Apparatus and method for simple wide-area network navigation

• US 20040150676A1
• Filed: 01/21/2004
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Albert-Michel C. Long, Donald L. Dukeshire, Elliot A. Gottfurcht, Grant E. Gottfurcht, John A. Marinuzzi, J. Teague McKnight, Manuel V. Beltran, Stephen K. Woesner
• Original Assignee: Albert-Michel C. Long, Donald L. Dukeshire, Elliot A. Gottfurcht, Grant E. Gottfurcht, John A. Marinuzzi, J. Teague McKnight, Manuel V. Beltran, Stephen K. Woesner
• Inventors: Gottfurcht, Elliot A., Gottfurcht, Grant E., Long, Albert-Michel C., Woesner, Stephen K., Beltran, Manuel V., Dukeshire, Donald L., Marinuzzi, John A., McKnight, J. Teague
• Application Number:
  US10/762,869
• Publication Number:
  US 20040150676A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/854
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A method and system to facilitate navigation of a wide-area network. A navigation matrix is displayed on a client node. The matrix pairs each navigation option with an input such that, for example, pressing a single key activates that navigation option. The key press event is forwarded to an information and services hub across the network. The hub then returns a next appropriate matrix layer which may be navigated in the same manner.

Claims

1. A method of simplifying wide-area network navigation comprising:

limiting navigation options to a set, each member of which can be traversed by pressing a single unique key; and

displaying each option on a display in association with an indication of the single unique keys.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the options are displayed in a matrix format with each cell of the matrix associated with a unique key.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the set comprises:

a first subset of primary navigation options and a second subset of secondary navigation options wherein each member of the first subset is associated with a numerical digit key.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

generating successively deeper layers of the matrix responsive to key press signals until a maximum depth is reached; and

displaying content corresponding to the cell selected at the maximum depth.

5. The method of claim 4 comprising:

translating content from an arbitrary format to a single predefined format.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein a background is displayed behind the matrix further comprising:

matching the background with a selected navigation option.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

fading the indication off the display for a subset of options over a time interval.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the display is a television display.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein each navigation option is associated with a single key on a television remote control.

10. A computer readable storage media containing executable computer program instructions which when executed cause a digital processing system to perform a method comprising:

limiting navigation options to a set, each member of which can be traversed by pressing a single unique key; and

displaying each option on a display in association with an indication of the single unique keys.

11. The computer readable storage media of claim 10 which when executed cause a digital processing system to perform a method further comprising:

options displayed in a matrix format with each cell of the matrix associated with a unique key.

12. The computer readable storage media of claim 10 which when executed cause a digital processing system to perform a method further comprising:

a first subset of primary navigation options and a second subset of secondary navigation options wherein each member of the first subset is associated with a numerical digit key.

13. The computer readable storage media of claim 11 which when executed cause a digital processing system to perform a method further comprising:

generating successively deeper layers of the matrix responsive to key press signals until a maximum depth is reached; and

displaying content corresponding to the cell selected at the maximum depth.

14. The computer readable storage media of claim 13 which when executed cause a digital processing system to perform a method further comprising:

translating content from an arbitrary format to a single predefined format.

15. The computer readable storage media of claim 11 which when executed cause a digital processing system to perform a method further comprising:

matching the background with a selected navigation option.

16. The computer readable storage media of claim 11 wherein the successively deeper layers are displayed on a television display.

17. The computer readable storage media of claim 16 wherein the single unique key is on a wireless remote control.