Graphical user interface device and method

• US 20030001898A1
• Filed: 06/27/2001
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Bernhardson, Marcus
• Granted Patent: US 6,976,228 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/786
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums

Abstract

A digital interactive television set has a graphical user interface for displaying content from a plurality of different sources on its screen e.g. from digital satellite or cable broadcasts or through the Internet, the interface comprising: a focus region (16), and horizontally and vertically extending scroll bars (H, V) which each comprise a plurality of scroll bar elements that can be scrolled successively through the focus region, the scroll bar elements of the horizontal scroll bar signifying groupings of content sources. Elements of the horizontal scroll bar are scrolled individually into the focus region, and the scroll bar elements of the vertical scroll bar signify content sources which are included within a grouping thereof associated with the individual element of the horizontal scroll bar, so that the scroll bar elements of the vertical scroll bar can then be scrolled through the focus region to select a content source of the grouping. The scroll bar elements of the horizontal scroll bar comprise a three dimensional depiction of more than one of the content source groupings, and an individual one of the groupings may be selected from the three dimensional depiction for the focus region. The three dimensional elements are the horizontal scroll bar may comprise rectangular blocks that are rotatable about a common longitudinal axis.

Claims

1. A device to provide a graphical user interface for selecting content from a plurality of sources thereof, the user interface comprising:

a focus region, and first and second transversely extending scroll bars which each comprise a plurality of scroll bar elements that can be scrolled successively through the focus region, the scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar signifying groupings of content sources, such that when elements of the first scroll bar are scrolled individually into the focus region, the scroll bar elements of the second scroll bar signify content sources which are included within a grouping thereof associated with the individual element of the first scroll bar, whereby the scroll bar elements of the second scroll bar can be scrolled through the focus region to select a content source of the grouping, at least one of the scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar comprising a multiple depiction of more than one of said content source groupings, whereby an individual one of the groupings may be selected from the multiple depiction for the focus region.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the multiple depiction of said more than one content source groupings comprises a three dimensional depiction thereof.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar include facets that signify individual groupings of the content sources.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the elements are polygonal and are rotatable about a common axis extending longitudinally of the first scroll bar.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the elements are rotatable in unison about said axis.

6. The device of claim 3 wherein the elements each include a facets associated with respective different users.

7. The device of claim 1 further including a controller operable by a user to scroll the scroll bars individually through the focus region

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the controller includes a selector device to select a content source corresponding to an individual scroll bar element when scrolled into the focus region.

9. An interactive display device for displaying content from a plurality of different sources thereof on a display screen, comprising:

circuitry to be coupled to the display screen for providing thereon a graphical user interface device for selecting content from the sources thereof, the user interface comprising;

a focus region, and first and second transversely extending scroll bars which each comprise a plurality of scroll bar elements that can be scrolled successively through the focus region, the scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar signifying groupings of content sources, such that when elements of the first scroll bar are scrolled individually into the focus region, the scroll bar elements of the second scroll bar signify content sources which are included within a grouping thereof associated with the individual element of the first scroll bar, whereby the scroll bar elements of the second scroll bar can be scrolled through the focus region to select a content source of the grouping, at least one of the scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar comprising a multiple depiction of more than one of said content source groupings, whereby an individual one of the groupings may be selected from the multiple depiction for the focus region, and

a controller operable by a user to control operation of said circuitry such that the scroll bars of the graphical user interface are scrolled individually through the focus region so that the user can select a content source to be displayed on the display screen.

10. The device of claim 9 further including the display device.

11. The device according to claim 9 comprising a control unit for a multi-channel television set.

12. The device according to claim 11 and comprising a set top box.

13. The device of claim 9 configured to receive programming data selected from a group consisting of satellite transmissions, cable transmissions, the Internet and pre-recorded digital data.

14. The device of claim 9 wherein the controller comprises a handheld device connected to the circuitry by a wireless link.

15. The device of claim 9 wherein the multiple depiction of said more than one content source groupings comprises a three dimensional depiction thereof

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the selecting of the groupings from the multiple depiction includes rotating the elements of the first scroll bar.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the selecting of the groupings from the multiple depiction includes shuffling facets which signify the groupings.

16. A data carrier provided with a program to be run by a processor to provide a graphical user interface for selecting content from a plurality of sources thereof, the user interface comprising:

a focus region, and first and second transversely extending scroll bars which each comprise a plurality of scroll bar elements that can be scrolled successively through the focus region, the scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar signifying groupings of content sources, such that when elements of the first scroll bar are scrolled individually into the focus region, the scroll bar elements of the second scroll bar signify content sources which are included within a grouping thereof associated with the individual element of the first scroll bar, whereby the scroll bar elements of the second scroll bar can be scrolled through the focus region to select a content source of the grouping, at least one of the scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar comprising a multiple depiction of more than one of said content source groupings, whereby an individual one of the groupings may be selected from the multiple depiction for the focus region.

17. A method of operating a graphical user interface to select content from a plurality of sources thereof, the user interface comprising:

a focus region, and first and second transversely extending scroll bars which each comprise a plurality of scroll bar elements that can be scrolled successively through the focus region, the scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar signifying groupings of content sources, such that when elements of the first scroll bar are scrolled individually into the focus region, the scroll bar elements of the second scroll bar signify content sources which are included within a grouping thereof associated with the individual element of the first scroll bar, at least one of the scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar comprising a multiple depiction of more than one of said content source groupings, the method comprising;

selecting an individual one of the groupings from the multiple depiction for the focus region,

moving the selected grouping into the focus region,

displaying sources associated with the grouping in the scroll bar elements of the second scroll bar, and

scrolling the second scroll bar through the focus region whereby to select a source therefrom.