User friendly remote system interface

• US 6,313,851 B1
• Filed: 08/27/1997
• Issued: 11/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rovi Technologies Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Matthews, Joseph H. III, Barnes, David A., Plummer, David Wm.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Ba
• Application Number:
  US08/917,857
• Time in Patent Office: 1,532 Days
• Field of Search: 345/352, 345/353, 345/354, 345/146, 345/327, 345/168, 345/169, 345/716, 345/717, 345/718, 345/740, 345/802, 345/827, 345/828, 348/552, 348/563, 348/564, 348/570, 348/734, 348/906, 725/38, 725/39, 725/54, 725/109, 725/110
• US Class Current: 715/718
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234381 by altering the temporal resolution, e.g. decreasing the frame rate by frame skipping
• 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 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8113 comprising music, e.g. song in MP3 format

Abstract

A system, method, and medium for enhancing a GUI and viewing environment for a computer user is disclosed. Enabling a user to fully navigate and operate a computer through the use of a remote control device, the present invention includes at least a PC mode of operation and a theater mode of operation, wherein the theater mode is designed for distance use with the remote device. While operating in theater mode, received function key signals are interpreted by the computer system to operate various functions which have been modified to accommodate remote viewing and control. To enable the remote device to fully control the applications executable on the computer, the disclosed process notifies the various applications of the current operating mode.

Claims

1. A system for selecting options associated with a computer that permits operation of applications in a computer mode and in a theater mode, said system comprising:

a display device for displaying a fist list of menu options and a list of unique accelerators where each accelerator is associated with one of said first list of menu options, said options having functions, said first list of menu options relating to at least one application of said applications, said at least one application having two modes of operation corresponding to said computer mode and said theater mode, wherein different modes, different menus are displayed for the same functions;

a receiving device for receiving from a remote control device a key press associated with one of said accelerators; and

an execution device for performing a function corresponding to the one accelerator in accordance with the current mode of operation and said at least one application.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein each of said unique accelerators comprises a single numeric digit.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said display device also displays an additional option not associated with one of said list of accelerators wherein said additional option is a currently running application.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said display device also displays an additional option not associated with one of said list of accelerators wherein all accelerators have been previously assigned to other options of said first list of options.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the function performed is to display a second list of menu options associated with said received key press wherein said list of accelerators is removed from association with said first list of options and associated with said second list of options.

6. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a storage for storing at least one additional key press associated with said accelerators in addition to said received key press;

wherein said execution device determines the association of said at least one additional key press to at least one additional option and executes said at least one additional option without said display device displaying said additional option.

7. A method for selecting options associated with a computer that permits operation of applications in a computer mode and in a theater mode through selection of dynamically assigned unique accelerators, said method comprising the steps of:

associating a fist list of menu options and a list of unique accelerators where each accelerator is associated with one of said first list of options, said options having functions, said first list of menu options relating to at least one application of said applications, said at least one application having two modes of operation corresponding to said computer mode and said theater mode, wherein in different modes, different menus are displayed for the same functions;

displaying the combination of said first list of options with said list of accelerators in a menu format;

receiving from a remote control device a key press corresponding to one of said list of accelerators; and

,

executing a function corresponding to the one accelerator in accordance with the current mode of operation and said at least one application.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein each of said unique accelerators comprises a single numeric digit.

9. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of:

displaying an additional option not associated with one of said list of accelerators wherein said additional option is a currently running application.

10. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of:

displaying an additional option not associated with one of said list of accelerators wherein all accelerators have been previously assigned to other options of said first list of options.

11. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

unassociating said list of accelerators from said first list of options upon execution of said function;

associating said list of accelerators with a second list of options to be displayed in response to said execution;

and displaying said second list of options with said associated list of accelerators.

12. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

storing at least one additional key press associated with said accelerators in addition to said received key press;

determining the association of said at least one additional key press to at least one additional option;

executing said at least one additional option without a display of said additional option.

13. A computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing steps that permit operation of applications in a computer mode and in a theater mode, said instructions comprising the steps of:

dynamically associating a first list of menu options and a list of unique accelerators where each accelerator is associated with one of said first list of options, said first list of menu options relating to at least one application of said applications, said options having functions said at least one application having two modes of operation corresponding to said computer mode and said theater mode wherein in different mods different menus are displayed for the same functions;

displaying the combination of said first list of options with said list of accelerators in a menu format;

receiving from a remote control device, a key press associated with one of said list of accelerators; and

executing a function corresponding to the one accelerator in accordance with the current mode of operation and said at least one application.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 having further computer-executable instructions wherein each of said unique accelerators comprises a single numeric digit.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of:

displaying an additional option not associated with one of said list of accelerators wherein said additional option is a currently running application.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 having further computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of:

displaying an additional option not associated with one of said list of accelerators wherein all accelerators have been previously assigned to other options of said first list of options.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 having further computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of:

unassociating said list of accelerators from said first list of options upon execution of said option of said first list of options associated with said received key press;

associating said list of accelerators with a second list of options to be displayed in response to said execution;

and displaying said second list of options with said associated list of accelerators.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 having further computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of:

storing at least one additional key press associated with said accelerators in addition to said received key press;

determining the association of said at least one additional key press to at least one additional option;

executing said at least one additional option without a display of said additional option.