Method and system of user interface for a computer

• US 6,417,869 B1
• Filed: 03/15/1999
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Citicorp Credit Services Incorporated (Citigroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Citicorp Development Center Incorporated (Citigroup Incorporated)
• Inventors: Do, Cuong D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Kieu D.
• Application Number:
  US09/267,300
• Time in Patent Office: 1,212 Days
• Field of Search: 705/70, 705/73, 345/716, 345/717, 345/718, 345/719, 345/781, 345/808, 345/809, 345/810, 345/825, 345/841, 345/902, 345/962, 345/720, 345/853, 345/854, 345/771, 345/773, 345/753, 345/756, 709/204
• 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: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47805 Electronic banking banking in general G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q

Abstract

A method and system of user interface for a full function computer centered, for example, in a user'"'"'s living room automatically displays a screen for a control center application folder, for a plurality of bundled applications, from which the user selects an application, such as a home banking application. The system automatically displays a function selection screen for the selected application, from which the user selects an application function, and the system automatically implements the selected function.

Claims

1. A method of user interface for a computer system, comprising:

preloading a computing device with an operating system and a plurality of bundled applications including a home banking application, an Internet access application, a word processing application, and a browser application, and a plurality of living room control center applications selected from a group consisting of video disk player applications, smart telephone applications, two-way video phone applications, and music CD applications;

receiving a selection for a living room control center application folder representing the plurality of living room control center applications for the computer system via an input device communicating with the computer system and operable by a user to selectively invoke and control the bundled applications;

automatically displaying a screen for the living room control center application folder on a viewing screen of a television set coupled to the computing device with a graphical depiction of a living room on the display screen populated with depictions of a plurality of actual appliances indicative of corresponding ones of the living room control center applications;

receiving a selection for at least one of the living room control center applications represented by the living room control center application folder by clicking on the depiction of the actual appliance corresponding to the selected living room control center application via the input device;

automatically displaying a screen for a plurality of control functions for the selected living room control center application depicting actual control devices of the selected appliance;

receiving a selection for at least one of the living room control center application control functions by clicking on the depiction of the actual control device for the selected function via the input device; and

automatically implementing the selected living room control center application function in accordance with the selected living room control center application control function.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the selection for the living room control center application folder further comprises automatically displaying a menu screen for a plurality of folders for the computer system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the selection for the living room control center application folder further comprises entering the selection.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein entering the selection for the living room control center application folder further comprises entering the selection by a user at a computer.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein entering the selection for the living room control center application folder by the user further comprises automatically prompting the user to enter the selection.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically displaying the screen for the living room control center application folder further comprises automatically displaying one of a plurality of screens for the living room control center application folder.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein automatically displaying one of the plurality of screens further comprises receiving a selection for an alternate screen for the living room control center application folder.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein receiving the selection for the alternate screen further comprises automatically displaying the alternate screen.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein receiving the selection for the alternate screen further comprises entering the selection.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein entering the selection for the alternate screen further comprises entering the selection by a user at a computer.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein entering the selection for the alternate screen by the user further comprises automatically prompting the user to enter the selection.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically displaying the screen for the living room control center application folder further comprises automatically displaying at least one actual appliance selected from a group consisting of a video appliance, a telephone appliance, a TV appliance, and a stereo appliance.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising automatically displaying a home banking application folder button.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein automatically displaying at least one actual appliance further comprises automatically displaying the video appliance.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein automatically displaying the video appliance further comprises automatically displaying a video disk player appliance.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein automatically displaying the video disk player appliance further comprises automatically displaying at least one video disk player appliance selected from a group consisting of a video CD appliance, a karaoke CD appliance, a movie CD appliance, and a DVD appliance.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein automatically displaying at least one actual appliance further comprises automatically displaying the telephone appliance.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein automatically displaying the telephone appliance further comprises automatically displaying a smart telephone appliance.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein automatically displaying the smart telephone appliance further comprises automatically displaying at least one smart telephone appliance selected from a group consisting of a dial appliance, a talk appliance, a caller ID appliance, a last number redial appliance, and a speed dial appliance.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein automatically displaying at least one actual appliance further comprises automatically displaying a depiction of the TV appliance.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein automatically displaying the TV appliance further comprises automatically displaying a two-way video phone appliance.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein automatically displaying the two-way video phone appliance further comprises automatically displaying at least one two-way video phone appliance selected from a group consisting of a camera appliance, a dial appliance, a talk appliance, a caller ID appliance, a last number redial appliance, and a speed dial appliance.

23. The method of claim 12, wherein automatically displaying at least one actual appliance further comprises automatically displaying the stereo appliance.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein automatically displaying the stereo appliance further comprises automatically displaying a music CD appliance.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein automatically displaying the music CD appliance further comprises automatically displaying at least one music CD appliance selected from a group consisting of a music CD player appliance and an audio equalizer appliance.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the selection for at least one of the living room control center applications further comprises entering the selection.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein entering the selection for at least one of the living room control center applications further comprises entering the selection by a user at a computer.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein entering the selection for at least one of the living room control center applications by the user further comprises automatically prompting the user to enter the selection.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the selection for at least one of the living room control center applications further comprises receiving a selection for the video disk player application.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the selection for at least one of the living room control center applications further comprises receiving a selection for the smart telephone application.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the selection for at least one of the living room control center applications further comprises receiving a selection for the music CD application.

32. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a selection for the home banking application.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein receiving the selection for the home banking application further comprises receiving the selection for the home banking application of a pre-selected financial institution.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically displaying the screen for the plurality of control functions further comprises automatically displaying at least one actual control for a video disk player application selected from a group consisting of a screen mode control, a volume control, a forward control, a reverse control, a freeze picture control, a pause control, a disk ejecting control, and a power control.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically displaying the screen for the plurality of control functions further comprises automatically displaying at least one actual control for a smart telephone application selected from a group consisting of a talk control, a dial control, and a power control.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically displaying the screen for the plurality of control functions further comprises automatically displaying at least one actual control for a two-way video phone application selected from a group consisting of a talk control, a dial control, a video transmit control, and a power control.

37. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically displaying the screen for the plurality of control functions further comprises automatically displaying at least one actual control for a music CD player application selected from the group consisting of a volume control and a power control.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the selection for at least one application control function further comprises entering the selection.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein entering the selection for at least one application control function further comprises entering the selection by a user at a computer.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein entering the selection for at least one application control function by the user further comprises automatically prompting the user to enter the selection.

41. The method of claim 1, wherein the video disk player application further comprises at least one function selected from a group consisting of a video CD function, a karaoke CD function, a movie CD function, and a DVD function.

42. The method of claim 1, wherein the smart telephone application further comprises at least one function selected from a group consisting of a dial function, a talk function, a caller ID function, a last number redial function, and a speed dial function.

43. The method of claim 1, wherein the two-way video phone application further comprises at least one function selected from a group consisting of a camera function, a dial function, a talk function, a caller ID function, a last number redial function, and a speed dial function.

44. The method of claim 1, wherein the music CD application further comprises at least one function selected from a group consisting of a music CD player function and an audio equalizer function.

45. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a selection for a browser function for the home banking application.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein receiving the selection for the browser function further comprises receiving the selection for a browser function pre-programmed for the home banking application of a pre-selected financial institution.

47. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically implementing the selected application function further comprises automatically implementing at least one video disk player application function selected from a group consisting of a video CD function, a karaoke CD function, a movie CD function, and a DVD function.

48. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically implementing the selected living room control center application function further comprises automatically implementing at least one smart telephone application function selected from a group consisting of a dial function, a talk function, a caller ID function, a last number redial function, and a speed dial function.

49. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically implementing the selected living room control center application function further comprises automatically implementing at least one two-way video phone application function selected from a group consisting of a camera function, a dial function, a talk function, a call ID function, a last number redial function, and a speed dial function.

50. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically implementing the selected living room control center application function further comprises automatically implementing at least one video music CD application function selected from a group consisting of a music CD player function and an audio equalizer function.

51. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically implementing a browser function for a home banking application.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein automatically implementing the browser function further comprises automatically implementing the browser function of the home banking application of a pre-selected financial institution.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein automatically implementing the browser function for the home banking application of the pre-selected financial institution further comprises automatically initiating communication with the financial institution.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein automatically initiating communication with the financial institution further comprises automatically initiating the communication over a computer network.

55. A system for user interface for a computer control center, comprising:

a computer system preloaded with an operating system and a plurality of bundled applications including a home banking application, an Internet access application, a word processing application, and a browser application, and a plurality of living room control center applications selected from a group consisting of video disk player applications, smart telephone applications, two-way video phone applications, and music CD applications;

wherein the computer system is preprogrammed for receiving a selection of a living room control center application folder representing the plurality of living room control center applications for the computer system via an input device communicating with the computer system and operable by a user to selectively invoke and control the bundled applications and automatically displaying a screen for the living room control center application folder on a viewing screen of a television set coupled to the computing device with a graphical depiction of a living room on the display screen populated with depictions of a plurality of actual appliances indicative of corresponding ones of the living room control center applications;

wherein the computer system is also preprogrammed for receiving a selection of at least one of the plurality of living room control center applications represented by the living room control center application folder by clicking on the depiction of the actual appliance corresponding to the selected living room control center application via the input device and automatically displaying a plurality of control functions for the selected living room control center application depicting actual control devices of the selected appliance; and

wherein the computer system is further preprogrammed for receiving a selection of at least one of the living room control center functions by clicking on the depiction of the actual control device via the input device and automatically implementing the selected living room control center function in accordance with the selected living room control center application control function.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein the home banking application further comprises a home banking application for a pre-selected financial institution.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the home banking application further comprises a browser associated with the home banking application.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein the browser associated with the home banking application further comprises a browser pre-programmed to the web-site of the pre-selected financial institution.