System and method of customizing video display layouts having dynamic icons

• US 20070260986A1
• Filed: 05/08/2006
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ascom (Sweden) AB (Ascom Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: GE Security Incorporated (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Cristofoli, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 8,756,528 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/722
• 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 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4858 for modifying screen layout parameters, e.g. fonts, size of the windows
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen

Abstract

A system and method of enabling a user to customize a layout of a video display uses a data file. The data file may be stored within an application. The data file enables the user to specify at least one parameter of a cell of a video display such as, for example, a location, height, width, and display percentage. A layout creating module creates the layout based on the parameter(s) defined by the user. A dynamic icon creating module dynamically creates an icon that represents the layout created by the user. Preferably, the icon depicts the layout of created by the user.

Claims

1. A method of enabling a user to create a custom video display comprising:

creating a data file, wherein the data file identifies at least one parameter of at least one cell in a user-defined layout of a video display;

incorporating the data file into an application; and

enabling a user to specify the at least one parameter.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating the user-defined layout based on the at least one parameter specified.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising dynamically creating an icon associated with the user-defined layout.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the icon comprises an illustration of the user-defined layout.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising locating the icon in a user-selectable menu.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter defines at least one of a cell width, height, location, and percentage of display occupied.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling the user to specify at least one source for display within the at least one cell.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one source comprises at least one of a video source, image, and text.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising specifying a location within the application for the data file.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising re-sizing the at least one cell to accommodate an input source.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining an aspect ratio of an input source upon presentation of the input source in the at least one cell.

12. A system of enabling a user to create a custom video display comprising:

a data file, wherein the data file identifies at least one parameter of at least one cell in a user-defined layout;

a parameter receiving module that receives a definition for the at least one parameter from a user; and

a layout creating module that uses the data file and the definition for the at least one parameter to create the user-defined layout.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a dynamic icon creating module that dynamically creates an icon associated with the user-defined layout.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the icon comprises an illustration of the user-defined layout.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising an icon locating module that locates the icon within a user-selectable menu.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one parameter defines at least one of a cell width, height, location, and percentage of display.

17. The system of claim 12, further comprising a source specifying module that enables the user to specify at least one source for display within the at least one cell.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one source comprises at least one of a video source, image, and text.

19. The system of claim 12, further comprising a source display re-sizing that resizes an input source display to fit within the at least one cell.

20. The system of claim 12, further comprising an aspect ratio maintaining module that maintains an aspect ratio of an input source upon presentation of the input source in the at least one cell.