SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING CUSTOMER SERVICE FEATURES VIA A GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE IN A TELEVISION RECEIVER

• US 20100083309A1
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: VANDUYN, Luke, WHITE, James Matthew, TAXIER, Karen Michelle, COBURN, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 8,763,045 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/38
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47211 for requesting pay-per-view content payment schemes payment architectures or payment protocols G06Q20/00, G07F
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• 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 21/4823 using a channel name

Abstract

Systems and methods provide for graphically providing customer service features on a set top box (STB) or other television receiver in response to viewer instructions received from a remote control. Imagery including a customer service tile is presented on the display. A two-dimensional input is received from the remote control that indicates that the tile has been selected, and, in response to the received two-dimensional input, the customer service feature is provided. The customer service feature may provide information received from a remote source via a network, programming connection or other medium.

Claims

1. A method for graphically providing a customer service feature in a television receiver configured to present imagery on a display in response to viewer instructions received from a remote control, the method comprising:

presenting the imagery on the display, wherein the imagery comprises a tile corresponding to the customer service feature;

receiving a two-dimensional input from the remote control that indicates a selection of the tile; and

in response to the received two-dimensional input, providing the customer service feature associated with the selected tile from the television receiver.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the providing comprises displaying billing information.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the providing comprises displaying customer service information associated with the particular television receiver.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising receiving the customer service information from a remote server.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the customer service information is received via a network.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the customer service information is received via a programming connection that also provides television programming to the television receiver.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the programming connection is a satellite connection.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the programming connection is a cable connection.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the providing comprises displaying help information.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the help information is associated with a particular feature of the television receiver.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the providing comprises displaying services available to the television receiver.

12. A method for providing a customer service feature in a television receiver configured to present imagery on a display in response to viewer instructions transmitted from a remote control, the method comprising:

storing customer service information received from a remote source at the television receiver;

presenting the imagery on the display, wherein the imagery comprises a tile corresponding to the customer service feature;

receiving a two-dimensional input from the remote control that indicates that the tile has been selected by the viewer; and

in response to the received two-dimensional input, providing the stored customer service information on the display.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the customer service information is received from the remote source via a programming connection that also provides television content that is decoded by the television receiver.

14. A video receiver for presenting imagery on a display in response to viewer input signals provided from a remote control, the receiver comprising:

a receiver interface configured to receive an incoming modulated signal;

a decoder configured to decode the incoming modulated signal to extract a video signal;

a wireless receiver configured to receive the viewer input signals from the remote control, wherein the viewer input is a two-dimensional input; and

a processor configured generate the imagery presented on the display, wherein the imagery comprises a tile corresponding to a customer service feature, and wherein the processor is further configured to receive the viewer input signals from the remote control, and, in response to the received two-dimensional input indicating that the tile has been selected by the viewer, to provide the customer service feature associated with the selected tile.

15. The video receiver of claim 14 wherein the receiver interface comprises a satellite interface.

16. The video receiver of claim 14 wherein the receiver interface comprises a cable interface.

17. The video receiver of claim 14 wherein the wireless receiver is configured to receive the two-dimensional input signals from a wireless remote control comprising a two-dimensional input device.

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

a touchpad, a trackball, a joystick, a directional pad, and a motion sensor.

19. The video receiver of claim 14 wherein the processor is further configured to identify the selected tile based upon a position of a cursor that moves on the display in response to the viewer input signals.

20. The video receiver of claim 14 wherein the processor is configured to provide the customer service feature by displaying information received via the receiver interface.

21. The video receiver of claim 14 further comprising a network interface to a network, and wherein the processor is configured to provide the customer service feature by displaying information received via the network interface.