System for data entry and navigation in a user interface

• US 5,990,890 A
• Filed: 08/25/1997
• Issued: 11/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications Management LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Liberate Technologies
• Inventors: Etheredge, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Ba
• Application Number:
  US08/917,325
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 345/326, 345/327, 345/328, 345/348, 345/349, 345/352, 345/353, 345/354, 345/336, 345/338, 345/347, 345/975, 345/158, 345/160, 345/163, 345/168, 345/169, 345/172, 345/173 , 345/179, 345/145, 345/146, 348/906
• US Class Current: 715/808
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• 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 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72

Abstract

The present invention includes a method and apparatus for providing quick access to menu and selection items of a user interface using an input device having a limited capability. For example, a standard television remote control does not have a pointing device or a button for each letter of the alphabet. One button is used to activate on-screen pop-up symbols that map selection items to keys on the remote. If a user does not select one of the selection items within a predetermined amount of time, the on-screen pop-up symbols disappear. The on-screen symbols can also be used to allow a user to select menus and submenus.

Claims

1. A method for interacting with a user interface using an input device, said input device including a plurality of input items, comprising the steps of:

displaying a plurality of selection items on a display; and

displaying a first plurality of pop-up symbols on said display in response to a user invoking an activation input item on said input device after said step of displaying a plurality of selection items, each of said pop-up symbols corresponding to an input item and a selection item.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said step of displaying a first plurality of pop-up symbols does not completely erase said selection items.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said step of displaying a plurality of selection items displays said selection items in a first screen without displaying any of said first plurality of pop-up symbols; and

said step of displaying a plurality of pop-up symbols displays said pop-up symbols in said first screen.

4. A method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of:

removing said pop-up symbols from said first screen if said user does not invoke any input items corresponding to said pop-up symbols during a predetermined period of time after said step of displaying said first plurality of pop-up symbols.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said pop-up symbols are numbers.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said input device is a remote control,

said input items include numerical keys;

and said activation input item is a zero key.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said selection items are selected from the group consisting of pop-up menus, input areas, text fields, lists, buttons, titles or alphanumeric character.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

displaying help information on said display for one or more pop-up symbols in response to said user invoking said activation input item.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

displaying help information on said display for one or more pop-up symbols in response to said user invoking a help input item.

10. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

acting on a particular selection item in response to said user invoking a particular input item associated with said particular selection item.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein:

said step of acting on a particular selection item includes

presenting a menu of choices;

removing said first plurality of pop-up symbols from said display, and

displaying a second plurality of pop-up symbols on said display, each of said second plurality of pop-up symbols corresponding to a choice.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein:

said second plurality is a subset of said first plurality.

13. A method for interacting with a user interface using an input device, said input device including a plurality of input items, comprising the steps of:

displaying a first plurality of selection items on a display, said selection items being divided into a plurality of groups of selection items, said step of displaying a first plurality of selection items includes concurrently displaying each member of each group;

displaying a first set of two or more pop-up symbols on said display, each of said first set of pop-up symbols correspond to one of said input items and one of said groups; and

displaying a second set of two or more pop-up symbols on said display in response to a user invoking a first input item on said input device, said first input item corresponds to a first group of said plurality of groups, each of said second set of pop-up symbols corresponds to one of said input items and at least one selection item from said first group.

14. A method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of:

hiding said first set of two or more pop-up symbols in response to said user invoking said first input item on said input device.

said second plurality is a subset of said first plurality.

15. A method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of:

acting on a chosen selection item in response to a user invoking a second input item, said chosen selection item is in said first group and corresponds to said second input item.

17. A method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of:

hiding one or more of said groups in response to said user invoking said first input item.

18. A method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of:

removing said pop-up symbols from said display if said user does not invoke any input items corresponding to said first set of pop-up symbols during a predetermined period of time after said step of displaying a first set of two or more pop-up symbols.

16. A method for interacting with a user interface using an input device, said input device including a plurality of input items comprising the steps of:

displaying a first plurality of selection items on a display, said selection items being divided into a plurality of groups;

displaying a first set of two or more pop-up symbols on said display, each of said first set of pop-up symbols correspond to one of said input items and at least one of said groups;

displaying a second set of two or more pop-up symbols on said display in response to a user invoking a first input item on said input device, said first input item corresponds to a first group of said plurality of groups, each of said second set of pop-up symbols correspond to one of said input items and at least one selection item from said first group; and

acting on a chosen selection item in response to a user invoking a second input item, said chosen selection item is in said first group and corresponds to said second input item, said step of acting includes entering a character into a text field.

19. A method for interacting with a user interface using an input device, said input device including a plurality of input items, comprising the steps of:

displaying a plurality of group identifiers on a display, each of said plurality of group identifiers corresponding to one group from a first set of groups, each group including one or more selection items;

displaying a first set of two or more symbols on said display, each of said first set of symbols corresponds to one of said input items and at least one of said group identifiers; and

removing said symbols from said display if a user does not invoke any of said input items corresponding to said symbols during a predetermined period of time after said step of displaying a first set of two or more symbols.

20. A method according to claim 19, further including the steps of:

displaying a plurality of super-group identifiers on said display, each of said plurality of super-group identifiers corresponding to a super-group, each super-group includes a set of groups;

displaying a second set of two or more symbols on said display, each of said second set of symbols correspond to one of said input items and at least one of said super-group identifiers; and

receiving a user selection of one of said super-group identifiers, said one of said super-group identifiers corresponding to a first super group, said first super group including said first set of groups, said step of displaying a second set of two or more symbols being performed before said step of receiving, said step of displaying a first set of two or more symbols being performed after said step of receiving.

21. A method according to claim 19, further including the steps of:

accessing a list of selection items; and

dividing said list into a plurality of groups, said plurality of groups including said first set of groups.

22. A method according to claim 19, further including the steps of

receiving a user selection of one of said group identifiers, said one of said group identifiers corresponding to a first group, said first group including a first set of selection items;

displaying a list of said first set of selection items; and

receiving a user selection of one of said first set of selection items.

23. A processor readable storage medium, comprising:

processor readable program code embodied on said processor readable storage medium, said processor readable program code for programming a processor to perform a method for interacting with a user interface using an input device, said input device including a plurality of input items, the method comprising the steps of;

displaying a plurality of selection items on a display; and

displaying a first plurality of pop-up symbols on said display in response to a user invoking an activation input item on said input device after said step of displaying a plurality of selection items, each of said pop-up symbols corresponding to an input item and a selection item.

24. A processor readable storage medium according to claim 23, wherein:

said step of displaying a plurality of selection items displays said selection items in a first screen without displaying any pop-up symbols; and

said step of displaying a plurality of said first plurality pop-up symbols displays said pop-up symbols in said first screen.

25. A processor readable storage medium according to claim 23, wherein:

said method further comprising the step of removing said pop-up symbols from said first screen if said user does not invoke any input items corresponding to said pop-up symbols during a predetermined period of time after said step of displaying said first plurality of pop-up symbols.

26. A processor readable storage medium according to claim 23, wherein:

said method further comprising the step of displaying help information on said display for one or more pop-up symbols.

27. A processor readable storage medium according to claim 23, wherein:

said method further comprising the step of acting on a particular selection item in response to user invoking a particular input item associated with said particular selection item.

28. A processor readable storage medium according to claim 27, wherein:

said step of acting on a particular selection item includes presenting a menu of choices;

removing said first plurality of pop-up symbols from said display, and

displaying a second plurality of pop-up symbols on said display, each of said pop-up symbols corresponding to a choice.

29. A processor readable storage medium, comprising:

processor readable program code embodied on said processor readable storage medium, said processor readable program code for programming a processor to perform a method for interacting with a user interface using an input device, said input device including a plurality of input items, the method comprising the steps of;

displaying a first plurality of selection items on a display, said selection items being divided into a plurality of groups of selection items, said step of displaying a first plurality of selection items includes concurrently displaying each member of each group;

displaying a first set of two or more pop-up symbols on said display each of said first set of pop-up symbols correspond to one of said input items and one of said groups; and

displaying a second set of two or more pop-up symbols on said display in response to a user involdng a first input item on said input device, said first input item corresponds to a first group of said plurality of groups, each of said second set of pop-up symbols corresponds to one of said input items and at least one selection item from said first group.

30. A processor readable storage medium according to claim 29, wherein:

said method further comprising the step of;

hiding said first set of two or more pop-up symbols in response to said user invoking said first input item on said input device.

31. A processor readable storage medium according to claim 29, wherein:

said method further comprising the step of acting on a chosen selection item in response to said user invoking a second input item, said chosen selection item is in said first group and corresponds to said second input item.

33. A processor readable storage medium according to claim 29, wherein:

said method further comprising the step of hiding one or more of said groups in response to said user invoking a first input item.

34. A processor readable storage medium according to claim 29, wherein:

said method further comprising the step of removing said pop-up symbols from said display if said user does not invoke any input items corresponding to said first set of pop-up symbols during a predetermined period of time after said step of displaying a first set of two or more pop-up symbols.

32. A processor readable storage medium, comprising:

processor readable program code embodied on said processor readable storage medium, said processor readable program code for programming a processor to perform a method for interacting with a user interface using an input device, said input device including a plurality of input items, the method comprising the steps of;

displaying a first plurality of selection items on a display, said selection items being divided into a plurality of groups;

displaying a first set of two or more pop-up symbols on said display, each of said first set of pop-up symbols correspond to one of said input items and one of said groups;

displaying a second set of two or more pop-up symbols on said display in response to a user invoking a first input item on said input device, said first input item corresponds to a first group of said plurality of groups, each of said second set of pop-up symbols correspond to one of said input items and at least one selection item from said first group; and

acting on a chosen selection item in response to a user invoking a second input item, said chosen selection item is in said first group and corresponds to said second input item, said step of acting includes entering a character into a text field.

35. A processor readable storage medium, comprising:

processor readable program code embodied on said processor readable storage medium, said processor readable program code for programming a processor to perform a method for interacting with a user interface using an input device, said input device including a plurality of input items, the method comprising the steps of;

displaying a plurality of group identifiers on a display, each of said plurality of group identifiers corresponding to one group from a first set of groups, each group including one or more selection items;

displaying a first set of two or more symbols on said display, each of said first set of symbols corresponds to one of said input items and at least one of said group identifiers; and

removing said symbols from said display if a user does not invoke any of said input items corresponding to said symbols during a predetermined period of time after said step of displaying a first set of two or more symbols.

36. A processor readable storage medium according to claim 35, wherein:

said method further comprising the steps of;

displaying a plurality of super-group identifiers on said display, each of said plurality of super-group identifiers corresponding to a super-group, each super-group includes a set of groups;

displaying a second set of two or more symbols on said display, each of said second set of symbols correspond to one of said input items and at least one of said super-group identifiers; and

receiving a user selection of one of said super-group identifiers, said one of said super-group identifiers corresponding to a first super group, said first super group including said first set of groups, said step of displaying a second set of two or more symbols being performed before said step of receiving, said step of displaying a first set of two or more symbols being performed after said step of receiving.

37. A processor readable storage medium according to claim 35, wherein:

said method further comprising the steps of;

accessing a list of selection items; and

dividing said list into a plurality of groups, said plurality of groups including said first set of groups.

38. A processor readable storage medium according to claim 35, wherein:

said method further comprising the steps of;

receiving a user selection of one of said group identifiers, said one of said group identifiers corresponding to a first group, said first group including a first set of selection items;

displaying a list of said first set of selection items; and

receiving a user selection of one of said first set of selection items.

39. An apparatus for interacting with a user, comprising:

an input device;

a memory; and

a processor in communication with said memory and said input device, said memory storing first program code for programming said processor to perform at least the following steps;

displaying a plurality of selection items on a display, and

displaying a first plurality of pop-up symbols on said display in response to a user invoking an activation input item on said input device after said step of displaying a plurality of selection items, each of said pop-up symbols corresponding to an input item and a selection item, said step of displaying a first plurality of selection items displays said items in a first screen without displaying any pop-up symbols and said step of displaying a plurality of pop-up symbols displays said pop-up symbols in said first screen.

40. An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said first program code further capable of programming said processor to remove said pop-up symbols from said first screen if said user does not invoke any of said input items corresponding to said pop-up symbols during a predetermined period of time after said step of displaying said first plurality of pop-up symbols.

41. An apparatus for interacting with a user, comprising:

an input device including a plurality of input items;

a memory; and

a processor in communication with said memory and said input device, said memory storing first program code for programng said processor to perform at least the following steps;

displaying a first plurality of selection items on a display, said selection items being divided into a plurality of groups of selection items, said step of displaying a first plurality of selection items includes concurrently displaying each member of each group;

displaying a first set of two or more pop-up symbols on said display, each of said first set of pop-up symbols correspond to one of said input items and one of said groups; and

displaying a second set of two or more pop-up symbols on said display in response to a user invoking a first input item on said input device, said first input item corresponds to a first group of said plurality of groups, each of said second set of pop-up symbols correspond to one of said input items and at least one selection item from said first group.

42. An apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said first program code further capable of programming said processor to perform the steps of:

hiding said first set of two or more pop-up symbols in response to said user invoking said first input item.

43. An apparatus for interacting with a user, comprising:

an input device including a plurality of input items;

a memory; and

a processor in communication with said memory and said input device, said memory storing first program code for programming said processor to perform at least the following steps;

displaying a plurality of group identifiers on a display, each of said plurality of group identifiers corresponding to one group from a first set of groups, each group including one or more selection items;

displaying a first set of two or more symbols on said display, each of said first set of symbols corresponds to one of said input items and at least one of said group identifiers; and

removing said symbols from said display if a user does not invoke any of said input items corresponding to said symbols during a predetermined period of time after said step of displaying a first set of two or more symbols.

44. An apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said first program code further capable of programming said processor to perform the steps of:

displaying a plurality of super-group identifiers on said display, each of said plurality of super-group identifiers corresponding to a super-group, each super-group includes a set of groups;

displaying a second set of two or more symbols on said display, each of said second set of symbols correspond to one of said input items and at least one of said super-group identifiers;

receiving a user selection of one of said super-group identifiers, said one of said super-group identifiers corresponding to a first super group, said first super group including said first set of groups, said step of displaying a second set of two or more symbols being performed before said step of receiving, said step of displaying a first set of two or more symbols being performed after said step of receiving;

receiving a user selection of one of said group identifiers, said one of said group identifiers corresponding to a first group, said first groups including a first set of selection items;

displaying a list of said first set of selection items; and

receiving a user selection of one of said first set of selection items.