Computer network having context sensitive applications and controls forming dynamic user interfaces on local computer terminals

• US 20040066397A1
• Filed: 10/06/2003
• Published: 04/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bradley K. Walker, Daniel J. Castagnoli, John D. Turnipseed
• Original Assignee: Bradley K. Walker, Daniel J. Castagnoli, John D. Turnipseed
• Inventors: Castagnoli, Daniel J., Walker, Bradley K., Turnipseed, John D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,536,647 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/719
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/252 between a Database Management System and a front-end application

Abstract

A computer network (20) having a plurality of terminals (22) and several network servers (26, 28, 30) are operative to develop context-sensitive, dynamic graphical user interfaces (32) which are programmed centrally by the network servers (26, 28, 30). XML packets (142, 144) are used to transfer information regarding the graphical user interfaces (32) between the terminals (22) and the network servers (26, 28, 30). The graphical user interface (32) is a layered multimedia environment having a background movie (248) played beneath substantially all of a plurality of screen application regions (220-230). A interactive control movie (240) is displayed in one of the screen application regions and includes control tabs (242) and dynamic button controls (244). A browser application (250) may be embedded in the background movie (248) as part of the layered media environment. Multiple applications can be operated in the selected screen application region, so each application is provided with a top tab (246) enabling users to bring the desired application to the top of the application panels.

Claims

1. A dynamic user interface display comprising:

a plurality of screen application regions; and

an interactive movie, including control elements, and being displayed in a selected one of the plurality of screen application regions.

2. The interface according to claim 1 further comprising a background movie played beneath substantially all of the screen application regions, and a browser operating in a selected one of the plurality of screen application regions and overlaying the background movie.

3. The interface according to claim 1 wherein the control elements comprise application tabs and control buttons.

4. The interface according to claim 3 further comprising a plurality of control button sets and wherein the control buttons comprise dynamic control buttons operative to change between sets based on a selected application.

5. The interface according to claim 1 further comprising an advertisement displayed in a second selected one of the plurality of screen application regions.

6. The interface according to claim 5 wherein the advertisement comprises a link to a web site corresponding to the advertising.

7. The interface according to claim 3 wherein the application tabs include an e-mail application tab, game application tab, movie application tab, search application tab, music application tab, and home application tab.

8. The interface according to claim 3 wherein the control buttons include a play control button, pause control button, reverse control button, and fast forward control button.

9. The interface according to claim 3 wherein the control buttons include a back control button, reload control button, forward control button, a stop control button, a scroll down control button, and a scroll up control button.

10. A dynamic user interface display comprising:

a plurality of screen application regions;

a background movie played beneath substantially all of the screen application regions;

a browser operating in a selected one of the plurality of screen application regions and overlaying the background movie.

11. The interface display according to claim 10 further comprising an interactive movie, including control elements, and being displayed in a selected one of the plurality of screen application regions.

12. The interface display according to claim 10 wherein the browser includes a browser identification tab.

13. The interface display according to claim 12 further comprising an application also operating in the selected one of the plurality of screen application regions and the application having an application identification tab.

14. The interface display according to claim 10 further comprising up to four additional applications operating in the selected one of the plurality of screen application regions.

15. A method for controlling a dynamic user interface, the method comprising:

playing a control movie having graphical elements and interactive control elements for controlling an application;

selecting a control element based on user input; and

managing the application as directed by the control element.

16. The method according to claim 15 further comprising changing the interactive control elements to a second set of interactive control elements for controlling a different application.

17. The method according to claim 15 wherein the movie comprises a browser control movie, and further comprising changing to a video control movie upon selection of a video application by a user.

18. The method according to claim 15 further comprising providing a plurality of screen application regions, playing the control movie in a selected one of the plurality of screen application regions, and displaying other applications in the remaining screen application regions, the other applications including HTML applications, Shockwave applications, and QuickTime applications.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein the control movie comprises a QuickTime movie.

20. A method for providing a dynamic user interface, the method comprising

defining a plurality of screen application regions;

playing a background movie beneath substantially all of the screen application regions; and

operating a browser in a selected one of the plurality of screen application regions.

21. The method according to claim 20 further comprising playing a control movie, including control elements, in a second one of the selected control regions.

22. The method according to claim 21 further comprising controlling the browser with the control elements of the control movie.

23. The method according to claim 20 further comprising displaying an advertisement in a second one of the selected control regions.

24. The method according to claim 20 further comprising operating multiple applications in the selected one of the plurality of screen application regions, and displaying tabs for each of the applications and the browser.

25. A method for providing a dynamic user interface, the method comprising:

defining a plurality of screen application regions; and

operating multiple applications in a selected one of the plurality of screen application regions, and displaying tabs for each of the applications.

26. The method according to claim 25 wherein at least one of the applications is a browser.

27. The method according to claim 25 further comprising playing a background movie beneath substantially all of the screen application regions.

28. The method according to claim 25 further comprising playing a control movie having graphical elements and interactive control elements for controlling one of the applications.

29. The method according to claim 28 further comprising changing to another control movie having graphical elements and interactive control elements for controlling another one of the applications.

30. A method for generating a dynamic user interface, the method comprising:

transmitting local configuration information, including context information, from a local terminal to a server;

determining, based on the context information, an overall user interface configuration;

determining, based on the context information, applications for display in the overall user interface configuration; and

transmitting the overall user interface configuration and applications for display in the overall user interface configuration to the local terminal.

31. The method according to claim 30 further comprising formatting data from the local configuration information into a request XML packet for transmission from the local terminal to the server, and formatting the overall user interface configuration and the applications for display in the overall user interface configuration into a return XML packet for transmission to the local terminal.

32. The method according to claim 30 further comprising retrieving local resources for display in the overall user interface configuration.

33. The method according to claim 30 wherein determining the overall user interface configuration comprises using a locally stored overall user interface configuration.

34. The method according to claim 30 further comprising retrieving Internet resources for display in the overall user interface configuration.

35. The method according to claim 30 further comprising updating the local configuration file.

36. The method according to claim 30 wherein the overall user interface configuration includes a plurality of screen application regions, and further comprising opening, in response to a user request, an application in a selected one of the plurality of screen application regions, generating a control movie operative to control the application, and playing the control movie in another selected one of the plurality of screen application regions.

37. The method according to claim 36 further comprising opening, in response to another user request, another application, generating another control movie operative to control the another application, and playing the another control movie.

38. The method according to claim 36 further comprising opening, in response to another user request, another application in the selected one of the plurality of screen application regions, generating another control movie operative to control the another application, and playing the another control movie in the another selected one of the plurality of screen application regions.

39. The method according to claim 38 further comprising displaying a tab for the application and displaying another tab for the another application.

40. A computer readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer network to display a dynamic media interface, comprising:

defining a plurality of screen application regions on a computer display;

playing a background movie beneath substantially all of the screen application regions; and

operating a browser in a selected one of the plurality of screen application regions.

41. A computer readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer network to display a dynamic media interface, comprising:

playing a control movie having graphical elements and interactive control elements for controlling an application;

selecting a control element based on user input; and

managing the application as directed by the control element.

42. A computer readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer network to display a dynamic media interface, comprising:

defining a plurality of screen application regions; and

operating multiple applications in a selected one of the plurality of screen application regions, and displaying tabs for each of the applications.

43. A method in a computer system for displaying a dynamic media interface, the method comprising:

defining a plurality of screen application regions on a computer display;

playing a background movie beneath substantially all of the screen application regions;

operating a browser in a selected one of the plurality of screen application regions;

operating multiple applications in the selected one of the plurality of screen application regions;

displaying tabs for each of the applications and the browser; and

selectively playing a control movies having graphical elements and interactive control elements for controlling the browser and the applications.

44. The method according to claim 43 wherein displaying tabs for each of the applications and the browser comprises displaying top tabs for each of the applications and the browser.

45. A computer installation comprising:

a substantially rigid wall frame member;

a substantially constant wall cover member attached to the wall frame member and including an outer side and an inner side facing the wall frame member;

a computer housing mounted on the wall frame member adjacent the inner side of the wall cover member;

a central processing unit supported by the computer housing;

a computer display in operative communication with the central processing unit and being controlled by the central processing unit, the computer display being positioned adjacent the outer side of the wall cover member; and

an input device accessible by a user and the input device being in operative communication with the central processing unit.

46. The computer installation according to claim 45 wherein the central processing unit comprises a modular central processing unit removable from the housing for replacement by another modular central processing unit.

47. The computer installation according to claim 45 wherein the computer display is mounted on the outer side of the wall cover member.

48. The computer installation according to claim 45 wherein the computer display is mounted on the wall frame member.

49. The computer installation according to claim 45 wherein the computer display is mounted on the computer housing.

50. The computer installation according to claim 45 further comprising a second wall frame member and wherein the computer housing is mounted to both wall frame members.

51. The computer installation according to claim 45 wherein the input device is in remote operative communication with the central processing unit.

52. The computer installation according to claim 45 further comprising at least one speaker in operative communication with the central processing unit and the at least one speaker being positioned adjacent the outer side of the wall cover member.

53. The computer installation according to claim 45 further comprising a central server in operative communication with the central processing unit, and wherein the central processing unit comprises a local central processing unit.

54. The computer installation according to claim 53 further comprising a local server in operative communication between the central server and the local central processing unit, and the local server is in operative communication with the central server through the Internet.

55. A computer network comprising

a central server;

a plurality of local terminals in operative communication with the central server, and the local terminals including local displays and local input devices;

the local displays being operative to display a plurality of screen application regions, a background movie beneath substantially all of the screen application regions, and a browser in a selected one of the plurality of screen application regions.

56. The computer network according to claim 55 further comprising a local server in operative communication between the central server and the local terminals.

57. The computer network according to claim 55 wherein the input devices comprise keyboards having illuminated keys.

58. The computer network according to claim 55 wherein the local terminals further include pointing devices.

59. The computer network according to claim 58 wherein the pointing devices comprise relative pointing devices.

60. The computer network according to claim 59 wherein the relative pointing devices comprise track balls.

61. A computer network comprising:

a central server;

a plurality of local terminals in operative communication with the central server, and the local terminals including local displays and local input devices;

the local displays being operative to display a plurality of screen application regions and display in a selected one of the plurality of screen application regions a control movie having graphical elements and interactive control elements for controlling an application.

62. The computer network according to claim 61 wherein the displays are further operative to display a plurality of control movies in the selected one of the plurality of screen application regions, each of the control movies having interactive control elements for controlling different applications.

63. A computer network comprising

a central server;

a plurality of local terminals in operative communication with the central server, and the local terminals including local displays and local input devices;

the local displays being operative to display a plurality of screen application regions and display in a selected one of the plurality of screen application regions multiple applications including a browser.

64. The computer network according to claim 63 wherein the display is further operative to display tabs corresponding to the applications.

65. A computer network for driving applications using an interactive movie, the network comprising:

a central server;

a plurality of local terminals including local displays; and

an interactive movie including control elements displayed on the local displays.

66. The network according to claim 65 further comprising a plurality of interactive movies for selective display on the local displays.

67. The network according to claim 65 wherein the plurality of local terminals are located at a first location and further comprising another plurality of local terminals are located at a second location.

68. A computer readable data transmission medium containing data stricture comprising:

a first portion identifying context information including terminal location information;

a second portion identifying user information including user identification and user preferences.

69. The transmission medium according to claim 68 wherein the context information further includes special event information for the terminal location.

70. The transmission medium according to claim 68 wherein the context information and the user information are in XML format.

71. A computer readable data transmission medium containing data structure comprising:

a first portion identifying an overall user interface configuration;

a second portion identifying at least one application for display in the overall interface configuration.

72. The transmission medium according to claim 71 further comprising a third portion identifying local resources for display in the overall interface configuration.

73. The transmission medium according to claim 71 further comprising a third portion identifying Internet resources for display in the overall interface configuration.

74. The transmission medium according to claim 71 wherein overall user interface configuration and the at least one application for display in the overall interface configuration are in XML format.

75. A method in a computer network for communicating with a central server, the method comprising:

receiving context information, including terminal location, from a local terminal;

in response to receiving the context information, determining an overall interface configuration; and

receiving from the central server, the overall interface configuration.

76. The method according to claim 75 wherein the context information further includes a locally stored, initial overall interface configuration.

77. A method for distributing income from transmission of a media event to a venue open to customers, the method comprising:

a network operator receiving income from the customers for viewing the media event;

the network operator retaining a network operator portion of the income;

the network operator distributing a promoter portion of the income to a promoter;

the network operator distributing a venue portion of the income to an owner of the venue.

78. The method according to claim 77 further comprising the network operator distributing a broadcaster portion of the income to a broadcaster.