Display of previewed channels with rotation of multiple previewed channels along an arc

• US 6,281,940 B1
• Filed: 03/31/1999
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Corporation Of America (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Corporation Of America (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sciammarella, Eduardo A.
• Primary Examiner(s): HSIA, SHERRIE Y
• Application Number:
  US09/283,369
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N 5.8445, H04/N.545, 348/564, 348/563, 348/565, 348/569, 348/906, 725/39, 725/40, 725/41, 725/53, 725/56, 725/37, 725/38
• US Class Current: 348/564
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control

Abstract

Information corresponding to previewed channels is displayed using a sequential arrangement having a main channel location and several remaining channel locations. A currently previewed channel resides in the main channel location. The channels move along the sequential arrangement and into the main channel location for previewing. An arc shaped arrangement having the main channel location at an intermediate point allows channels to progress from one side of the arc, then into the main channel location for previewing, then to the other side of the arc. A jog dial can be rotated to cause the previewed channels to rotate along the arc. Thus, the user can cycle through available channels or a subset of channels by merely holding the jog dial in a given position.

Claims

1. A method for displaying information corresponding to previewed channels, the method comprising:

displaying a plurality of channel information locations in a sequential arrangement, the plurality of channel information locations including a main channel location and a plurality of remaining channel locations, wherein the sequential arrangement comprises an arc wherein the main channel position resides at a location along the arc;

displaying information for a first channel in the main channel location and information for a second channel in a first remaining channel location;

responsive to a first control signal, causing the information for the second channel to rotate into the main channel location and the information for the first channel to rotate out of the main channel location, wherein the information for the first channel rotates into a second remaining channel location when it rotates out of the main channel location; and

responsive to a second control signal, causing the information for a third channel to rotate into the main channel location, the information for the first channel to rotate into a third remaining channel location, and the information for the second channel to rotate into the second remaining channel location.

2. The method of claim 1, for use with a remote control, wherein the first control signal is produced responsive to a first position of a jog dial on the remote control.

3. The method of claim 2, for use with the remote control, wherein the first control signal and the second control signal are produced when the jog dial on the remote control remains in the first position.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the remaining channel locations are at first and second sides of the arc separated by the main channel position, such that channels to be previewed rotate from the first side of the arc, then to the main channel position for previewing, and then to the second side of the arc after they have been previewed.

5. The method of claim 1, for use with a remote control, wherein rotating the jog dial clockwise causes the previewed channels to rotate clockwise along the arc.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein rotating the jog dial counter-clockwise from the default position causes the previewed channels to rotate counter-clockwise along the arc.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first, second and third channels are from the set of all available channels.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first, second and third channels are from a subset of all available channels.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein audio and video are provided for the channel in the main channel location, and a still image is provided for the channels in the remaining channel locations.

10. An apparatus for displaying information corresponding to previewed channels, the apparatus comprising:

a channel index module, which provides a list of channels including a first channel and a second channel; and

a preview display module, which displays a plurality of channel information locations in a sequential arrangement, the plurality of channel information locations including a main channel location a plurality of remaining channel locations;

displays information for a first channel in the main channel location and information for a second channel in a first remaining channel location; and

, responsive to a first control signal, causes the information for the second channel to rotate into the main channel location and the information for the first channel to rotate out of the main channel location.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the information for the first channel rotates into a second remaining channel location when it rotates out of the main channel location.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the preview display module responds to receiving a second control signal by causing the information for a third channel to rotate into the main channel location, the information for the first channel to rotate into a third remaining channel location, and the information for the second channel to rotate into the second remaining channel location.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, for use with a remote control, wherein the first control signal and the second control signal are produced when a jog dial on the remote control remains in a first position.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the sequential arrangement comprises an arc wherein the main channel position resides at a location along the arc.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the remaining channel locations are at first and second sides of the arc separated by the main channel position, such that channels to be previewed rotate from the first side of the arc, then to the main channel position for previewing, and then to the second side of the arc after they have been previewed.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, for use with a remote control, wherein rotating the jog dial clockwise causes the previewed channels to rotate clockwise along the arc.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein rotating the jog dial counter-clockwise from the default position causes the previewed channels to rotate counter-clockwise along the arc.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein audio and video are provided for the channel in the main channel location, and a still image is provided for the channels in the remaining channel locations.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first, second and third channels are a sequence in the set of all channels that are available for viewing in a television system.

20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first, second and third channels are from a subset of all channels that are available for viewing in a television system.