System and method for focused navigation within a user interface

• US 7,159,176 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2002
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Digeo Incorporated (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Billmaier, James A., Kellum, John M., Rogan, Philip A., Reid, Dewey M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl; Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bonshock; Dennis G.
• Application Number:
  US10/138,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20040181804A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,705 Days
• Field of Search: 715/719, 715/720, 715/721, 725/56, 725/41, 725/52, 725/39, 725/37, 725/38
• US Class Current: 715/720
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• 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

Abstract

A sequence of cards is stored that graphically represents available options within an information system. In response to a single user action, the sequence of cards is successively displayed within a focus area of the user interface. In response to a subsequent user action, the successive display is discontinued to display a particular card representing a selected option.

Claims

1. A method for navigation of television program listings within a user interface, the method comprising:

moving a first set of visual cards in a linear sequence through a single focus area that is both vertically and horizontally fixed within the user interface;

moving a second set of visual cards in a linear sequence through the focus area from a perpendicular direction, wherein each visual card of the second set of visual cards represents a respective television program or programming source in a particular broadcast time slot, and wherein no visual card in the first set is also included in the second set; and

in response to a single user action, replacing the second set of visual cards with a third set of visual cards, each visual card of the third set of visual cards representing a respective television program or programming source in a later broadcast time slot.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the first set of visual cards.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

moving the third set of visual cards through the focus area; and

discontinuing the moving of the third set of visual cards in response to a user command to display a particular visual card in the focus area corresponding to a television program or programming source in the later broadcast time slot.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

enabling selection of the particular visual card in the focus area in response to an additional user action; and

displaying a television program shown in the broadcast time slot represented by the particular visual card.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein selection of the particular visual card is in response to a single user action.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each visual card of the second set graphically represents its associated television program or programming source.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one television programming source comprises a broadcast television channel.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one television programming source comprises a broadcast television network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the moving of the first set of visual cards is initiated in response to a single user action.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the second set of visual cards.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising replacing the third set of visual cards with a fourth set of visual cards in response to a user command, each visual card of the fourth set of visual cards representing a television program or programming source in an earlier broadcast time slot.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a time slot indicator that provides an indication of a first broadcast time slot represented by the visual card in the focus area in addition to a next broadcast time slot associated with a set of visual cards that will replace the currently-displayed set of visual cards in response to the single user action.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising updating the time slot indicator in response to replacing the first set of cards with the third set of cards to reflect a new broadcast time slot represented by the visual card in the focus area.

14. A system for focused navigation of a plurality of television programs within a user interface, the system comprising:

a user input detector configured to detect actions of a user; and

a processor configured to move a first set of visual cards in a linear sequence through a single focus area that is both vertically and horizontally fixed within the user interface, wherein the processor is also configured to move a second set of visual cards through the focus area from a perpendicular direction, wherein each visual card of the second set of visual cards represents a respective television program or programming source in a particular broadcast time slot, wherein no visual card of the first set is included in the second set, and wherein the processor is further configured to replace, in response to a single user action, the second set of visual cards with a third set of visual cards, each visual card of the second set of visual cards representing a respective television program or programming source in a later broadcast time slot.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a storage device configured to store the visual cards.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to:

move the third set of visual cards through the focus area; and

discontinue the moving of the third set of visual cards in response to a user command to display a particular visual card in the focus area corresponding to a television program or programming source in the later broadcast television time slot.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to enable selection of the particular visual card in the focus area in response to an additional user action, and wherein the processor is further configured to display a television program shown in the particular broadcast television time slot represented by the particular visual card.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein selection of the particular visual card is in response to a single user action.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein each visual card of the second set graphically represents its associated programming source.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein at least one television programming source comprises a broadcast television channel.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein at least one television programming source comprises a broadcast television network.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor initiates movement of the first set of visual cards in response to a single user action.

23. The system of claim 14, further comprising a storage device configured to store the second set of visual cards.

24. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor is further to replace the third set of visual cards with a fourth set of visual cards in response to a user command, each visual card of the fourth set of visual cards representing a television program or programming source in an earlier broadcast time slot.

25. A system for focused navigation of a plurality of television programs within a user interface, the system comprising:

means for moving a first set of visual cards in a linear sequence through a single focus area that is both vertically and horizontally fixed within the user interface;

means for moving a second set of visual cards in a linear sequence through the focus area from a perpendicular direction, wherein each visual card of the second set of visual cards represents a respective television program or programming source in a particular broadcast time slot, and wherein no visual card in the first set is also included in the second set; and

means for replacing, in response to a single user action, the second set of visual cards with a third set of visual cards, each visual card of the third set of visual cards representing a respective television program or programming source in a later broadcast time slot.

26. A method for navigation of television program listings within a user interface, the method comprising:

continuously scrolling a first set of visual cards through a focus area that is both vertically and horizontally fixed within the user interface;

continuously scrolling a second set of visual cards through the focus area from a perpendicular direction, wherein each visual card of the second set of visual cards represents a respective television program or programming source at a particular broadcast time slot, and wherein no visual card of the first set is also included in the second set; and

in response to a single user command, replacing the second set of visual cards with a third set of visual cards, each visual card of the third set of visual cards representing a later broadcast time slot associated with the respective television program or programming sources.