CONTENT LEVEL NAVIGATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20080168377A1
• Filed: 12/14/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Data Services Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Relyea, Don, Roberts, Brian, Stallings, Heath
• Granted Patent: US 8,726,159 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/772
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/433 Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request, caching operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

An exemplary system includes a media content processing subsystem configured to provide a first interactive graphical user interface to a display for presentation to a user in response to a transmission of an input command, provide an end interactive graphical user interface to the display for presentation to the user in response to a repeat transmission of the input command, and perform an action corresponding to a selected entry within the end interactive graphical user interface in response to another repeat transmission of the input command. The first interactive graphical user interface corresponds to a first content level within a navigation thread and the end interactive graphical user interface corresponds to an end content level within the navigation thread.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a media content processing subsystem configured to

provide a first interactive graphical user interface to a display for presentation to a user in response to a transmission of an input command, said first interactive graphical user interface corresponding to a first content level within a navigation thread,

provide an end interactive graphical user interface to said display for presentation to said user in response to a repeat transmission of said input command, said end interactive graphical user interface corresponding to an end content level within said navigation thread, and

perform an action corresponding to a selected entry within said end interactive graphical user interface in response to another repeat transmission of said input command.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said action comprises providing a contextual pop-up window having at least one option corresponding to said selected entry.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said selected entry corresponds to a media content instance and wherein said action comprises at least one of playing, recording, and purchasing said media content instance.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said input command is generated in response to an actuation of a single button that is a part of a user input device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said repeat input command is generated in response to a repeat actuation of said single button and said another repeat input command is generated in response to another repeat actuation of said single button.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein said single button comprises a navigation button.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein said user input device comprises a remote control device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said media content processing subsystem is further configured to provide a graphical object within said end interactive graphical user interface, said graphical object configured to indicate an availability of said action corresponding to said selected entry.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said navigation thread comprises a plurality of content levels, said plurality of content levels including said first content level and said end content level, wherein said plurality of content levels are navigable by one or more actuations of a single button on a remote control device configured to communicate with said media content processing subsystem.

10. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one facility configured to direct said at least one processor to

generate a first interactive graphical user interface in response to a transmission of an input command, said first interactive graphical user interface corresponding to a first content level within a navigation thread,

generate an end interactive graphical user interface in response to a repeat transmission of said input command, said end interactive graphical user interface corresponding to an end content level within said navigation thread, and

perform an action corresponding to a selected entry within said end interactive graphical user interface in response to another repeat transmission of said input command; and

an output driver configured to provide said first and end interactive graphical user interfaces to a display for presentation to a user.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said action comprises providing a contextual pop-up window having at least one option corresponding to said selected entry.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said selected entry corresponds to a media content instance and wherein said action comprises at least one of playing, recording, and purchasing said media content instance.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said input command is generated in response to an actuation of a single button that is a part of a user input device.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said single button comprises a right navigation button.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said user input device comprises a remote control device.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said at least one facility is further configured to direct said at least one processor to generate a graphical object within said end interactive graphical user interface, said graphical object configured to indicate an availability of said action corresponding to said selected entry.

17. A method comprising:

providing a first interactive graphical user interface to a display for presentation to a user in response to a transmission of an input command, said first interactive graphical user interface corresponding to a first content level within a navigation thread;

providing an end interactive graphical user interface to said display for presentation to said user in response to a repeat transmission of said input command, said end interactive graphical user interface corresponding to an end content level within said navigation thread; and

performing an action corresponding to a selected entry within said end interactive graphical user interface in response to another repeat transmission of said input command.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said performing of said action comprises providing a contextual pop-up window having at least one option corresponding to said selected entry.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said selected entry corresponds to a media content instance and wherein said performing of said action comprises at least one of playing, recording, and purchasing said media content instance.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said input command is generated in response to an actuation of a single button that is a part of a user input device.

21. A method comprising:

receiving a transmission of an input command;

providing a first interactive graphical user interface to a display for presentation to a user in response to said transmission of said input command, said first interactive graphical user interface corresponding to a first content level within a navigation thread;

receiving a repeat transmission of said input command;

providing an end interactive graphical user interface to said display for presentation to said user in response to said repeat transmission of said input command, said end interactive graphical user interface corresponding to an end content level within said navigation thread;

receiving another repeat transmission of said input command; and

performing an action corresponding to a selected entry within said end interactive graphical user interface in response to said another repeat transmission of said input command.