DIGITAL BROADCAST RECEIVER AND A METHOD FOR PROVIDING A GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE

• US 20110055873A1
• Filed: 09/01/2010
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Jae Kyung, HEO, So Hee
• Granted Patent: US 8,645,996 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/52
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/83 input devices, e.g. keyboards, mice or controllers thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/031 Protect user input by software means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04892 Arrangements for controlling cursor position based on codes indicative of cursor displacements from one discrete location to another, e.g. using cursor control keys associated to different directions or using the tab key arrangements for controlling cursor position based on coordinate signals G06F3/038
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/18 Arrangements characterised by circuits or components specially adapted for receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/82 the transmission system being the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• 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 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid

Abstract

A digital broadcast receiver may display virtual keys on a screen, the virtual keys may be provided in a plurality of regions, each region having an identifier and characters that are unique from other regions. The digital broadcasting receiver may receive at least one input corresponding to selection of the identifier for selection of a desired character, wherein the desired character and at least one other character in a different region are displayed differently on the screen.

Claims

1. A method for providing a graphical user interface in a digital broadcast receiver, the method comprising:

displaying virtual keys on a screen, the virtual keys being provided in a plurality of regions, each region having an identifier and characters that are unique from other regions; and

receiving at least one input corresponding to selection of the identifier for selection of a desired character, wherein the desired character and at least one other character in a different region are displayed differently on the screen.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining virtual key information assigned to the selected identifier.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the virtual key information includes at least one of a character, a number, or a symbol.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the differently displaying of the desired character and the at least one other character is automatically performed without receiving a specific command.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the desired character and the at least one other character are provided in a same row direction or a same column direction of the screen.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

in response to receiving a move command, changing the display of the desired character and the at least one other character.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of regions forms a set region.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the set region is assigned a set selection command for selecting the set region.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

in response to receiving the set selection command, displaying one region contained in the set region assigned the set selection command differently from other regions.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the set region includes an identifier for indicating the assigned set selection command.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the receiving the selection includes selecting one of the plurality of regions based on the set selection command.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the character and the at least one other character are displayed in different colors.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

in response to receiving a selection command for selecting a specific color, determining virtual key information assigned to a region of the desired character or the at least one other character having a color that is closely related to the specific color.

14. A digital broadcast receiver comprising:

a display configured to display a screen; and

a controller configured to display virtual keys on a screen, the virtual keys being provided in a plurality of regions, each region having an identifier and characters that are unique from other regions, wherein the controller receives at least one input corresponding to selection of the identifier for selection of a desired character, wherein the desired character and at least one other character in a different region are displayed differently on the screen.

15. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 14, wherein the controller determines virtual key information assigned to the selected identifier.

16. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 15, wherein the virtual key information includes at least one of a character, a number, or a symbol.

17. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 14, wherein the desired character and the at least one other character are provided in one of a same row direction or a same column direction of the screen.

18. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 14, wherein in response to receiving a move command, the controller changes the display of the desired character and the at least one other character.

19. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 14, wherein at least one of the plurality of regions forms a set region.

20. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 19, wherein in response to receiving a set selection command, the controller displays one region contained in the set region assigned the set selection command differently from other regions.

21. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 19, wherein the set region includes an identifier for indicating the assigned set selection command.

22. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 14, wherein the character and the at least one other character are displayed in different colors.

23. The digital broadcast receiver according to claim 22, wherein in response to receiving a selection command for selecting a specific color, the controller determines virtual key information assigned to an input region of the desired character or the at least one other character having a color that is closely related to the specific color.