SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GRAPHICAL CONTROL OF PICTURE-IN-PICTURE WINDOWS

• US 20100079671A1
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Dish Network Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: VANDUYN, Luke, WHITE, James Matthew, TAXIER, Karen Michelle, COBURN, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 9,357,262 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/565
• 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 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• 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 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• 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 are provided for presenting a picture-in-picture (PIP) window on a television or other display generated by a set-top box (STB) or other video receiver. The picture-in-picture window is presented in conjunction with a navigation feature on the display. A two-dimensional input associated with the navigation feature is received from a remote control having a touchpad or other two-dimensional input device. The picture-in-picture window on the display is appropriately adjusted in response to the two-dimensional input.

Claims

1. A method for presenting a picture-in-picture window on a display, the method comprising:

presenting the picture-in-picture window in conjunction with a navigation feature on the display;

receiving a two-dimensional input associated with the navigation feature; and

adjusting the picture-in-picture window on the display in response to the two-dimensional input.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the navigation feature comprises a plurality of arrows located in proximity to the picture-in-picture window.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the two-dimensional input corresponds to a cursor interaction with one of the plurality of arrows.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising displaying the plurality of arrows when a cursor is in proximity to the picture-in-picture window.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the picture-in-picture window is presented superimposed upon a primary image on the display.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising displaying only a subset of the plurality of arrows when the picture-in-picture window is adjacent to an edge of the primary image.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the navigation feature comprises a drag feature located in proximity to the picture-in-picture window.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the two-dimensional input corresponds to a cursor interaction with the drag feature.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the receiving comprises receiving the two-dimensional input from a wireless remote control comprising a two-dimensional input device.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the two-dimensional input device is one of the group consisting of:

a touchpad, a trackball, a joystick, a directional pad, and a plurality of directional keys.

11. A video receiver comprising:

a receiver interface configured to receive an incoming modulated signal;

a decoder configured to decode the incoming modulated signal to obtain primary and secondary video signals;

a wireless receiver configured to receive a two-dimensional input signal; and

a processor configured to generate an output image comprising the primary and secondary video signals in a picture-in-picture window in conjunction with a navigation feature and to adjust the picture-in-picture window on the display when the two-dimensional input signal corresponds to the navigation feature.

12. The video receiver of claim 11 wherein the receiver interface comprises a satellite interface.

13. The video receiver of claim 11 wherein the wireless receiver is configured to receive the two-dimensional input signal from a wireless remote control comprising a two-dimensional input device.

14. The video receiver of claim 13 wherein the two-dimensional input device is one of the group consisting of:

a touchpad, a trackball, a joystick, a directional pad, and a plurality of directional keys.

15. The video receiver of claim 11 wherein the navigation feature comprises a plurality of arrows presented in proximity to the picture-in-picture window.

16. The video receiver of claim 15 wherein the two-dimensional input corresponds to a cursor interaction with one of the plurality of arrows.

17. The video receiver of claim 15 wherein the plurality of arrows is displayed when a cursor is in proximity to the picture-in-picture window.

18. The video receiver of claim 11 wherein the navigation feature comprises a drag feature located in proximity to the picture-in-picture window.

19. The video receiver of claim 18 wherein the two-dimensional input corresponds to a cursor interaction with the drag feature.

20. A system for presenting television content on a display, the system comprising:

a wireless remote control comprising a two-dimensional input device configured to provide a two-dimensional input signal in response to a user input; and

a video receiver comprising;

a receiver interface configured to receive an incoming modulated signal;

a decoder configured to decode the incoming modulated signal to obtain primary and secondary video signals;

a wireless receiver configured to receive the two-dimensional input signal from the wireless remote control; and

a processor configured to generate an output image to be presented on the display, wherein the output image comprises the secondary video signal superimposed on the primary video signal in a picture-in-picture window in proximity to a plurality of directional indicators, and wherein processor is further configured to relocate the picture-in-picture window on the display when the two-dimensional input signal corresponds to one of the plurality of directional indicators.