Internet appliance for interactive audio/video display using a remote control unit for user input

• US 20020078445A1
• Filed: 07/11/2001
• Published: 06/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Glen Edward Ivey, Imran Sharif, John Bremsteller, Shabbir Syed Husain
• Original Assignee: Glen Edward Ivey, Imran Sharif, John Bremsteller, Shabbir Syed Husain
• Inventors: Bremsteller, John, Sharif, Imran, Ivey, Glen Edward, Husain, Shabbir Syed
• Application Number:
  US09/903,326
• Publication Number:
  US 20020078445A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4938 comprising a voice browser which renders and interprets, e.g. VoiceXML
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/422 Input-only peripherals , i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] input devices also receiving signals from specially adapted client devices H04N21/4104
• 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 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence

Abstract

A network access device uses a standard video display to show functional choices and network content received from the Internet to a user. The user directs the functional operation of the network access device with a simple reduced keyset remote control unit having a relatively small number of keys similar to a consumer remote control used for television receivers and video recorders. The control choices are displayed to the user in a unique format with elements associated to characters corresponding to the same characters in the reduced keyset. The display format uses several display areas, some of which can be designated as input focus areas, any one of which can be active at a given time. The device affords low cost ready access to the informational capabilities of the Internet for users at all skill levels by eliminating a full text keyboard and a mouse.

Claims

1. A network access device comprising:

a network connection section for communication with a network;

a video section including a video signal output connectable to a video display for outputting video signals to be displayed on the video display;

a user interface signal receiver for receiving user interface signals generated by a reduced keyset user interface device; and

a processing unit connected to the network connection section, the video section and the user Interface signal receiver, wherein the processing unit provides user interface functions by outputting video signals for displaying information to the user and processing user interface signals received by the user interface signal receiver and generated by the user in response to the output video signals, the user interface functions enabling the user to control and navigate the operation of the network access device solely through the reduced keyset user interface device.

2. The network access device of claim 1, further including a housing that contains the network connection section, the video section, the user interface signal receiver, and the processing unit.

3. The network access device of claim 2, further including at least one device selected from the group consisting of an audio output device, an audio signal output, an audio input device, an audio signal input, a video input device, a video signal input, and visual indicators, the at least one device being carried by the housing and being connected to and controlled by the processing unit.

4. The network access device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit provides user interface functions by processing a set of user interface signals consisting of a set of numeric keystroke signals and a small number of functional keystroke signals.

5. The network access device of claim 1, wherein the user interface signal receiver is a wireless signal receiver.

6. The network access device of claim 1, further comprising a reduced keyset user interface device consisting of a set of numeric keys and a small number of functional keys, the reduced keyset user interface device being coupled to the user interface signal receiver.

7. A method for providing a user interface between an information processing system and a user using a display screen for displaying information to the user and a reduced keyset user interface device for transmitting keystroke signals to the information processing system, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying information to the user on the display screen, the displayed information including user interface elements;

dividing the display screen into a plurality of display areas each containing displayed information;

designating one of the plurality of display areas as an input focus area in response to first keystroke signals received from the reduced keyset user interface device; and

interpreting keystroke signals received from the reduced keyset user interface device based on displayed user interface elements in the input focus area only.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of screen display areas is capable of being designated as an input focus area, and wherein the designating step sequentially designates input focus areas according to a predetermined order in response to the first keystroke signals.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the dividing step includes dividing the display screen into one or more primary display areas for displaying dynamic text or graphics, and one or more button bars each containing one or more buttons, each button representing an operation of the information processing system.

10. A method for providing a user interface between an information processing system and a user using a display screen for displaying information to the user and a reduced keyset user interface device for transmitting keystroke signals including numeral keystroke signals to the information processing system, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying information to the user on the display screen, the displayed information including user interface elements;

displaying an association of each of at least some of the user interface elements with a characterl; and

interpreting character keystroke signals received from the reduced keyset user interface device according to the displayed association of user interface elements with characters.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the information displayed on the display screen includes information accessed through the Internet, and at least some of the user interface elements associated with characters are links contained in a web page.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the association of characters and user interface elements is determined by information contained in the web page.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the association of characters and user interface elements is determined by analyzing the content of the web page and display configuration of the display screen.

14. A method for providing a user interface between an information processing system and a user using a display screen for displaying information to the user and a reduced keyset user interface device for transmitting keystroke signals to the information processing system, the information processing system having a plurality of modes selectable by the user, each mode performing predetermined functions, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying information to the user on the display screen, the displayed information including user interface elements, depending on the selected mode of the information processing system, displaying a characteristic screen display associated with the selected mode, the characteristic screen display including layout of the display screen, selection of operations, and associated set of commands; and

displaying mode selection user interface elements for enabling the user to select one of the modes of the system using the reduced keyset user interface device, the mode selection user interface elements being displayed regardless of the selected mode of the information processing system.