If you happen to own an Apple TV then you know that entering text into a search field with Apple's tiny touch TV remote is a joke. So, Apple devised a method whereby when you click on a search field, your iPhone will send you a message that you could use your iPhone keyboard (thank god!). Once your search is complete, your iPhone takes on the UI of the Apple TV remote so that you have the option to use your iPhone instead of the tiny Apple TV remote limited to a touch pad.

The graphic below shows one of the patent figures supporting this feature juxtaposed to an actual screenshot of the actual Apple TV remote UI on an iPhone.

Apple's patent that published yesterday by USPTO details the Remote Apple TV app for your iDevice and you can review this very detailed patent filing here.

Apple's patent application was filed back in September 2016. This is considered a patent fulfilled.

Patently Apple presents a detailed summary of patent applications with associated graphics for journalistic news purposes as each such patent application is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trade Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any patent application should be read in its entirety for full and accurate details. About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. Those using abusive language or negative behavior will result in being blacklisted on Disqus.