Apparatus and method for simple wide-area network navigation

• US 20020097261A1
• Filed: 03/25/2002
• Published: 07/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EMG Technology, LLC
• Original Assignee: Grant Gottfurcht 2003 Irrevocable Trust
• Inventors: Gottfurcht, Elliot A., Gottfurcht, Grant E., Long, Albert-Michel C., Woesner, Stephen K., Beltran, Manuel V., Dukeshire, Donald L., Marinuzzi, John A., McKnight, J. Teague
• Granted Patent: US 7,194,698 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/738
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0384 Wireless input, i.e. hardware and software details of wireless interface arrangements for pointing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• 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 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04892 Arrangements for controlling cursor position based on codes indicative of cursor displacements from one discrete location to another, e.g. using cursor control keys associated to different directions or using the tab key arrangements for controlling cursor position based on coordinate signals G06F3/038
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/025 LAN communication management
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/027 Arrangements and methods specific for the display of internet documents

Abstract

A method and system to facilitate navigation of a wide-area network. A navigation matrix is displayed on a client node. The matrix pairs each navigation option with an input such that, for example, pressing a single key activates that navigation option. The key press event is forwarded to an information and services hub across the network. The hub then returns a next appropriate matrix layer which may be navigated in the same manner.

Claims

1. A method of simplifying wide-area network navigation comprising:

limiting navigation options to a set, each member of which can be traversed by pressing a single unique key; and

displaying each option on a display in association with an indication of the single unique keys.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the options are displayed in a matrix format with each cell of the matrix associated with a unique key.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the set comprises:

a first subset of primary navigation options and a second subset of secondary navigation options wherein each member of the first subset is associated with a numerical digit key.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

generating successively deeper layers of the matrix responsive to key press signals until a maximum depth is reached; and

displaying content corresponding to the cell selected at the maximum depth.

5. The method of claim 4 comprising:

translating content from an arbitrary format to a single predefined format.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein a background is displayed behind the matrix further comprising:

matching the background with a selected navigation option.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

fading the indication off the display for a subset of options over a time interval.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the display is a television display.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein each navigation option is associated with a single key on a television remote control.

10. A computer readable storage media containing executable computer program instructions which when executed cause a digital processing system to perform a method comprising:

limiting navigation options to a set, each member of which can be traversed by pressing a single unique key; and

displaying each option on a display in association with an indication of the single unique keys.

11. The computer readable storage media of claim 10 which when executed cause a digital processing system to perform a method further comprising:

options displayed in a matrix format with each cell of the matrix associated with a unique key.

12. The computer readable storage media of claim 10 which when executed cause a digital processing system to perform a method further comprising:

a first subset of primary navigation options and a second subset of secondary navigation options wherein each member of the first subset is associated with a numerical digit key.

13. The computer readable storage media of claim 11 which when executed cause a digital processing system to perform a method further comprising:

generating successively deeper layers of the matrix responsive to key press signals until a maximum depth is reached; and

displaying content corresponding to the cell selected at the maximum depth.

14. The computer readable storage media of claim 13 which when executed cause a digital processing system to perform a method further comprising:

translating content from an arbitrary format to a single predefined format.

15. The computer readable storage media of claim 11 which when executed cause a digital processing system to perform a method further comprising:

matching the background with a selected navigation option.

16. The computer readable storage media of claim 11 wherein the successively deeper layers are displayed on a television display.

17. The computer readable storage media of claim 16 wherein the single unique key is on a wireless remote control.