Method for providing GUI for selecting broadcast channel with keypad operated by pointer and broadcast receiving apparatus thereof

• US 9,485,449 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2013
• Issued: 11/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Joon-hwan, Yun, Young-hwa, Lee, Jeong-yeon, Jon, Seong-ick, Hwang, Woo-seok
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheleheda, James R
• Application Number:
  US13/966,041
• Publication Number:
  US 20130329141A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 Days
• Field of Search: 725/38, 725/56
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• 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 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72

Abstract

A method for providing Graphical User Interface (GUI) for selecting a broadcast channel, and a broadcast receiving apparatus having the same are provided. The GUI for selecting a broadcast channel includes a keypad having a pointer to be moved by manipulation of a user on a remote control apparatus and keys selectable by the pointer, and then the user is able to input a preferred broadcast channel by using the keypad and the pointer. Accordingly, the user is able to input a preferred broadcast channel without using the number keys, so the number keys may be omitted in the remote control apparatus. As a result, miniaturization of the remote control apparatus is possible.

Claims

1. A method for providing a graphical user interface for selecting a broadcast channel in a television, the method comprising:

receiving information about a movement of a remote control to control a pointer displayed on a screen of the television;

receiving a first input from the remote control for displaying a keypad on the screen;

displaying the keypad on the screen in response to the first input;

receiving a second input from the remote control to select one of numerical keys displayed on the keypad based on a position of the pointer over the one of the numerical keys displayed on the keypad;

displaying a number corresponding to the selected numerical key in an input window for the keypad displayed on the screen and displaying a channel list including a broadcast channel number starting with the number corresponding to the selected numerical key, the number corresponding to the selected numerical key and the channel list including the broadcast channel number being simultaneously displayed; and

if the pointer is moved to one of at least one broadcast channel included in the channel list by a user moving the remote controller and a broadcast channel where the pointer is located is selected by a user input, tuning to the selected broadcast channel,

wherein the keypad is removed from the screen when a predetermined area that is noncontiguous with an area in which the keypad is displayed and that is displayed outside of the keypad on the screen is selected by the pointer, and

wherein the channel list remains displayed in response to the predetermined area being selected by the pointer while the channel list and the keypad are displayed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first input comprises a first selection input made on a keypad icon displayed on the screen when the pointer is displayed over the keypad icon.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the keypad further comprises a separation key which divides a channel number into a major broadcast channel number and a minor broadcast channel number.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel list, the input window, and the keypad are respectively displayed on the screen in a separate non-overlapping manner.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising tuning to another broadcast channel by using the keypad and the pointer or tuning to the other broadcast channel from broadcast channels listed in the channel list by using the pointer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the channel list, the input window and the keypad is translucent such that an image of the broadcast channel is visible through the at least one of the channel list, the input window and the keypad.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote control comprises a movement sensor that is configured to sense a movement of the remote control.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the movement sensor comprises a gyroscopic sensor.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the movement of the remote control is a movement of the entire remote control.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method of claim 1.

11. A display apparatus that provides a graphical user interface for selecting a broadcast channel, the display apparatus comprising:

a display;

a remote control; and

a controller which is configured to receive information about a movement of the remote control to control a pointer displayed on a screen of the display, control the display to display a keypad on the screen in response to receiving a first input from the remote control, control the display to display a number in an input window corresponding to the keypad in response to receiving a second input from the remote control to select the number from numbers displayed on the keypad based on a position of the pointer over the selected number of the numbers displayed on the keypad, and control the display to display a channel list including a broadcast channel number starting with the selected number of the numbers displayed on the keypad, the selected number from the numbers displayed on the keypad and the channel list including the broadcast channel number being simultaneously displayed,

wherein the controller is further configured to tune to the selected broadcast channel if the pointer is moved to one of at least one broadcast channel included in the channel list by a user moving the remote controller and a broadcast channel where the pointer is located is selected by a user input,

wherein the keypad is removed from the screen when a predetermined area that is noncontiguous with an area in which the keypad is displayed and that is displayed outside of the keypad on the screen is selected by the pointer, and

wherein the channel list remains displayed in response to the predetermined area being selected by the pointer while the channel list and the keypad are displayed.

12. The display apparatus of claim 11, wherein the receiving the second input further comprises making a second selection input of a second number from the numbers displayed on the keypad based on a position of the pointer over the second number of the numbers displayed on the keypad.

13. The display apparatus of claim 11, wherein the keypad further comprises a separation character which divides a channel number into a major broadcast channel number and a minor broadcast channel number.

14. The display apparatus of claim 11, wherein controller is further configured to control the display to display the channel list, the input window, and the keypad in a separate non-overlapping manner.

15. The display apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to tune the display apparatus to another broadcast channel in response to input into the keypad by using the pointer or to tune to the other broadcast channel in response to a selection of the other broadcast channel from broadcast channels in the channel list by using the pointer.

16. The display apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least one of the channel list, the input window and the keypad is translucent such that an image of the broadcast channel is visible through the at least one of the channel list, the input window and the keypad.

17. The display apparatus of claim 11, wherein the remote control comprises a movement sensor that is configured to sense a movement of the remote control.

18. The display apparatus of claim 11, wherein the display apparatus comprises a television.

19. The display apparatus of claim 11, wherein the movement of the remote control is a movement of the entire remote control.

20. A display apparatus that provides a graphical user interface for selecting a broadcast channel, the display apparatus comprising:

a display; and

a controller which is configured to receive information about a movement and control a pointer displayed on a screen of the display based on the movement, control the display to display a keypad on the screen in response to receiving a first input, control the display to display a number in an input window corresponding to the keypad in response to receiving a second input to select the number from numbers displayed on the keypad based on a position of the pointer over the selected number of the numbers displayed on the keypad, and control the display to display a channel list including a broadcast channel number starting with the selected number of the numbers displayed on the keypad, the selected number from the numbers displayed on the keypad and the channel list including the broadcast channel number being simultaneously displayed,

wherein the controller is further configured to tune to the selected broadcast channel if the pointer is moved to one of at least one broadcast channel included in the channel list by a user moving the remote controller and a broadcast channel where the pointer is located is selected by a user input,

wherein the keypad is removed from the screen when a predetermined area that is noncontiguous with an area in which the keypad is displayed and that is displayed outside of the keypad on the screen is selected by the pointer, and

wherein the channel list remains displayed in response to the predetermined area being selected by the pointer while the channel list and the keypad are displayed.

21. The display apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first input comprises a first selection input made on a keypad icon displayed on the screen when the pointer is displayed over the keypad icon.

22. The display apparatus of claim 20, wherein controller is further configured to control the display to display the channel list, the input window, and the keypad in a separate non-overlapping manner.