Modal display, smooth scroll graphic user interface and remote command device suitable for efficient navigation and selection of dynamic data/options presented within an audio/visual system

• US 20050154988A1
• Filed: 01/29/2004
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Andrew M. Proehl, Anne Hyan Jin Kim, Jan-Christoph Zoels, Yutaka Hasegawa
• Original Assignee: Andrew M. Proehl, Anne Hyan Jin Kim, Jan-Christoph Zoels, Yutaka Hasegawa
• Inventors: Hasegawa, Yutaka, Zoels, Jan-Christoph, Proehl, Andrew M., Kim, Anne Hyan Jin
• Application Number:
  US10/767,473
• Publication Number:
  US 20050154988A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/720
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04892 Arrangements for controlling cursor position based on codes indicative of cursor displacements from one discrete location to another, e.g. using cursor control keys associated to different directions or using the tab key arrangements for controlling cursor position based on coordinate signals G06F3/038
• 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 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• 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 21/4622 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution

Abstract

The efficient and intuitive presentation, navigation, and selection of available AV information in a graphical user interface (GUI) that is displayed on a display apparatus of an AV system and controlled through user manipulation of a scrolling mechanism of a navigation and selection device of the AV system. Related AV information is organized as items within lists that correspond to various navigable fields of a status bar of the GUI during the GUI interactive mode. A highlighted navigable field of the status bar displays its list of related AV information and the items of the list are scrolled through the navigable field by a user causing the scrolling mechanism to move in a scroll. A different field of the status bar may be selected by the user moving the scrolling mechanism in a lateral movement. Activation of the selection mechanism of the navigation and selection device will cause an AV device of the system to be controlled in accordance with the AV options displayed within the status bar fields at the time the selection mechanism is activated.

Claims

1-40. -40. (canceled)

41. In an audio/visual (AV) system, a method for navigation of menu options available to a user of the AV system, comprising:

entering a graphical user interface (GUI) in response to activation;

generating a signal for displaying a first navigable list of menu options on a display, the first navigable list of menu options having a plurality of fields arranged in a first linear configuration;

moving a cursor of the GUI to place the cursor over a field of the plurality of fields, and thus highlight a field;

generating a signal for displaying a second navigable list of menu options associated with the highlighted field, the second navigable list of menu options arranged in a second linearly configured set of fields which intersect the first linear configuration of fields of the first navigable list of menu options at the highlighted field;

moving a cursor of the GUI over a menu; and

selecting the menu option.

42. The method according to claim 41, wherein the first linear configuration of the first menu is oriented substantially horizontally, and the second linear configuration of the second menu is oriented substantially vertically.

43. The method according to claim 41, wherein the first linear configuration of the first menu is oriented substantially vertically, and the second linear configuration of the second menu is oriented substantially horizontally.

44. The method according to claim 41, wherein the first linear configuration of the first menu is oriented substantially at a right angle to the second linear configuration of the second menu.

45. A video display displaying first and second menus generated according to the process of claim 41.

46. A computer readable medium storing instructions that, when carried out on a programmed processor, carry out a process according to claim 41.

47. An Audio/Visual (AV) method for navigation of menu options available to a user of an AV device, comprising:

entering a graphical user interface (GUI);

generating a signal for displaying a first menu on a display, the first menu having a plurality of fields arranged in a first linear configuration;

generating a signal for displaying a cursor of the GUI over a field of the plurality of fields, thus producing a highlighted first menu field; and

generating a signal for displaying a second menu on a display, the second menu being arranged as a second linear configuration crossing the first menu, with the highlighted first menu field being a location of an intersection of the first menu and the second menu.

48. The method according to claim 47, further comprising:

generating a signal for moving the cursor of the GUI to place the cursor over a field of the set of fields of the second menu, thus highlighting a second menu field.

49. The method according to claim 47, further comprising:

selecting an action associated with the highlighted second menu field.

50. The method according to claim 47, wherein the first linear configuration of the first menu is oriented substantially horizontally, and the second linear configuration of the second menu is oriented substantially vertically.

51. The method according to claim 47, wherein the first linear configuration of the first menu is oriented substantially vertically, and the second linear configuration of the second menu is oriented substantially horizontally.

52. The method according to claim 47, wherein the first linear configuration of the first menu is oriented substantially at a right angle to the second linear configuration of the second menu.

53. The method according to claim 47, wherein the second menu comprises at least one of a menu of available media, a menu of available options, a menu of available actions, a menu of available devices associated with the highlighted first menu field.

54. A video display displaying first and second menus generated using the device according to the method of claim 47.

55. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when carried out on a programmed processor, carry out a process according to claim 47.

56. A method according to claim 47, for navigation of menu options available to a user of the AV device/system.

57. In an audio/visual (AV) system, a method for navigation of menu options available to a user of the AV system, comprising:

entering a graphical user interface (GUI) in response to activation of a selection mechanism of a remote commander;

generating a signal for displaying a first menu on a display, the first menu having a plurality of fields arranged in a first linear configuration;

moving a cursor of the GUI to place the cursor over a field of the plurality of fields, and thus highlight the field;

generating a signal for displaying a navigable list of menu options associated with the highlighted field, the navigable list of menu options being arranged as in second linearly configured set of fields which cross the first linear configuration of fields of the first menu at the highlighted field;

moving a cursor of the GUI to place the cursor over a menu option on the navigable list of menu options; and

selecting the menu option in response to activation of a selection mechanism of the remote commander.

58. The method according to claim 57, wherein the first linear configuration of the first menu is oriented substantially horizontally, and the second linear configuration of the second menu is oriented substantially vertically.

59. The method according to claim 57, wherein the first linear configuration of the first menu is oriented substantially vertically, and the second linear configuration of the second menu is oriented substantially horizontally.

60. The method according to claim 57, wherein the first linear configuration of the first menu is oriented substantially at a right angle to the second linear configuration of the second menu.

61. A video display displaying first and second menus generated according to the process of claim 57.

62. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when carried out on a programmed processor, carry out a process according to claim 57.

63. In an audio/visual (AV) system, a method for navigation of menu options available to a user of the AV system, comprising:

entering a graphical user interface (GUI) in response to receipt of a GUI selection signal from a remote commander;

generating a signal for displaying a first menu on a display, the first menu having a plurality of fields arranged in a first linear configuration;

generating a signal for displaying a cursor of the GUI over a field of the plurality of fields, thus producing a highlighted first menu field, in response to receipt of a navigation signal from the remote commander; and

generating a signal for displaying a second menu on the display, the second menu being arranged as linear set of fields crossing the first menu, with the highlighted first menu field being a location of intersection of the first menu and the second menu.

64. The method according to claim 63, further comprising:

generating a signal for moving the cursor of the GUI to place the cursor over a field of the set of fields of the second menu, thus highlighting a second menu field.

65. The method according to claim 63, further comprising:

selecting an action associated with the highlighted second menu field in response to receipt of a selection command from the remote commander.

66. The method according to claim 63, wherein the first linear configuration of the first menu is oriented substantially horizontally, and the second linear configuration of the second menu is oriented substantially vertically.

67. The method according to claim 63, wherein the first linear configuration of the first menu is oriented substantially vertically, and the second linear configuration of the second menu is oriented substantially horizontally.

68. The method according to claim 63, wherein the first linear configuration of the first menu is oriented substantially at a right angle to the second linear configuration of the second menu.

69. The method according to claim 63, wherein the second menu comprises a menu of functions associated with the highlighted first menu field,

70. A video display displaying first and second menus generated according to the process of claim 63.

71. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when carried out on a programmed processor, carry out a process according to claim 63.

72. In an audio/visual (AV) system, a method for navigation of menu options available to a user of the AV system, comprising:

entering a graphical user interface (GUI) in response to activation of a selection mechanism of a remote commander;

generating a signal for displaying a first menu on a display, the first menu having a plurality of fields arranged in a horizontal configuration;

laterally moving a cursor of the GUI to place the cursor over a field of the plurality of fields, and thus highlight the field;

generating a signal for displaying a list of menu options associated with the highlighted field, the navigable list of menu options being arranged as a vertical set of fields crossing the horizontal configuration of fields of the first menu at the highlighted field;

vertically moving a cursor of the GUI to place the cursor over a menu option on the navigable list of menu options; and

selecting the menu option in response to activation of a selection mechanism of the remote commander.

73. The method according to claim 72, wherein the second menu comprises a menu of functions associated with the highlighted first menu field,

74. A video display displaying first and second menus generated according to the process of claim 72.

75. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when carried out on a programmed processor, carry out a process according to claim 72.

76. In an audio/visual (AV) system, a method for navigation of menu options available to a user of the AV system, comprising:

entering a graphical user interface (GUI) in response to activation of a selection mechanism of a remote commander;

generating a signal for displaying a first menu on a display, the first menu having a plurality of fields arranged in a vertical configuration;

vertically moving a cursor of the GUI to place the cursor over a field of the plurality of fields, and thus highlight the field;

generating a signal for displaying a list of menu options associated with the highlighted field, the navigable list of menu options being arranged as a horizontal set of fields crossing the horizontal configuration of fields of the first menu at the highlighted field;

horizontally moving a cursor of the GUI to place the cursor over a menu option on the navigable list of menu options; and

selecting the menu option in response to activation of a selection mechanism of the remote commander.

77. The method according to claim 76, wherein the second menu comprises a menu of functions associated with the highlighted first menu field.

78. A video display displaying first and second menus generated according to the process of claim 76.

79. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when carried out on a programmed processor, carry out a process according to claim 76.

80. An Audio/Visual (AV) device, having a method for navigation of menu options available to a user of the AV device, comprising:

means for entering a graphical user interface (GUI);

means for generating a signal for displaying a first menu on a display, the first menu having a plurality of fields arranged in a first linear configuration;

means for generating a signal for displaying a cursor of the GUI over a field of the plurality of fields, thus producing a highlighted first menu field; and

means for generating a signal for displaying a second menu on a display, the second menu being arranged as a second linear configuration crossing the first menu, with the highlighted first menu field being a location of an intersection of the first menu and the second menu.

81. The device according to claim 80, wherein the means for generating a signal displaying a cursor further comprises:

generating a signal for moving the cursor of the GUI to place the cursor over a field of the set of fields of the second menu, thus highlighting a second menu field.

82. The device according to claim 80, further comprising:

means for selecting an action associated with the highlighted second menu field.

83. The device according to claim 80, wherein the first linear configuration of the first menu is oriented substantially horizontally, and the second linear configuration of the second menu is oriented substantially vertically.

84. The device according to claim 80, wherein the first linear configuration of the first menu is oriented substantially vertically, and the second linear configuration of the second menu is oriented substantially horizontally.

85. The device according to claim 80, wherein the first linear configuration of the first menu is oriented substantially at a right angle to the second linear configuration of the second menu.

86. The device according to claim 80, wherein the second menu comprises at least one of a menu of available media, a menu of available options, a menu of available actions, a menu of available devices associated with the highlighted first menu field.