation sensor, a touch display and a processor. The network module receives a broadcast packet, which comprises a home appliance orientation and a controllable function of the home appliance apparatus and is outputted from the home appliance apparatus. The orientation sensor provides the remote control orientation of the handheld electronic apparatus. The processor relates the controllable function to a touch gesture of the touch display, and determines whether the home appliance apparatus is a controlled apparatus according to the home appliance orientation and the remote control orientation. When the home appliance apparatus is the controlled apparatus, and the touch display receives the touch gesture, the remote control home appliance apparatus executes the controllable function.

A radio frequency (RF) remote controller device comprises radio frequency (RF) circuitry operably coupled to an antenna arrangement and arranged to transmit and receive RF signals to and from controllable devices. The RF remote controller device further comprises signal process logic operably coupled to the RF circuitry and to a user interface. The antenna arrangement is arranged to comprise a directivity characteristic. The signal processing logic upon receipt of a command input from the user interface, is arranged to: determine at least one link quality value that is at least partly dependent upon the directivity characteristic for the at least one controllable device; and select the controllable device for remote controlling based on the determined at least one link quality value.

A method of selecting and controlling devices based on wireless communication technology. The wireless controller sends a probe message to one or more devices; each device receives the probe message, obtains information in respect of its relative position with respect to the wireless controller, determines a response time to respond according to a first predefined rule, based on its relative position information: detects response signals from other devices before expiration of the response time; decides whether to send or not to send its response signal according to a second predefined rule and the detecting procedure of response signals from other devices; the wireless controller receives response signals sent by the devices after the comparison of the relative position information of each device with respect to the wireless controller, and selects the target devices from the devices. Embodiments of the present invention reduce the complexity, delay and energy consumption of the selection for wireless devices, and are especially applicable for wireless lighting systems.

The present disclosure provides methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable mediums for performing ultra-wideband (UWB) remote control. In some embodiments, the method includes broadcasting an initial control request. The method further includes receiving, from one or more remote devices, at least one reply message comprising identification information and power spectrum information. The method further includes estimating, for each of the one or more remote devices, an angle indicating a pointing direction to that remote device relative to the remote control device. The method further includes determining a selected remote device that is being pointed at by the remote control device. The method further includes sending, to the one or more remote devices, a control signal comprising the identification information of the selected remote device and a control message indicating an action to be performed by the selected remote device.