Contextual navigational control for digital television
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a processor; and
memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to;
generate a programming guide user interface comprising a menu that includes a plurality of levels arranged from general to specific, a first of the plurality of levels displaying a category of programming options, wherein the category of programming options is dynamically selected based on a category of programming associated with a program currently displayed, the program currently displayed having been selected by a user controlling the apparatus;
overlay the programming guide user interface on the program currently displayed to allow for content selection by the user with continued viewing of the program currently displayed; and
in response to a user selection of the category of programming options;
regenerate the programming guide user interface comprising the menu, the menu simultaneously displaying the first of the plurality of levels and a second of the plurality of levels, the first of the plurality of levels displaying the category of programming options and the second of the plurality of levels displaying a subsidiary category of programming options, wherein the subsidiary category of programming options comprises a sub-category of programming options of the category of programming options dynamically selected by the processor based on a subsidiary category of programming associated with the program currently displayed; and
overlay the regenerated programming guide user interface on the program currently displayed to allow for content selection by the user with continued viewing of the program currently displayed.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A contextual navigational control for digital television is described. An apparatus, comprises a contextual navigation control interface (CNCI). The CNCI includes a first area that represents a plurality of cable television programs having a first level of relevance. A second area represents a first group of the plurality of programs having a second level of relevance. A third area represents a first subgroup of the first group having a third level of relevance. A fourth area represents a second subgroup of the first group having a fourth level of relevance. There may be additional areas representing additional sub-groups of relevance to the current viewing context.
246 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. An apparatus comprising:
-
a processor; and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to; generate a programming guide user interface comprising a menu that includes a plurality of levels arranged from general to specific, a first of the plurality of levels displaying a category of programming options, wherein the category of programming options is dynamically selected based on a category of programming associated with a program currently displayed, the program currently displayed having been selected by a user controlling the apparatus; overlay the programming guide user interface on the program currently displayed to allow for content selection by the user with continued viewing of the program currently displayed; and in response to a user selection of the category of programming options; regenerate the programming guide user interface comprising the menu, the menu simultaneously displaying the first of the plurality of levels and a second of the plurality of levels, the first of the plurality of levels displaying the category of programming options and the second of the plurality of levels displaying a subsidiary category of programming options, wherein the subsidiary category of programming options comprises a sub-category of programming options of the category of programming options dynamically selected by the processor based on a subsidiary category of programming associated with the program currently displayed; and overlay the regenerated programming guide user interface on the program currently displayed to allow for content selection by the user with continued viewing of the program currently displayed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A method comprising:
-
generating, at an apparatus comprising a processor, a programming guide user interface comprising a menu that includes a plurality of levels arranged from general to specific, a first of the plurality of levels displaying a category of programming options, wherein the category of programming options is dynamically selected based on a category of programming associated with a program currently displayed, the program currently displayed having been selected by a user controlling the apparatus; overlaying the programming guide user interface on the program currently displayed to allow for content selection by the user with continued viewing of the program currently displayed; and in response to a user selection of the category of programming options; regenerating the programming guide user interface comprising the menu, the menu simultaneously displaying the first of the plurality of levels and a second of the plurality of levels, the first of the plurality of levels displaying the category of programming options and the second of the plurality of levels displaying a subsidiary category of programming options, wherein the subsidiary category of programming options comprises a sub-category of programming options of the category of programming options dynamically selected by the processor based on a subsidiary category of programming associated with the program currently displayed; and overlaying the regenerated programming guide user interface on the program currently displayed to allow for content selection by the user with continued viewing of the program currently displayed. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A system comprising:
a client device configured to; generate a programming guide user interface based at least in part on data received from a server, the programming guide user interface comprising a menu that includes a plurality of levels arranged from general to specific, a first of the plurality of levels displaying a category of programming options, wherein the category of programming options is dynamically selected based on a category of programming associated with a program currently displayed, the program currently displayed having been selected by a user controlling the client device; overlay the programming guide user interface on the program currently displayed to allow for content selection by the user with continued viewing of the program currently displayed; and responsive to a user selection of the category of programming options; regenerate the programming guide user interface comprising the menu, the menu simultaneously displaying the first of the plurality of levels and a second of the plurality of levels, the first of the plurality of levels displaying the category of programming options and the second of the plurality of levels displaying a subsidiary category of programming options, wherein the subsidiary category of programming options comprises a sub-category of programming options of the category of programming options dynamically selected by the processor based on a subsidiary category of programming associated with the program currently displayed; and overlay the regenerated programming guide user interface on the program currently displayed to allow for content selection by the user with continued viewing of the program currently displayed. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
Specification