Methods and apparatus for implementing a remote application over a network

• US 20040183827A1
• Filed: 03/17/2003
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ROVI Product Corporation (Xperi Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Macrovision Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Putterman, Daniel, Dietrich, Brad, Freitas, Pedro, Doornbos, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,213,228 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/744
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/452 Remote windowing, e.g. X-Window System, desktop virtualisation protocols for virtual reality H04L67/131
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• 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 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications

Abstract

A user interface, operating on a display client, for an application program, operating on a remote computer, is implemented such that the division of functionality between the application program and the user interface does not require the application program to possess information regarding the display capabilities of the display client. The remote computer transfers, to the display computer, an identification of a scene for a user interface of the application program. The scene defines an abstract layout for a screen display of the user interface. The user interface receives input from a user (e.g., the user selects a menu item from the user interface). The input event is interrupted, and data is generated based on the interpretation of the input event. The display client interrupts the scene, and the data, based on the display capabilities of the display client. Based on this interpretation, the display client generates a display scene and display data for the scene. The display data is rendered on an output device of the display client.

Claims

1. A method for implementing a user interface on a display client from an application program operating on a remote computer, said method comprising the steps of:

operating application logic for an application program on a remote computer;

transferring, from said remote computer to a display client, an identification of a scene for a user interface of said application program, said scene defines an abstract layout for at least one screen display of said user interface;

receiving an input event from a user through said user interface;

interrupting said input event;

receiving data at said display client in response to said interpretation of said input event;

interrupting said scene and said data at said display client to generate a display device scene;

generating display data, for display at said display client, from said display device scene; and

displaying said display data at said display client.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of transferring an identification of a scene comprises the steps of:

receiving a scene descriptor from said application logic; and

instantiating, at said display client, said scene based on an interpretation aof said scene descriptor.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the step of transferring an identification of a scene for said user interface further comprises the step of assigning a plurality of slots to a scene; and

the step of generating display data comprises the step of iterating through said slots of said scene to generate said display data.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of generating display data comprises the step of implementing at least one widget comprising a controller, for interrupting said input event, a model, for generating data at said display client in response to said interpretation of said input event, and a view for generating said data on said display client.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein the step of implementing at least one widget comprises the step of implementing a controller remote from said display client.

6. The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein the step of implementing at least one widget comprises the step of implementing a controller on said display client.

7. The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein the step of implementing at least one widget comprises the step of implementing a model remote from said display client.

8. The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein the step of implementing at least one widget comprises the step of implementing a model local to said display client.

9. The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein the step of implementing at least one widget comprises the step of implementing a view remote from said display client.

10. The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein the step of implementing at least one widget comprises the step of implementing a view local to said display client.

11. A system comprising:

network;

remote computer, coupled to said network, for operating application logic for an application program, and for transferring to a display client, an identification of a scene for a user interface of said application program, said scene defines an abstract layout for at least one screen display of said user interface;

software for interrupting an input event and for generating data in response to said interpretation of said input event; and

display client, coupled to said network, for implementing a user interface for said application program, for receiving an input event from a user through said user interface, for interrupting said scene and said data to generate a display device scene, for generating display data from said display device scene, and for displaying said display data.

12. The system as set forth in claim 11, wherein:

said remote computer for storing a plurality of pre-defined scenes at said display client; and

said display client for receiving a scene descriptor from said remote computer, and for instantiating said scene based on a pre-defined scene and said scene descriptor.

13. The system as set forth in claim 11, wherein:

the step of transferring an identification of a scene for said user interface further comprises the step of assigning a plurality of slots to a scene; and

the step of generating display data comprises the step of iterating through said slots of said scene to generate said display data.

14. The system as set forth in claim 11, wherein said software comprises at least one widget comprising a controller, for interrupting said input event, a model, for generating data at said display client in response to said interpretation of said input event, and a view for generating said data on said display client.

15. The system as set forth in claim 14, wherein said remote computer comprises a controller for implementing said controller of said widget.

16. The system as set forth in claim 14, wherein said display client comprises a controller for implementing said controller of said widget.

17. The system as set forth in claim 14, wherein said model of said widget is implemented remote from said display client.

18. The system as set forth in claim 14, wherein said display client comprises a model for implementing said model of said widget.

19. The system as set forth in claim 14, wherein said remote computer comprises a view for implementing said view of said widget.

20. The system as set forth in claim 14, wherein said display client comprises a view for implementing said view of said widget.

21. A computer readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions, which when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the steps of:

operating application logic for an application program on a remote computer;

transferring, from said remote computer to a display client, an identification of a scene for a user interface of said application program, said scene defines an abstract layout for at least one screen display of said user interface;

receiving an input event from a user through said user interface;

interrupting said input event;

receiving data at said display client in response to said interpretation of said input event;

interrupting said scene and said data at said display client to generate a display device scene;

generating display data, for display at said display client, from said display device scene; and

displaying said display data at said display client.

22. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 21, wherein the step of transferring an identification of a scene comprises the steps of:

storing a plurality of pre-defined scenes at said display client;

receiving a scene descriptor from said application logic; and

instantiating, at said display client, said scene based on a pre-defined scene and said scene descriptor.

23. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 21, wherein:

the step of transferring an identification of a scene for said user interface further comprises the step of assigning a plurality of slots to a scene; and

the step of generating display data comprises the step of iterating through said slots of said scene to generate said display data.

24. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 21, wherein the step of generating display data comprises the step of implementing at least one widget comprising a controller, for interrupting said input event, a model, for generating data at said display client in response to said interpretation of said input event, and a view for generating said data on said display client.

25. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 24, wherein the step of implementing at least one widget comprises the step of implementing a controller remote from said display client.

26. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 24, wherein the step of implementing at least one widget comprises the step of implementing a controller on said display client.

27. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 24, wherein the step of implementing at least one widget comprises the step of implementing a model remote from said display client.

28. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 24, wherein the step of implementing at least one widget comprises the step of implementing a model local to said display client.

29. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 24, wherein the step of implementing at least one widget comprises the step of implementing a view remote from said display client.

30. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 24, wherein the step of implementing at least one widget comprises the step of implementing a view local to said display client.