Television viewer interface system

• US 8,220,021 B1
• Filed: 06/23/2004
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TiVo Solutions Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TiVo Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Look, Howard, Vallone, Robert, Brown, David Avraham, Bedard, Karen, Van Stam, Wijnand, McKendrick, Ain
• Primary Examiner(s): Srivastava, Vivek
• Assistant Examiner(s): MENDOZA, JUNIOR O
• Application Number:
  US10/875,756
• Time in Patent Office: 2,939 Days
• Field of Search: 725 37- 61, 715/810, 715/715, 715/719, 715817-820
• US Class Current: 725/45
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/455 said record carriers being in one device and being used as primary and secondary/backup media, e.g. HDD-DVD combo device, or as source and target media, e.g. PC and portable player
• 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 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• 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 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• 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 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4583 Automatically resolving scheduling conflicts, e.g. when a recording by reservation has been programmed for two programs in the same time slot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4668 for recommending content, e.g. movies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• 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 21/4756 for rating content, e.g. scoring a recommended movie
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/783 : Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7921 : for more than one processing mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 : involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8063 : using time division multiplex of the PCM audio and PCM video signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 : involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

A television viewer interface system provides a viewer interface that allows the viewer to access different functions of a system. A highlight bar is responsive to the user'"'"'s commands and is used to indicate the current menu item that can be selected by the user. Information is presented in a successive disclosure format where the user navigates through menus by moving the highlight bar to the right to obtain more information or to the left to see less information and return to the previous location. The background colors of each set of menus remains consistent throughout the user'"'"'s experience such that the user intuitively knows what menu area he is in through the color cues. The invention provides indicators that tell the user that more information is available in a particular direction for a menu item.

Claims

1. A method for displaying menus of information in a successive disclosure format, comprising:

generating a first screen comprising a first list of menu items with a highlight bar responsive to user commands and that moves through the first list of menu items to highlight a menu item, the first screen showing up graphical indicators and down graphical indicators to indicate that, responsive to the user moving the highlight bar up or down, a new menu item will be highlighted;

causing the first screen to be displayed to a user;

for each menu item in at least a subset of the first list of menu items, when the menu item is highlighted as a result of the user commands, causing displaying on the first screen a right graphical indicator in proximity to the menu item highlighted by the highlight bar and a left graphical indicator in proximity to the menu item highlighted by the highlight bar, the right graphical indicator and the left graphical indicator indicating to a user that, responsive to the user moving the highlight bar to the right or to the left, a new screen comprising information associated with the menu item will be generated to replace the first screen, the information on the new screen generated responsive to the user moving the highlight bar to the right dependent upon which menu item on the first screen is highlighted;

generating a second screen in response to a user command that corresponds to a particular right graphical indicator associated with the particular item, the second screen showing more detailed information about the highlighted menu item, the second screen showing a second list of menu items that excludes the first list from the first screen;

in response to the user command that corresponds to the particular right graphical indicator, causing the second screen to be displayed to the user in place of the first screen;

generating a third screen in response to a user command that corresponds to a particular left graphical indicator associated with the particular item, the third screen showing a third list of menu items of a more general level of detail than the first list of menu items, the third list excluding the first list from the first screen and the second list from the second screen; and

in response to the user command that corresponds to the particular left graphical indicator, causing the third screen to be displayed to the user in place of the first screen;

wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the left graphical indicator is a left arrow to indicate that a more general level of detail exists for a menu item.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the right graphical indicator is a right arrow to indicate that there is more detailed information for a menu item.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first list, second list, or third list includes system operational categories.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a video loopset from at least one storage device to a user, the at least one storage device storing at least one video loopset; and

drawing the menu items over the video loopset.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the highlight bar is displayed using a video loopset.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the highlight bar is drawn over the video loopset.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein a plurality of video loopsets are displayed.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the right graphical indicator and left graphical indicator are whispering arrows when menu information exists in an indicated direction.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein upon receiving any user command that corresponds to any left graphical indicator, displaying to the user a previous screen from where the user came, the previous screen being the third screen.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first list of menu items comprises at least a plurality of content menu items, each identifying a different item of multimedia program material stored on a storage device;

wherein the method further comprises, responsive to the user moving right while a particular content menu item in the set of content items is highlighted on the first screen, the particular content menu item being the particular item, generating the second list of list of menu items to indicate a plurality of actions that may be performed with respect to a particular item of multimedia program material identified by the particular content menu item.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

upon receiving a user command that places the highlight bar over a menu item that corresponds to a program name, the menu item being the particular item, and the user command that corresponds to the right graphical indicator, displaying a detailed program information screen corresponding to the program name, the detailed program screen being the second screen; and

allowing the user to scroll through additional detailed program information screens corresponding to other program names in the first list, in a same order as the first list, without returning to the first screen.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

while displaying the first list of menu items on the first screen, receiving a user command that selects a menu item that identifies a multimedia program; and

displaying the multimedia program material selected.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein series of menus have a unique identifiable background coloring.

15. The of claim 1, further comprising:

reading, by one or more processors of a multimedia device, a video loopset from at least one storage device, the at least one storage device storing at least one video loopset;

sending the video loopset to a video decoder of the multimedia device;

decoding, by the video decoder, the video loopset to generate a decoded video loopset;

sending the decoded video loopset to a mixer of the multimedia device;

generating menu of items, wherein the menu of items is one of the first list, second list, or third list;

sending the menu of items to the mixer;

at the mixer, overlaying the menu of items upon the decoded video loopset;

sending, from the multimedia device, to a display device, output signals configured to cause the display device to display the menu of items overlaid upon the decoded video loopset;

while the output device is displaying the menu of items overlaid upon the decoded video loopset, generating a highlight bar that is responsive to user commands;

sending the highlight bar to the mixer; and

at the mixer, overlaying the highlight bar with the menu of items upon the decoded video loopset.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the video loopset is a first video loopset, wherein the highlight bar is generated in part by the video decoder decoding a second video loopset that is different than the first video loopset.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the highlight bar is generated as part of the menu of items.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising sending a plurality of decoded video loopsets to the mixer for display in the output signal.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

generating, as part of the menu of items, an indicator whenever information exists in an indicated direction for a highlighted menu item.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the video loopset is a loop of video created so as to have an ending and a beginning that seamlessly merge together to give the effect of a continuous video stream as the video loops back to the beginning when the ending is reached, wherein sending the decoded video loopset to a mixer of the multimedia device occurs in a continuous loop.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the menu of items includes multimedia program material stored on the at least one storage device.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating, as part of each list of menu items, whispering arrows that are displayed in association with the highlight bar whenever information related to a highlighted menu item exists in an indicated direction.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein a menu item on the second list corresponds to a user command to play a selected program.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising, upon receiving a user command to move in a direction not available for a second menu item in the list of menu items, generating a sound to indicate that the user command cannot be performed.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the third list is one of:

a category listing, network listing, time-based listing, theme listing, channel listing, or home menu, wherein the first list is a menu of multimedia program material related to a menu item selected in the third list, and wherein the second list is a menu of actions to perform with respect to a selected multimedia program in the first list.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the second list of menu items includes menu items corresponding to a set of actions that includes two or more of:

play, record, watch now, season pass, or view related programs.

27. An apparatus for displaying menus of information in a successive disclosure format, comprising:

a first subsystem, implemented at least partially by hardware, that generates a first screen comprising a first list of menu items with a highlight bar responsive to user commands and that moves through the first list of menu items to highlight a menu item, the first screen showing up graphical indicators and down graphical indicators to indicate that, responsive to the user moving the highlight bar up or down, a new menu item will be highlighted;

a second subsystem, implemented at least partially by hardware, that causes the first screen to be displayed to a user and, for each menu item in at least a subset of the first list of menu items, when the menu item is highlighted as a result of the user commands, causes displaying on the first screen a right graphical indicator in proximity to the menu item highlighted by the highlight bar and a left graphical indicator in proximity to the menu item highlighted by the highlight bar, the right graphical indicator and the left graphical indicator indicating to a user that, responsive to the user moving the highlight bar to the right or to the left, a new screen comprising information associated with the menu item will be generated to replace the first screen, the information on the new screen generated responsive to the user moving the highlight bar to the right dependent upon which menu item on the first screen is highlighted;

the first subsystem further configured to generate a second screen in response to a user command that corresponds to a particular right graphical indicator associated with the particular item, the second screen showing more detailed information about the highlighted menu item, the second screen showing a second list of menu items that excludes the first list from the first screen;

the second subsystem further configured to, in response to the user command that corresponds to the particular right graphical indicator, cause the second screen to be displayed to the user in place of the first screen;

the first subsystem further configured to generate a third screen in response to a user command that corresponds to a particular left graphical indicator associated with the particular item, the third screen showing a third list of menu items of a more general level of detail than the first list of menu items, the third screen excluding the first list from the first screen and the second list from the second screen; and

the second subsystem further configured to, in response to the user command that corresponds to the particular left graphical indicator, cause the third screen to be displayed to the user in place of the first screen.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the left graphical indicator is a left arrow to indicate that a more general level of detail exists for a menu item.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the right graphical indicator is a right arrow to indicate that there is more detailed information for a menu item.

30. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the at least one of the first list, second list, and third list includes system operational categories.

31. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising:

a storage device with at least one video loopset stored on the storage device;

logic that displays a video loopset to a user; and

logic that draws the menu items over the video loopset.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the highlight bar is displayed using a video loopset.

33. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the highlight bar is drawn over the video loopset.

34. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein a plurality of video loopsets are displayed.

35. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the right graphical indicator and left graphical indicator are whispering arrows when menu information exists in an indicated direction.

36. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein upon receiving any user command that corresponds to any left graphical indicator, displaying to the user a previous screen from where the user came, the previous screen being the third screen.

37. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the first list of menu items comprises at least a plurality of content menu items, each identifying a different item of multimedia program material stored on a storage device;

wherein the apparatus further comprises, generating and displaying logic that, responsive to the user moving right while a particular content menu item in the set of content items is highlighted on the first screen, the particular content menu item being the particular item, generating the second list of menu items to indicate a plurality of actions that may be performed with respect to a particular item of multimedia program material identified by the particular content menu item.

38. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising:

display logic that, upon receiving a user command that places the highlight bar over a menu item that corresponds to a program name, the menu item being the particular item, and the user command that corresponds to the right graphical indicator, displaying a detailed program information screen corresponding to the program name, the detailed program screen being the second screen; and

scroll logic that allows the user to scroll through additional detailed program information screens corresponding to other program names in the first list in a same order as the first list, without returning to the first screen.

39. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising:

receiving logic that, while displaying the first list of menu items on the first screen, receives a user command that selects a menu item that identifies a multimedia program; and

play logic that plays the multimedia program material selected.

40. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein series of menus have a unique identifiable background coloring.

41. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising:

at least one storage device that stores at least one video loopset;

one or more processors that read the video loopset from the at least one storage device and send the video loopset to a video decoder;

the video decoder, configured to decode the video loopset and send the decoded video loopset to a mixer;

wherein the one or more processors are further configured to generate a menu of items that includes multimedia program material stored on the at least one storage device and send the menu of items to the mixer, wherein the menu of items is one of the first list, second list, or third list;

the mixer, configured to overlay the menu of items upon the decoded video loopset;

a module that sends, to a display device, output signals configured to cause the display device to display the menu of items overlaid upon the decoded video loopset;

a module that, while the output device is displaying the menu of items overlaid upon the decoded video loopset, generates a highlight bar that is responsive to a user commands, and sends the highlight bar to the mixer; and

wherein the mixer is further configured to overlay the highlight bar with the menu of items upon the decoded video loopset.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the video loopset is a first video loopset, wherein the highlight bar is generated in part by the video decoder decoding a second video loopset that is different than the first video loopset.

43. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the highlight bar is generated as part of the menu of items.

44. The apparatus of claim 41, further comprising one or more modules for sending a plurality of decoded video loopsets to the mixer for display in the output signal.

45. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

generate, as part of the menu of items, an indicator whenever information exists in an indicated direction for a highlighted menu item.

46. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the video loopset is a loop of video created so as to have an ending and a beginning that seamlessly merge together to give the effect of a continuous video stream as the video loops back to the beginning when the ending is reached, wherein sending the decoded video loopset to a mixer of the multimedia device occurs in a continuous loop.

47. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the menu of items includes multimedia program material stored on the at least one storage device.

48. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the first subsystem is further configured to generate, as part of each list menu items, whispering arrows that are displayed in association with the highlight bar whenever information related to a highlighted menu item exists in an indicated direction.

49. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein a menu item on the second list corresponds to a user command to play a selected program.

50. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the first subsystem is further configured to, upon receiving a user command to move in a direction not available for a second menu item in the list of menu items, generate a sound to indicate that the user command cannot be performed.

51. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the third list is one of:

a category listing, network listing, time-based listing, theme listing, channel listing, or home menu, wherein the first list is a menu of multimedia program material related to a menu item selected in the third list, and wherein the second list is a menu of actions to perform with respect to a selected multimedia program in the first list.

52. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the second list of menu items includes menu items corresponding to a set of actions that includes two or more of:

play, record, watch now, season pass, or view related programs.

53. A non-transitory program storage medium readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for displaying menus of information in a successive disclosure format, comprising:

generating a first screen comprising a first list of menu items with a highlight bar responsive to user commands and that moves through the first list of menu items to highlight a menu item, the first screen showing up graphical indicators and down graphical indicators to indicate that, responsive to the user moving the highlight bar up or down, a new menu item will be highlighted;

causing the first screen to be displayed to a user;

for each menu item in at least a subset of the first list of menu items, when the menu item is highlighted as a result of the user commands, causing displaying on the first screen a right graphical indicator in proximity to the menu item highlighted by the highlight bar and a left graphical indicator in proximity to the menu item highlighted by the highlight bar, the right graphical indicator and the left graphical indicator indicating to a user that, responsive to the user moving the highlight bar to the right or to the left, a new screen comprising information associated with the menu item will be generated to replace the first screen, the information on the new screen generated responsive to the user moving the highlight bar to the right dependent upon which menu item on the first screen is highlighted;

generating a second screen in response to a user command that corresponds to a particular right graphical indicator associated with the particular item, the second screen showing more detailed information about the highlighted menu item, the second screen showing a second list of menu items that excludes the first list from the first screen;

in response to the user command that corresponds to the particular right graphical indicator, causing the second screen to be displayed to the user in place of the first screen;

generating a third screen in response to a user command that corresponds to a particular left graphical indicator associated with the particular item, the third screen showing a third list of menu items of a more general level of detail than the first list of menu items, the third list excluding the first list from the first screen and the second list from the second screen; and

in response to the user command that corresponds to the particular left graphical indicator, causing the third screen to be displayed to the user in place of the first screen.

54. The non-transitory program storage medium of claim 53, wherein the left graphical indicator is a left arrow to indicate that a more general level of detail exists for a menu item.

55. The non-transitory program storage medium of claim 53, wherein the right graphical indicator is a right arrow to indicate that there is more detailed information for a menu item.

56. The non-transitory program storage medium of claim 53, wherein at least one of the first list, second list, or third list includes system operational categories.

57. The non-transitory program storage medium of claim 53, further comprising:

displaying a video loopset from at least one storage device to a user, the at least one storage device storing at least one video loopset; and

drawing the menu items over the video loopset.

58. The non-transitory program storage medium of claim 57, wherein the highlight bar is displayed using a video loopset.

59. The non-transitory program storage medium of claim 57, wherein the highlight bar is drawn over the video loopset.

60. The non-transitory program storage medium of claim 57, wherein a plurality of video loopsets are displayed.

61. The non-transitory program storage medium of claim 53, wherein the right graphical indicator and left graphical indicator are whispering arrows when menu information exists in an indicated direction.

62. The non-transitory program storage medium of claim 53, wherein upon receiving any user command that corresponds to any left graphical indicator, displaying to the user a previous screen from where the user came, the previous screen being the third screen.

63. The non-transitory program storage medium of claim 53, wherein the first list of menu items comprises at least a plurality of content menu items, each identifying a different item of multimedia program material stored on a storage device;

wherein the method steps further comprise, responsive to the user moving right while a particular content menu item in the set of content items is highlighted on the first screen, the particular content menu item being the particular item, generating the second screen list of menu items to indicate a plurality of actions that may be performed with respect to a particular item of multimedia program material identified by the particular content menu item.

64. The non-transitory program storage medium of claim 53, the method steps further comprising:

upon receiving a user command that places the highlight bar over a menu item that corresponds to a program name, the menu item being the particular item, and the user command that corresponds to the right graphical indicator, displaying a detailed program information screen corresponding to the program name, the detailed program screen being the second screen; and

allowing the user to scroll through additional detailed program information screens corresponding to other program names in the first list in a same order as the first list, without returning to the first screen.

65. The non-transitory program storage medium of claim 53, the method steps further comprising:

while displaying the first list of menu items on the first screen, receiving a user command that selects a menu item that identifies a multimedia program; and

displaying the multimedia program material selected.

66. The non-transitory program storage medium of claim 53, wherein series of menus have a unique identifiable background coloring.

67. The non-transitory program storage of claim 53, wherein the method steps further comprise:

reading, by one or more processors of a multimedia device, a video loopset from at least one storage device, the at least one storage device storing at least one video loopset;

sending the video loopset to a video decoder of the multimedia device;

decoding, by the video decoder, the video loopset to generate a decoded video loopset;

sending the decoded video loopset to a mixer of the multimedia device generating menu of items that includes multimedia program material stored on the at least one storage device, wherein the menu of items is one of the first list, second list, or third list;

sending the menu of items to the mixer;

at the mixer, overlaying the menu of items upon the decoded video loopset;

sending, from the multimedia device, to a display device, output signals configured to cause the display device to display the menu of items overlaid upon the decoded video loopset;

while the output device is displaying the menu of items overlaid upon the decoded video loopset, generating a highlight bar that is responsive to user commands sending the highlight bar to the mixer; and

at the mixer, overlaying the highlight bar with the menu of items upon the decoded video loopset.

68. The non-transitory program storage medium of claim 67, wherein the video loopset is a first video loopset, wherein the highlight bar is generated in part by the video decoder decoding a second video loopset that is different than the first video loopset.

69. The non-transitory program storage medium of claim 67, wherein the highlight bar is generated as part of the menu of items.

70. The non-transitory program storage medium of claim 67, the method steps further comprising sending a plurality of decoded video loopsets to the mixer for display in the output signal.

71. The non-transitory program storage medium of claim 67, the method steps further comprising:

generating, as part of the menu of items, an indicator whenever information exists in an indicated direction for a highlighted menu item.

72. The non-transitory program storage medium of claim 67, wherein the video loopset is a loop of video created so as to have an ending and a beginning that seamlessly merge together to give the effect of a continuous video stream as the video loops back to the beginning when the ending is reached, wherein sending the decoded video loopset to a mixer of the multimedia device occurs in a continuous loop.

73. The non-transitory program storage medium of claim 67, wherein the menu of items includes multimedia program material stored on the at least one storage device.

74. The non-transitory program storage medium of claim 53, the method steps further comprising generating, as part of the each list of menu items, whispering arrows that are displayed in association with the highlight bar whenever information related to a highlighted menu item exists in an indicated direction.

75. The non-transitory program storage medium of claim 53, wherein a menu item on the second list corresponds to a user command to play a selected program.

76. The non-transitory program storage medium of claim 53, the method steps further comprising upon receiving a user command to move in a direction not available for a second menu item in the list of menu items, generating a sound to indicate that the user command cannot be performed.

77. The non-transitory program storage medium of claim 53, wherein the third list is one of:

a category listing, network listing, time-based listing, theme listing, channel listing, or home menu, wherein the first list is a menu of multimedia program material related to a menu item selected in the third list, and wherein the second list is a menu of actions to perform with respect to a selected multimedia program in the first list.

78. The non-transitory program storage medium of claim 53, wherein the second list of menu items includes menu items corresponding to a set of actions that includes two or more of:

play, record, watch now, season pass, or view related programs.