METHOD FOR CONTROLLING POSITION OF INDICATOR

• US 20020122027A1
• Filed: 10/15/1999
• Published: 09/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: KIM, PHIL-TAE
• Granted Patent: US 7,154,473 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/167
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4221 Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42213 for facilitating data entry
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4858 for modifying screen layout parameters, e.g. fonts, size of the windows
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44504 Circuit details of the additional information generator, e.g. details of the character or graphics signal generator, overlay mixing circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen

Abstract

An apparatus and process for controlling the position of an indicator in a user interface using a menu is disclosed. By the method, when a menu having items selected and adjusted by an indicator is displayed, and the position and a size of the menu are changed, the indicator follows the changed menu. Thus, an interface can be easily realized.

Claims

1. A method, comprising the steps of:

displaying a menu and an indicator on a display screen by manually operating a remote controller, with said indicator being initially displayed at a predetermined position within said menu;

making a selection of a menu item displayed within said display screen by moving said indicator around said menu to said menu item;

storing a location of said menu item within said display screen;

displaying a sub menu of said menu item, with said sub menu being comprised of a plurality of sub menu items contextually related to said menu item, with said indicator being displayed on said display screen within an area of said sub menu where said sub menu items are displayed, and erasing said sub menu; and

automatically adjusting display of said indicator to display said indicator on said screen at said location of said menu item.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprised of automatically, initially displaying said indicator superimposed upon a first sub menu item of said sub menu upon initial said displaying of said sub menu.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprised of:

initiating display of said menu on said display screen by manually pressing a key on said remote controller;

moving said indicator within said screen by manipulating a cursor controller mounted on said remote controller; and

making said selection by manual manipulation of said selection key.

4. A method comprising the steps of:

displaying a menu and an indicator on a display screen by manually operating a remote controller, with said indicator being initially displayed at a predetermined position within said menu;

making a selection of a menu item displayed within said display screen by moving said indicator around said menu to said menu item;

storing a location of said menu item in reference to said menu area;

displaying items selected and adjusted by an indicator from said menu; and

changing a position and size of said menu, said indicator automatically following said menu.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said indicator is located in an area where the changed said menu is displayed.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprised of:

initiating display of said menu on said display screen by manually pressing a key on said remote controller;

moving said indicator within said screen by manipulating a cursor controller mounted on said remote controller;

making said selection by manual manipulation of said selection key; and

changing the position and size of said menu by manual manipulation of an enlargement and reduction key.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein changing the position and size of said menu locates said indicator to the stored said location.

8. A method, comprising the steps of:

a menu key on a remote controller being pressed to display a menu on a display screen, an initial position of an indicator being in an area of said menu, said indicator able to position to anywhere on said display screen;

moving said indicator to a menu item location using a trackball on said remote controller,;

selecting said menu item with a selection key on said remote controller;

storing location of said menu item;

performing a function of selected menu item;

displaying a sub menu of said menu;

said indicator positioning to a location of said sub menu;

selecting an item in said submenu;

performing function of said sub menu;

erasing said sub menu; and

automatically adjusting display of said indicator to display said indicator on said screen at said location of said menu item.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said indicator is initially located in the center of said first menu item.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein after erasing said sub menu, said indicator locates back to a center of said stored location of said menu.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

selecting and adjusting an item from said menu by using an indicator;

displaying items selected and adjusted by an indicator from said menu;

changing a position and size of said menu; and

said indicator automatically following said menu.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein changing the position and size of said menu makes said indicator locate to the stored said location.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein a trackball within a remote controller changes the location of said indicator, said trackball'"'"'s change in vertical and horizontal direction correspond to change in vertical and horizontal direction of said indicator.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein said menu overlaps an image signal generated on said display screen.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein said menu is separated from an image signal generated on said display screen.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein said display screen is in a cathode ray tube.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

a trackball on a remote controller for controlling the movement of an indicator on a display screen relative to a predetermined initial position of said indicator on the screen to select a displayed menu item;

a trackball movement sensor sensing a shift value of the movement of said trackball along X-Y coordinates relative to the predetermined initial position of said indicator;

a selection key which selects said menu items;

a menu key which displays said menu on a display screen;

a shift value data storage unit accommodating the storing shift value data corresponding to the movement of said trackball relative to the initial indicator position;

a control commander selecting the control function corresponding to said menu item where said indicator is located when said selection key is activated;

a data generator, responsive to said remote controller for generating data corresponding to the stored shift value of said trackball received from said shift value data storage unit when said remote controller is activated; and

a transmitting means accommodating coding and transmitting data from said data generating means to an electrical appliance; and

wherein said electrical appliance comprises;

a receiver accommodating the data transmitted by said transmitting means;

a display control unit, connected to said receiver, displaying a menu on said display portion according to said received data;

an indicator display, said indicator display unit displays said indicator in a center point of a selected submenu;

said display screen;

a microprocessor; and

a menu storage means, connected to said display control unit, for providing data which is displayed on said display portion.