User friendly remote system interface with menu highlighting

• US 6,898,765 B2
• Filed: 10/22/1999
• Issued: 05/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rovi Technologies Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Plummer, David Wm., Matthews, Joseph H. III, Barnes, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Ba
• Application Number:
  US09/422,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20020085042A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,041 Days
• Field of Search: 715/810, 715/815, 715/821, 715/822, 715/823, 715/829, 715/830, 715/835, 715/840, 715/856, 715/860, 715/861, 715/779, 345/327, 345/352, 345/353, 345/354, 345/767, 345/810, 345/811, 345/812, 345/815, 345/821, 345/822, 345/823, 345/835, 345/840, 345/841, 725/39, 725/40, 725/42, 725/44, 725/45, 725/46, 725/47, 725/52, 725/56, 725 57- 61
• US Class Current: 715/815
• 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 highlighting a current selection associated with a computer that permits operation of a applications in a plurality of modes, said plurality of modes comprising at least a first mode and a second mode, said first mode for viewing the display from a distance and said second mode for viewing the display in proximity, said system comprising:

a storage for storing a list of menu options;

a display for displaying the list of menu options in response to a start or menu button, said list of menu options relating to at least one application operating in one of said plurality of modes, each menu option residing in a shape, one of said menu options on said list being the current selection, each shape being separated from an adjacent shape by a spacing distance based on border parameters, said border parameters being adjustable;

a processor for determining which of said menu options is the current selection, for determining in which one of said plurality of modes said at least one application is operating, and for enlarging the size of the shape surrounding said current selection if said at least one application is operating in said first mode, said first mode for viewing the display from a distance, the size of the enlarged shape surrounding the current selection being adjustable by controlling said border parameters to display said enlarged shape surrounding said current selection in relation to the spacing of the menu options.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the shape is a rectangle.

3. The system according to claim 1, where said processor alters the size of said shape by altering a registered window size applied to the current selection.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said border parameters are selected from the group consisting of an x-border parameter, a y-border parameter and a width parameter, wherein the x-border parameter and the y-border parameter represent spacing between each menu option and the width parameter represents the width of an enlarged shape surrounding the current selection and the value of the width parameter exceeds the values of the x-border parameter and the y-border parameter.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the value of the x-border parameter and the y-border parameter is zero so that the menu options are juxtaposed.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the enlarged shape surrounding the current selection overlaps at least a portion of at least one of the other menu options on said list.

4. A method for highlighting a current selection associated with a computer that permits operation of applications in a plurality of modes, said plurality of modes comprising at least a first mode and a second mode, said first mode for viewing the display from a distance and said second mode for viewing the display in proximity, said method comprising the steps of:

displaying the list of menu options in response to the reception of a signal corresponding to a start or menu button, said list of menu options relating to at least one application operating in one of said plurality of modes, with each menu option residing in a shape where one of said menu options on said list being the current selection, and wherein each shape is separated from an adjacent shape by a spacing distance based on border parameters, said border parameters being adjustable;

determining by a processor which of said list of menu options is the current selection and in which one of said plurality of modes said at least one application is operating;

enlarging the size of the shape surrounding said current selection if said at least one application is operating in said first mode, said first mode for viewing the display from a distance, the size of the enlarged shape surrounding the current selection being adjustable by controlling said border parameters; and

,

controlling said border parameters to display said enlarged shape surrounding said current selection in relation to the spacing of the menu options if said at least one application is operating in said first mode.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the shape is a rectangle.

6. The method according to claim 4, where said enlarging step enlarges the size of said shape by altering a registered window size applied to the current selection.

13. The method of claim 4 wherein said border parameters are selected from the group consisting of an x-border parameter, a y-border parameter and a width parameter, wherein the x-border parameter and the y-border parameter represent spacing between each menu option and the width parameter represents the width of an enlarged shape surrounding the current selection and the value of the width parameter exceeds the values of the x-border parameter and the y-border parameter.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the value of the x-border parameter and the y-border parameter is zero so that the menu options are juxtaposed.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the enlarged shape surrounding the current selection overlaps at least a portion of at least one of the other menu options on said list.

7. A computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

displaying the list of menu options in response to the reception of a signal corresponding to a start or menu button said, list of menu options relating to at least one application operating in one of a plurality of modes, said plurality of modes comprising at least a first mode and a second mode, said first mode for viewing the display from a distance and said second mode for viewing the display in proximity, with each menu option residing in a shape where one of said menu options on said list being the current selection, and wherein each shape is separated from an adjacent shape by a spacing distance based on border parameters, said border parameters being adjustable;

determining by a processor which of said list of menu options is the current selection and in which one of said plurality of modes said at least one application is operating;

enlarging the size of the shape surrounding said current selection if said at least one application is operating in said first mode, said first mode for viewing the display from a distance, the size of the enlarged shape surrounding the current selection being adjustable by controlling said border parameters; and

,

controlling said border parameters to display said enlarged shape surrounding said current selection in relation to the spacing of the menu options if said at least one application is operating in said first mode.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 7 wherein said computer-executable instructions define the shape as a rectangle.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 7 wherein said computer-executable instructions for performing the enlarging step enlarges the size of said shape by altering a registered window size applied to the current selection.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 7 wherein said border parameters are selected from the group consisting of an x-border parameter, a y-border parameter and a width parameter, wherein the x-border parameter and the y-border parameter represent spading between each menu option and the width parameter represents the width of an enlarged shape surrounding the current selection and the value of the width parameter exceeds the values of the x-border parameter and the y-border parameter.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16 wherein the value of the x-border parameter and the y-border parameter is zero so that the menu options are juxtaposed.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 16 wherein the enlarged shape surrounding the current selection overlaps at least a portion of at least one of the other menu options on said list.