Automatically temporarily enabling a displayed menu option

• US 5,715,417 A
• Filed: 09/08/1995
• Issued: 02/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Gardien, Paulus F. L., De Bont, Johanna M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Breene, John E.
• Application Number:
  US08/526,020
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 395/326-358, 395/806, 345/117-120, 345/146, 345/123, 345/902
• US Class Current: 715/844
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof

Abstract

A method of enabling a user to select a service from among a plurality of services offered presents each time a next service from the variety offered and enables the user to select this service by executing of a simple affirmation operation. By simultaneously showing various services from the variety of services offered, the user is given a survey of the variety available so that making a comparative choice is easier.

Claims

1. A method of enabling a user to select a particular one from among a plurality of services available in a system, each respective one of the services being visually represented on a display screen by a respective one of a plurality of options, wherein the method comprises:

automatically making each individual one of the options temporarily available, in a predetermined sequence, for selection,

detecting said selection of a particular one of the options while the system has made available the particular option for selection,

presenting the service represented by the selected option,

simultaneously displaying on the display screen the particular option temporarily made available and at least one further option from the sequence, and

characterizing the particular option as temporarily made available for selection.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the method includes the presentation, while the system is enabled for selection of the given option, of informative data concerning the service represented by the given option, the informative data not being necessary to distinguish the options from one another.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the informative data are audio and/or visual data.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the system is enabled for selection of one of the options in a cyclic sequence.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the method comprises:

detection of designation of an option by the user, and

enabling the system for selection of the designated option on the basis of the designation and as a deviation from said sequence.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the service includes rendering selectable a further service in a hierarchy of options in a similar manner as specified in claim 1.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the method is used to select a video film.

8. A system for selecting a service from among a plurality of services available, which system comprises a server and a user station, wherein:

the server comprises;

server means for dispatching a series of options and the services under control of control signals, and

server connection means for receiving the control signals and for dispatching the series of options and the service,

the user station comprises;

a display screen and station connection means for connection to the server connection means to dispatch the control signals and to receive the series of options and the services

presentation means for automatically and temporarily enabling the user station for selection of a particular one of the options in a predetermined sequence, and

selection means for selecting the particular option,

and wherein;

the presentation means controls the display screen for simultaneous display of the particular option and at least one other one of the options, and

the presentation means characterizes the particular option as temporarily made available for selection.

9. A system as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the user station comprises means for requesting, by way of the control signals, informative data concerning the service represented by the given option, that the server means are arranged to dispatch the informative data via the server connection means and under the control of the control signals, and that the presentation means are also arranged to display on the display screen the informative data received via the station connection means.

10. A system as claimed in claim 9, in which the user station comprises a sound reproduction device, characterized in that the presentation means are arranged to reproduce the informative data, received via the station connection means, via the sound reproduction device.

11. A system as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the presentation means are arranged to enable the user station for selection of one of the options in a cyclic sequence.

12. A system as claimed in claim 8, in which the user station is arranged to receive user signals from a user, characterized in that the presentation means are arranged to designate an option on the display screen under the control of the user signals, and that the presentation means are also arranged to enable the user station for selection of the designated option.

13. A server for supplying a plurality of services, the server comprising:

storage means for storing data transferable to a user station through the services,

presentation means for temporarily enabling selection of a particular one of a plurality of options by a user, each respective one of the options being representative of a respective one of the plurality of the services,

processing means for dispatching, under the control of first control signals, the data for a particular one of the services upon selection of the particular option and the presentation means to the user station,

wherein

the presentation means controls a display screen of the user station for simultaneous display of the particular option and at least one further one of the options, and

the presentation means characterizes the particular option as temporarily made available for selection.

14. A server as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the processing means are arranged to dispatch informative data under the control of second control signals, and that the presentation means are arranged to display the informative data on the display screen.

15. A server as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the presentation means are arranged to produce the informative data via a sound reproduction device.

16. A server as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the presentation means are arranged to enable the user station for selection of one of the options in a cyclic sequence.

17. A server as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the presentation means are arranged to designate an option on the display screen under the control of user signals, and that the presentation means are also arranged to enable the user station for selection of the designated option.

18. An apparatus for enabling a user to select a particular one from among a plurality of services made available through a server system, the apparatus being connectable to the server system and to a display screen, the apparatus comprising:

connection means for dispatching control signals to the server system and for receiving a series of user-selectable options from the server system, respective ones of the user-selectable options being representative of a respective one of the services;

an output for dispatching image signals to the display screen,

presentation means for automatically temporarily enabling the apparatus for selection of each individual one of the options in a predetermined sequence, and

selection means for allowing the user to select a particular one of said options for which the apparatus is automatically and temporarily enabled,

wherein;

the presentation means controls the display for simultaneous representation of the particular option and at least another one of the options, and

the presentation means characterizes the particular option as being temporarily made available for selection.

19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that the apparatus comprises means for requesting, by way of the control signals, informative data concerning the service represented by the given option, and that the presentation means are arranged to display on the display screen the informative data received via the connection means.

20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that the presentation means are arranged to reproduce, via a sound reproduction device, the informative data received via the connection means.

21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that the presentation means are arranged to enable the apparatus for selection of one of the options in a cyclic sequence.

22. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, the apparatus being arranged to receive user signals from a user, characterized in that the presentation means are arranged to designate an option on the display screen under the control of the user signals, and that the presentation means are also arranged to enable the apparatus for selection of the designated option.