Remote controller user interface and methods relating thereto
First Claim
1. A computer system comprising:
- a display device operatively connected to a computer;
means for displaying on at least a portion of the display device a graphic depiction of a remote control transmission device, which resembles an analogous physical remoate controller, having a display window area and a button bank area with a plurality of buttons, the display window area displaying contents comprising textual, pictorial, or graphical information, wherein the plurality of buttons in response to selection selectably control the contents displayed in the display window area; and
means for selecting a button within the button bank area to control the contents displayed in the display window area of the graphic depiction of the remote control transmission device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A remote controller user interface for accessing information within a computer system. The remote controller contains a window display area for displaying pictorial, graphical and textual information, and a button bank area for controlling the information displayed within the window display area. In a preferred embodiment, the remote controller is generated by a computer program which permits the user to access information about movies. By selecting the appropriate button of the remote controller, various information is displayed within the window display area of the remote controller, as well as upon the screen of the computer system display device. By use of the remote controller, users with little or no prior computer experience are confronted with a recognizable user interface which permits easy access to information.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A computer system comprising:
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a display device operatively connected to a computer; means for displaying on at least a portion of the display device a graphic depiction of a remote control transmission device, which resembles an analogous physical remoate controller, having a display window area and a button bank area with a plurality of buttons, the display window area displaying contents comprising textual, pictorial, or graphical information, wherein the plurality of buttons in response to selection selectably control the contents displayed in the display window area; and means for selecting a button within the button bank area to control the contents displayed in the display window area of the graphic depiction of the remote control transmission device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method in a computer system having a display device, the method comprising the steps of:
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displaying on a portion of the display device a graphic depiction of a remote controller which resembles an analogous physical television or stereo remote controller transmission device, wherein the graphic depiction of the remote controller displayed on the display device has a display window area sized to display as contents at least one of pictorial, textual, and graphical information, and a button bank area having a button which selectably controls the contents displayed in the display window area; and in response to user selection of the button, modifying the contents displayed in the display window area.
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6. A method in a computer system for providing a user interface to a computer program executing on the computer system, the method comprising the steps of:
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displaying, on a portion of a display device of the computer system, a remote controller visual representation of a physical remote control transmission device, the remote controller visual representation having a bounded shape and containing within the bounded shape a display window area and a button bank area having at least one button that corresponds to a function of the computer program and that selectably controls contents of the display window area; displaying as contents of the display window area of the remote controller visual representation at least one of pictorial, graphical, and textual information; selecting a button of the button bank area; in response to the selection of the button, sending to the computer program an indication of the selected button; and under control of the computer program, receiving the indication of the selected button; and in response to receiving the indication of the selected button, causing the contents of the display window area to be modified according to the function corresponding to the selected button. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method in a computer system for providing a user interface to a computer program, the method comprising the steps of:
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generating and displaying, on a portion of a display device of the computer system, a remote controller graphic representation of a physical remote control transmission device having a bounded shape and containing within the bounded shape a display window area and a button bank area having at least one button that selectably controls contents of the display window area; displaying as contents of the display, window area of the remote controller graphic representation at least one of pictorial, graphical, and textual information; selecting a button of the button bank area; and in response to the selection of the button, displaying a field for receiving filter data; receiving filter data into the field; and modifying the contents of the display window area according to the received filter data.
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15. A computer-readable memory medium containing instructions for controlling a computer processor in a computer system to provide a graphical user interface to the computer system by performing the steps of:
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displaying, on a portion of a display device of the computer system, a graphic depiction of a remote controller which resembles a physical remote controller transmission device, the graphic depiction of the remote controller transmission device having a display window area that displays as contents at least one of pictorial, textual, and graphical information, and having a button bank area with a button that selectably controls the contents displayed in the display window area; and in response to user selection of the button, modifying the contents displayed in the display window area. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification