User interface for operating a computer from a distance

• US 20030234804A1
• Filed: 06/19/2002
• Published: 12/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Williams, Christopher Daniel, Fong, Jeffrey C., Gibson, Mark R., Parker, Kathryn L., MacKenzie, Mark D., Trower, Tandy W., Benson, Rodger William, Weinberg, Mark Jeffrey, Rhoten, Molly Scoville, Flora, William T. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 8,370,744 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/719
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4117 for generating hard copies of the content, e.g. printer, electronic paper interfaces to printers G06F3/12; printing data G06K15/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• 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 21/4221 Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration

Abstract

A new user interface, a distance user interface, in a computer system for operating a computer from a television-viewing distance is provided. A centralized display is provided enabling a user to access streaming video and sound as well as music files, video files, and picture files from a single screen. Collaborative sharing of media content is provided by enabling a computer'"'"'s operations and feedback to be collectively observed from a distance.

Claims

1. A user interface embodied on a computer-readable medium and executable on a computer, the user interface for operating a computer from a television-viewing distance, comprising:

a main menu display having a plurality of first selectable links, each first selectable link having a functional identifier discernable by a user from a television-viewing distance; and

a selectable-link marker indicating which of the plurality of first selectable links has the focus,

whereby the main menu display allows said computer to be operated from the television-viewing distance.

2. The user interface of claim 1, wherein at least two of the first selectable links are media-related links.

3. The user interface of claim 1:

wherein the user interface is viewable on a display device coupled to the computer, the display device having a viewable screen area of at least 15.5″

, a resolution of at least 1024×

768 pixels, and an aspect ratio of at least 4;

3, and

wherein the television-viewing distance is at least eight feet measured from the display device.

4. The user interface of claim 1:

wherein the user interface is viewable on a display device coupled to the computer, and

wherein the television-viewing distance measured in feet is approximately half a viewable screen area of said display device measured in inches, whereby a seventeen inch monitor having a viewable screen area of approximately sixteen inches is comfortably viewed from a distance of at least eight feet.

5. The user interface of claim 1, further comprising:

a secondary menu display having a plurality of second selectable links accessed by following a selected one of said plurality of first selectable links,

wherein said second selectable links present media options topically related to said selected one of said plurality of first selectable links, and

wherein said second selectable links each has a functional identifier discernable by a user from the television-viewing distance.

6. The user interface of claim 5, wherein said selected one of said plurality of first selectable links is a television viewing link and wherein said media options of said second selectable links include a television-viewing area for watching programming from a content provider.

7. The user interface of claim 6, wherein said plurality of second selectable links includes a Guide link for presenting a listing of available content from the content provider.

8. The user interface of claim 7, wherein the plurality of second selectable links includes a Recorded-TV link for presenting a recording previously recorded on the computer.

9. The user interface of claim 8, wherein the plurality of second selectable links includes a search link, whereby following the search link allows the user to initiate a search of available content.

10. The user interface of claim 5, wherein the selected one of the plurality of first selectable links is an audio link and wherein the media options of the second selectable links include:

an audio selectable link pointing to a recording of music on the computer; and

a visual indication discernable from the television-viewing distance indicating what recording is currently being played.

11. The user interface of claim 10, wherein the media options include a music find-link pointing to a music search engine operable to initiate a search of music stored on the computer.

12. The user interface of claim 5, wherein the selected one of the plurality of first selectable links is an Image link and wherein the media options of the second selectable links include a pictures selectable link pointing to pictures stored on the computer.

13. The user interface of claim 12, wherein the media options of the second selectable links include a slide-show selectable link pointing to a slide-show display of a group of pictures stored on the computer system.

14. The user interface of claim 5, wherein the selected one of the plurality of first selectable links is a Videos link and wherein the media options of the second selectable links include a videos selectable link pointing to videos stored on the computer.

15. The user interface of claim 5, wherein the selected one of the plurality of first selectable links is a Settings link and wherein the media options of the second selectable links include a settings link pointing to a plurality of manipulatable settings options.

16. The user interface of claim 1 further comprising a screen area for persistently observing a common media experience while navigating through the links of the user interface.

17. The user interface of claim 16, wherein the common media experience includes an experience selected from the group consisting of:

a television program, a musical recording, a video recording, and a picture.

18. A computer-implemented method for operating a computer at a television viewing distance, the computer coupled to a display device having a first display area for processing user commands, comprising:

providing for the presentation of a plurality of first selectable links discernable from a television-viewing distance;

providing for the presentation of an indication that at least one of the plurality of selectable links has a focus; and

providing for monitoring for the selection of one of the first selectable links from a remote control.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein at least two of the first selectable links are media-related links.

20. The method of claim 18:

wherein the display device has a viewable screen area of at least 15.5″

, a resolution of at least 1024×

768 pixels, and an aspect ratio of at least 4;

3, and

wherein the television-viewing distance is at least eight feet measured from the display device.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the television-viewing distance measured in feet is approximately half a viewable screen area of said display device measured in inches, whereby a seventeen inch monitor having a viewable screen area of approximately sixteen inches is comfortably viewed from a distance of at least eight feet.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

providing for the presentation of a secondary menu display having a plurality of second selectable links accessed by following a selected one of said plurality of first selectable links,

wherein said second selectable links present media options topically related to said selected one of said plurality of first selectable links, and

wherein said second selectable links each has a functional identifier discernable by a user from the television-viewing distance.

23. The method of claim 22:

wherein said selected one of said plurality of first selectable links is a television viewing link, and

wherein said media options of said second selectable links include a television-viewing area for watching programming from a content provider.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said plurality of second selectable links includes a Guide link for presenting a listing of available content from the content provider.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the plurality of second selectable links includes a Recorded-TV link for presenting a recording previously recorded on the computer.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the plurality of second selectable links includes a search link, whereby following the search link allows the user to initiate a search of available content.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the selected one of the plurality of first selectable links is an audio link and wherein the media options of the second selectable links include:

an audio selectable link pointing to a recording of music on the computer; and

a visual indication discernable from the television-viewing distance indicating what recording is currently being played.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the media options include a music find-link pointing to a music search engine operable to initiate a search of music stored on the computer.

29. The method of claim 22:

wherein the selected one of the plurality of first selectable links is an Image link, and

wherein the media options of the second selectable links include a pictures selectable link pointing to pictures stored on the computer.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the media options of the second selectable links include a slide-show selectable link pointing to a slide-show display of a group of pictures stored on the computer system.

31. The method of claim 22:

wherein the selected one of the plurality of first selectable links is a Videos link, and

wherein the media options of the second selectable links include a videos selectable link pointing to videos stored on the computer.

32. The method of claim 22:

wherein the selected one of the plurality of first selectable links is a Settings link, and

wherein the media options of the second selectable links include a settings link pointing to a plurality of manipulatable settings options.

33. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing for the presentation of a screen area for persistently observing a common media experience while navigating through the links of the method.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the common media experience includes an experience selected from the group consisting of:

a television program, a musical recording, a video recording, and a picture.

35. A computer programmed to perform the steps recited in the method of claim 18.

36. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon for presenting a graphical user interface on a display device, the interface used to operate a computer system from a television-viewing distance, comprising:

code for presenting a plurality of first selectable links discernable from a television-viewing distance;

code for presenting an indication that at least one of said plurality of selectable links has a focus; and

code for monitoring for the selection of one of said first selectable links from a remote control.

37. The computer readable medium of claim 36, wherein at least two of the first selectable links are media-related links.

38. The computer readable medium of claim 36:

wherein said display device has a viewable screen area of at least 15.5″

, a resolution of at least 1024×

768 pixels, and an aspect ratio of at least 4;

3, and

wherein the television-viewing distance is at least eight feet measured from the display device.

39. The computer readable medium of claim 36, wherein the television-viewing distance measured in feet is approximately half a viewable screen area of said display device measured in inches, whereby a seventeen inch monitor having a viewable screen area of approximately sixteen inches is comfortably viewed from a distance of at least eight feet.

40. The computer readable medium of claim 36, further comprising:

code for presenting a secondary menu display having a plurality of second selectable links accessed by following a selected one of said plurality of first selectable links,

wherein said second selectable links present media options topically related to said selected one of said plurality of first selectable links, and

wherein said second selectable links each has a functional identifier discernable by a user from the television-viewing distance.

41. The computer readable medium of claim 40:

wherein said selected one of said plurality of first selectable links is a television viewing link, and

wherein said media options of said second selectable links include a television-viewing area for watching programming from a content provider.

42. The computer readable medium of claim 41, wherein said plurality of second selectable links includes a Guide link for presenting a listing of available content from the content provider.

43. The computer readable medium of claim 42, wherein the plurality of second selectable links includes a Recorded-TV link for presenting a recording previously recorded on the computer.

44. The computer readable medium of claim 43, wherein the plurality of second selectable links includes a search link, whereby following the search link allows the user to initiate a search of available content.

45. The computer readable medium of claim 40, wherein the selected one of the plurality of first selectable links is an audio link and wherein the media options of the second selectable links include:

an audio selectable link pointing to a recording of music on the computer; and

a visual indication discernable from the television-viewing distance indicating what recording is currently being played.

46. The computer readable medium of claim 45, wherein the media options include a music find-link pointing to a music search engine operable to initiate a search of music stored on the computer.

47. The computer readable medium of claim 40:

wherein the selected one of the plurality of first selectable links is an Image link, and

wherein the media options of the second selectable links include a pictures selectable link pointing to pictures stored on the computer.

48. The computer readable medium of claim 47, wherein the media options of the second selectable links include a slide-show selectable link pointing to a slide-show display of a group of pictures stored on the computer system.

49. The computer readable medium of claim 40:

wherein the selected one of the plurality of first selectable links is a Videos link, and

wherein the media options of the second selectable links include a videos selectable link pointing to videos stored on the computer.

50. The computer readable medium of claim 40:

wherein the selected one of the plurality of first selectable links is a Settings link, and

wherein the media options of the second selectable links include a settings link pointing to a plurality of manipulatable settings options.

51. The computer readable medium of claim 36, further comprising code for presenting a screen area for persistently observing a common media experience while navigating through the links of the computer readable medium.

52. The computer readable medium of claim 51, wherein the common media experience includes an experience selected from the group consisting of:

a television program, a musical recording, a video recording, and a picture.

53. A computer readable medium having stored therein computer-executable instructions for causing a computer programmed thereby to perform a method of switching between an arm'"'"'s length user interface and a distance user interface, the method comprising:

presenting a first user interface optimized to operate a computer from an arm'"'"'s-length distance; and

presenting a distance user interface optimized for operating the computer from a television-viewing distance.

54. The computer readable medium of claim 53, wherein presenting a distance user interface includes presenting a first plurality of selectable links readable from a television-viewing distance.

55. The computer readable medium of claim 54, wherein presenting first a plurality of selectable links includes presenting corresponding functional identifiers discernable from said television viewing distance and correlated to a function to be performed by following each of said selectable links.

56. The computer readable medium of claim 55, wherein the first plurality of selectable links comprises at least one selected from the group of presenting a television program, playing an audio track, displaying a video recording, and displaying a picture.