Television viewer interface system
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving, at a viewer interface system that plays media programs, at least first identification data that identifies a first input device and second identification data that identifies a second input device;
receiving a command signal at different times from different devices, the different devices including at least the first input device and the second input device, the command signal corresponding to a single button, the command signal specifying a preference for or against a media program that is being displayed when the command signal is received;
associating, at the viewer interface system, preference data with input devices, the preference data including at least first preference data that is associated with the first identification data and second preference data that is associated with the second identification data;
responding to reception of the command signal at a given time differently depending on which identification data is received with the command signal, a given media program being displayed at the given time, the responding comprising, when the first identification data is received with the command signal, storing a preference for or against the given media program in the first preference data, and when the second identification data is received with the command signal, storing a preference for or against the given media program in the second preference data.
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Accused Products
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.
107 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving, at a viewer interface system that plays media programs, at least first identification data that identifies a first input device and second identification data that identifies a second input device; receiving a command signal at different times from different devices, the different devices including at least the first input device and the second input device, the command signal corresponding to a single button, the command signal specifying a preference for or against a media program that is being displayed when the command signal is received; associating, at the viewer interface system, preference data with input devices, the preference data including at least first preference data that is associated with the first identification data and second preference data that is associated with the second identification data; responding to reception of the command signal at a given time differently depending on which identification data is received with the command signal, a given media program being displayed at the given time, the responding comprising, when the first identification data is received with the command signal, storing a preference for or against the given media program in the first preference data, and when the second identification data is received with the command signal, storing a preference for or against the given media program in the second preference data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus comprising:
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a playback subsystem, implemented at least partially by hardware, configured to play media programs; an input subsystem, implemented at least partially by hardware, configured to; receive at least first identification data that identifies a first input device and second identification data that identifies a second input device; and receive a command signal at different times from different devices, the different devices including at least the first input device and the second input device, the command signal corresponding to a single button, the command signal specifying a preference for or against a displayed media program that is being displayed when the command signal is received; a preference subsystem, implemented at least partially by hardware, configured to; associate, at the viewer interface system, preference data with input devices, the preference data including at least first preference data that is associated with the first identification data and second preference data that is associated with the second identification data; and respond to reception of the command signal at a given time differently depending on which identification data is received with the command signal, a given media program being displayed at the given time, the responding comprising, when the first identification data is received with the command signal, storing a preference for or against the given media program in the first preference data, and when the second identification data is received with the command signal, storing a preference for or against the given media program in the second preference data. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause performance of:
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receiving, at a viewer interface system that plays media programs, at least first identification data that identifies a first input device and second identification data that identifies a second input device; receiving a command signal at different times from different devices, the different devices including at least the first input device and the second input device, the command signal corresponding to a single button, the command signal specifying a preference for or against a media program that is being displayed when the command signal is received; associating, at the viewer interface system, preference data with input devices, the preference data including at least first preference data that is associated with the first identification data and second preference data that is associated with the second identification data; responding to reception of the command signal at a given time differently depending on which identification data is received with the command signal, a given media program being displayed at the given time, the responding comprising, when the first identification data is received with the command signal, storing a preference for or against the given media program in the first preference data, and when the second identification data is received with the command signal, storing a preference for or against the given media program in the second preference data. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification