Method of operating an appliance

• US 20010013906A1
• Filed: 12/21/2000
• Published: 08/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Thorgeirsson, Gudmund Orn
• Granted Patent: US 6,677,966 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/569
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/431 Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of operating an appliance. The method according to the invention comprises the display of a state diagram on a display screen. The state diagram comprises state symbols representing operative states of the appliance. A state cursor is provided, which indicates a position relative to the state diagram, which state cursor can be relocated in response to user supplied cursor control commands. The appliance can be operated by navigating the state cursor to a state symbol representing a desired state of the appliance, which causes the appliance to adopt the desired state in response to said navigation.

Claims

1. A method of operating an appliance, comprising a step of displaying a state diagram on a display screen, the state diagram comprising state symbols representing operative states of the appliance, a step of displaying a state cursor indicating a position relative to the state diagram, a step of user operably moving, in response to at least one user supplied command indicating a motion direction, the state cursor to a state symbol representing a desired state of the appliance, and a step of bringing the appliance into the desired state in response to said movement.

2. A method as claimed in

claim 1

, the method further comprising a step of displaying transition indications for indicating permissible transitions between said operative states, the movement of the state cursor being restricted to proceed in accordance with said permissible transitions.

3. A method as claimed in

claim 1

or

2

, further comprising a step of displaying a neutral state symbol not representing an operative state of the appliance, a movement of the state cursor to said neutral state symbol having a neutral effect on the operation of the appliance.

4. A method as claimed in

claim 2

or

3

, further comprising a step of moving the state cursor relative to a state symbol without affecting the current state of the appliance, so as to select a respective state transition related to said state symbol.

5. A method as claimed in any one of

claims 1

to

4

, further comprising a step of displaying at least one current state indicator marking a respective state symbol as representing a current state of the appliance.

6. A method as claimed in any one of

claims 1

to

5

, further comprising a step of expanding a state symbol, in response to a movement of the state cursor to said state symbol, to display further state symbols representing subordinate states of a state represented by said state symbol.

7. A method as claimed in

claim 6

, further comprising a step of collapsing said state symbol to hide said further state symbols in response to a movement of the state cursor away from said state symbol.

8. An appliance comprising state diagram means for displaying a state diagram on a display screen, the state diagram comprising state symbols representing operative states of the appliance, user operable cursor movement means for moving, in response to at least one user supplied command indicating a motion direction, the state cursor to a state symbol representing a desired state of the appliance, the appliance being adapted to adopt the desired state in response to said movement.

9. An appliance as claimed in

claim 8

, the state diagram means being adapted to display transition indications for indicating permissible transitions between said operative states, the movement means being adapted to restrict the movement of the state cursor in accordance with said permissible transitions.

10. An appliance as claimed in

claim 8

or

9

, the state diagram means being adapted to display a neutral state symbol not representing an operative state of the appliance, a movement of the state cursor to said neutral state symbol having a neutral effect on the operation of the appliance.

11. An appliance as claimed as defined in

claim 9

or

10

, the movement means being further adapted to move the state cursor relative to a state symbol without affecting the current state of the appliance, so as to select a respective transition indication related to said state symbol.

12. An appliance as claimed in any one of

claims 8

to

11

, further comprising state indicator means for displaying at least one current state indicator marking a respective state symbol as representing a current state of the appliance.

13. An appliance as claimed in any one of

claims 8

to

12

, the state diagram means being adapted to expand a state symbol, in response to a movement of the state cursor to said state symbol, to display further state symbols representing subordinate states of a state represented by said state symbol.

14. An appliance as claimed in

claim 13

, the state diagram means being further adapted to collapse said state symbol to hide said further state symbols in response to a movement of the state cursor away from said state symbol.

15. A audio or video player/recorder as an appliance as claimed in any one of

claims 8

to

14

.

16. A television receiver an appliance as claimed in any one of

claims 8

to

14

.