Multimedia Player And Method Of Displaying On-Screen Menu
First Claim
1. A multimedia player capable of playing contents, comprising:
- a control which acquires an instruction for playing of content via a user'"'"'s manipulation;
a storage which stores data for a plurality of function icons representing respective types of content playing functions, the content to be played by the player, and data for a plurality of content icons representing respective items of contents;
a network controller which detects an external appliance connected to the player via a network and acquires the items of contents to be played from the external appliance thus detected;
a display output module which outputs image data for an on-screen menu related to playing of the content to a display device and which plays the content 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, whereinwhen one of the content playing functions is selected in accordance with the user'"'"'s instruction acquired by the control, the display controller displays, as the content icons corresponding to the selected content playing function, one or both of the content icons representing the items of contents acquired from the storage and the content icons representing the items of contents acquired from the external appliance, in the on-screen menu.
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Accused Products
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 playing functions 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. An icon in focus immediately below the moving image icon is also displayed in an expanded view. If an external appliance is connected via a network, contents in the external appliance are also displayed in the array of content icons.
73 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A multimedia player capable of playing contents, comprising:
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a control which acquires an instruction for playing of content via a user'"'"'s manipulation; a storage which stores data for a plurality of function icons representing respective types of content playing functions, the content to be played by the player, and data for a plurality of content icons representing respective items of contents; a network controller which detects an external appliance connected to the player via a network and acquires the items of contents to be played from the external appliance thus detected; a display output module which outputs image data for an on-screen menu related to playing of the content to a display device and which plays the content 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 when one of the content playing functions is selected in accordance with the user'"'"'s instruction acquired by the control, the display controller displays, as the content icons corresponding to the selected content playing function, one or both of the content icons representing the items of contents acquired from the storage and the content icons representing the items of contents acquired from the external appliance, in the on-screen menu. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of displaying an on-screen menu in a content player, comprising:
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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; detecting an external appliance connected to the player via a network; acquiring the items of contents to be played from the external appliance thus detected via the network; 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 content to a display device, wherein when one of the content playing functions is selected in accordance with the user'"'"'s instruction, the generating displays, as the content icons corresponding to the selected content playing function, one or both of the content icons representing the items of contents acquired from the player and the content icons representing the items of contents acquired from the external appliance, in the on-screen menu. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer program product for displaying an on-screen menu in a content player, comprising:
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an acquiring module which acquires an instruction related to playing of content 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 content to be played by the player, and data for a plurality of content icons representing respective items of contents; a detecting module which detects an external appliance connected to the player via a network and acquiring the items of contents to be played from the external appliance thus detected via the network; a playing module which outputs image data for an on-screen menu related to playing of the content to a display device and which plays the content 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 when one of the content playing functions is selected in accordance with the user'"'"'s instruction, the generating module displays, as the content icons corresponding to the selected content playing function, one or both of the content icons representing the items of contents acquired from the player and the content icons representing the items of contents acquired from the external appliance, in the on-screen menu. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification