System and method for focused navigation within a user interface
First Claim
1. A method for navigating a plurality of options within a user interface of an interactive television system, the method comprising:
- storing a graphical representation of each of the plurality of options;
in response to a single user action, scrolling a sequence of the graphical representations in a straight line through a single, non-moving focus area of the user interface, the focus area being located in an intermediate position between two ends of the straight-line sequence; and
in response to a terminating action by the user, discontinuing the scrolling of graphical representations to show a particular graphical representation of an option in the focus; and
testing the user'"'"'s ability to identify a test image within the sequence of images displayed at different rates to automatically determine the user'"'"'s maximum image recognition threshold and set the rate at which the sequence is scrolled based on that threshold.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An information system having a plurality of user options is provided. A graphical representation is uniquely associated with each user option. In response to a single user action, the graphical representations are successively displayed in a focus area within the display screen. When the user sees a graphical representation of a desired option, the user takes some additional action and the successive display of graphical representations is discontinued. The graphical representation of the desired user option is then displayed in the focus area within the display screen, and may be visually enhanced. Once navigation has been discontinued, the user may select the user option associated with the displayed graphical representation.
98 Citations
59 Claims
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1. A method for navigating a plurality of options within a user interface of an interactive television system, the method comprising:
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storing a graphical representation of each of the plurality of options; in response to a single user action, scrolling a sequence of the graphical representations in a straight line through a single, non-moving focus area of the user interface, the focus area being located in an intermediate position between two ends of the straight-line sequence; and in response to a terminating action by the user, discontinuing the scrolling of graphical representations to show a particular graphical representation of an option in the focus; and testing the user'"'"'s ability to identify a test image within the sequence of images displayed at different rates to automatically determine the user'"'"'s maximum image recognition threshold and set the rate at which the sequence is scrolled based on that threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A system for navigating a plurality of options within a user interface, the system comprising:
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a storage device to store a graphical representation of each of a plurality of options; a user input detector to detect user actions; and a display unit to scroll, in response to a single user action, a sequence of the graphical representations in a straight line through a single, non-moving focus area of the user interface, the focus area being located in an intermediate position between two ends of the straight-line sequence;
wherein the display unit is further to discontinue, in response to a terminating action by the user, the scrolling of graphical representations to show a particular graphical representation of an option in the focus area, wherein the display unit is further to test the user'"'"'s ability to identify a test image within a sequence of images displayed at different rates to automatically determine the user'"'"'s maximum image recognition threshold and set the rate at which the sequence is scrolled based on that threshold. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A method for navigating a plurality of options within a user interface, the methods comprising:
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storing a graphical representation of each of a plurality of options associated with an information system; testing a user'"'"'s ability to identify a test image within a sequence of images displayed at different rates to automatically determine the user'"'"'s maximum image recognition threshold; in response to the user holding down a button on a remote control, successively displaying the graphical representations in a focus area of the user interface in sequence at a rate approximating the user'"'"'s maximum image recognition threshold; increasing a rate at which the graphical representations are successively displayed according to a stepwise function based on how long the button is held down, such that a plurality of graphical representations are shown at each of a plurality of increasing rates dictated by the stepwise function; and in response to the user releasing the button on the remote control, discontinuing the successive display of graphical representation to show a particular graphical representation of an option. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58)
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59. A method for navigating a plurality of options within a user interface of an interactive television system, the method comprising:
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storing a graphical representation of each of the plurality of options; in response to a single user action, successively displaying the graphical representations in a single, non-moving focus area of the user interface, wherein the graphical representations are successively displayed at a rate based on the user'"'"'s maximum image recognition threshold, which threshold is determined by testing the user'"'"'s ability to identify an image within a sequence of images presented at different rates; displaying with each successively displayed graphical representation at least a portion of a previously-displayed graphical representation on one side of the focus area and at least a portion of an ensuing graphical representation on an opposite side of the focus area, such that the graphical representations are displayed in a straight line, wherein the focus area is located in an intermediate position between the graphical representations on either side; and in response to a terminating action by the user, discontinuing the successive display of graphical representations to show a particular graphical representation of an option.
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Specification