Content Reproduction Device and Menu Screen Display Method

• US 20070266411A1
• Filed: 06/02/2005
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Ryuji, Hiramatsu, Shuji, Ohba, Akio, Kunieda, Shunsuke, Daniel, Tyler, Enomoto, Shigeru
• Granted Patent: US 8,201,104 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/88
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 Details of the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/63 for controlling the execution of the game in time
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42646 for reading from or writing on a non-volatile solid state storage medium, e.g. DVD, CD-ROM
• 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 21/4781 Games

Abstract

Favorable visual appearance and ease of operation are required in the user interface of digital home appliances using a television screen. An array of function icons including multiple function icons representing respective types of media that can be played and an array of content icons including multiple content icons representing items of contents that can be played are displayed practically at the center of an on-screen menu such that the arrays intersect. A moving image icon, which is a function icon displayed in an area of intersection in which the array of function icons and the array of content icons intersect, is highlighted by a color different from that of the other function icons and by an enlarged view. In the array of content icons, the hierarchy of the contents is visually represented.

Claims

1. A content player capable of playing contents, comprising:

a control which acquires an instruction for playing of contents via a user'"'"'s manipulation;

a storage which stores data for a plurality of function icons representing respective types of content playing functions, the contents to be played by the player, and data for a plurality of content icons representing respective items of contents;

a display output module which outputs image data for an on-screen menu related to playing of the contents to a display device and which plays the contents acquired from the storage in response to the user'"'"'s instruction acquired by the control;

a display controller which generates the image data for the on-screen menu with a two-dimensional array which includes a first array comprising the plurality of function icons arranged in a specific direction on a screen and which also includes a second array comprising the plurality of content icons in a direction intersecting the first array on the screen, wherein

the display controller displays the second array to intersect the first array at a position of one of the function icons selected by the user,

if the contents are hierarchically stored in the storage, represents the hierarchy visually by shifting the content icons each time the control acquires an instruction to display an expanded view of a layer in the hierarchy, such that the center line of the content icons representing an immediate source for expansion and higher is displaced to the left from the central axis of the second array by a distance determined by the layer, and by displaying the content icons such that the center line of the content icons displayed in an expanded view is aligned with the central axis.

2. The content player according to claim 1, further comprising a network controller which detects an external appliance connected to the player via a network and acquires the contents that can be played by the player from the external appliance thus detected, wherein

the display output module plays the contents acquired from the external appliance thus detected, and

if the contents acquired from the external appliance are hierarchically stored, the display controller displays an expanded view of the content icons of the contents acquired from the external appliance in the second array such that the hierarchy is represented visually.

8. The content player according to claim 1, wherein the display controller further represents the hierarchy auditorily by giving out a sound in relation to the content icons included in the second array such that the sound varies from layer to layer.

26. The content player according to claim 1 wherein the display controller represents the hierarchy visually by attaching an identifier to the side of the content icons shifted to the left, the size of the identifier being determined by the width of the shift.

27. The content player according to claim 1, wherein the display controller represents the hierarchy visually by increasing the number of identifiers attached to the side of the content icons each time the content icons are shifted to the left.

32. The content player according to claim 1, wherein the control acquires an instruction from the user to scroll the plurality of content icons displayed in the second array in the direction of the second array so as to move the content icon to be selected to a predetermined area within the second array, and

the display controller scrolls the content icons such that the speed of scrolling is varied depending on the depth of the layer of the content corresponding to the content icon located in the predetermined area.

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

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7. (canceled)

9. A method of displaying an on-screen menu in a content player, comprising:

reading data for a plurality of function icons representing respective types of content playing functions, and data for a plurality of content icons representing respective items of contents;

generating image data for the on-screen menu with a two-dimensional array which includes a first array comprising the plurality of function icons arranged in a specific direction on a screen and which also includes a second array comprising the plurality of content icons in a direction intersecting the first array on the screen; and

outputting the image data for the on-screen menu related to playing of the contents to a display device, wherein the generating displays the second array to intersect the first array at a position of one of the function icons selected by a user,

if the contents are hierarchically stored in the player, represents the hierarchy visually by shifts the content icons each time an instruction is acquired from the user to display an expanded view of a layer in the hierarchy, such that the center line of the content icons representing an immediate source for expansion and higher is displaced to the left from the central axis of the second array by a distance determined by the layer, and by displaying the content icons such that the center line of the content icons displayed in an expanded view is aligned with the central axis.

10. The method of displaying an on-screen menu according to claim 9, further comprising:

detecting an external appliance connected to the player via a network; and

acquiring the contents that can be played by the player from the external appliance thus detected, wherein if the contents acquired from the external appliance are hierarchically stored, the generating displays an expanded view of the content icons of the contents acquired from the external appliance in the second array such that the hierarchy is represented visually.

33. The method of displaying an on-screen menu according to claim 9, wherein the generating represents the hierarchy visually by attaching an identifier to the side of the content icons shifted to the left, the size of the identifier being determined by the width of the shift.

34. The method of displaying an on-screen menu according to claim 9, wherein the generating represents the hierarchy visually by increasing the number of identifiers attached to the side of the content icons each time the content icons are shifted to the left.

39. The method of displaying an on-screen menu according to claim 9, wherein, in response to an instruction acquired from the user to scroll the plurality of content icons displayed in the second array in the direction of the second array so as to move the content icon to be selected to a predetermined area within the second array,

the generating varies the speed of scrolling depending on the depth of the layer of the content corresponding to the content icon located in the predetermined area.

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

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16. (canceled)

17. A computer program product for displaying an on-screen menu in a content player, comprising:

an acquiring module which acquires an instruction related to playing of contents via a user'"'"'s manipulation;

a storing module which stores data for a plurality of function icons representing respective types of content playing functions, the contents to be played by the player, and data for a plurality of content icons representing respective items of contents;

a playing module which outputs image data for an on-screen menu related to playing of the contents to a display device and which plays the contents acquired from the player in response to the user'"'"'s instruction; and

a generating module which generates image data for the on-screen menu with a two-dimensional array which includes a first array comprising the plurality of function icons arranged in a specific direction on a screen and which also includes a second array comprising the plurality of content icons in a direction intersecting the first array on the screen, wherein

the generating module displays the second array to intersect the first array at a position of one of the function icons selected by the user,

if the contents are hierarchically stored in the player, represents the hierarchy visually by shifts the content icons each time an instruction is acquired from the user to display an expanded view of a layer in the hierarchy, such that the center line of the content icons representing an immediate source for expansion and higher is displaced to the left from the central axis of the second array by a distance determined by the layer, and by displaying the content icons such that the center line of the content icons displayed in an expanded view is aligned with the central axis.

18. The computer program product according to claim 17, further comprising a detecting module which detects an external appliance connected to the player via a network and acquires the contents that can be played by the player from the external appliance thus detected, wherein

the playing module plays the contents acquired from the external appliance thus detected, and

if the contents acquired from the external appliance are hierarchically stored, the generating module displays an expanded view of the content icons of the contents acquired from the external appliance in the second array such that the hierarchy is represented visually.

25. A computer readable recording medium which stores a computer program product according to claim 17.

40. The computer program product according to claim 17, wherein the generating module represents the hierarchy visually by attaching an identifier to the side of the content icons shifted to the left, the size of the identifier being determined by the width of the shift.

41. The computer program product according to claim 17, wherein the generating module represents the hierarchy visually by increasing the number of identifiers attached to the side of the content icons each time the content icons are shifted to the left.

46. The computer program product according to claim 17, wherein, in response to an instruction acquired from the user to scroll the plurality of content icons displayed in the second array in the direction of the second array so as to move the content icon to be selected to a predetermined area within the second array,

the generating module varies the speed of scrolling depending on the depth of the layer of the content corresponding to the content icon located in the predetermined area.

19-24. -24. (canceled)

28. A content player capable of playing contents, comprising:

a control which acquires an instruction for playing of contents via a user'"'"'s manipulation;

a storage which stores data for a plurality of function icons representing respective types of content playing functions, the contents to be played by the player, and data for a plurality of content icons representing respective items of contents;

a display output module which outputs image data for an on-screen menu related to playing of the contents to a display device and which plays the contents acquired from the storage in response to the user'"'"'s instruction acquired by the control;

a display controller which generates the image data for the on-screen menu with a two-dimensional array which includes a first array comprising the plurality of function icons arranged in a specific direction on a screen and which also includes a second array comprising the plurality of content icons in a direction intersecting the first array on the screen, wherein

the display controller displays the second array to intersect the first array at a position of one of the function icons selected by the user, and

if the contents are hierarchically stored in the storage, represents the hierarchy visually by displaying the content icons in an expanded view in the second array each time the control acquires an instruction to display an expanded view of layer in the hierarchy, while also attaching an identifier to the side of the content icons, the size of the identifier being determined by the depth of the layer.

29. A content player capable of playing contents, comprising:

a control which acquires an instruction for playing of contents via a user'"'"'s manipulation;

a storage which stores data for a plurality of function icons representing respective types of content playing functions, the contents to be played by the player, and data for a plurality of content icons representing items of the contents and represented as cubes;

a display output module which outputs image data for an on-screen menu related to playing of the contents to a display device and which plays the contents acquired from the storage in response to the user'"'"'s instruction acquired by the control;

a display controller which generates the image data for the on-screen menu with a two-dimensional array which includes a first array comprising the plurality of function icons arranged in a specific direction on a screen and which also includes a second array comprising the plurality of content icons in a direction intersecting the first array on the screen, wherein

the display controller displays the second array to intersect the first array at a position of one of the function icons selected by the user, and

if the contents are hierarchically stored in the storage, represents the hierarchy visually by displaying the content icons in an expanded view in the second array each time the control acquires an instruction to display an expanded view of a layer in the hierarchy, while also rotating the content icons by an angle determined by the depth of the layer.

30. The content player according to claim 29, wherein information indicating parent-child relation in the hierarchy is attached to at least one side of the cubes representing the content icons.

31. The content player according to claim 29, wherein at least one side of the cubes representing the content icons displayed in an expanded view has a similar pattern as at least one side of the cube representing the content icon which is a source for expansion, and

the display controller represents parent-child relation in the hierarchy visually, by displaying the content icons in an expanded view and the content icon which is the source for expansion at an angle which allows the similar pattern to be visible.

35. A method of displaying an on-screen menu in a content player, comprising:

reading data for a plurality of function icons representing respective types of content playing functions, and data for a plurality of content icons representing respective items of contents;

generating image data for the on-screen menu with a two-dimensional array which includes a first array comprising the plurality of function icons arranged in a specific direction on a screen and which also includes a second array comprising the plurality of content icons in a direction intersecting the first array on the screen; and

outputting the image data for the on-screen menu related to playing of the contents to a display device, wherein the generating displays the second array to intersect the first array at a position of one of the function icons selected by a user, and

if the contents are hierarchically stored in the player, represents the hierarchy visually by displaying the content icons in an expanded view in the second array each time an instruction is acquired from the user to display an expanded view of a layer in the hierarchy, while also attaching an identifier to the side of the content icons, the size of the identifier being determined by the depth of the layer.

36. A method of displaying an on-screen menu in a content player, comprising:

reading data for a plurality of function icons representing respective types of content playing functions, and data for a plurality of content icons representing items of the contents and represented as cubes;

generating image data for the on-screen menu with a two-dimensional array which includes a first array comprising the plurality of function icons arranged in a specific direction on a screen and which also includes a second array comprising the plurality of content icons in a direction intersecting the first array on the screen; and

outputting the image data for the on-screen menu related to playing of the contents to a display device, wherein

the generating displays the second array to intersect the first array at a position of one of the function icons selected by a user, and

if the contents are hierarchically stored in the storage, represents the hierarchy visually by displaying the content icons in an expanded view in the second array each time an instruction is acquired from the user to display an expanded view of a layer in the hierarchy, while also rotating the content icons by an angle determined by the depth of the layer.

37. The method of displaying an on-screen menu according to claim 36, wherein information indicating parent-child relation in the hierarchy is attached to at least one side of the cubes representing the content icons.

38. The method of displaying an on-screen menu according to claim 36, wherein at least one side of the cubes representing the content icons displayed in an expanded view has a similar pattern as at least one side of the cube representing the content icon which is a source for expansion, and

the generating represents parent-child relation in the hierarchy visually, by displaying the content icons in an expanded view and the content icon which is the source for expansion at an angle which allows the similar pattern to be visible.

42. A computer program product for displaying an on-screen menu in a content player, comprising:

an acquiring module which acquires an instruction related to playing of contents via a user'"'"'s manipulation;

a storing module which stores data for a plurality of function icons representing respective types of content playing functions, the contents to be played by the player, and data for a plurality of content icons representing respective items of contents;

a playing module which outputs image data for an on-screen menu related to playing of the contents to a display device and which plays the contents acquired from the player in response to the user'"'"'s instruction; and

a generating module which generates image data for the on-screen menu with a two-dimensional array which includes a first array comprising the plurality of function icons arranged in a specific direction on a screen and which also includes a second array comprising the plurality of content icons in a direction intersecting the first array on the screen, wherein

the generating module displays the second array to intersect the first array at a position of one of the function icons selected by the user, and

if the contents are hierarchically stored in the storage, represents the hierarchy visually by displaying the content icons in an expanded view in the second array each time an instruction is acquired from the user to display an expanded view of a layer in the hierarchy, while also attaching an identifier to the side of the content icons, the size of the identifier being determined by the depth of the layer.

43. A computer program product for displaying an on-screen menu in a content player, comprising:

an acquiring module which acquires an instruction related to playing of contents via a user'"'"'s manipulation;

a storing module which stores data for a plurality of function icons representing respective types of content playing functions, the contents to be played by the player, and data for a plurality of content icons representing respective items of contents;

a playing module which outputs image data for an on-screen menu related to playing of the contents to a display device and which plays the contents acquired from the player in response to the user'"'"'s instruction; and

a generating module which generates image data for the on-screen menu with a two-dimensional array which includes a first array comprising the plurality of function icons arranged in a specific direction on a screen and which also includes a second array comprising the plurality of content icons in a direction intersecting the first array on the screen, wherein

the generating module displays the second array to intersect the first array at a position of one of the function icons selected by the user, and

if the contents are hierarchically stored in the storage, represents the hierarchy visually by displaying the content icons in an expanded view in the second array each time an instruction is acquired from the user to display an expanded view of a layer in the hierarchy, while also rotating the content icons by an angle determined by the depth of the layer.

44. The computer program product according to claim 43, wherein information indicating parent-child relation in the hierarchy is attached to at least one side of the cubes representing the content icons.

45. The computer program product according to claim 43, wherein at least one side of the cubes representing the content icons displayed in an expanded view has a similar pattern as at least one side of the cube representing the content icon which is a source for expansion, and

the generating module represents parent-child relation in the hierarchy visually, by displaying the content icons in an expanded view and the content icon which is the source for expansion at an angle which allows the similar pattern to be visible.