Content navigator graphical user interface system and method

• US 7,313,805 B1
• Filed: 11/30/1998
• Issued: 12/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Rosin, Robert, Sonoda, Yumie
• Primary Examiner(s): Koenig, Andrew Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/201,018
• Time in Patent Office: 3,312 Days
• Field of Search: 725/45, 725/46, 725/51, 725/110, 725/50
• US Class Current: 725/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8543 using a description language, e.g. Multimedia and Hypermedia information coding Expert Group [MHEG], eXtensible Markup Language [XML] information retrieval of semistructured data, the underlying structure being taken into account, e.g. mark-up language structure data G06F16/80

Abstract

In a system and method for enabling a user to simultaneously display a set of selectable categories, a set of channels related to a selected category, and individual content associated with a selected channel, of potential interest to the user. The system includes a graphical user interface which includes a set of selectable categories, sets of channels, each set of which includes channels which are relevant to each selectable category, and individual content, each of which is associated with a selectable channel and a selectable category. The graphical user interface uses hypertext markup language as the content description language, for enabling generation of guide information with links to related information and search functionality. The graphical user interface is further adapted to enable the selection of a category, a related channel, and associated individual content by the user. The internet websites and the internet content may be displayed in the same context as the video content.

Claims

1. A display system comprising:

a display;

a communications interface coupled to the display to provide an interface to one or more sources for individual content items; and

a single graphical user interface window presented on the display, wherein the graphical user interface window includes;

a representation of a set of content categories;

a representation of a set of channels related to a represented content category; and

a representation of individual content items associated with the represented set of channels, wherein the individual content items include television programming and interactive data;

wherein the graphical user interface window enables a user to select a displayed category, to select a displayed channel related to the displayed category, and to select an individual content item associated with the displayed channel;

wherein if interactive data is selected, then the representation of the set of channels and the interactive data are both displayed within the single graphical user interface window; and

wherein the graphical user interface window displays the representation of the individual content items associated with a channel upon selection of the channel by the user.

2. The display system of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface window displays a representation of a set of channels related to a content category upon selection of the category by the user.

3. The display system of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface window includes an area for displaying the representation of the individual content items, and wherein the area occupies a substantial portion of the display.

4. The display system of claim 1, wherein a connection to a source of the individual content is established through the communications interface.

5. The display system of claim 1, further comprising means for enabling the user to select among elements of the set of content categories, elements of the related set of channels, and the associated individual content items.

6. The display system of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface window further includes extended content.

7. The display system of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface window is generated by a content description language.

8. The display system of claim 1, wherein the representation of the individual content items in each selectable channel includes information that is related to the selectable channel.

9. The display system of claim 1, wherein the representation of the sets of channels comprises sets of websites.

10. The display system of claim 1, further comprising means for automatically moving from content category to content category to enable the user to view the channels related to each content category and individual content items associated with each channel.

11. The display system of claim 1, further comprising means for moving automatically from channel to channel in a content category, to enable the user to view the representation of the individual content items associated with each channel.

12. The display system of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface window comprises a front-end for world-wide-web access.

13. A display system comprising:

a display;

a communications interface coupled to the display to provide an interface to one or more sources for individual content items;

a single graphical user interface window presented on the display, wherein the graphical user interface window includes;

a representation of a set of content categories;

a representation of a set of channels related to a represented content category;

a representation of individual content items associated with the represented set of channels, wherein the individual content items include television programming and interactive data;

wherein the graphical user interface window enables a user to select a displayed category, to select a displayed channel related to the displayed category, and to select an individual content item associated with the displayed channel;

wherein if interactive data is selected, then the representation of the set of channels and the interactive data are both displayed within the single graphical user interface window;

wherein the graphical user interface window displays the representation of individual content items associated with a channel upon selection of the channel by the user; and

means for enabling the user to select among the set of content categories, the related set of channels, and the associated individual content items.

14. The display system of claim 13, wherein the means for enabling includes a cursor.

15. The display system of claim 14, wherein the cursor enables the user to scroll to additional content categories.

16. The display system of claim 14, wherein the cursor enables the user to scroll through the set of channels in a content category.

17. The display system of claim 14, wherein the cursor enables the user to select an area within the graphical user interface window and the area will transition to a full-display mode.

18. A display system comprising:

a display;

a communications interface coupled to the display to provide an interface to one or more sources for individual content items;

a single graphical user interface window presented on the display, wherein the graphical user interface window includes;

a representation of a set of content categories;

a representation of a set of channels related to a represented content category;

a representation of individual content items associated with the represented set of channels, wherein the individual content items include television programming and interactive data;

wherein the graphical user interface window enables a user to select a displayed category, to select a displayed channel related to the displayed category, and to select an individual content item associated with the displayed channel;

wherein if interactive data is selected, then the representation of the set of channels and the interactive data are both displayed within the single graphical user interface window;

wherein the graphical user interface window displays the representation of individual content items associated with a channel upon selection of the channel by the user; and

means for establishing an interactive data connection through the communications interface.

19. The display system of claim 18, wherein the means for establishing an interactive data connection includes a source of interactive data comprising a multiple-channel interactive data system.

20. The display system of claim 19, wherein the multiple-channel interactive data system comprises a digital cable system.

21. The display system of claim 19, wherein the multiple-channel interactive data system comprises a satellite system.

22. The display system of claim 19, wherein the multiple-channel interactive data system includes a set-top box adapted to be connected between the source and the display.

23. A display system comprising:

a display;

a communications interface coupled to the display to provide an interface to one or more sources for individual content items; and

a single graphical user interface window presented on the display, wherein the graphical user interface window includes;

a representation of a set of content categories;

a representation of a set of channels related to a represented content category; and

a representation of individual content items associated with the represented set of channels, wherein the individual content items include television programming, interactive data and extended content;

wherein the graphical user interface window enables a user to select a displayed category, to select a displayed channel related to the displayed category, to select individual content items associated with the displayed channel, and to select extended content;

wherein if interactive data is selected, the representation of the set of channels and the interactive data are both displayed within the single graphical user interface window; and

wherein the graphical user interface window displays the representation of individual content items associated with a channel upon selection of the channel by the user.

24. The display system of claim 23, wherein the extended content includes a current time.

25. The display system of claim 23, wherein the extended content includes a graphical representation of a relation between a current time and a total range of time from a start to an end of a program.

26. The display system of claim 23, wherein the extended content includes embedded video.

27. A display system comprising:

a display;

a communications interface coupled to the display to provide an interface to one or more sources for individual content items; and

a single graphical user interface window presented on the display, wherein the graphical user interface window is generated by a content description language and includes;

a representation of a set of categories;

a representation of a set of channels related to a represented content category; and

a representation of individual content items associated with the represented set of channels, wherein the individual content items include television programming and interactive data;

wherein the graphical user interface window enables a user to select a displayed category, to select a displayed channel related to the displayed category, and to select an individual content item associated with the displayed channel;

wherein if interactive data is selected, then the representation of the set of channels and the interactive data are both displayed within the single graphical user interface window; and

wherein the graphical user interface window displays the representation of individual content items associated with a channel upon selection of the channel by the user.

28. The display system of claim 27, wherein the content description language comprises HTML.

29. The display system of claim 28, further comprising means for decoding HTML content.

30. A display system comprising:

a display;

a communications interface coupled to the display to provide an interface to one or more sources for individual content items; and

a single graphical user interface window presented on the display, wherein the graphical user interface window includes;

a representation of a set of content categories;

a representation of a set of selectable channels related to a represented content category; and

a representation of individual content items associated with the represented set of channels, wherein the individual content items in each selectable channel include information that is related to the selectable channel, the related information including television programming and interactive data;

wherein the graphical user interface window enables a user to select a displayed category, to select a displayed channel related to the displayed category, and to select an individual content item associated with the displayed channel;

wherein if interactive data is selected, then the representation of the set of channels and the interactive data are both displayed within the single graphical user interface window; and

wherein the graphical user interface window displays the representation of individual content items associated with a channel upon selection of the channel by the user.

31. The display system of claim 30, wherein the information comprises video clips.

32. The display system of claim 30, wherein the information comprises real-time video.

33. The display system of claim 30, wherein the information comprises content provider information.

34. The display system of claim 30, wherein the information comprises channel information.

35. The display system of claim 30, wherein the information comprises program information.

36. The display system of claim 35, wherein the program information comprises a program title.

37. The display system of claim 35, wherein the program information comprises program length.

38. The display system of claim 35, wherein the program information comprises a program summary.

39. The display system of claim 35, wherein the program information comprises program starting and ending time.

40. The display system of claim 35, wherein the program information is adapted to be in a format that comprises HTML.

41. The display system of claim 35, wherein the program information is adapted to relate to a next program chronologically in the selected channel.

42. The display system of claim 35, wherein the program information further includes particular information relating to the program information.

43. The display system of claim 42, further comprising means for enabling selection of particular information from the program information.

44. The display system of claim 30, wherein the information includes live links to other related information.

45. The display system of claim 44, wherein the live links are adapted to enable the user to scroll forward to the next information or backward to the previous information.

46. The display system of claim 44, further comprising means for linking directly to linked information relating to the information selected.

47. A method of enabling a user to select a displayed category, to select a displayed channel related to the displayed category, and to select an individual content item associated with the displayed channel, in a system that includes a single graphical user interface window including a representation of a set of content categories, a representation of a set of channels related to a represented content category, and a representation of individual content items associated with the represented set of channels, wherein the individual content items include television programming and interactive data, the method comprising:

displaying the representation of the content categories;

enabling the user to select a desired content category;

displaying the representation of a plurality of the channels in a set of channels related to the selected content category;

enabling the user to navigate interactively in the individual content items;

enabling the user to navigate among the representation of the content categories, the representation of the related channels, and the individual content items from the graphical user interface window, wherein if the user navigates to interactive data, then the representation of the plurality of channels and the interactive data are both displayed within the single graphical user interface window;

enabling the user to select a desired channel; and

displaying the representation of the individual content items associated with a selected channel, wherein displaying the individual content is performed upon the selection of the desired channel.

48. The method of claim 47, further comprising enabling the user to select a desired category, and displaying a set of channels related to a selected category.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein displaying a set of channels enables the set of channels related to the selected category to be displayed simultaneously with the set of content categories.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein displaying a set of channels is performed upon the selection of the desired category.

51. The method of claim 47, wherein displaying the individual content enables the individual content items associated with the selected channel to be displayed with the set of channels.

52. The method of claim 47, wherein the individual content items in each selectable channel include program information that is related to the selectable channel, and include particular information related to the program information, the method further comprising:

displaying the particular information associated with the selected channel;

enabling the user to scan the particular information to locate desired particular information; and

displaying the desired particular information.

53. The method of claim 47, wherein the individual content items include information that includes links to other information associated with the selected channel, the method further comprising:

displaying the information that includes the links;

enabling the user to activate a link to the other information; and

displaying the linked information.

54. A display system comprising:

a display; and

a single graphical user interface window presented on the display comprising;

a representation of a set of content categories;

a representation of a set of channels related to a represented content category; and

a representation of individual content items associated with each of the channels, wherein the individual content items include television programming and interactive data;

wherein the graphical user interface window enables a user to select a displayed category, to select a displayed channel related to the displayed category, and to select an individual content item associated with the displayed channel;

wherein if interactive data is selected, then the representation of the set of channels and the interactive data are both displayed within the single graphical user interface window; and

wherein the graphical user interface window displays the representation of the individual content items associated with a channel upon selection of the channel by the user.

55. A computerized method comprising:

displaying a single graphical user interface window;

displaying in the graphical user interface window a representation of a set of content categories;

displaying in the graphical user interface window a representation of a set of channels, wherein the set of channels is associated with a displayed content category;

displaying the graphical user interface window a representation of individual content items, wherein the individual content items include television programming and interactive data;

receiving, via the graphical user interface window, user selections of a represented content category, a represented channel, and a represented content item;

displaying both the representation of the set of channels and the interactive data within the single graphical user interface window if the user selects interactive data; and

displaying the representation of the individual content items associated with a channel upon selection of a channel by the user.

56. A display system comprising:

a display; and

a single graphical user interface window presented on the display comprising;

a representation of a set of content categories;

a representation of a set of channels related to a represented content category; and

a representation of individual content items associated with each of the channels, wherein the individual content items include television programming and interactive data and the representation of individual content items comprise hyperlinks;

wherein the graphical user interface window enables a user to select a displayed category, to select a displayed channel related to the displayed category, and to select an individual content item associated with the displayed channel, wherein the individual content item is selected by selecting a hyperlink associated with the individual content item;

wherein if interactive data is selected by selecting an appropriate hyperlink, then the representation of the set of channels and the interactive data are both displayed within the single graphical user interface window; and

wherein the graphical user interface window displays the representation of the individual content items associated with a channel upon selection of the channel by the user.

57. A computerized method comprising:

displaying a single graphical user interface window;

displaying in the graphical user interface window a representation of a set of content categories;

displaying in the graphical user interface window a representation of a set of channels, wherein the set of channels is associated with a displayed content category;

displaying the graphical user interface window a representation of individual content items, wherein the individual content items include television programming and interactive data and the representation of individual content items comprise hyperlinks;

receiving, via the graphical user interface window, user selections of a represented content category, a represented channel, and a represented content item, wherein the individual content item is selected by selecting a hyperlink associated with the individual content item;

displaying both the representation of the set of channels and the interactive data within the single graphical user interface window if the user selects interactive data by selecting an appropriate hyperlink; and

displaying the representation of the individual content items associated with a channel upon selection of a channel by the user.

58. A device comprising:

a display; and

a single graphical user interface window presented on the display comprising;

a representation of a set of content categories;

a representation of a set of channels related to a represented content category; and

a representation of individual content items associated with each of the channels, wherein the individual content items include television programming and interactive data and the representation of individual content items comprise hyperlinks;

wherein the graphical user interface window enables a user to select a displayed category, to select a displayed channel related to the displayed category, and to select an individual content item associated with the displayed channel, wherein the individual content item is selected by selecting a hyperlink associated with the individual content item;

wherein if interactive data is selected by selecting an appropriate hyperlink, then the representation of the set of channels and the interactive data are both displayed within the single graphical user interface window; and

wherein the graphical user interface window displays the representation of the individual content items associated with a channel upon selection of the channel by the user.

59. An apparatus comprising:

a display; and

a single graphical user interface window presented on the display comprising;

a representation of a set of content categories;

a representation of a set of channels related to a represented content category; and

a representation of individual content items associated with each of the channels, wherein the individual content items include television programming and interactive data and the representation of individual content items comprise hyperlinks;

wherein the graphical user interface window enables a user to select a displayed category, to select a displayed channel related to the displayed category, and to select an individual content item associated with the displayed channel, wherein the individual content item is selected by selecting a hyperlink associated with the individual content item;

wherein if interactive data is selected by selecting an appropriate hyperlink, then the representation of the set of channels and the interactive data are both displayed within the single graphical user interface window; and

wherein the graphical user interface window displays the representation of the individual content items associated with a channel upon selection of the channel by the user.