Tv interface control system and method with automatic search

Abstract

An automatic search system and method is disclosed which automatically displays a search menu on a TV in response to opening a remote control having an internal concealed keyboard. Since a text entry keyboard is known to be in use a streamlined search menu may be displayed without an on screen keyboard. A separate on screen keyboard search menu may be activated in a different mode by using the remote in a closed configuration.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for automatically initiating a search mode in a TV environment, comprising:
 detecting opening of a remote control having a concealed text entry keyboard; and   displaying a search menu on the TV screen in response to said detecting.   
     
     
         2 . A method for automatically initiating a search mode in a TV environment as set out in  claim 1 , wherein said displaying a search menu on the TV screen comprises selecting one search menu from a plurality of search menus based on the TV viewing mode when said detecting occurs and displaying said selected search menu. 
     
     
         3 . A method for automatically initiating a search mode in a TV environment as set out in  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of search menus include a TV guide search menu and a video on demand search menu and wherein said viewing modes comprise viewing a TV show and viewing an on demand movie, respectively. 
     
     
         4 . A method for automatically initiating a search mode in a TV environment as set out in  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of search menus include a video search menu, and a picture search menu and wherein said viewing modes comprise viewing a video, and viewing pictures, respectively. 
     
     
         5 . A method for automatically initiating a search mode in a TV environment as set out in  claim 1 , wherein said remote control comprises a folding remote with a QWERTY keyboard on the inner surfaces of the folding remote and wherein said detecting comprises detecting opening of the folding keyboard. 
     
     
         6 . A method for automatically initiating a search mode in a TV environment as set out in  claim 1 , further comprising detecting closing of the remote and returning to the prior viewing mode if a search result has not been selected. 
     
     
         7 . A method for automatically initiating a search mode in a TV environment as set out in  claim 1 , further comprising toggling through different search menus in response to activation of a search mode key in said text entry keyboard. 
     
     
         8 . A method for automatically initiating a search mode in a TV environment as set out in  claim 7 , wherein said search mode key toggles between a plurality of different media groups. 
     
     
         9 . A method for automatically initiating a search mode in a TV environment as set out in  claim 7 , wherein said search mode key toggles between different search fields including title and actor search fields. 
     
     
         10 . A method for automatically initiating a search mode in a TV environment as set out in  claim 1 , wherein said search menu is displayed in a partial screen along with the program being viewed. 
     
     
         11 . A method for automatically initiating a search mode in a TV environment, comprising:
 detecting opening of a remote control having a concealed text entry keyboard;   selecting one of a plurality of different search menus based on the prior search patterns of the user or a user setting;   displaying the selected search menu on the TV screen in response to said detecting; and   entering text into the search menu in response to text entry from the keyboard.   
     
     
         12 . A method for automatically initiating a search mode in a TV environment as set out in claim  17 , wherein the plurality of search menus are at different levels and said selecting displays a higher or lower level menu based on prior search patterns. 
     
     
         13 . A method for automatically initiating a search mode in a TV environment as set out in claim  18 , wherein a higher level menu searches plural media groups. 
     
     
         14 . An entertainment system adapted for use with a TV, comprising:
 a media device adapted to be coupled to the TV and control display of media including TV shows; and   a remote control having an open and closed configuration with first inputs accessible in the closed configuration and second inputs including text entry keys accessible in the open configuration, the remote including one or more transmitters for transmitting controls signals to said media device including a signal indicating opening of the remote;   the media device including control programming to initiate display of a search menu automatically in response to receiving said control signal indicating opening of said remote and to receive text entry for the search transmitted from said remote from activation of said text entry keys.