System and method for focused navigation within a user interface

• US 20040181804A1
• Filed: 05/03/2002
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Diego
• Inventors: Billmaier, James A., Kellum, John M., Rogan, Philip A., Reid, Dewey M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,159,176 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• 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

Abstract

A sequence of cards is stored that graphically represents available options within an information system. In response to a single user action, the sequence of cards is successively displayed within a focus area of the user interface. In response to a subsequent user action, the successive display is discontinued to display a particular card representing a selected option.

Claims

21. A system for focused navigation of a plurality of television programs within a user interface, the system comprising:

a user input detector configured to detect actions of a user; and

a processor configured to successively display a first set of visual cards in a first area of the user interface, each visual card of the first set of visual cards representing a corresponding broadcast time slot associated with a television programming source, the processor further configured to enable selection of a particular visual card of the first set of visual cards by the user in order to view a television program corresponding to the time slot represented by the selected visual card.

1. A method for navigation of television program listings within a user interface, the method comprising:

successively displaying a first set of visual cards in a first area of the user interface, each visual card of the first set of visual cards representing a corresponding broadcast time slot associated with a television programming source; and

enabling selection of a particular visual card of the first set of visual cards by a user in order to view a television program corresponding to the time slot represented by the selected visual card.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the first set of visual cards.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising discontinuing the successive display of the first set of visual cards.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each visual card graphically represents its associated programming source.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the programming source comprises a broadcast television channel.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the programming source comprises a broadcast television network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each broadcast time slot is 30 minutes in length.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the successive display of visual cards is in response to a single user action.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein selection of a particular visual card is in response to an additional user action.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein selection of a particular visual card is in response to a single user action.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising successively displaying a second set of visual cards in a second area of the user interface, each visual card of the second set of visual cards representing a corresponding broadcast time slot associated with a television programming source.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising storing the second set of visual cards.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising discontinuing the successive display of the second set of visual cards.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the first and second sets of visual cards are simultaneously successively displayed.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the time slot corresponding to the displayed first set visual card and the time slot corresponding to the displayed second set visual card are identical.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein each visual card of the second set of visual cards graphically represents its associated programming source.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the programming source comprises a broadcast television channel.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the programming source comprises a broadcast television network.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein each broadcast time slot is defined by the television program broadcast therein.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the time slot represented by the selected visual card is one of an earlier, current or future time slot.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising a storage device configured to store the visual cards.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the processor is further configured to discontinue the successive display of the first set of visual cards.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein each visual card graphically represents its associated programming source.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the programming source comprises a broadcast television channel.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the programming source comprises a broadcast television network.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein each broadcast time slot is 30 minutes in length.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein the processor successively displays the visual cards in response to a single user action.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein selection of a particular visual card is in response to an additional user action.

30. The system of claim 21, wherein selection of a particular visual card is in response to a single user action.

31. The system of claim 21, wherein the processor is further configured to successively display a second set of visual cards in a second area of the user interface, each visual card of the second set of visual cards representing a corresponding broadcast time slot associated with a television programming source.

32. The system of claim 31, further comprising a storage device configured to store the second set of visual cards.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein the processor is further configured to simultaneously successively display the first and second sets of visual cards.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the time slot corresponding to the displayed first set visual card and the time slot corresponding to the displayed second set visual card are identical.

36. The system of claim 31, wherein each visual card of the second set of visual cards graphically represents its associated programming source.

37. The system of claim 31, wherein the programming source comprises a broadcast television channel.

38. The system of claim 31, wherein the programming source comprises a broadcast television network.

39. The system of claim 21, wherein each broadcast time slot is defined by the television program broadcast therein.

40. The system of claim 21, wherein the time slot represented by the selected visual card is one of an earlier, current or future time slot.

24-1. The system of claim 31, wherein the processor is further configured to discontinue the successive display of the second set of visual cards.

41. A method for navigation of television program listings within a user interface, the method comprising:

successively displaying a first set of visual cards in a first area of the user interface, at least one visual card of the first set of visual cards representing an interactive television channel;

successively displaying a second set of visual cards in the first area of the user interface, each visual card of the second set of visual cards representing a corresponding broadcast time slot associated with a television programming source; and

enabling selection of a particular visual card of the second set of visual cards by a user in order to view a television program corresponding to the time slot represented by the selected visual card.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the successive display of visual cards is in response to a single user action.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein selection of a particular visual card is in response to an additional user action.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein selection of a particular visual card is in response to a single user action.

45. The method of claim 41, wherein the user enables the successive display of the second set of visual cards by selecting a particular visual card of the first set of visual cards.

46. The method of claim 41, further comprising successively displaying a third set of visual cards in a second area of the user interface, each visual card of the third set of visual cards representing a corresponding broadcast time slot associated with a television programming source.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the second and third sets of visual cards are simultaneously successively displayed.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the time slot corresponding to the displayed second set visual card and the time slot corresponding to the displayed third set visual card are identical.

49. The method of claim 46, wherein each visual card of the third set of visual cards graphically represents its associated television programming source.

50. An article of manufacture comprising:

a carrier signal adapted to carry data, the data functionally related to the carrier signal such that a first set of visual cards is successively displayed in a first area of a user interface, each visual card of the first set of visual cards representing a corresponding broadcast time slot associated with a television programming source, the data further functionally related to the carrier signal such that selection of a particular visual card of the first set of visual cards by a user is enabled in order to view a television program corresponding to the time slot represented by the selected visual card.

51. A system for focused navigation of a plurality of television programs within a user interface, the system comprising:

means for successively displaying a first set of visual cards in a first area of the user interface, each visual card of the first set of visual cards representing a corresponding broadcast time slot associated with a television programming source; and

means for enabling selection of a particular visual card of the first set of visual cards by a user in order to view a television program corresponding to the time slot represented by the selected visual card.