Cursor controlled page selection in a video display

• US 4,587,520 A
• Filed: 04/07/1983
• Issued: 05/06/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RCA Corporation (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: RCA Corporation (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Astle, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Curtis, Marshall M.
• Application Number:
  US06/482,852
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: 340/712, 340/709, 340/710, 340/708, 340/703, 340/365 VL
• US Class Current: 345/160
• 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: H04N 7/0255 Display systems therefor

Abstract

A teletext system in which viewer function selection is accomplished by superposing a cursor on one of the displayed function words. The teletext/videotext receiver includes a ROM for storing page selection control symbols and a RAM for storing symbols and related addresses corresponding to all displayed page selection symbols. The RAM contents are compared with a cursor address signal to identify displayed page selection symbols that are at or near the cursor location. A page selection symbol, thus identified, is transferred from the RAM to the teletext/videotext system decoder as an information selection command in response to depression of a selection key whereby a minimum number of keys provide selection of a virtually unlimited number of system commands and a user may continuously monitor the displayed text while making selections thus reducing selection entry errors. Provision is made for altering the cursor position, shape and/or brightness upon a predetermined condition of proximity of the cursor with respect to a displayed system command symbol to verify the validity of the command to the user and to avoid positional ambiguities of the cursor relative to the displayed symbol.

Claims

1. An information selection and control system for use in a video receiving means having an information decoder means and a display means that displays at a corresponding location on said display means a given information selection legend included in a predetermined plurality of information selection legends, said display means being capable of displaying a cursor that can be positioned on said display means at a location selected from any of a plurality of locations that includes at least a location that is in proximity to said location of said given information selection legend and at least a location that is not in proximity to said location of said given information selection legend, said system comprising:

(a) memory means for storing said plurality of predetermined information selection legends wherein each legend comprises a corresponding information selection command;

(b) processor means coupled to said information decoder and to said memory means for storing information selection legends and related addresses that are displayed on said display means and that are included in said plurality of predetermined information selection legends;

(c) cursor means for supplying a cursor video signal to said display means to display said cursor thereon and for providing a cursor address signal that is indicative of the location where said cursor is positioned on said display means;

(d) comparing means coupled to said processor means and responsive to said cursor address signal for providing an information selection signal that identifies association between said cursor and said give information selection legend when the location of said cursor on said display means is at said location that is in proximity to said location of said given information selection legend so that when the location of said cursor is not in proximity to said location of said given information selection legend, said information selection signal is not provided, said comparing means also supplying an information selection code that is representative of the value of said given information selection legend;

(e) means responsive to said information selection signal for providing a user with a positive indication that said cursor is associated with said given information selection legend;

(f) means responsive to a user initiated command that is initiated by said user in response to said positive indication, for supplying an information enable signal; and

(g) circuit means for coupling said information selection code to input means of said decoder means and responsive to said information selection enable signal supplied thereto for causing said decoder means to select, in accordance with said code information that is to be displayed next on said display means.

2. An information selection and control system as recited in claim 1 further comprising remote control means having a source for providing a cursor control signal manifestation and a key for providing said information selection enable signal;

and coupling means for coupling said information control signal manifestation to said cursor means for forming said cursor address signal and for coupling said information selection enable signal to said circuit means.

3. An information selection and control system as recited in claim 1 wherein said positive indication providing means comprises means for altering the location of said cursor upon occurrence of the condition of said proximity.

4. An information selection and control system as recited in claim 1 wherein said positive indication providing means comprises means for changing the cursor brightness upon occurrence of the condition of said proximity.

5. An information selection and control system as recited in claim 1 wherein said positive indication providing means comprises means for changing selected dimensions of said cursor upon occurrence of the condition of said proximity.

6. An information selection and control system as recited in claim 1 further comprising means for altering the displayed appearance of said given information selection legend proximate said cursor.