Apparatus, method, and 3D graphical user interface for media centers

• US 7,581,182 B1
• Filed: 07/18/2003
• Issued: 08/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
• Original Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
• Inventors: Herz, William Samuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Theriault; Steven B
• Application Number:
  US10/622,865
• Time in Patent Office: 2,230 Days
• Field of Search: 715/855, 715/788, 715/805, 715/709, 715/710, 715/711, 715/712, 715/713, 715/852, 715/839
• US Class Current: 715/713
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04802 3D-info-object: information is displayed on the internal or external surface of a three dimensional manipulable object, e.g. on the faces of a cube that can be rotated by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42225 characterized by types of remote control, e.g. universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42653 for processing graphics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8146 involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics

Abstract

Media center icons are used to navigate a media center. The media center icons may include media device icons, a remote control icon, and media player icons. The media center icons may be used during a setup process, to select between media devices, and to navigate between media devices and media content.

Claims

1. A method of using a graphical user interface to navigate a media center having a computer including an associated graphics processor to generate three-dimensional images, comprising:

the computer and associated graphics processor displaying a remote control icon that is a three-dimensional representation of a physical universal remote control of the media center; and

in response to a user inputting a command by pressing a button of the physical universal remote control, the computer and associated graphics processor updating said three-dimensional representation to display a three-dimensional animation of the button being depressed on the three-dimensional representation of the physical universal remote control to indicate to the user that the command was received by the media center, wherein updating said three-dimensional representation comprises displaying a three-dimensional perspective view of the button being depressed on the three-dimensional representation of the physical universal remote control.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said command is a command to select one of a plurality of media devices.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said computer and associated graphics processor displaying the remote control icon comprises:

said computer and associated graphics processor displaying media device icons for a plurality of media devices controlled by the physical universal remote control.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said plurality of media devices includes at least one of a TV receiver, DVR, PVR, EPG, CD player, DVD player, interactive electronic game, digital radio, or an Internet appliance.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said media device icons comprise three-dimensional representations of media devices.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein:

a first media center icon is a media player icon having a window disposed on a front surface for displaying media, a back surface, and a side surface connecting said front and back surfaces; and

said updating by the computer and associated graphics processor further comprises in response to a command to change from a first media device to a second media device;

rotating said first media player icon from a front view to a side view; and

opening the second media player icon;

wherein a portion of the side of said first media player icon remains unobstructed from view by said second media player.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said first media player icon is activated by selecting an unobstructed portion of said first media player icon.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote control icon has buttons representing a plurality of media control buttons of said physical universal remote control;

said buttons of the remote control icon being updatable by the computer and associated graphics processor to represent processing of commands received from said physical universal remote control.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the computer and associated graphics processor displaying at least one media center icon, wherein said at least one media center icon comprises:

a media player icon having a window disposed on a front surface for displaying media content, a back surface, and at least one side surface;

wherein a front view and a side view of the media player icon may be displayed.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said three-dimensional representation is a digital photo representation of the actual remote control.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein at least one media player icon has a video texture mapped onto a display surface of the media center icon.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said at least one media player icon has a video texture mapped onto a display surface of the media center icon.

13. A media center, comprising:

a display;

a universal remote control having a plurality of buttons to control a plurality of media devices of the media center;

a computer and associated graphics processor, the computer receiving commands from the universal remote control;

said computer displaying three-dimensional media center icons to represent attributes of said media center including generating a remote control icon that is a three-dimensional representation of the universal remote control and updating said three-dimensional representation to display a three-dimensional animation of the button being depressed on the three-dimensional representation of the universal remote control to indicate to the user that corresponding commands are received by the media center, wherein updating said three-dimensional representation comprises displaying a three-dimensional perspective view of the button being depressed on the three-dimensional representation of the physical universal remote control.

14. The media center of claim 13, where said computer is configured to display media center icons for a stack of entertainment devices based on which button of said universal remote control is pressed.

15. The media center of claim 13, wherein said computer is configured to display media center icons for a plurality of media devices and their associated connections during a setup step for establishing media device connections.

16. The media center of claim 13, wherein said computer is configured to display media center icons comprising media player icons.

17. The media center of claim 16, wherein at least one media center icon is an inactive media window icon corresponding to an edge-view of a media player icon.

18. The media center of claim 13, wherein said three-dimensional representation is a digital photo representation of the actual remote control.

19. The media center of claim 13, wherein said at least one media player icon has a video texture mapped onto a display surface of the media center icon.