Systems and methods for providing a dynamically controllable user interface that embraces a variety of media
First Claim
1. In a computing system that includes a display screen that is capable of displaying a variety of types of media, a method for providing a dynamically controllable user interface that embraces the variety of types of media, the method comprising the acts of:
- displaying a menu system on the display screen, wherein the menu system includes first and second categories selectable by a viewer;
displaying the first category at a selected location of the display screen; and
upon receiving an input command corresponding to a selection of the second category by the viewer, ratcheting the first category from the selected position so as to automatically replace the first category with the second category at the selected position of the display screen.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for providing a dynamically controllable user interface that embraces a variety of media. A menu system, which interfaces between a user and a variety of media and offers contextual and static options to the user, is capable ratcheting upon receipt of one or more input commands. Contextual options allow a user to control various media, such as television programming and/or web pages, on the television screen, while static options allow a user to execute mini applications while viewing television programming and/or surfing the Internet. The ratcheting menu system that organizes the various options, allows a user to control a variety of media through one menu system, and optimizes the display area on a television screen. The menu system allows for access to television programming while providing authentication to maintain security on web pages.
172 Citations
32 Claims
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1. In a computing system that includes a display screen that is capable of displaying a variety of types of media, a method for providing a dynamically controllable user interface that embraces the variety of types of media, the method comprising the acts of:
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displaying a menu system on the display screen, wherein the menu system includes first and second categories selectable by a viewer;
displaying the first category at a selected location of the display screen; and
upon receiving an input command corresponding to a selection of the second category by the viewer, ratcheting the first category from the selected position so as to automatically replace the first category with the second category at the selected position of the display screen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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18. A dynamically controllable menu system for use with a display screen that provides options selectable by a user to perform one or more functions on a variety of different types of media, the menu system comprising:
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a plurality of categories displayed on the display screen, wherein the categories are capable of ratcheting such that any category from the plurality of categories that is selected by a user is displayed at a selected location on the display screen, while having the selected position remain constant; and
a plurality of subcategories corresponding to the plurality of categories, wherein the only subcategories displayed on the display screen at a given instant in time are the one or more subcategories corresponding to the selected category displayed at the selected position on the display screen at the given instant in time.
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23. A menu system for use in a computing system that includes a variety of options available to a user for controlling a variety of media, the menu system comprising:
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a contextual option, which upon selection, controls an aspect of media displayed on a display device; and
a static option, which upon selection, executes a mini application while displaying the media on the display device, wherein the contextual option and the static option are organized in a categorical order that includes a plurality of categories, and the order is capable of ratcheting upon a receipt of user input such that a category of the order that is selected by the user is displayed at a selected position on the display screen.
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27. A computer program product for implementing within a computing system a method for providing a ratcheting menu system on a display screen that interfaces between a user and a variety of media, the computer program product comprising:
a computer readable medium for providing computer program code means utilized to implement the method, wherein the computer program code means is comprised of executable code for implementing the acts of;
displaying the menu system on the display screen, wherein the menu system includes first and second categories selectable by a viewer;
displaying the first category at a selected location of the display screen; and
upon receiving a user input command corresponding to a selection of the second category by the viewer, ratcheting the first category from the selected position so as to automatically replace the first category with the second category at the selected position of the display screen, while having the selected position remain constant.
Specification