Multi-layer focusing method and apparatus therefor

• US 7,873,914 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2003
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Heo, Jung-kwon, Park, Sung wook, Chung, Hyun-kwon, Jung, Kil-soo, Ko, Jung-wan
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore; William L
• Assistant Examiner(s): NUNEZ, JORDANY
• Application Number:
  US10/385,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20030174170A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,869 Days
• Field of Search: 715/767, 715/840, 715/802
• US Class Current: 715/802
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04892 Arrangements for controlling cursor position based on codes indicative of cursor displacements from one discrete location to another, e.g. using cursor control keys associated to different directions or using the tab key arrangements for controlling cursor position based on coordinate signals G06F3/038
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/216 Rewritable discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2575 DVD-RAMs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/3027 used signal is digitally coded
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/329 on a disc [VTOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums

Abstract

A method of and an apparatus for efficiently navigating a plurality of contents which are reproduced in a device for reproducing interactive contents, such as a computer, a DVD player, a PDA, or a cellular phone, by using a device having a limited number of input keys. Focusing layer values are allotted to contents elements to form focusing layers and the contents elements included in any one focusing layer are provided to a user. The focusing is moved when a command to move the focusing is input from the user. Accordingly, any kind of media storing interactive contents formed by using markup language is navigable using the device having the limited number of input keys, such as a television remote controller.

Claims

1. A method of focusing contents provided in a multi-layer structure, the method comprising:

allotting predetermined focusing layer values to contents elements linked to contents to be provided to a user, to form focusing layers of a markup language document;

providing the contents elements included in a predetermined focusing layer and focusing on any one contents element of the contents elements provided to the user;

receiving a predetermined command from the user; and

moving the focusing based on the focusing layer values when the received command is to move the focusing.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the moving of the focusing comprises:

determining whether an upper focusing layer of a present focusing layer exists in the case where the command is to change the present focusing layer to the upper focusing layer; and

if the upper focusing layer exists, providing contents elements included in the upper focusing layer to the user and focusing on any one contents element included in the upper focusing layer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the moving of the focusing comprises:

determining whether a lower focusing layer is linked to the focused on contents element in the case where the command is to change the focusing layer to the lower focusing layer; and

if the lower focusing layer is linked to the focused on contents element, providing contents elements included in the lower focusing layer to the user and focusing on any one contents element included in the lower focusing layer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the moving of the focusing comprises moving the focusing to a next contents element based on a predetermined order in the case where the command is to move the focusing within the same focusing layer.

5. An apparatus for managing multi-layer focusing, the apparatus comprising:

a contents providing unit which provides contents which are linked to contents elements and are to be provided to a user;

a focusing layer information management unit which allots predetermined focusing layer values to the contents elements which are linked to the contents to be provided to the user, to form focusing layers;

an input unit which receives commands from the user to move the focusing;

an output unit which provides the contents to the user, provides predetermined contents elements, and represents focused on contents elements linked to the contents; and

a focusing management unit which provides the contents elements included in a specific focusing layer and the presently focused on contents element to the output unit and moves the focusing based on the focusing layer values in the case where the command is to move the focusing.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the input unit is an input device comprising predetermined buttons or keys.

7. A non-transitory recording medium, comprising:

a recording area which stores a program which provides instructions which enable a computer to;

allot predetermined focusing layer values to contents elements linked to contents to be provided to a user, to form focusing layers;

provide the contents elements included in a predetermined focusing layer and focus on any one contents element of the contents elements provided to the user;

enable the computer to receive a predetermined command from the user; and

move the focusing based on the allotted focusing layer values when the received command is to move the focusing.

8. The non-transitory recording medium of claim 7, wherein the move the focusing instructions enable the computer to:

determine whether an upper focusing layer of a present focusing layer exists in the case where the command is to change the present focusing layer to the upper focusing layer; and

provide the contents elements included in the upper focusing layer to the user and focus on any one of the contents elements included in the upper focusing layer, if the upper focusing layer exists.

9. The non-transitory recording medium of claim 7, wherein the move the focusing instructions enable the computer to:

determine whether a lower focusing layer is linked to the focused on contents element in the case where the command is to change the focusing layer to the lower focusing layer; and

if the lower focusing layer is linked to the focused on contents element, provide the contents elements included in the lower focusing layer to the user and focus on any one contents element included in the lower focusing layer.

10. The non-transitory recording medium of claim 7, wherein the move the focusing instructions enable the computer to move the focusing to a next contents element based on a predetermined order where the command is to move the focusing within the same focusing layer.

11. A method of focusing contents provided in a multi-layer structure, the method comprising:

forming a plurality of focusing layers of contents elements linked to contents to be provided to a user, the focusing layers ordered in a higher to lower fashion and including at least a top focusing layer and a bottom focusing layer, each contents element having a plurality of assigned focusing layer values;

focusing on a current one of the focusing layers or on a contents element in the current one of the focusing layers;

receiving an input command from the user;

determining whether the input command corresponds to a first command to move the focusing within the current focusing layer, a second command to move the focusing to a higher focusing layer or a third command to move the focusing to a lower focusing layer;

moving the focusing to another contents element within the same focusing layer, if the input command is the first command;

checking whether the current focusing layer is the top focusing layer based on a first of the plurality of assigned focusing layer values and moving the focusing to a next higher focusing layer, if the input command is the second command and the current focusing layer is not the top focusing layer; and

checking whether the current focusing layer is the bottom layer based on a second of the plurality of assigned focusing layer values and moving the focusing to a next lower focusing layer, if the command is the third command and the current focusing layer is not the bottom focusing layer.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the moving of the focusing to another contents element in the current focusing layer is in accordance with a predetermined order.