SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GRAPHICAL CONTROL OF USER INTERFACE FEATURES IN A TELEVISION RECEIVER

• US 20100083312A1
• 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: RUDOLPH, Daniel L., VANDUYN, Luke, WHITE, James Matthew, TAXIER, Karen Michelle, COBURN, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 8,397,262 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/39
• 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 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6332 directed to client

Abstract

Systems and methods provide for graphically providing features on a set top box (STB) or other television receiver in response to viewer instructions received from a remote control. Imagery including various tiles each corresponding to one of the provided features is presented on the display. A two-dimensional input is received from the remote control that indicates a selected one of the plurality of tiles, and, in response to the received two-dimensional input, the feature associated with the selected tile is provided.

Claims

1. A method for graphically providing a plurality of features 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 plurality of tiles each corresponding to one of the plurality of features;

receiving a two-dimensional input from the remote control that indicates a selected one of the plurality of tiles; and

in response to the received two-dimensional input, providing the feature associated with the selected tile.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the features associated with at least some of the plurality of tiles are configurable by the viewer.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein at least some of the plurality of tiles presented on the display are selected by the viewer.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of tiles is associated with a television channel.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of tiles is associated with a television program.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of tiles is associated with an electronic program guide.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of tiles is associated with a placeshifting feature.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of tiles is associated with a customer service feature.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of tiles is associated with content downloaded to the television receiver.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving an instruction from a remote server to present at least one of the plurality of tiles as part of the imagery presented on the display.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising identifying the selected one of the plurality of tiles based upon a position of a cursor that moves within the imagery presented on the display in response to viewer input signals received from the remote control.

12. A method for selecting a desired channel in a television receiver configured to present imagery on a display in response to viewer instructions transmitted from a remote control, the method comprising:

presenting the imagery on the display, wherein the imagery comprises a plurality of tiles each corresponding to one of the plurality of features;

receiving a two-dimensional input from the remote control that indicates a selected one of the plurality of tiles, wherein the selected one of the plurality of tiles has an associated channel number; and

in response to the received two-dimensional input, tuning the television receiver to the associated channel number to thereby present programming from the desired channel on the display.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the channel number associated with the selected tile is configurable by the viewer.

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 plurality of tiles each corresponding to one of the plurality of features, 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 a selected one of the plurality of tiles, to provide the 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 allow the viewer to configure the particular features associated with at least some of the plurality of tiles.

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