Method and apparatus for navigating an image using a touchscreen

• US 6,995,751 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2002
• Issued: 02/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Instrument Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Falvo, Barry P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Sumati
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ward, Aaron S.
• Application Number:
  US10/134,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20030201984A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,383 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/156, 345/167, 345174-179, 345700-750, 3482111-2118
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/422 Input-only peripherals , i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] input devices also receiving signals from specially adapted client devices H04N21/4104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42208 Display device provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control

Abstract

A method and apparatus for navigating an image viewed on a display screen. The image is controlled by a processor that receives navigational commands selected on a touchscreen of an auxiliary display device. The touchscreen is partitioned into a plurality of navigational control areas. Each navigational control area is associated with a different navigational command. When one of the navigational control areas of the touchscreen is selected, the navigational command associated with the selected navigational control area is transmitted to the processor. The processor receives and executes the transmitted navigational command to navigate the image. The boundaries of the control areas are normally hidden from view, but can be revealed on the touchscreen in response to a user input.

Claims

1. A method of navigating an image viewed on a display screen, the image being controlled by a processor that receives navigational commands selected on a touchscreen of an auxiliary display device, the method comprising:

(a) partitioning the entire area of the touchscreen into a navigation region and at least one entry control area;

(b) partitioning the navigation region of the touchscreen into a plurality of navigational control areas such that the entire navigation region is covered by the plurality of navigational control areas, each navigational control area being associated with a different navigational command;

(c) selecting one of the navigational control areas;

(d) transmitting the navigational command associated with the selected navigational control area to the processor; and

(e) the processor receiving and executing the transmitted navigational command to navigate the image.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the image has a plurality of selectable image portions, at least one of the selectable image portions being currently highlighted for possible selection.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein each navigational control area is associated with a different navigational command that changes the image portion that is highlighted from the currently highlighted image portion to a image portion adjacent to the currently highlighted image portion when the different navigational command is executed by the processor.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

(f) selecting the at least one entry control area to activate a function associated with the currently highlighted selectable image portion.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises:

(i) defining a center circular portion of the navigation region; and

(ii) dividing the center circular portion into four central navigational control areas and the at least one entry control area.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein each of the navigational commands associated with the four central navigational control areas is used to change one of the x-axis and y-axis coordinates of the position of the at least one of the selectable image portions.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein step (b) further comprises:

(iii) defining four corner navigational control areas of the navigation region, each corner navigational control area being adjacent to the center circular portion and located in a respective corner of the navigation region.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein each of the navigational commands associated with the four corner navigational control areas is used to change the x-axis and y-axis coordinates of the position of the at least one of the selectable image portions.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises:

(i) defining a center circular portion of the navigation region;

(ii) dividing the center circular portion into four central navigational control areas and the at least one entry control area; and

(iii) defining four corner navigational control areas, each corner navigational control area being adjacent to the center circular portion and located in a respective corner of the navigation region.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) is performed by pressing a stylus against the touchscreen.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) is performed by pressing a finger of a user of the auxiliary display device against the touchscreen.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the image includes a television program grid of an electronic program guide (EPG) including a plurality of adjacent program windows, and the selection of the one navigational control area causes a specific program window adjacent to a previously highlighted program window to be highlighted for potential selection in accordance with the executed navigational command.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the image is navigated to play a game.

14. A method of navigating an image viewed on a display screen, the image being controlled by a processor that receives navigational commands selected on a touchscreen of an auxiliary display device, the method comprising:

(a) partitioning the entire area of the touchscreen into a navigation region and at least one entry control area;

(b) partitioning the navigation region of the touchscreen into a plurality of navigational control areas such that the entire navigation region is covered by the plurality of navigational control areas, each navigational control area being associated with a different navigational command, the boundaries of the control areas being hidden from view;

(c) selecting one of the navigational control areas;

(d) transmitting the navigational command associated with the selected navigational control area to the processor; and

(e) the processor receiving and executing the transmitted navigational command to navigate the image.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the boundaries of the control areas are revealed on the touchscreen in response to a user input.

16. Apparatus for navigating an image viewed on a display screen, the image being controlled by a processor that receives navigational commands from the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a touchscreen having its entire area partitioned into a navigation region and at least one entry control area, the navigation region partitioned into a plurality of navigational control areas such that the entire navigation region is covered by the plurality of navigational control areas, each navigational control area being associated with a different navigational command, the touchscreen being used for selecting one of the navigational control areas; and

(b) a transmitter for transmitting the navigational command associated with the selected navigational control area to the processor, wherein the processor receives and executes the transmitted navigational command to navigate the image.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the image has a plurality of selectable image portions, at least one of the selectable image portions being currently highlighted for possible selection.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein a center circular portion of the navigation region is defined and divided into four central navigational control areas and the at least one entry control area.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein four corner navigational control areas on the navigation region are defined, each corner navigational control area being adjacent to the center circular portion and located in a respective corner of the navigation region.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein each of the navigational commands associated with the four corner navigational control areas is used to change the x-axis and y-axis coordinates of the position of the at least one of the selectable image portions.

21. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein each of the navigational commands associated with the four central navigational control areas is used to change one of the x-axis and y-axis coordinates of the position of the at least one of the selectable image portions.

22. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein each navigational control area is associated with a different navigational command that changes the image portion that is highlighted from the currently highlighted image portion to a image portion adjacent to the currently highlighted image portion when the different navigational command is executed by the processor.

23. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the at least one entry control area is selected to activate a function associated with the currently highlighted selectable image portion.

24. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein a center circular portion of the navigation region is defined and divided into four central navigational control areas and the at least one entry control area, and four corner navigational control areas of the navigation region are defined, each corner navigational control area being adjacent to the center circular portion and located in a respective corner of the navigation region.

25. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the one navigational control area is selected by pressing a stylus against the touchscreen.

26. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the one navigational control area is selected by pressing a finger of a user of the auxiliary display device against the touchscreen.

27. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the image includes a television program grid of an electronic program guide (EPG) including a plurality of adjacent program windows, and the selection of the one navigational control area causes a specific program window adjacent to a previously highlighted program window to be highlighted for potential selection in accordance with the executed navigational command.

28. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the image is navigated to play a game.

29. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the apparatus is an infrared (IR) consumer electronic device.

30. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the processor is located in a set-top box (STB) and the display screen is a television in communication with the STB.

31. Apparatus for navigating an image viewed on a display screen, the image being controlled by a processor that receives navigational commands from the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a touchscreen having its entire area partitioned into a navigation region and at least one entry control area, the navigation region partitioned into a plurality of navigational control areas such that the entire navigation region is covered by the plurality of navigational control areas, each navigational control area being associated with a different navigational command, the boundaries of the control areas being hidden from view, the touchscreen being used for selecting one of the navigational control areas; and

(b) a transmitter for transmitting the navigational command associated with the selected navigational control area to the processor, wherein the processor receives and executes the transmitted navigational command to navigate the image.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the boundaries of the control areas are revealed on the touchscreen in response to a user input.