Interface for controlling service actions at a set top box from a remote control

• US 20060048178A1
• Filed: 08/26/2004
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Original Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Inventors: Sullivan, Marc Andrew, Kortum, Philip Ted
• Application Number:
  US10/929,888
• Publication Number:
  US 20060048178A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/2
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• 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 21/42228 the reprogrammable keys being displayed on a display screen in order to reduce the number of keys on the remote control device itself
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A method is provided for controlling service actions at a set top box. When the method is executed, a first graphical user interface is displayed. The first graphical user interface includes a first set of soft keys. An arrangement of the first set of soft keys corresponds to an arrangement of a first set of service buttons on the remote control device. Further, the arrangement of the first set of soft keys corresponds to an arrangement of a second set of service buttons on a set top box that is responsive to one or more signals from the remote control device. Each of the first set of soft keys is linked to a corresponding service button on the remote control device. Also, each of the first set of soft keys is shaped in a corresponding manner to the corresponding service button on the remote control device.

Claims

1. A method of controlling service actions at a set top box, the method comprising:

displaying a first graphical user interface, the first graphical user interface including a first set of soft keys;

wherein;

an arrangement of the first set of soft keys corresponds to an arrangement of a first set of service buttons on the remote control device; and

an arrangement of the first set of soft keys corresponds to an arrangement of a second set of service buttons on a set top box that is responsive to one or more signals from the remote control device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

each of the first set of soft keys is linked to a corresponding service button on the remote control device;

each of the first set of soft keys is shaped in a corresponding manner to the corresponding service button on the remote control device; and

each of the first set of soft keys has substantially the same color as the corresponding service button on the remote control device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

each of the first set of soft keys is linked to a corresponding service button on the set top box;

each of the first set of soft keys is shaped in a corresponding manner to the corresponding service button on the set top box; and

each of the first set of soft keys has substantially the same color as the corresponding service button on the set top box.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

performing a function associated with one of the first set of soft keys when the corresponding service button is pressed at the remote control device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

performing a function associated with one of the first set of soft keys when the corresponding service button is pressed at the set top box.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

exiting the first graphical user interface.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

displaying a second graphical user interface, the second graphical user interface including a second set of soft keys.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the second set of soft keys is the same as the first set of soft keys.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein:

an arrangement of the second set of soft keys corresponds to the arrangement of the first set of service buttons on the remote control device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein:

each of the second set of soft keys is linked to a corresponding service button on the remote control device;

each of the second set of soft keys is shaped in a corresponding manner to the corresponding service button on the remote control device; and

each of the second set of soft keys has substantially the same color as the corresponding service button on the remote control device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the arrangement of the second set of soft keys corresponds to the arrangement of the set of service buttons on the set top box;

each of the second set of soft keys is linked to a corresponding service button on the set top box;

each of the second set of soft keys is shaped in a corresponding manner to the corresponding service button on the set top box; and

each of the second set of soft keys has substantially the same color as the corresponding service button on the set top box.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

performing a set top box function associated with one of the second set of soft keys when the corresponding service button is pressed at the remote control device.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

performing a set top box function associated with one of the second set of soft keys when the corresponding service button is pressed at the set top box.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first graphical user interface comprises:

a ready list comprising a list of movies that are available for viewing at a television;

a queue list comprising a list of movies that are to be downloaded to the set top box; and

an action list comprising the first set of soft keys.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first set of soft keys comprises:

a generally triangle-shaped soft key labeled “

play”

that can be selected to play a movie from the ready list;

a generally circle-shaped soft key labeled “

buy”

that can be selected to purchase a movie from the queue list;

a generally square-shaped soft key labeled “

summary”

that can be selected to obtain details of a movie;

a generally star-shaped soft key labeled “

move up”

that can be selected to move a movie on the ready list or queue list up;

a generally diamond-shaped soft key labeled “

move down”

that can be selected to move a movie on the ready list or queue list down; and

a generally x-shaped soft key labeled “

delete”

that can be selected to delete a movie from the ready list or the queue list.

16. The method of claim 7, wherein the second graphical user interface comprises:

a photograph selection array comprising an array of photographs available for viewing via the set top box; and

an action list comprising the second set of soft keys.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the second set of soft keys comprise:

a generally triangle-shaped soft key 506 labeled “

view full”

that can be selected in order to display a photograph from the photograph selection array in full screen mode;

a generally circle-shaped soft key 508 labeled “

edit”

that can be selected to edit a photograph from the photograph selection array;

a generally square-shaped soft key 5 10 labeled “

details”

that can be selected to obtain detail information about a particular photograph within the photograph selection array;

a generally star-shaped soft key 512 labeled “

send to”

that can be selected in order to send a photograph from the photograph selection array to a different device;

a generally diamond-shaped soft key 514 labeled “

buy”

that can be selected in order to purchase a photograph from the photograph selection array; and

a generally x-shaped key 516 labeled “

delete”

that can be selected in order to delete a photograph from the photograph selection array.

18. A device for managing video content, the device comprising:

a housing;

a broadband input connection extending from the housing;

a broadband output connection extending from the housing;

a numerical key pad incorporated into the housing;

a first set of service buttons within the numerical key pad;

a processor, the processor comprising a computer readable medium and a computer program embedded within the computer readable medium, the computer program comprising;

instructions for displaying a graphical user interface at a display device, the graphical user interface comprising a first set of soft keys,

wherein;

the first set of soft keys corresponds to the first set of service buttons on the housing.

19. The device of claim 18, further comprising:

a remote control device, the remote control device comprising;

a second set of service buttons;

wherein;

the second set of service buttons corresponds to the first set of service buttons and to the first set of soft keys.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the graphical user interface comprises:

a second set of soft keys;

wherein

the second set of soft keys is substantially similar to the first set of soft keys, the first set of service keys, and the second set of service keys.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the first set of soft keys comprises a plurality of uniquely shaped and colored soft keys and each uniquely shaped and colored soft key corresponds to a substantially similarly shaped and colored service button within the first set of service buttons.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein each uniquely shaped and colored soft key within the first set of soft keys corresponds to a substantially similarly shaped and colored service button within the second set of service buttons.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the second set of soft keys comprise a plurality of uniquely shaped and colored soft keys that are substantially similar to the first set of soft keys.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein an arrangement of the first set of soft keys is substantially similar to an arrangement of the first set of service keys.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein an arrangement of the first set of soft keys is substantially similar to an arrangement of the second set of service keys.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein an arrangement of the second set of soft keys is substantially similar to an arrangement of the first set of service keys.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein an arrangement of the second set of soft keys is substantially similar to an arrangement of the second set of service keys.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the first set of soft keys, the second set of soft keys, the first set of service buttons, and the second set of service buttons are arranged in a linear configuration.

29. The device of claim 27, wherein the first set of soft keys, the second set of soft keys, the first set of service buttons, and the second set of service buttons are arranged in a rectangular configuration.

30. A system for managing video content, the system comprising:

a display device;

a remote control device, the remote control device comprising a first set of uniquely shaped and colored service buttons;

a set top box coupled to the display device and responsive to the remote control device, the set top box comprising;

a housing;

a broadband input connection;

a broadband output connection;

a second set of uniquely shaped and colored service buttons incorporated into the housing, wherein the second set of uniquely shaped and colored service buttons that are substantially similar to the first set of uniquely shaped and colored service buttons at the remote control device; and

a processor, the processor coupled to a computer readable memory, the computer readable memory comprising;

a first graphical user interface to display multiple screens at a display device.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the computer readable memory further comprises:

a set of uniquely shaped and colored soft keys presented at each of the multiple screens of the graphical user interface, each set of uniquely shaped and colored soft keys corresponding to the first set of uniquely shaped and colored service buttons on the remote control device.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein each set of uniquely shaped and colored soft keys correspond to the second set of uniquely shaped and colored service buttons on the set top box.

33. A method for controlling service actions at a set top box, the method comprising:

displaying a first graphical user interface, the first graphical user interface including a first set of soft keys;

linking each one of a first set of service buttons on a remote control device to a corresponding soft key from the first set of soft keys;

linking each one of a second set of service buttons on a set top box to a corresponding soft key from the first set of soft keys;

performing a service action corresponding to any one of the first set of soft keys, when any one of the first set of the service buttons is pressed at the remote control device or when any one of the second set of the service buttons is pressed at the set top box.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

closing the first graphical user interface; and

displaying a second graphical user interface, the second graphical user interface including a second set of soft keys.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

linking each one of the first set of service buttons on the remote control device to a corresponding soft key from the second set of soft keys; and

linking each one of the second set of service buttons on the set top box to a corresponding soft key from the second set of soft keys.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

performing a service action corresponding to any one of the second set of soft keys, when any one of the first set of the service buttons is pressed at the remote control device or when any one of the second set of the service buttons is pressed at the set top box.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the first set of soft keys, the second set of soft keys, the first set of service buttons, and the second set of service buttons are arranged in a substantially similar configuration.