User interface display for set-top box device

• US 7,661,075 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2003
• Issued: 02/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Lahdesmaki, Petri
• Primary Examiner(s): SAX, STEVEN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US10/645,016
• Publication Number:
  US 20040233239A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,364 Days
• Field of Search: 715/801, 715/802, 715/803, 715804-805, 715/767, 715821-823, 715/831, 715784-786, 715841-845, 715856-860, 715/810
• US Class Current: 715/841
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/003 Details of a display terminal, the details relating to the control arrangement of the display terminal and to the interfaces thereto specific for a CRT G09G1/165; for a flat panel G09G3/2092
• 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 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4222 Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415
• 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 21/4316 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

User interface systems and methods are disclosed. The user interfaces include at least one focus pointer that allow a user to quickly access the elements contained in a plurality of folders. A fixed focus pointer selects one of a plurality of elements of a main folder in response to interaction of a user. A moveable focus pointer scrolls through a plurality of elements of the first subfolder to select a second subfolder in response to interaction of a user. The user interface may include additional folders and focus pointers.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a processor programmed to generate a user interface comprising;

a main folder configured to contain a plurality of elements;

at least a first sequential subfolder configured to contain a plurality of elements linked to the main folder, the first sequential subfolder being displayed in the form of a carousel having more elements than are displayed at one time in a display region, wherein the carousel is displayed as a plurality of carousel elements that rotate around a carousel axis, wherein the carousel extends beyond a perimeter of the display region, and wherein a subset of the plurality of elements of the first sequential folder located on one side of the perimeter of the display region are displayed;

a fixed focus pointer configured to select one of the plurality of elements of the main folder in response to interaction of a user; and

at least one moveable focus pointer configured to scroll through the plurality of elements of the at least first sequential subfolder to select one of the plurality of elements in response to interaction of a user to cause presentation of a second sequential subfolder containing a second plurality of elements extending outward from the selected element in a direction different from a rotational direction of the selected element around the carousel axis.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one element of the carousel is configured to create a buffer for elements that are not presented.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the one element has a fixed position.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the one element is placed in the middle of a rear carousel segment.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the one element is visible.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the one element is not visible.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the one element is configured to indicate the number of elements in the buffer.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the carousel is adjustable.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the diameter of the carousel is adjustable as a function of the number of the plurality of elements of the first sequential subfolder.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the carousel is configured to be not fully presented in the display region.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein an uppermost portion of the carousel is configured to be not presented in the display region.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein a lowermost portion of the carousel is configured to be not presented in the display region.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein an uppermost portion and a lowermost portion of the carousel are configured to be not presented in the display region.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein information of content of elements is configured to be visible.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elements in the carousel are selectable.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of elements of the main folder and the at least first subfolder comprise icons.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of elements of the main folder and the at least first subfolder comprise text.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the main folder and at least first sequential subfolder are scrollable.

19. A method comprising:

generating a main folder of a user interface for display on a display device, wherein the main folder is configured to contain a plurality of elements;

generating at least a first sequential subfolder configured to contain a plurality of elements linked to the main folder, the first sequential subfolder being displayed in the form of a carousel having more elements than are displayed at one time in a display region, wherein the carousel is displayed as a plurality of carousel elements that rotate around a carousel axis, wherein the carousel extends beyond a perimeter of the display region, and wherein a subset of the plurality of elements of the first sequential folder located on one side of the perimeter of the display region are displayed;

generating a fixed focus pointer configured to select one of the plurality of elements of the main folder in response to interaction of a user; and

generating at least one moveable focus pointer configured to scroll through the plurality of elements of the at least first sequential subfolder to select one of the plurality of elements in response to interaction of a user to cause presentation of a second sequential subfolder containing a second plurality of elements extending outward from the selected element in a direction different from a rotational direction of the selected element around the carousel axis.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein one element of the carousel is configured to create a buffer for elements that are not presented.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the one element has a fixed position.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the one element is placed in the middle of a rear carousel segment.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the one element is visible.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the one element is not visible.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the one element is configured to indicate the number of elements in the buffer.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein a diameter of the carousel is adjustable.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the diameter of the carousel is adjustable as a function of the number of the plurality of elements of the first sequential subfolder.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the carousel is configured to be not fully presented in the display region.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein an uppermost portion of the carousel is configured to be not presented in the display region.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein a lowermost portion of the carousel is configured to be not presented in the display region.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein an uppermost portion and a lowermost portion of the carousel are configured to be not presented in the display region.

32. An apparatus comprising:

means for generating a main folder of a user interface for display on a display device, wherein the main folder is configured to contain a plurality of elements;

means for generating at least a first sequential subfolder configured to contain a plurality of elements linked to the main folder, the first sequential subfolder being displayed in the form of a carousel having more elements than are displayed at one time in a display region, wherein the carousel is displayed as a plurality of carousel elements that rotate around a carousel axis, wherein the carousel extends beyond a perimeter of the display region, and wherein a subset of the plurality of elements of the first sequential folder located on one side of the perimeter of the display region are displayed;

means for generating a fixed focus pointer configured to select one of the plurality of elements of the main folder in response to interaction of a user; and

means for generating at least one moveable focus pointer configured to scroll through the plurality of elements of the at least first sequential subfolder to select one of the plurality of elements in response to interaction of a user to cause presentation of a second sequential subfolder containing a second plurality of elements extending outward from the selected element in a direction different from a rotational direction of the selected element around the carousel axis.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein one element of the carousel is configured to create a buffer for elements that are not presented.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the one element is configured to indicate the number of elements in the buffer.

35. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein a diameter of the carousel is adjustable.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the diameter of the carousel is adjustable as a function of the number of the plurality of elements of the first sequential subfolder.