Providing a Video User Interface

• US 20090313664A1
• Filed: 08/21/2009
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Inventors: Patil, Anant, Pickelsimer, Lisa A.
• Application Number:
  US12/545,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20090313664A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/87
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/44 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234363 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for clients with a lower screen resolution
• 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 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a user interface. First, a first content type may be displayed on a display device in a full mode. Next, a first user input may be received. In response to the received first user input, a shrunken version of the first content type may be displayed on the display device and at least one content element corresponding to a second content type may be displayed on the display device. Then a second user input selected from the at least one content element corresponding to the second content type may be received. The second content type may then be displayed on the display device in the full mode in response to the received second user input.

Claims

1. A method for providing a user interface, the method comprising:

displaying a first content type on a display device in a full mode;

receiving a first user input;

in response to the received first user input,

displaying a shrunken version of the first content type on the display device, and

displaying at least one content element corresponding to a second content type on the display device;

receiving a second user input selected from the at least one content element corresponding to the second content type; and

displaying the second content type on the display device in the full mode in response to the received second user input.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the first content type on the display device comprises displaying the first content type on the display device comprising a television (TV).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the first content type on the display device comprises displaying the first content type on the display device comprising a computer display.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the first content type comprises displaying the first content type in the full mode comprising displaying the first content type to fit at least a width of a high-definition television (HDTV) display.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the first content type comprises displaying the first content type comprising a linear television (TV) program.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the first content type comprises displaying the first content type comprising a video-on-demand (VOD) program.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the first content type comprises displaying the first content type comprising a digital video recorder (DVR) program.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the first content type comprises displaying the first content type comprising an internet video program.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the first user input comprises receiving the first user input from a set-top-box (STB) control device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the first user input comprises receiving the first user input at a set-top-box (STB).

11. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the second content type comprises displaying the second content type comprising a linear television (TV) program.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the second content type comprises displaying the second content type comprising a video-on-demand (VOD) program.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the second content type comprises displaying the second content type comprising a digital video recorder (DVR) program.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the second content type comprises displaying the second content type comprising an internet video program.

15. A computer-readable medium which stores a set of instructions which when executed performs a method for providing a user interface, the method executed by the set of instructions comprising:

displaying a first content type on a display device in a full mode;

receiving a first user input from a set-top-box (STB) control device;

in response to the received first user input,

displaying a shrunken version of the first content type on the display device, and

displaying at least one content element corresponding to a second content type on the display device;

receiving a second user input from the set-top-box (STB) control device; and

re-displaying the first content type on the display device in the full mode in response to the second user input.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein displaying the first content type comprises displaying the first content type comprising a linear television (TV) program.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein displaying the first content type comprises displaying the first content type comprising a video-on-demand (VOD) program.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein displaying the first content type comprises displaying the first content type comprising a digital video recorder (DVR) program.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein displaying the first content type comprises displaying the first content type comprising and internet video program.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein displaying the at least one content element corresponding to the second content type on the display device comprises displaying the at least one content element corresponding to the second content type comprising a linear television (TV) program.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein displaying the at least one content element corresponding to the second content type on the display device comprises displaying the at least one content element corresponding to the second content type comprising a video-on-demand (VOD) program.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein displaying the at least one content element corresponding to the second content type on the display device comprises displaying the at least one content element corresponding to the second content type comprising a digital video recorder (DVR) program.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein displaying the at least one content element corresponding to the second content type on the display device comprises displaying the at least one content element corresponding to the second content type comprising an internet video program.

24. A system for providing a user interface, the system comprising:

a memory storage; and

a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, wherein the processing unit is operative to;

display a first content type on a display device in a full mode;

receive a first user input from a set-top-box (STB) control device;

in response to the received first user input,

display a shrunken version of the first content type on the display device, and

display at least one content element corresponding to a second content type on the display device;

receive a second user input from the set-top-box (STB) control device;

re-display the first content type on the display device in the full mode in response to the second user input;

receive a third user input selected from the at least one content element corresponding to the second content type; and

display the second content type on the display device in the full mode in response to the received third user input.