Representing a plurality of independent data items

• US 20030169303A1
• Filed: 01/24/2003
• Published: 09/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Islam, Farhad Fuad, Carlyle, Neil Eric, Hanna, Margaret
• Granted Patent: US 8,495,520 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/836
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• 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 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

The method represents a plurality of independent data items. The method first assigns (1240) a multi-dimensional iconic representation to each said data item, then alters (1240) at least one dimension of each iconic representation according to a change in a corresponding state of the corresponding data item.

Claims

1. A method of representing a plurality of independent data items, the method comprising the steps of:

assigning a multi-dimensional iconic representation to each said data item; and

altering at least one dimension of each said iconic representation according to a change in a corresponding state of said corresponding data item.

2. A method of continuously representing a plurality of independent electronic program guide data items, the method comprising the steps of:

assigning a multi-dimensional iconic representation to each said electronic program guide data item;

altering at least one dimension of each said iconic representation according to a change in a corresponding state of said each corresponding electronic program guide data item; and

presenting said each multi-dimensional iconic representation to thereby depict said change in said corresponding state.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said presenting step is preceded by a step of:

testing the corresponding state of one of the corresponding electronic program guide data items against a presentation threshold, and wherein said presenting step in respect of said one of the corresponding electronic program guide data items is only performed if the presentation threshold is reached.

4. A method according to claim 2 wherein said presenting step comprises presenting said each multi-dimensional iconic representation over a background image, said method comprising further steps of:

repeating the altering and presenting steps, in respect of said iconic representations, until the corresponding state of the corresponding electronic program guide data item reaches a target threshold; and

altering at least one dimension of said one of said electronic program guide data items to thereby indicate attainment of the target threshold.

5. A method according to claim 4 comprising, after the altering step, further steps of:

testing the corresponding state of said one of the corresponding electronic program guide data items against an ageing threshold, and

terminating presentation of said one of the corresponding said iconic representations if the ageing threshold is reached.

6. A method according to claim 2 wherein the corresponding state of said each corresponding electronic program guide data item is a time remaining until a program defined by the electronic program guide is broadcast.

7. A method according to claim 3, comprising further steps of:

selecting a program defined by said one of the electronic program guide data item; and

previewing the program defined by the electronic program guide data item.

8. A method according to claim 3, comprising further steps of:

selecting a program defined by said one of the electronic program guide data item; and

recording the program defined by the electronic program guide data item.

9. A method according to claim 3, comprising further steps of:

selecting a program defined by said one of the electronic program guide data item; and

playing the program defined by the electronic program guide data item.

10. A method of representing information about a program, the method comprising the steps of:

assigning an object image to the program;

displaying the object image in the case that a control state of the program satisfies a predetermined condition; and

altering at least one of a size, a position, a viewing angle and a motion of the object image displayed by said displaying step according to the control state of the program in order to inform a user of the control state of the program.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the program is sent by a network system, and includes at least one of television programs broadcasted by a television system, streaming programs streamed by an internet system, and scheduling programs scheduled by an electronic meeting scheduling system.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein the object image is an animated image.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the color of the animated image indicates to a user that the animated image is associated with a form of content of the program.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein the form of the animated image indicates to a user that the animated image is associated with any one of a plurality of users.

15. A method according to claim 10, wherein said altering step alters at least one of a size, a position, a viewing angle, and a motion of the object image in order that a user may feel the object image approaching to the user according to the control state of the program.

16. A method according to claim 10, wherein said control state is corresponding to an arrival time of the program.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein said displaying step displays a plurality of the object images and the relative position of the object images indicate the chronological order of the arrival time of the program.

18. A method of representing information about a program, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying a scenery image;

selecting an object image matched with the scenery image; and

assigning the object image to the program,

wherein said displaying step further displays the object image over the scenery image when a control state of the program satisfies a predetermined condition and alters a display state of the object image displayed by said displaying step to inform a user of the control state of the program.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the program is sent by a network system, and includes at least one of television programs broadcasted by a television system, streaming programs streamed by an internet system, and scheduling programs scheduled by an electronic meeting scheduling system.

20. A method according to claim 18, wherein the object image is an animated image.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the selecting step further selects the color of the animated image indicating to a user that it is associated with a form of content of the program.

22. A method according to claim 20, wherein the selecting step further selects the form of the animated image indicating to a user that it is associated with any one of a plurality of users.

23. A method according to claim 18, wherein said displaying step alters at least one of a size, a position, a viewing angle, and a motion of the object image in order that a user may feel the object image approaching to the user according to the control state of the program.

24. A method of representing results of performing an application, the method comprising the steps of:

performing the application and outputting the results;

assigning an object image to an item of results output by said performing step;

displaying the object image; and

altering at least one of a size, a position, and motion of the object displayed by said displaying step according to a time lapse to attract user'"'"'s attention to the results.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the application includes at least one of a reservation application, a searching application, and a scheduling application, for programs sent by a network system or scheduled by an electronic scheduling system.

26. A method according to claim 24, wherein the item of results is at least one of the program reserved by said reservation application, the program searched by said searching application and the program scheduled by said electronic scheduling system.

27. A method according to claim 24, wherein said altering step alters some of the object images according to the time remaining to the arrival time of the program.

28. A method of displaying information on a television screen relating to a television program, the apparatus comprising:

displaying a scenery image on the television screen;

selecting an animated object image matching the scenery image;

assigning the object image to the television program; and

displaying the animated object image over the scenery image on the television screen wherein the animated displayed state of the object image varies in accordance with the control state of the television program in order that a user may sense the control state of the television program.

29. Apparatus for representing a plurality of independent data items, the apparatus comprising:

a module for assigning a multi-dimensional iconic representation to each said data item; and

a module for altering at least one dimension of each said iconic representation according to a change in a corresponding state of said corresponding data item.

30. Apparatus for continuously representing a plurality of independent electronic program guide data items, the apparatus comprising:

a module for assigning a multi-dimensional iconic representation to each said electronic program guide data item;

a module for altering at least one dimension of each said iconic representation according to a change in a corresponding state of said each corresponding electronic program guide data item; and

a module for presenting said each multi-dimensional iconic representation to thereby depict said change in said corresponding state.

31. Apparatus for representing information about a program, the apparatus comprising:

a module for assigning an object image to the program;

a module for displaying the object image in the case that a control state of the program satisfies a predetermined condition; and

a module for altering at least one of a size, a position, a viewing angle and a motion of the object image displayed by said displaying module according to the control state of the program in order to inform a user of the control state of the program.

32. Apparatus for representing information about a program, the apparatus comprising:

a module for displaying a scenery image;

a module for selecting an object image matched with the scenery image; and

a module for assigning the object image to the program,

wherein said displaying module further displays the object image over the scenery image when a control state of the program satisfies a predetermined condition and alters a display state of the object image displayed by said displaying module to inform a user of the control state of the program.

33. Apparatus for representing results of performing an application, the apparatus comprising:

a module for performing the application and outputting the results;

a module for assigning an object image to an item of results output by said performing step;

a module for displaying the object image; and

a module for altering at least one of a size, a position, and motion of the object displayed by said displaying module according to a time lapse to attract user'"'"'s attention to the results.

34. Apparatus for displaying information on a television screen relating to a television program, the apparatus comprising:

a module for displaying a scenery image on the television screen;

a module for selecting an animated object image matching the scenery image;

a module for assigning the object image to the television program; and

a module for displaying the animated object image over the scenery image on the television screen wherein the animated displayed state of the object image varies in accordance with the control state of the television program in order that a user may sense the control state of the television program.

35. A computer program for representing a plurality of independent data items, the computer program comprising:

a code module for assigning a multi-dimensional iconic representation to each said data item; and

a code module for altering at least one dimension of each said iconic representation according to a change in a corresponding state of said corresponding data item.

36. A computer program for continuously representing a plurality of independent electronic program guide data items, the computer program comprising:

a code module for assigning a multi-dimensional iconic representation to each said electronic program guide data item;

a code module for altering at least one dimension of each said iconic representation according to a change in a corresponding state of said each corresponding electronic program guide data item; and

a code module for presenting said each multi-dimensional iconic representation to thereby depict said change in said corresponding state.

37. A computer program for representing information about a program, the computer program comprising:

a code module for assigning an object image to the program;

a code module for displaying the object image in the case that a control state of the program satisfies a predetermined condition; and

a code module for altering at least one of a size, a position, a viewing angle and a motion of the object image displayed by said displaying module according to the control state of the program in order to inform a user of the control state of the program.

38. A computer program for representing information about a program, the computer program comprising:

a code module for displaying a scenery image;

a code module for selecting an object image matched with the scenery image; and

a code module for assigning the object image to the program,

wherein said displaying module further displays the object image over the scenery image when a control state of the program satisfies a predetermined condition and alters a display state of the object image displayed by said displaying module to inform a user of the control state of the program.

39. A computer program for representing results of performing an application, the computer program comprising:

a code module for performing the application and outputting the results;

a code module for assigning an object image to an item of results output by said performing step;

a code module for displaying the object image; and

a code module for altering at least one of a size, a position, and motion of the object displayed by said displaying module according to a time lapse to attract user'"'"'s attention to the results.

40. A computer program for displaying information on a television screen relating to a television program, the computer program comprising:

a code module for displaying a scenery image on the television screen;

a code module for selecting an animated object image matching the scenery image;

a code module for assigning the object image to the television program; and

a code module for displaying the animated object image over the scenery image on the television screen wherein the animated displayed state of the object image varies in accordance with the control state of the television program in order that a user may sense the control state of the television program.