Apparatus and method for simple wide-area network navigation

• US 20040183839A1
• Filed: 01/30/2004
• Published: 09/23/2004
• 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:
  US10/768,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20040183839A1
• 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 comprising:

receiving a first key press event at a processor in a client node displaying a navigation matrix;

forwarding the key press event across a WAN to a server node; and

receiving a next deeper navigation matrix layer.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

iteratively receiving additional key press events and corresponding matrix layers until a maximum depth of a navigation path is reached.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

receiving a content layer once the maximum depth is reached.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining if a second key press event corresponds to a composition cell;

entering a composition mode if the second key press corresponds to a composition cell; and

returning to a navigation mode responsive to a predetermined signal.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein a composition cell is any cell that permits user text input.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the client node comprises:

a television.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the first key press event occurs on a remote control for one of the television and a set top box.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the navigation matrix layer is a substantially uniform grid of cells.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing a graphical user interface that defines a portion of a multidimensional navigation matrix;

a user input device permitting a unique input corresponding to each cell of a current two-dimensional layer of the navigation matrix, the processor responding to an input by generating a next deeper layer of the matrix up to a maximum depth.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the input device is a key pad and the unique input is a single key press.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein each layer of the navigation matrix defines a plurality of primary navigation options.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising:

an audio input interface; and

a speech recognition unit.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the memory is a NVRAM unit.

11. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the user input device is a key pad wirelessly associated with the processor.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the key pad is on a remote control that communicates with the processor using infrared signaling.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the plurality is less than or equal to ten.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:

a speech to text unit.

19. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising:

a television to display the current two-dimensional layer of the navigation matrix.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the user input device is a television remote control.

21. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the apparatus is a handheld device.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing code that defines a portion of a multidimensional navigation matrix;

a network interface to receive a unique input corresponding to a cell of a current two-dimensional layer of the navigation matrix, the processor to serve across the network a next deep layer of the matrix up to a maximum depth in response to an input.