Apparatus, method, and system for representing a multimedia display

• US 8,103,968 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2006
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: MediaTek, Inc.
• Inventors: Cheng, Chih-Hung
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): TANK, ANDREW L
• Application Number:
  US11/382,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20070266340A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,084 Days
• Field of Search: 715/720, 715/765, 715/767, 715/782, 715/811, 715/821, 715835-836, 715/838, 715/841, 715/847, 715/850, 715/852, 715/866, 715/817, 715/825, 725 46- 47, 725/52, 725/40
• US Class Current: 715/825
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor

Abstract

A system, an apparatus, and a method for representing a multimedia display are proposed in the present invention for displaying multimedia data and a menu. The system comprises an interface from which the user may input signals and the apparatus comprising screens for displaying. Three signals can be inputted from the interface, a first signal, a second signal, and a third signal. The apparatus comprises a first screen for displaying multimedia data, a second screen for displaying menu, and optionally a third screen for displaying information related to the multimedia data. The method comprises the steps of: providing a first screen to display multimedia data; providing a second screen to display a menu; and optionally providing a third screen to display information related to multimedia data.

Claims

1. A physical display apparatus for use in an electronic device, the display apparatus being used for representing a multimedia display, the multimedia display hierarchically displaying a plurality of selectable multimedia data icons and a menu, the physical display apparatus comprising:

a first screen adapted to display a first layer first screen content comprising at least a portion of a first display layer set of selectable multimedia data icons corresponding to a plurality of first sources of multimedia data, and adapted to be controlled by one of a first signal and a second signal such that an input of the first signal triggers a first function causing the first layer first screen content to change and an input of the second signal triggers a second function causing the first layer first screen content to change; and

a second screen adapted to display a first layer second screen content comprising a first layer menu corresponding to a plurality of operations that corresponds to the first display layer set of selectable multimedia data icons, and adapted to be controlled by a third signal such that an input of the third signal triggers a third function causing the first layer second screen content to change;

wherein selecting one of the selectable multimedia data icons of the first display layer set causes the first screen to display a second layer first screen content comprising at least a portion of a second display layer set of selectable multimedia data icons corresponding to a plurality of second sources of the multimedia data and the second screen to display a second layer second screen content comprising a second layer menu corresponding to a plurality of operations that corresponding to the second display layer set of selectable multimedia data icons at the same time, wherein the first sources and the second sources are of different scopes.

2. The physical display apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the selectable multimedia data icons corresponds to at least one of an audio, an image, a texture, a video file, and a combination thereof.

3. The physical display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first function and the second function are directional functions.

4. The physical display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the third function is a directional function.

5. The physical display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first layer menu comprises a list of a plurality of operations and the third function triggers one of the plurality of operations.

6. The physical display apparatus of claim 5, wherein the list is ordered according to user preference.

7. The physical display apparatus of claim 6, wherein the user preference is received manually.

8. The physical display apparatus of claim 6, wherein the user preference is determined by a trigger counter.

9. The physical display apparatus of claim 8, wherein the trigger counter corresponds to a selection rate of one of the operations.

10. The physical display apparatus of claim 8, wherein the list is reordered when the trigger counter exceeds a predetermined threshold.

11. The physical display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first layer menu comprises a list of a plurality of operations, and one of the first display layer set of selectable multimedia data icons is operated according to one of the plurality of operations selected via the third function.

12. The physical display apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first signal triggers a function other than the first function when the second screen is currently controlled.

13. The physical display apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second signal triggers a function other than the second function when the second screen is currently controlled.

14. The physical display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first signal triggers an exit of the third function when the second screen is currently controlled.

15. The physical display apparatus of claim 14, wherein the second signal triggers the exit of the third function when the second screen is currently controlled.

16. A physical display apparatus for use in an electronic device, the physical display apparatus being used for representing a multimedia display, the multimedia display hierarchically displaying a plurality of selectable multimedia data icons, a menu, and information related to at least one of the selectable multimedia data icons, the physical display apparatus comprising:

a first screen adapted to display a first layer first screen content comprising at least a portion of a first display layer set of selectable multimedia data icons corresponding to a plurality of first sources of multimedia data, and adapted to be controlled by one of a first signal and a second signal such that an input of the first signal triggers a first function causing the first layer first screen content to change and an input of the second signal triggers a second function causing the first layer first screen content to change;

a second screen adapted to display a first layer second screen content comprising a first layer menu corresponding to a plurality of operations that corresponds to the first display layer set of selectable multimedia data icons, and adapted to be controlled by a third signal such that an input of the third signal triggers a third function causing the first layer second screen content to change; and

a third screen for displaying the information;

wherein selecting one of the selectable multimedia data icons of the first display layer set causes the first screen to display a second layer first screen content comprising at least a portion of a second display layer set of selectable multimedia data icons corresponding to a plurality of second sources of the multimedia data and the second screen to display a second layer second screen content comprising a second layer menu corresponding to a plurality of operations that corresponds to the second display layer set of selectable multimedia data icons at the same time, wherein the first sources and the second sources are of different scopes.

17. The physical display apparatus of claim 16, wherein each of the selectable multimedia data icons corresponds to at least one of an audio, an image, a texture, a video file, and a combination thereof.

18. The physical display apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first function and the second function are directional functions.

19. The physical display apparatus of claim 16, wherein the third function is a directional function.

20. The physical display apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first layer menu comprises a list of a plurality of operations and the third function triggers one of the plurality of operations.

21. The physical display apparatus of claim 20, wherein the list is ordered according to user preference.

22. The physical display apparatus of claim 21, wherein the user preference is received manually.

23. The physical display apparatus of claim 21, wherein the user preference is determined by a trigger counter.

24. The physical display apparatus of claim 23, wherein the trigger counter corresponds to a selection rate of one of the operations.

25. The physical display apparatus of claim 23, wherein the list is reordered when the trigger counter exceeds a predetermined threshold.

26. The physical display apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first layer menu comprises a list of a plurality of operations, and one of the first display layer set of selectable multimedia data icons is operated according to one of the plurality of operations selected via the third function.

27. The physical display apparatus of claim 26, wherein the first signal triggers a function other than the first function, when the second screen is currently controlled.

28. The physical display apparatus of claim 27, wherein the second signal triggers a function other than the second function when the second screen is currently controlled.

29. The physical display apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first signal triggers an exit of the third function when the second screen is currently controlled.

30. The physical display apparatus of claim 29, wherein the second signal triggers the exit of the third function when the second screen is currently controlled.

31. The physical display apparatus of claim 16, wherein the third screen is controlled by a fourth signal.

32. A method for representing a multimedia display, the multimedia display hierarchically displaying a plurality of selectable multimedia data icons and a menu, the method comprising:

providing a first screen, the first screen adapted to display a first layer first screen content comprising at least a portion of a first display layer set of selectable multimedia data icons corresponding to a plurality of first sources of multimedia data, and adapted to be controlled by one of a first signal and a second signal such that an input of the first signal triggers a first function causing the first layer first screen content to change, and an input of the second signal triggers a second function causing the first layer first screen content to change; and

providing a second screen, the second screen adapted to display a first layer second screen content comprising a first layer menu corresponding to a plurality of operations that corresponds to the first display layer set of selectable multimedia data icons, and adapted to be controlled by a third signal such that an input of the third signal triggers a third function causing the first layer second screen content to change;

wherein selecting one of the selectable multimedia data icons of the first display layer set causes the first screen to display a second layer first screen content comprising at least a portion of a second display layer set of selectable multimedia data icons corresponding to a plurality of second sources of the multimedia data and the second screen to display a second layer second screen content comprising a second layer menu corresponding to a plurality of operations that corresponds to the second display layer set of selectable multimedia data icons at the same time, wherein the first sources and the second sources are of different scopes.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein each of the selectable multimedia data icons corresponds to at least one of an audio, an image, a texture, a video file, and a combination thereof.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the first function and the second function are directional functions.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the third function is a directional function.

36. The method of claim 32, the first layer menu comprising a list of a plurality of operations, wherein the third function triggers one of the plurality of operations by the third function.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the list is ordered according to user preference.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the user preference is received manually.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the user preference is determined by a trigger counter.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the trigger counter corresponds to a selection rate of one of the operations.

41. The method of claim 39, further comprising the step of reordering the list when the trigger counter exceeds a predetermined threshold.

42. The method of claim 32, wherein the first layer menu comprises a list of a plurality of operations, and one of the first display layer set of selectable multimedia data icons is operated according to one of the plurality of operations selected via the third function.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the first signal triggers a function other than the first function when the second screen is currently controlled.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the second signal triggers a function other than the second function when the second screen is currently controlled.

45. The method of claim 32, wherein the first signal triggers an exit of the third function when the second screen is currently controlled.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the second signal triggers the exit of the third function when the second screen is currently controlled.

47. A method for representing a multimedia display, the multimedia display hierarchically displaying a plurality of selectable multimedia data icons, a menu, and information related to at least one of the selectable multimedia data icons, the method comprising:

providing a first screen, the first screen adapted to display a first layer first screen content comprising at least a portion of a first display layer set of selectable multimedia data icons corresponding to a plurality of first sources of multimedia data, and adapted to be controlled by one of a first signal and a second signal such that an input of the first signal triggers a first function causing the first layer first screen content to change, and an input of the second signal triggers a second function causing the first layer first screen content to change;

providing a second screen, the second screen adapted to display a first layer second screen content comprising a first layer menu corresponding to a plurality of operations that corresponds to the first display layer set of selectable multimedia data icons, and adapted to be controlled by a third signal such that an input of the third signal triggers a third function causing the first layer second screen content to change; and

providing a third screen for displaying the information;

wherein selecting one of the selectable multimedia data icons of the first display layer set causes the first screen to display a second layer first screen content comprising at least a portion of a second display layer set of selectable multimedia data icons corresponding to a plurality of second sources of the multimedia data and the second screen to display a second layer second screen content comprising a second layer menu corresponding to a plurality of operations that corresponds to the second display layer set of selectable multimedia data icons at the same time, wherein the first sources and the second sources are of different scopes.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein each of the selectable multimedia data icons corresponds to at least one of an audio, an image, a texture, a video file, and a combination thereof.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein the first function and the second function are directional functions.

50. The method of claim 47 wherein the third function is a directional function.

51. The method of claim 47, the first layer menu comprising a list of a plurality of operations, wherein the third function triggers one of the plurality of operations by the third function.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the list is ordered according to user preference.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the user preference is received manually.

54. The method of claim 52, wherein the user preference is determined by a trigger counter.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the trigger counter corresponds to a selection rate of one of the operations.

56. The method of claim 54, further comprising the step of reordering the list when the trigger counter exceeds a predetermined threshold.

57. The method of claim 47, wherein the first layer menu comprises a list of a plurality of operations, and one of the first display layer set of selectable multimedia data icons is operated according to one of the plurality of operations selected via the third function.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the first signal triggers a function other than the first function, when the second screen is currently controlled.

59. The method of claim 58, where in the second signal triggers a function other than the second function when the second screen is currently controlled.

60. The method of claim 47, wherein the first signal triggers an exit of the third function when the second screen is currently controlled.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the second signal triggers the exit of the third function when the second screen is currently controlled.

62. The method of claim 47, wherein the third screen is controlled by a fourth signal.

63. A system for representing a multimedia display, the system being an electronic device, the multimedia display hierarchically displaying a plurality of selectable multimedia data icons and a menu, the system comprising:

an interface for inputting a first signal, a second signal, and a third signal; and

a physical display apparatus, comprising;

a first screen, adapted to display a first layer first screen content comprising at least a portion of a first display layer set of selectable multimedia data icons corresponding to a plurality of first sources of multimedia data, and adapted to be controlled by one of the first signal and the second signal such that an input of the first signal triggers a first function causing the first layer first screen content to change and an input of the second signal triggers a second function causing the first layer first screen content to change; and

a second screen, adapted to display a first layer second screen content comprising a first layer menu corresponding to a plurality of operations that corresponds to the first display layer set of selectable multimedia data icons, and adapted to be controlled by the third signal such that an input of the third signal triggers a third function causing the first layer second screen content to change;

wherein selecting one of the selectable multimedia data icons of the first display layer set causes the first screen to display a second layer first screen content comprising at least a portion of a second display layer set of selectable multimedia data icons corresponding to a plurality of second sources of the multimedia data and the second screen to display a second layer second screen content comprising a second layer menu corresponding to a plurality of operations that corresponds to the second display layer set of selectable multimedia data icons at the same time, wherein the first sources and the second sources are of different scopes.

64. A system for representing a multimedia display, the system being an electronic device, the multimedia display hierarchically displaying a plurality of selectable multimedia data icons, a menu, and information related to at least one of the selectable multimedia data icons, the system comprising:

an interface for inputting a first signal, a second signal, and a third signal; and

a physical display apparatus, comprising;

a first screen adapted to display a first layer first screen content comprising at least a portion of a first display layer set of selectable multimedia data icons corresponding to a plurality of first sources of multimedia data, and adapted to be controlled by one of the first signal and the second signal such that an input of the first signal triggers a first function causing the first layer first screen content to change and an input of the second signal triggers a second function causing the first layer first screen content to change;

a second screen adapted to display a first layer second screen content comprising a first layer menu corresponding to a plurality of operations that corresponds to the first display layer set of selectable multimedia data icons, and adapted to be controlled by the third signal such that an input of the third signal triggers a third function causing the first layer second screen content to change; and

a third screen for displaying the information;

wherein selecting one of the selectable multimedia data icons of the first display layer set causes the first screen to display a second layer first screen content comprising at least a portion of a second display layer set of selectable multimedia data icons corresponding to a plurality of second sources of the multimedia data and the second screen to display a second layer second screen content comprising a second layer menu corresponding to a plurality of operations that corresponds to the second display layer set of selectable multimedia data icons at the same time, wherein the first sources and the second sources are of different scopes.

65. A physical display apparatus for use in an electronic device, the display apparatus being used for representing a multimedia display, the multimedia display hierarchically displaying a plurality of selectable multimedia data icons and a menu, the physical display apparatus comprising:

means adapted to display a first layer first screen content comprising at least a portion of a first display layer set of selectable multimedia data icons corresponding to a plurality of first sources of multimedia data, and adapted to be controlled by one of a first signal and a second signal such that an input of the first signal triggers a first function causing the first layer first screen content to change and an input of the second signal triggers a second function causing the first layer first screen content to change; and

means adapted to display a first layer second screen content comprising a first layer menu corresponding to a plurality of operations that corresponds to the first display layer set of selectable multimedia data icons, and adapted to be controlled by a third signal such that an input of the third signal a third function causing the first layer second screen content to change;

wherein selecting one of the selectable multimedia data icons of the first display layer set causes the first screen to display a second layer first screen content comprising at least a portion of a second display layer set of selectable multimedia data icons corresponding to a plurality of second sources of the multimedia data and the second screen to display a second layer second screen content comprising a second layer menu corresponding to a plurality of operations that corresponds to the second display layer set of selectable multimedia data icons at the same time, wherein the first sources and the second sources are of different scopes.

66. A physical display apparatus for use in an electronic device, the display apparatus being used for representing a multimedia display, the multimedia display hierarchically displaying a plurality of selectable multimedia data icons, a menu, and information related to at least one of the selectable multimedia data icons, the display apparatus comprising:

means adapted to display a first layer first screen content comprising at least a portion of a first display layer set of selectable multimedia data icons corresponding to a plurality of first sources of multimedia data, and adapted to be controlled by one of a first signal and a second signal such that an input of the first signal triggers a first function causing the first layer first screen content to change and an input of the second signal triggers a second function causing the first layer first screen content to change;

means adapted to display a first layer second screen content comprising a first layer menu corresponding to a plurality of operations that corresponds to the first display layer set of selectable multimedia data icons, and adapted to be controlled by a third signal such that an input of the third signal triggers a third function causing the first layer second screen content to change; and

means for displaying the information;

wherein selecting one of the selectable multimedia data icons of the first display layer set causes the first screen to display a second layer first screen content comprising at least a portion of a second display layer set of selectable multimedia data icons corresponding to a plurality of second sources of the multimedia data and the second screen to display a second layer second screen content comprising a second layer menu corresponding to a plurality of operations that corresponds to the second display layer set of selectable multimedia data icons at the same time, wherein the first sources and the second sources are of different scopes.