Method and system to provide a home style user interface to an interactive television system
First Claim
1. A method of executing an event in an interactive television system, the method comprising:
- associating a function with a location in an environment of the interactive television system; and
in response to a selection of the function, enabling an event associated with the function.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of executing an event in an interactive television system, includes: associating a function with a location in an environment of the interactive television system; and in response to a selection of the function, enabling an event associated with the function. An apparatus for enabling a user interface in an interactive television system, includes: a set top box communicatively coupled to the display device and capable to transmit television signals to a display device, the set top box including a user interface engine capable to display a function associated with a location in an environment of the interactive television system; the set top box further including a controller capable to execute the user interface engine and to enable an event in response to a selection of the function.
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Citations
65 Claims
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1. A method of executing an event in an interactive television system, the method comprising:
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associating a function with a location in an environment of the interactive television system; and
in response to a selection of the function, enabling an event associated with the function. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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13. An article of manufacture, comprising:
a machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions to;
associate a function with a location in an environment of the interactive television system; and
in response to a selection of the function, enable an event associated with the function.
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14. An apparatus for executing an event in an interactive television system, the apparatus comprising:
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means for associating a function with a location in an environment of the interactive television system; and
communicatively coupled to the associating means, means for enabling an event associated with the function, in response to a selection of the function.
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15. A method of organizing information in an interactive television system, the method comprising:
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displaying a function that is associated with a location in an environment of the interactive television system; and
in response to a selection of the function, enabling an event associated with the function.
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27. An article of manufacture, comprising:
a machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions to;
associate a function with a location in an environment of the interactive television system; and
in response to a selection of the function, enable an event associated with the function.
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28. An apparatus for executing an event in an interactive television system, the apparatus comprising:
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means for associating a function with a location in an environment of the interactive television system; and
communicatively coupled to the associating means, means for enabling an event associated with the function, in response to a selection of the function.
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29. A method of organizing information in an interactive television system, the method comprising:
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selecting a settings menu that includes at least one function corresponding to a location in an environment of the interactive television system;
selecting one of the functions in the settings menu;
if the selected function corresponds to a personalized location, then requiring a verification input, and if the verification input is valid, then permitting a feature in the selected function to be activated;
if the selected function does not correspond to a personalized location, their permitting a feature in the selected function to be activated; and
if the activated feature is a customizable feature, then permitting input of a name for the activated feature and a directory path to an application associated with the activated feature.
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30. An article of manufacture, comprising:
a machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions to;
select a settings menu that includes at least one function corresponding to a location in an environment of the interactive television system;
select one of the functions in the settings menu;
if the selected function corresponds to a personalized location, then require a verification input, and if the verification input is valid, then permit a feature in the selected function to be activated;
if the selected function does not correspond to a personalized location, then permit a feature in the selected function to be activated; and
if the activated feature is a customizable feature, then permit input of a name for the activated feature and a directory path to an application associated with the activated feature.
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31. An apparatus for organizing information in an interactive television system, the apparatus comprising:
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means for selecting a settings menu that includes at least one function corresponding to a location in an environment of the interactive television system;
communicatively coupled to the means for selecting the settings menu, means for selecting one of the functions in the settings menu;
communicatively coupled to the means for selecting one of the functions, means for requiring a verification input if the selected function corresponds to a personalized location and for permitting a feature in the selected function to be activated if the verification input is valid;
communicatively coupled to the means for selecting one of the functions, means for permitting a feature in the selected function to be activated if the selected function does not correspond to a personalized location; and
communicatively coupled to the means for permitting the feature, means for permitting input of a name for the activated feature and a directory path to an application associated with the activated feature if the activated feature is a customizable feature.
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32. A method of processing information in an interactive television system, the method comprising:
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checking a settings table to determine active functions and inactive functions, the active functions and the inactive functions corresponding to associated locations in an environment of the interactive television system;
displaying each active function;
selecting one of the active functions;
if the selected active function is a personalized function corresponding to a personal location, then requiring a verification input, and if the verification input is valid, then displaying at least one active feature associated with the selected active function;
if the selected active function is not a personalized function, then displaying at least one active feature associated with the selected active function; and
selecting at least one of the active features and enabling an event associated with the selected active feature.
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33. An article of manufacture, comprising:
a machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions to;
check a settings table to determine active functions and inactive functions, the active functions and the inactive functions corresponding to associated locations in an environment of the interactive television system;
display each active function;
select one of the active functions;
if the selected active function is a personalized function corresponding to a personal location, then require a verification input, and if the verification input is valid, then display at least one active feature associated with the selected active function;
if the selected active function is not a personalized function, then display at least one active feature associated with the selected active function; and
select at least one of the active features and enabling an event associated with the selected active feature. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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34. An apparatus for processing information in an interactive television system, the apparatus comprising:
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means for checking a settings table to determine active functions and inactive functions, the active functions and the inactive functions corresponding to associated locations in an environment of the interactive television system;
communicatively coupled to the checking means, means for displaying each active function;
communicatively coupled to the displaying means, means for selecting one of the active functions;
communicatively coupled to the selecting means, means for requiring a verification input if the selected active function is a personalized function corresponding to a personal location and for displaying at least one active feature associated with the selected active function if the verification input is valid;
communicatively coupled to the selecting means, means for displaying at least one active feature associated with the selected active function if the selected active function is not a personalized function; and
communicatively coupled to the selecting means, means for selecting at least one of the active features and for enabling an event associated with the selected active feature.
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35. An apparatus for enabling a user interface in an interactive television system, the apparatus comprising:
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a set top box communicatively coupled to the display device and capable to transmit television signals to a display devices the set top box including a user interface engine capable to display a function associated with a location in an environment of the interactive television system;
the set top box further including a controller capable to execute the user interface engine and to enable an event in response to a selection of the function.
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41. An apparatus for enabling a user interface in an interactive television system, the apparatus comprising:
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a remote control device capable to transmit command signals;
a controller; and
a user interface engine executable by the controller in response to command signals from the remote control device to permit access to a function associated with a location in an environment of the interactive television system. - View Dependent Claims (42)
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43. An apparatus for providing to a user of an interactive television system, a home style user interface that is organized according to a plurality of the user'"'"'s surrounding locations, the apparatus comprising:
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a set top box including a storage capable to store information associated with each of a plurality of features, each feature associated with one of the plurality of locations, the set top box further capable to receive and interpret a command signal and capable to format a television screen layout from the interpreted command signal and capable to transmit the television screen layout;
a television including a television screen, the television communicatively coupled to the set top box and capable to receive the television screen layout from the set top box and capable to display the television screen layout on the television screen; and
a user input device communicatively coupled to the set top box and capable to capable to detect a user input and capable to convert the user input into the command signal and transmit the command signal to the set top box. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 59)
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58. A method of providing a home-style user interface to a user of an interactive television system, the method comprising:
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displaying at least one active feature associated with one of a plurality of the user'"'"'s surrounding locations;
accepting user input including a selection of one of the at least one active feature; and
invoking an executable application associated with the selected active feature.
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60. An article of manufacture, comprising:
a machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions to;
display at least one active feature associated with one of a plurality of a interactive television system user'"'"'s everyday surroundings;
accept user input including a selection of one of the at least one active feature; and
invoke an executable application associated with the selected active feature.
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61. The article of manufacture of claim 61 wherein the machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions:
further comprises instructions to;
display indicia of each of the plurality of locations that has at least one associated active feature; and
accept user input including a selection of indicia for one of the plurality of locations that has at least one associated active feature; and
wherein the instruction to display of the plurality of active features comprises an instruction to display each active feature associated with the selected one of the locations.
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62. An apparatus for providing a home-style user interface to a user of an interactive television system, the apparatus comprising:
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means for displaying at least one active feature associated with one of a plurality of the user'"'"'s surrounding locations;
communicatively coupled to the display means, means for selecting one of the at least one active feature; and
communicatively coupled to the selection means, means for invoking an executable application associated with the selected active feature.
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63. A method of customizing a home-style user interface provided for a user of an interactive television system, the method comprising:
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storing a status indicator for each of at least one feature associated with one of a plurality of the user'"'"'s surrounding locations, the status indicator including information about whether the feature is active or inactive;
displaying setup indicia associated with the feature, the setup indicia including the status indicator information about whether the feature is active or inactive;
selecting the setup indicia associated with the feature; and
updating the status indicator for the feature from active to inactive, or from inactive to active.
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64. An article of manufacture, comprising:
a machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions to;
store a status indicator for each of at least one feature associated with one of a plurality of an interactive television system user'"'"'s surrounding locations, the status indicator including information about whether the feature is active or inactive;
display setup indicia associated with the feature, the setup indicia including the status indicator information about whether the feature is active or inactive;
accept user input including a selection of the setup indicia associated with the feature; and
update the status indicator for the feature from active to inactive, or from inactive to active.
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65. An apparatus for providing a home-style user interface to a user of an interactive television system, the apparatus comprising:
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means for storing a status indicator for each of at least one feature associated with one of a plurality of the user'"'"'s surrounding locations, the status indicator including information about whether the feature is active or inactive;
communicatively coupled to the storage means, means for displaying setup indicia associated with the feature, the setup indicia including the status indicator information about whether the feature is active or inactive;
communicatively coupled to the display means, means for selecting the setup indicia associated with the feature; and
communicatively coupled to the selection means, means for updating the status indicator for the feature from active to inactive, or from inactive to active.
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Specification