Pointing capability and associated user interface elements for television user interfaces

• US 9,369,659 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2011
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CEVA Technologies, Inc. (CEVA Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Hillcrest Laboratories Incorporated (CEVA Incorporated)
• Inventors: Moshiri, Negar, Wroblewski, Frank J., Napier, William J., Hunleth, Frank A., Simpkins, Daniel S., Conroy, Kevin M., Wood, Peter, Goyal, Neel, Witenstein-Weaver, Jason, Mark, Adam, Stanchfield, Scott Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Jonathan V
• Application Number:
  US13/112,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20110219395A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,852 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• 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 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• 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 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4221 Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• 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 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• 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 21/47 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 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4825 using a list of items to be played back in a given order, e.g. playlists
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4852 for modifying audio parameters, e.g. switching between mono and stereo
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording

Abstract

Systems and methods according to the present invention provide a user interface for television control functionality.

Claims

1. A television system comprising:

a television;

a user interface for controlling output of media via the television, the user interface being displayed on the television and including a user interface view which enables a user to change settings associated with the user interface; and

a pointing device for providing pointing and selection inputs to the user interface by interacting with the user interface view to enable selection of settings for the user interface,

wherein the settings include parental controls, displaying caller identification (ID) information on the television and favorite channels,

further wherein the user interface view further comprises at least a first tab element and a second tab element displayed simultaneously on the user interface view;

wherein selection of the first tab element displays a first tabbed overlay displaying channels for selection in a first order; and

wherein selection of the second tab element displays a second tabbed overlay displaying the same channels listed in the first tabbed overlay for selection in a second order different from the first order,

further wherein one of the first order or the second order displays the same channels for selection in an alphabetical order and another of the first order or the second order displays the same channels for selection in a numerical order,

further wherein selection of a third tab displayed on the user interface provides channel entry by way of a ten digit numeric keypad, wherein the ten digit numeric keypad including an enter button;

is displayed on the user interface with a corresponding channel number display area, further wherein by pointing at and clicking on an individual numeral displayed on the ten digit numeric keypad, the selected individual numeral is displayed in the corresponding channel number display area and after the user selects the desired numeral(s), a channel number corresponding to the selected numeral(s) is displayed in the channel number display area, wherein by pointing at and clicking on the enter button, the user changes a channel.

2. The television system of claim 1, wherein the parental controls include setting of a personal identification number (PIN).

3. The television system of claim 1, wherein selection of a fourth tab displayed on the user interface view provides a listing of favorite channels and when the favorite channels setting is active, a currently viewed channel can be added to the favorite channels setting by pointing and clicking on a symbol associated with the favorite channels settings.

4. The television system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is displayed when said user moves a cursor by moving the pointing device toward the left-hand side of the television.

5. The television system of claim 1, wherein currently viewable interface elements are transparent except for the outlines of the currently viewable interface elements which are translucent.

6. The television system of claim 1, wherein the parental controls are associated with the rating of a show, further wherein only shows with allowed ratings are viewable on the television.

7. A method for controlling a television, the method comprising:

displaying a user interface for controlling output of media via the television the user interface being displayed on the television and including a user interface view which enables a user to change settings associated with the user interface; and

receiving pointing and selection inputs to the user interface to enable selection of settings for the user interface,

wherein the settings include parental controls, displaying caller identification (ID) information on the television and favorite channels,

further wherein the user interface view further comprises at least a first tab element and a second tab element displayed simultaneously on the user interface view;

wherein selection of the first tab element displays a first tabbed overlay displaying channels for selection in a first order; and

wherein selection of the second tab element displays a second tabbed overlay displaying the same channels listed in the first tabbed overlay for selection in a second order different from the first order,

further wherein one of the first order or the second order displays the same channels for selection in an alphabetical order and another of the first order or the second order displays the same channels for selection in a numerical order,

further wherein selection of a third tab displayed on the user interface provides channel entry by way of a ten digit numeric keypad, wherein the ten digit numeric keypad including an enter button, is displayed on the user interface with a corresponding channel number display area, further wherein by pointing at and clicking on an individual numeral displayed on the ten digit numeric keypad, the selected individual numeral is displayed in the corresponding channel number display area and after the user selects the desired numeral(s), a channel number corresponding to the selected numeral(s) is displayed in the channel number display area, wherein by pointing at and clicking on the enter button, the user changes a channel.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the parental controls include setting a personal identification number (PIN).

9. The method of claim 7, wherein selection of a fourth tab displayed on the user interface view provides a listing of favorite channels and when the favorite channels setting is active, a currently viewed channel can be added to the favorite channels setting by pointing and clicking on a symbol associated with the favorite channels settings.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

moving the pointing device toward the left-hand side of the television to display the user interface.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein currently viewable interface elements are transparent except for the outlines of the currently viewable interface elements which are translucent.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the parental controls are associated with the rating of a show, further wherein only shows with allowed ratings are viewable on the television.

13. A television system comprising:

a television configured to display media, wherein the media includes a television program and an overlayable user interface;

the user interface for controlling output of media via the television, the user interface being displayed on the television and including a user interface view which enables a user to change settings associated with the user interface, wherein the user interface view provides channel entry by way of a ten digit numeric keypad, wherein the ten digit numeric keypad including an enter button is displayed on the user interface with a corresponding channel number display area, further wherein by pointing at and clicking on an individual numeral displayed on the ten digit numeric keypad, the selected individual numeral is displayed in the corresponding channel number display area and after the user selects the desired numeral(s), a channel number corresponding to the selected numeral(s) is displayed in the channel number display area, wherein by pointing at and clicking on the enter button, the user changes a channel; and

a pointing device for providing pointing and selection inputs to the user interface by interacting with the user interface view to enable selection of settings for the user interface,

further wherein the user interface view further comprises at least a first tab element and a second tab element displayed simultaneously on the user interface view;

wherein selection of the first tab element displays a first tabbed overlay displaying channels for selection in a first order; and

wherein selection of the second tab element displays a second tabbed overlay displaying the same channels listed in the first tabbed overlay for selection in a second order different from the first order,

further wherein one of the first order or the second order displays the same channels for selection in an alphabetical order and another of the first order or the second order displays the same channels for selection in a numerical order.

14. The television system of claim 13, wherein the user interface is displayed when a user moves a cursor by moving the pointing device toward the left-hand side of the television, further wherein currently viewable interface elements are transparent except for the outlines of the currently viewable interface elements which are translucent.