Scaling and Layout Methods and Systems for Handling One-To-Many Objects

• US 20080235735A1
• Filed: 06/06/2008
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IDHL Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: IDHL Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wroblewski, Frank J.
• Application Number:
  US12/134,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20080235735A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/47
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• 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 21/42214 using alphanumerical characters
• 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 21/4316 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 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen

Abstract

Systems and methods according to the present invention provide layout structures and methods for user interfaces.

Claims

1. A user interface displayed on a screen comprising:

a plurality of control elements, at least some of said plurality of control elements having at least one alphanumeric character displayed thereon;

a textbox for displaying alphanumeric characters entered using said plurality of control elements; and

a plurality of groups of displayed items,

wherein a layout of said plurality of groups on said user interface is based on a first number of groups which are displayed, and wherein a layout of said displayed items within a group is based on a second number of said items displayed within that group.

2. The user interface of claim 1, wherein said plurality of control elements are laid out in two horizontal rows.

3. The user interface of claim 1, wherein said text box is displayed above said plurality of control elements and said groups of displayed items are displayed below said plurality of control elements.

4. The user interface of claim 1, wherein said displayed items are images.

5. The user interface of claim 4, wherein said images are movie covers.

6. The user interface of claim 1, wherein said layout of groups involves placing a center point of each group at a location on said user interface, which location is determined based on the number of groups to be displayed.

7. The user interface of claim 6, wherein each of said displayed items associated with one of said groups is displayed within a rectangular region disposed at a respective center point.

8. The user interface of claim 1, wherein said number of groups changes based upon search results entered using said plurality of control elements.

9. The user interface of claim 1, wherein said groups do not overlap and at least some of said items within each group do overlap.

10. A method for laying out items in a user interface comprising the steps of:

laying out a plurality of groups of items within a group display space, said groups being laid out within said display space in a pattern which varies as a function of the number of said plurality of groups; and

laying out, for each of said plurality of groups, a plurality of items within an item display space associated with a respective one of said plurality of groups, said items being laid out within a respective item display space in a pattern which varies as a function of the number of said plurality of items.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

performing said steps of laying out said plurality of groups and plurality of items in accordance with at least one set of layout rules.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said layout rules are applied recursively to said steps of laying out said plurality of groups and said plurality of items.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said user interface is displayed on a television and said items are movie cover images, wherein selection of one of said movie cover images by a user results in additional information being displayed on said user interface for a movie associated therewith.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

providing a plurality of control elements on said user interface, at least some of said plurality of control elements having at least one alphanumeric character displayed thereon; and

providing a textbox for displaying alphanumeric characters entered using said plurality of control elements on said user interface.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein said layout of groups involves placing a center point of each group at a location on said user interface, which location is determined based on the number of groups to be displayed.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein each of said displayed items associated with one of said groups is displayed within a rectangular region disposed at a respective center point.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said number of groups changes based upon search results entered using said plurality of control elements.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein said groups do not overlap and at least some of said items within each group do overlap.