MECHANISM FOR FACILITATING MULTIPLE MULTIMEDIA VIEWING PLANES IN MEDIA DISPLAY SYSTEMS

• US 20130019263A1
• Filed: 06/29/2012
• Published: 01/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: FERREN, BRAN, Krishnamurthy, Lakshman, Jasmann, Schawn A., Beal, David, Maurin, Pablo A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,893,184 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/00 Interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units interface circuits for specific input/output devices G06F3/00 ; multiprogram control therefor G06F9/46; multiprocessor systems G06F15/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4393 Multimedia presentations, e.g. slide shows, multimedia albums
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/71 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/738 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window

Abstract

A mechanism is described for facilitating multiple multimedia viewing planes in media display systems according to one embodiment of the invention. A method of embodiments of the invention includes using a plurality of multimedia planes corresponding to a plurality of multimedia content types. The plurality of multimedia planes may be integrated to be presented through an integrated user interface at a media processing device. The method may further include selecting, via the integrated user interface, one or more content categories from a plurality of multimedia content categories, and presenting, via a multimedia plane of the plurality of multimedia planes, contents associated with the one or more selected content categories.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

using a plurality of multimedia planes corresponding to a plurality of multimedia content types, wherein the plurality of multimedia planes are integrated to be presented through an integrated user interface at a media processing device;

selecting, via the integrated user interface, one or more content categories from a plurality of multimedia content categories; and

presenting, via a multimedia plane of the plurality of multimedia planes, contents associated with the one or more selected content categories.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of multimedia planes comprise one or more of a video viewing plane, a web content viewing plane, and a Graphical User Interface (GUI) graphics viewing plane.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising blending the plurality of multimedia planes to provide a composite image embodying the integrated user interface.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising facilitating multi-directional communication, via one or more communication channels, between two or more processes of a plurality of processes associated with two or more multimedia planes, wherein the plurality of processes generate the plurality of multimedia planes.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising facilitating multi-directional messaging, via one or more message buses, between two or more processes associated with two or more multimedia planes of the plurality of multimedia planes.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising facilitating storing in a database one or more of multimedia contents, user inputted contents, user interface datasets, and media metadata, wherein the database includes a Sequential Query Language (SQL)-based database or an Object-Oriented database.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising content provided by a content provider or a user interface publisher, the content includes one or more of menu content, sub-menu content, menu icons, sub-menu icons, and a list of current media selections.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the media metadata comprises media source locations, media types, media element identifications, media synopsis, and media cover art, wherein the media types include one or more of a Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) file on disk, an MPEG transport stream over a network, non-MPEG, and a webpage.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting comprises displaying the contents via a display device coupled to the media processing device, wherein the media processing device includes one or more of a television or a computing system including a mobile computing device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting comprises receiving a control directive from a media control device including a remote control.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the remote control comprise a plurality of features including one or more of a display screen, a touch pad, a touch pad emulator, a scroll or track wheel, one or more push buttons, a push button QWERTY keypad, a touch or emulator QWERTY keypad, a speaker, a microphone, and one or more noise cancelling microphones.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing a supplemental integrated user interface via the remote control, wherein the supplemental integrated user interface is used to emulate and control the integrated user interface via the remote control.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a multimedia navigation planes integration mechanism having

first logic to use a plurality of multimedia planes corresponding to a plurality of multimedia content types, wherein the plurality of multimedia planes are integrated to be presented through an integrated user interface at a media processing device;

second logic to select, via the integrated user interface, one or more content categories from a plurality of multimedia content categories; and

third logic to present, via a multimedia plane of the plurality of multimedia planes, contents associated with the one or more selected content categories.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the plurality of multimedia planes comprise one or more of a video viewing plane, a web content viewing plane, and a Graphical User Interface (GUI) graphics viewing plane.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising forth logic to blend the plurality of multimedia planes to provide a composite image embodying the integrated user interface.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising fifth logic to facilitate multi-directional communication, via one or more communication channels, between two or more processes of a plurality of processes that generate two or more multimedia planes of the plurality of multimedia planes.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising sixth logic to facilitate multi-directional messaging, via one or more message buses, between a plurality of processes that generated the plurality of multimedia planes.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising seventh logic to facilitate storing in a database one or more of multimedia contents, user inputted contents, user interface datasets, and media metadata, wherein the database includes a Sequential Query Language (SQL)-based database or an Object-Oriented database.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising content provided by a content provider or a user interface publisher, the content includes one or more of menu content, sub-menu content, menu icons, sub-menu icons, and a list of current media selections.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the media metadata comprises media source locations, media types, media element identifications, media synopsis, and media cover art, wherein the media types include one or more of a Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) file on disk, an MPEG transport stream over a network, non-MPEG, and a webpage.

21. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the third logic is further to display the contents via a display device coupled to the media processing device, wherein the media processing device includes one or more of a television or a computing system including a mobile computing device.

22. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the second logic is further to receive a control directive from a media control device including a remote control.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the remote control comprise a plurality of features including one or more of a display screen, a touch pad, a touch pad emulator, a scroll or track wheel, one or more push buttons, a push button QWERTY keypad, a touch or emulator QWERTY keypad, a speaker, a microphone, and one or more noise cancelling microphones.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising eighth logic to provide a supplemental integrated user interface via the remote control, wherein the supplemental integrated user interface is used to emulate and control the integrated user interface via the remote control.

25. A system comprising:

a media processing device having a memory to store instructions, and a processing device to execute the instructions, wherein the instructions cause the processing device to

use a plurality of multimedia planes corresponding to a plurality of multimedia content types, wherein the plurality of multimedia planes are integrated to be presented through an integrated user interface at a media processing device;

select, via the integrated user interface, one or more content categories from a plurality of multimedia content categories; and

present, via a multimedia plane of the plurality of multimedia planes, contents associated with the one or more selected content categories.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the plurality of multimedia planes comprise one or more of a video viewing plane, a web content viewing plane, and a Graphical User Interface (GUI) graphics viewing plane.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the processing device is further to blend the plurality of multimedia planes to provide a composite image embodying the integrated user interface.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the processing device is further to facilitate multi-directional communication, via one or more communication channels, between two or more processes of a plurality of processes that generate two or more multimedia planes of the plurality of multimedia planes.

29. The system of claim 25, wherein the processing device is further to facilitate multi-directional messaging, via one or more message buses, between a plurality of processes that generated the plurality of multimedia planes.

30. The system of claim 25, wherein the processing device is further to facilitate storing in a database one or more of multimedia contents, user inputted contents, user interface datasets, and media metadata, wherein the database includes a Sequential Query Language (SQL)-based database or an Object-Oriented database.

31. The system of claim 30, further comprising content provided by a content provider or a user interface publisher, the content includes one or more of menu content, sub-menu content, menu icons, sub-menu icons, and a list of current media selections.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the media metadata comprises media source locations, media types, media element identifications, media synopsis, and media cover art, wherein the media types include one or more of a Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) file on disk, an MPEG transport stream over a network, non-MPEG, and a webpage.

33. The system of claim 25, wherein the processing device is further to display the contents via a display device coupled to the media processing device, wherein the media processing device includes one or more of a television or a computing system including a mobile computing device.

34. The system of claim 25, wherein the processing device is further to receive a control directive from a media control device including a remote control.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the remote control comprise a plurality of features including one or more of a display screen, a touch pad, a touch pad emulator, a scroll or track wheel, one or more push buttons, a push button QWERTY keypad, a touch or emulator QWERTY keypad, a speaker, a microphone, and one or more noise cancelling microphones.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the processing device is further to provide a supplemental integrated user interface via the remote control, wherein the supplemental integrated user interface is used to emulate and control the integrated user interface via the remote control.

37. At least one machine-readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions that in response to being executed on a computing device, causes the computing device to carry out a method according to one or more operations comprising:

using a plurality of multimedia planes corresponding to a plurality of multimedia content types, wherein the plurality of multimedia planes are integrated to be presented through an integrated user interface at a media processing device;

selecting, via the integrated user interface, one or more content categories from a plurality of multimedia content categories; and

presenting, via a multimedia plane of the plurality of multimedia planes, contents associated with the one or more selected content categories.

38. The machine-readable medium of claim 37, wherein the plurality of multimedia planes comprise one or more of a video viewing plane, a web content viewing plane, and a Graphical User Interface (GUI) graphics viewing plane.

39. The machine-readable medium of claim 37, wherein the one or more operations comprise blending the plurality of multimedia planes to provide a composite image embodying the integrated user interface.

40. The machine-readable medium of claim 37, wherein the one or more operations comprise facilitating multi-directional communication, via one or more communication channels, between two or more processes of a plurality of processes associated with two or more multimedia planes, wherein the plurality of processes generate the plurality of multimedia planes.