CONFIGURATION OF USER INTERFACES

• US 20120204115A1
• Filed: 04/16/2012
• Published: 08/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Barrett, Peter T.
• Application Number:
  US13/447,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20120204115A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/744
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

Configuration of user interfaces is described. In an implementation, a method includes receiving a query from a device. The query is for a user interface (UI) from a client. The UI, when executed by the device, is configured to form a request for execution of a control function by the client. A processing of the request determines whether the execution by the client of the control function is permitted. The processing is performed at a head end by using client state data. The hardware and/or software capabilities of the device to execute the UI are detected. The UI is configured based on the hardware and/or software capabilities of the device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

causing, by a computing device, display of a user interface that is configured based upon one or more hardware capabilities or software capabilities of the computing device;

receiving a request, via the user interface, to execute a control function of a client device; and

communicating the request to the client device to cause the client device to execute the control function.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the user interface is configured based at least in part upon a detected input device of the computing device.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the user interface is configured for touch-based navigation when the detected input device comprises a touch-screen, and wherein the user interface is configured for data-intensive input and navigation when the detected input device comprises a keyboard.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more hardware capabilities include one or more of a processor speed of the computing device, a data bus bandwidth of the computing device, a data throughput speed of the computing device, an amount of memory space of the computing device, a supported resolution or color palette of a display of the computing device, or supported fonts of the computing device.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more software capabilities include one or more of computer languages supported, availability of applications on the computing device, or drivers implemented on the computing device

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein communicating the request causes the client device to record content broadcast by one or more distribution servers to the client device locally at the client device.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

requesting, from the client device, the user interface that is configured based upon one or more hardware capabilities or software capabilities of the computing device; and

receiving the user interface from the client device.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the user interface is configured based at least in part on a likely distance at which a user is positioned from the computing device when viewing the user interface.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the client device comprises a set-top box.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

the computing device is communicatively coupled to the client device over a local network connection;

or

the computing device is communicatively coupled to the client device over a remote network connection.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the client device comprises a set-top box, and wherein the computing device is communicatively coupled to the client device over a local network connection or a remote network connection.

11. A computer-implemented method comprising:

detecting, by a client device, one or more hardware capabilities or software capabilities of a computing device that is communicatively coupled to the client device;

configuring a user interface for the computing device based on the one or more detected hardware capabilities or software capabilities of the computing device;

communicating the user interface to the computing device to enable the computing device to execute a control function of the client device using the user interface.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the configuring comprises configuring the user interface for the computing device based at least in part upon a detected input device of the computing device.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the configuring comprises configuring the user interface for touch-based navigation when the detected input device comprises a touch-screen, and configuring the user interface for data-intensive input and navigation when the detected input device comprises a keyboard.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the one or more detected hardware capabilities include one or more of a processor speed of the computing device, a data bus bandwidth of the computing device, a data throughput speed of the computing device, an amount of memory space of the computing device, a supported resolution or color palette of a display of the computing device, or supported fonts of the computing device.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a request, from the computing device, to execute the control function; and

executing the control function.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein the control function is to record content broadcast by one or more distribution servers to the client device locally at the client device.

18. A client device comprising:

a processor; and

one or more computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, implement a user interface module to;

configure a user interface for a computing device, that is communicatively coupled to the client device, based on a likely distance at which a user will be positioned from the computing device when viewing the user interface; and

communicate the user interface to the computing device to enable the computing device to execute a control function of the client device using the user interface.

19. The client device of claim 18, wherein the user interface module is further configured to configure the user interface for the computing device based on a resolution of a display of the computing device.

20. The client device of claim 18, wherein the client device comprises a set-top box, and wherein the computing device is communicatively coupled to the client device over a local network connection or a remote network connection.