Non-modal navigation of interactive multimedia content

• US 20040046780A1
• Filed: 09/05/2002
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: iMagicTV, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: iMagicTV, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Palmer, Samuel John Allan McDougall, Beaton, Robert J., Stuart, Anthony Moyle Lenwood, Radzikowska, Milena, Clowater, Gerald Allan, Hetherington, Robert Gary
• Application Number:
  US10/235,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20040046780A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/719
• 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 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence

Abstract

Methods and devices for navigating locations containing multimedia content. A control device for multimedia access apparatus is equipped with user activatable controls. A dedicated navigation control button, when activated by an end user of the apparatus presents a navigation menu of possible locations which may be accessed by the end user. These locations are presented to the end user regardless of the mode (e.g. TV, Video on Demand, Pay Per View, or the Internet) in which the multimedia access apparatus operating. The end user can then choose a destination from the navigation menu and the apparatus accesses the location selected by the end user, again, regardless of the mode required for the selected location. A dedicated execution control button, when activated, presents an execution menu of possible actions or functions which may be activated by the end user for the particular location the end user is currently accessing. If the end user selects an action or function from the menu, the selection action/function is activated for the location currently being accessed by the end user.

Claims

1. A device for use with an end user device for accessing interactive content, the control device comprising:

a navigation control element for activating a navigation menu through said end user device, the navigation menu listing locations with interactive content available to said end user device;

an execution control element for activating an execution menu through said end user device, the execution menu listing actions available to an end user using said end user device, said actions being available to a specific location currently being accessed by said end user,

wherein the control device controls the end user device.

2. A control device according to claim 1 wherein said execution menu is visible to an end user only after said execution control element is activated.

3. A control device according to claim 1 wherein said navigation menu is visible to an end user only after said navigation control element is activated.

4. A control device according to claim 1 wherein said interactive content is multimedia content.

14. A control device according to claim 1 wherein said end user device is a set top box.

5. A method for allowing an end user to navigate content from different multimedia content providers using an end user device which allows said end user to access said content, the method comprising:

a) providing a menu to said end user, said menu chosen from a group comprising;

a navigation menu listing a plurality of possible multimedia content locations which can be accessed by said end user;

an execution menu listing at least one possible action which may be executed by the end user, the or each of said at least one possible action being applicable to a current multimedia content location being accessed by said end user;

b) receiving a specific command from said end user;

c) in the event said specific command activates a multimedia content location listed in said navigation menu, accessing multimedia content for said location;

d) in the event said specific command activates an action listed in said execution menu, executing said action for said current location,

wherein said navigation menu and said execution menu are visible to said end user only when individually activated.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein said method is executed by a device for accessing multimedia content.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein said specific command is received from a control device controlling said device for accessing multimedia content, said control device being operated by said end user.

8. A method according to claim 5 wherein said navigation menu and said execution menu is individually activated by a control device operated by said end user.

15. A method according to claim 6 wherein said device is a set top box.

9. A user interface for use in an end user device used to access interactive multimedia content, the interface comprising:

a navigation menu listing locations with multimedia content available to an end user using said end user device.

10. A user interface according to claim 9 wherein said user interface further comprises:

an execution menu listing actions available to said end user for a current location currently being accessed by said end user.

11. A user interface according to claim 10 wherein said navigation menu and said execution menu are visible to said end user only after each menu is independently activated.

12. A user interface according to claim 10 wherein each menu is activatable by a control device operated by said end user.

13. A user interface according to claim 12 wherein said control device controls said end user device.

16. A user interface according to claim 9 wherein said end user device is a set top box.

17. Computer readable media having encoded thereon computer readable code for a method for allowing an end user to navigate content from different multimedia content providers using an end user device which allows said end user to access said content, the method comprising:

a) providing a navigation menu to said end user, said navigation menu listing a plurality of possible multimedia content locations which can be accessed by said end user;

b) providing an execution menu to said end user, said execution menu listing at least one possible action which my be executed by the end user, the or each of said at least one possible action being applicable to a current multimedia content locations being accessed by said end user;

c) receiving a specific command from said end user;

d) in the event said specific command activates a multimedia content location listed in said navigation menu, accessing multimedia content for said location;

e) in the event said specific command activates an action listed in said execution menu, executing said action for said current location,

wherein said navigation menu and said execution menu are visible to said end user only when individually activated.

18. Computer readable media according to claim 17 wherein said method is executed by a device for accessing multimedia content.

19. Computer readable media according to claim 18 wherein said device is a set top box.

20. Computer readable media according to claim 17 wherein said navigation menu and said execution menu may be individually activated by a control device operated by said end user.