Graphical user interface for a remote operated vehicle

• US 8,015,507 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2001
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: H2Eye Limited
• Original Assignee: H2Eye Limited
• Inventors: Pullin, Graham Michael, Currer, Tracy, Madsen, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Bonshock; Dennis
• Application Number:
  US10/012,723
• Publication Number:
  US 20030085930A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,592 Days
• Field of Search: 715/589, 715/768, 715/821, 715/824, 715/792, 715/846
• US Class Current: 715/824
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0038 by providing the operator with simple or augmented images from one or more cameras located onboard the vehicle, e.g. tele-operation images analyzed by a computer and used for automatic navigation G05D1/0246
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0025 Automatic or semi-automatic music composition, e.g. producing random music, applying rules from music theory or modifying a musical piece automatically producing a series of tones G10H1/26
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/111 Automatic composing, i.e. using predefined musical rules
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/125 Medley, i.e. linking parts of different musical pieces in one single piece, e.g. sound collage, DJ mix
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/141 Riff, i.e. improvisation, e.g. repeated motif or phrase, automatically added to a piece, e.g. in real time

Abstract

A graphical user interface (GUI) for a remote operated vehicle (ROV) with an onboard video camera with pan-and-tilt mechanism. A broad translucent compass bearing icon is arranged horizontally with scrolling compass bearing marks that give the user visual feedback for steering the ROV as well as hard information relating to the bearing. A long translucent depth icon is arranged vertically with depth reading marks that scroll up and down as the ROV moves down and up respectively. A pan-and-tilt icon at the top center of the screen gives user feedback as to the direction in which the ROV camera is pointing relative to the ROV. Status indicator icons and the other icons are inserted and removed by special burn-in and fade-out processes to provide good visibility at the same time as continuity of viewing.

Claims

1. An icon fade-out process for a graphical user interface of a remote operated vehicle for leisure use, comprising:

receiving a command signal to remove an icon presented on real-time video footage from a camera on the remote operated vehicle; and

progressively decreasing opacity of the icon presented on the video footage to change it from a normal representation to a faded representation during further frames of the video footage;

wherein the icon is progressively blurred simultaneously with progressively decreasing its opacity.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the normal representation is a featured, focused form of the icon.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein the faded representation is an invisible or barely visible form of the icon.

4. A computer program product, stored on a computer-readable medium, for implementing an icon fade-out process for a graphical user interface of a remote operated vehicle for leisure use, the product bearing instructions that, responsive to receipt of a command signal to remove an icon presented on real-time video footage from a camera on the remote operated vehicle, progressively decrease opacity of the icon presented on the video footage to change it from a normal representation to a faded representation during further frames of the video footage, wherein the icon is progressively blurred simultaneously with progressively decreasing its opacity.

5. A controller for a remote operated vehicle for leisure use comprising a graphical user interface operable, responsive to receipt of a command signal to remove an icon presented on real-time video footage from a camera on the remote operated vehicle, to progressively decrease opacity of the icon presented on the video footage to change it from a normal representation to a faded representation during further frames of the video footage, wherein the icon is progressively blurred simultaneously with progressively decreasing its opacity.