IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE SAME

• US 20120062457A1
• Filed: 09/08/2011
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: LEE, Hongjin, Lee, Chungha
• Granted Patent: US 9,256,345 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• 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 21/4852 for modifying audio parameters, e.g. switching between mono and stereo
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4854 for modifying image parameters, e.g. image brightness, contrast

Abstract

An image display apparatus and a method for operating the same are discussed. According to an embodiment, the method for operating the image display apparatus having a display screen, includes processing a signal for displaying a first object; associating, by the image display apparatus, the first object with a pointer to be displayed, the pointer being movable according to a pointing operation of a pointing device associated with the image display apparatus; and automatically displaying, by the image display apparatus on the display screen, the first object and the pointer on the first object based on the associating step.

Claims

1. A method for operating an image display apparatus including a display screen, comprising:

processing a signal for displaying a first object;

associating, by the image display apparatus, the first object with a pointer to be displayed, the pointer being movable according to a pointing operation of a pointing device associated with the image display apparatus; and

automatically displaying, by the image display apparatus on the display screen, the first object and the pointer on the first object based on the associating step.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the automatically displaying step includes:

displaying the first object and the pointer at predetermined locations on the display screen, respectively; and

automatically moving the displayed first object toward the displayed pointer on the display screen so that the first object is finally displayed under the displayed pointer.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the automatically displaying step includes:

displaying first the pointer without the first object, at a first predetermined location on the display screen;

displaying the first object on the display screen displaying the pointer, at a second predetermined location on the display screen; and

automatically moving the displayed pointer from the first predetermined location toward the displayed first object on the display screen so that the pointer is finally displayed on the displayed first object.

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

displaying first the pointer without the first object, at a predetermined location on the display screen; and

automatically displaying the first object under the pointer at the predetermined location on the display screen.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the automatically displaying step, the first object is a menu including at least one selectable menu item.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

when one of the at least one selectable menu item is selected, displaying a second object associated with the selected menu item on the display screen; and

when an input for exiting the second object is received, automatically displaying the pointer over the menu, on the display screen.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the step of displaying the second object displays the second object while maintaining the menu on the display screen.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the step of displaying the second object displays the second object without the menu on the display screen.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the pointer over the menu includes the pointer displayed at a center of the menu.

10. The method according to claim 6, wherein the second object is another menu including at least one selectable menu item.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the pointer on the first object includes the pointer on a middle area of the first object.

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

displaying a second object on the display screen while the first object and the pointer on the first object are displayed on the same display screen; and

automatically moving the pointer on the first object to the displayed second object so that the pointer is displayed on the second object.

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

displaying a plurality of second objects on the display screen while the first object and the pointer on the first object are displayed on the same display screen;

checking priority information of the first object and the second objects; and

automatically moving the pointer on the first object to one of the second objects or maintaining the pointer on the first object, based on the checking result.

14. An image display apparatus comprising:

a display screen; and

a controller configured to process a signal for displaying a first object, and to associate the first object with a pointer to be displayed, the pointer being movable according to a pointing operation of a pointing device associated with the image display apparatus,

the controller further configured to automatically display on the display screen the first object and the pointer on the first object based on the association of the first object with the pointer.

15. The image display apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the controller displays the first object and the pointer at predetermined locations on the display screen, respectively, and automatically moves the displayed first object toward the displayed pointer on the display screen so that the first object is finally displayed under the displayed pointer.

16. The image display apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the controller displays first the pointer without the first object, at a first predetermined location on the display screen,

displays the first object on the display screen displaying the pointer, at a second predetermined location on the display screen, and

automatically moves the displayed pointer from the first predetermined location toward the displayed first object on the display screen so that the pointer is finally displayed on the displayed first object.

17. The image display apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to:

display first the pointer without the first object, at a predetermined location on the display screen, and

automatically display the first object under the pointer at the predetermined location on the display screen.

18. The image display apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the first object is a menu including at least one selectable menu item;

and

wherein the controller is further configured to;

when one of the at least one selectable menu item is selected, display a second object associated with the selected menu item on the display screen, and

when an input for exiting the second object is received, automatically display the pointer over the menu, on the display screen.

19. The image display apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to:

display a second object on the display screen while the first object and the pointer on the first object are displayed on the same display screen, and

automatically move the pointer on the first object to the displayed second object so that the pointer is displayed on the second object.

20. The image display apparatus according to claim 14, the controller further configured to:

display a plurality of second objects on the display screen while the first object and the pointer on the first object are displayed on the same display screen,

check priority information of the first object and the second objects, and

automatically move the pointer on the first object to one of the second objects or maintain the pointer on the first object, based on the checking result.