Method for Customizing a User Interface for Selecting Broadcast Sources

• US 20080229366A1
• Filed: 01/28/2005
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Musschebroeck, Rudy, Hintzen, Reinhard Leonard, Peiffer, Werner P., Thissen, Rogier Louis Jacques Willem
• Application Number:
  US10/597,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20080229366A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/59
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 9/00 Remote-control of tuned circuits; Combined remote-control of tuning and other functions, e.g. brightness, amplification mechanical remote-control arrangements H03J1/00 ; using a microprocessor H03J1/0025; constructional details of remote control switching devices H01H9/0235
• 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 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72

Abstract

A service is provided to program a consumer'"'"'s remote control device to display logos or call signs of the broadcast stations as soft buttons instead of the conventional channel numbering. The broadcast channels available to the consumer depend on the consumer'"'"'s geographic location and/or service provider. The service determines the proper available channels with a minimum of user intervention, and then supplies software code to properly configure the remote control device.

Claims

1. A method of enabling to configure a device for enabling a user to select from among a plurality of sources that supply content, the method comprising:

determining the plurality of sources available to the user for operational use of the device;

determining respective representations of respective ones of the sources for being rendered at a user interface of the device; and

providing means for configuring the device so that user interaction with a specific one of the representations rendered causes the device to select a specific one of the sources associated with the specific representation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the determining of the plurality of sources comprises determining respective identifiers, being local to the user, of respective ones of the plurality of the sources; and

the means is operative to associate the respective representations with the respective identifiers.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the means comprises a look-up table of associations of the respective local identifiers and the respective representations.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the sources comprise a broadcast channel having a channel number as an associated one of the identifiers; and

a corresponding one of the representations associated with the channel number comprises a logo or call sign of the channel.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the sources comprise a broadcast channel having a channel number as an associated one of the identifiers; and

a corresponding one of the representations associated with the channel number is indicative of semantics of the content broadcast on the channel.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of the plurality of sources comprises determining in which geographical area the user resides.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of the plurality of sources comprises determining a content service provider of the user.