Interactive graphical user interface for television set-top box

• US 6,335,736 B1
• Filed: 12/04/1998
• Issued: 01/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Simister, J. Bret, Wagner, Annette
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cao H.
• Application Number:
  US09/205,268
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 345/326, 345/327, 345/328, 345/335, 345/356, 345/357, 345/700, 345/716, 345/723, 345/744, 345/853, 345/854, 348/2, 348/4, 348/8, 348/10
• US Class Current: 715/716
• 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 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4858 for modifying screen layout parameters, e.g. fonts, size of the windows
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence

Abstract

A graphical user interface (GUI) for a television set-top box which includes a web browser. The set-top box has an Internet data connection and is controlled from user inputs entered through a remote control device. The GUI generates menu screens that are superimposed over conventional television video images, so that the user can view browser graphics generated by the GUI while viewing television images in the background. The GUI further provides animated on-screen notifications of the presence of interactive content, such as hypertext links to World Wide Web pages, which may be associated with television content currently being received. The GUI can also provide animated on-screen notifications of other events, such as previously-specified dates and times or the end of a television commercial. A main menu screen includes function buttons which appear to slide back and forth. A two-state progress indicator indicates that a download is in progress and the degree of completeness of a download.

Claims

1. A method of generating a user interface, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a television signal;

displaying video images on a display device;

detecting a predetermined event;

in response to detecting the predetermined event, displaying an animated character on the display device as a notification of the event as the video images are being displayed.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of detecting a predetermined event comprises the step of determining when a user-specified event has occurred.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of detecting a predetermined event comprises the step of detecting the end of a television advertisement.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of detecting a predetermined event comprises the step of determining whether secondary information associated with the television signal is available, wherein the secondary information includes hypertext data associated with a current content of the television signal.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined content comprises data for generating an interactive user interface.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined content comprises hypertext data corresponding to data originating from a computer network.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the hypertext data comprises data representing a World Wide Web page.

8. A method of enabling a client processing system to generate a user interface, the method comprising the step of transmitting sequences of instructions from a host processing system to the client processing system, the sequences of instructions including instructions which, when executed on the client processing system, cause the client processing system to perform the method recited in claim 1.

9. A processing system for connecting to a television set, the television set having a display device, the processing system comprising:

a processor;

a receiver coupled to the processor for receiving a television signal; and

a

memory coupled to the processor, the memory having stored therein sequences of instructions for configuring the processor to;

cause video images on the display device based on the television signal;

detect a predetermined event; and

display an animated character on the display device in response to detecting the predetermined event as the video images contained in the television signal are being displayed.

10. A processing system according to claim 9, wherein the event comprises a user-specified event.

11. A processing system according to claim 9, wherein the event comprises an end of a television advertisement.

12. A processing system according to claim 9, wherein the event comprises the availability of secondary information associated with the television signal, wherein the secondary information includes hypertext data associated with a current content of the television signal.

13. A processing system according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined content comprises data for generating an interactive user interface.

14. A processing system according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined content comprises hypertext data corresponding to data originating from a computer network.

15. A processing system according to claim 14, wherein the hypertext data comprises data representing a World Wide Web page.