A remote control including a first transmitter disposed along a first end of a remote control and a second transmitter disposed along a second end opposite the first end. Each transmitter is capable of transmitting a signal to an electronic component. The remote control further includes a sensor configured to detect a characteristic. The remote control also includes a processor that can determine an orientation of the remote control based upon the detected characteristic, and a can power on one of the first transmitter and the second transmitter based upon the determined orientation of the remote control.

A remote control that receives state information from an associated media device is disclosed. The remote control, in response to receiving data indicating that the media device is in a content state, may update an input assembly to indicate that the assembly may be used to perform a movement function. The remote control may instruct the media device to perform a movement function in response to a selection gesture, where the degree of movement is a single unit. In response to a swipe gesture, the remote control may instruct the media device to perform a linear movement with a greater degree of movement. Buttons and functions of the remote control may be further adapted in response to a menu-based state, or other states of the media device.

A system and method whereby an user interface editing device is used to create a user interface for a controlling device, the created user interface including user interface elements that are associated with functional operations of a virtual equivalent of an appliance. After the created user interface is transferred to the controlling device, the virtual equivalent of an appliance is caused to be linked to an intended target appliance whereupon activation of those user interface elements of the graphical user interface that were associated with functional operations of the virtual equivalent of an appliance will cause the controlling device to transmit commands to control corresponding functional operations of the intended target appliance.

A television and system and method for providing a remote control device are disclosed. In one embodiment of the television, the television includes a processor, a memory, a tuner, a panel, and an audio driver therein in an interconnected architecture. The television may establish a pairing with a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device, such as a proximate wireless-enabled interactive handheld device having a touch screen display, whereby formatted parallel audiovisual experience instructions, including virtual buttons, may be transmitted to the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device for display on the touch screen display to create an experience parallel to the experience on the television. The television receives and processes virtual remote control functionality input instructions from the proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device to control amenities associated with the television.

For establishing cooperation among an external device 30, a video display device and a remote control terminal and to achieve cooperative operation among these devices that affords a high level of operability to a user with less burden, the video display device to which an external device and a remote control terminal that remotely operates the external device can be connected, comprising: a connection detection section configured to detect a connection of the external device to the video display device; a cooperation establishment section configured to generate a start signal for initiate an application software accepting an operation instruction to the external device on the remote control terminal when the connection detection section detects the connection of the external device; and a communication interface configured to transmit the start signal to the remote control terminal.

Remote control devices to interface with audience measurement meters are disclosed. An example remote control device to interface with an audience measurement meter includes an audience management controller to, responsive to a gender value input via a user interface of the remote control device, store the gender value, responsive to an age value input via the user interface of the remote control device, store the age value, generate a message including the gender value and age value, and a transmitter to transmit the message to the audience measurement meter, the message including a sequence of infrared codes.

Embodiments of the present application disclose a text information input method and apparatus, where the method includes: firstly, invoking a first edit box of a handheld device; afterwards, updating display content of the first edit box according to an editing operation performed by an operator on the first edit box; and then, detecting whether first display content of the first edit box at a current moment and second display content of the first edit box at a previous moment are the same, and if they are different, sending the first display content to a set top box, so that the set top box updates display content of a second edit box.

A method for controlling a display device includes establishing a data link between the display device and a hardware dongle, generating a second interface by the display device through the hardware dongle after the data link is established, generating a control signal by the display device through the second interface, and executing at least one function according to the control signal. A first interface is stored in the display device. The first interface and the second interface are different. At least one first function is supported by the display device. At least one second function is supported by the hardware dongle. The at least one first function and the at least one second function are integrated for generating the second interface by the display device after the data link is established.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a process-management interface on a companion device that allows a user to control characteristics of an application running on a primary device. The interface can change a size or position of a viewport and change the primary device's control focus to or away from viewport. The process-management interface also allows a user to target a process on the companion device.

An embodiment of the invention provides an apparatus for providing a media service while outputting a content. The apparatus includes: a processor; a memory for storing one or more program instructions executed by the processor; and a control signal receiver unit for receiving from a remote control a control signal resulting from a key input made by a user, where the program instructions determine whether the key input is a normal input or a force input by comparing a sensing level, which is associated with a pressure or an area by which the user presses the key, with a preset value; identify the content outputted on the screen when the control signal is received, when the key input is a force input; and execute an operation different from an operation of a normal input for the key, according to a combination of the identified content and the force input.