Function presentation and selection using a rotatable function menu

• US 6,411,337 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2001
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Corporation Of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Corporation Of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Cove, Jeffrey M., Gray, William S., Villalobos, Ernesto S.
• Primary Examiner(s): HSIA, SHERRIE Y
• Application Number:
  US09/837,907
• Time in Patent Office: 433 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.5445, H04/N.550, 348/563, 348/564, 348/569, 348/570, 348/906, 348/734, 348/725, 345/112, 345/146, 345/116, 345/327, 345/328, 725/25, 725/37
• US Class Current: 348/563
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration

Abstract

Function representation and selection in a multi-function system that supports user selection of system function by means of a menu-driven graphical user interface includes displaying a rotatable function menu. The rotatable function menu includes a plurality of circumferentially-arrayed facets, each facet representing a respective function of a plurality of functions. The rotatable function menu may be rotated on an axis to place any desired facet at a selection location at which the function represented by the facet may be selected. Selection and configuration of functions and features related to a selected function are provided by display and navigation through one or more submenus.

Claims

1. A method for presenting a plurality of television (TV) functions on a TV screen, comprising:

displaying on the TV screen a rotatable spherical function menu;

displaying in the spherical function menu, one or more function representations, each function representation identifying a function;

displaying an exit icon near the spherical function menu, the exit icon representing an exit function providing an exit from the method;

receiving a rotation signal; and

in response to the rotation signal, causing the spherical function menu to rotate.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the spherical function menu includes displaying a substantially spherical graphics object with a plurality of facets, and displaying one or more function representations includes displaying in each facet of the plurality of facets a function representation of the one or more function representations.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the exit icon includes displaying the exit icon as a stationary panel that touches the spherical function menu.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the spherical function menu includes orienting the spherical function menu for rotation about a vertical axis.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein causing the spherical function menu to rotate includes causing rotation of the spherical function menu on the vertical axis.

6. The method of claim 1, further including displaying a submenu that includes a plurality of function representations, each function representation corresponding to a function identified by a function representation on the spherical function menu.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein, prior to displaying the submenu, the spherical function menu is rotated to a position at which the identified function is displayed and the submenu is displayed in response to display of identified function.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the spherical function menu includes a surface with a plurality of facets, a respective one function representation of the one or more function representations being displayed in a respective facet of the plurality of facets.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the spherical function menu to rotate includes providing a plurality of rotation axes and rotating the spherical function menu about one rotation axis of the plurality of rotation axes.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the ring-shaped function menu isometrically includes displaying the spherical function menu standing substantially upright.