Method for Selecting a Button in a Graphic Bar and Receiver for Carrying Out Said Method

• US 20070256031A1
• Filed: 10/24/2005
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Dartigues, Herve, Martin, Jerome
• Granted Patent: US 7,757,184 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/854
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of selecting buttons displayed in a graphics bar on a display screen. The entry of a first navigation command triggers the selection of a first button adjacent to the one selected in the bar. This first button is graphically highlighted. Then, the entry of a second navigation command in order to select a second button adjacent to the one previously selected triggers the selection and highlighting of a third button located in another position on the bar serving as a starting point for subsequent navigation commands. In this way, the user can skip from one button to another button located in any other location in the bar. The invention also relates to a receiver suitable for running a navigation software module.

Claims

1. A method of selecting buttons displayed in a graphics bar on a screen, comprising a first step for highlighting a first button, and a step for entering a navigation command in order to select a second button adjacent to the one previously selected,

wherein the entry step triggers the selection and highlighting of a third button located in another position on the bar if the command entered complies with a particular characteristic, said third button serving as a starting point for subsequent navigation commands.

2. The method of selecting buttons as claimed in claim 1;

wherein the particular characteristic consists in maintaining the navigation command after a determined time.

3. The method of selecting buttons as claimed in claim 1 wherein the particular characteristic consists in entering a commit command which is not a navigation button.

4. The method of selecting buttons as claimed in claim 2;

wherein the maintaining of the navigation command beyond a determined time or the entry of the commit command triggers an update of the audiovisual content displayed on the screen background.

5. The method of selecting buttons as claimed in claim 1;

wherein if the second button is located at one end of the button bar then the step for entering the navigation command aiming to select it triggers the selection and highlighting of the third button.

6. The method of selecting buttons as claimed in claim 5;

wherein two second buttons are disposed at the two ends of the bar, the navigation to these second buttons triggering the selection of two different third buttons.

7. The method of selecting buttons as claimed in claim 1;

wherein the entry of the navigation command also triggers a step for repositioning the buttons of the bar for the third duly selected button to be displayed in the middle of the screen.

8. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. An audiovisual receiver comprising a display means for generating graphic pages to a display device, the graphic pages comprising at least one button bar, a means of graphically highlighting a first button and a means of entering a navigation command in order to select a second button adjacent to the one previously selected, wherein the means of entering a command triggers the selection and activates the means of highlighting a third button located in another position on the bar if the command entered complies with a particular characteristic, said third button serving as a starting point for subsequent navigation commands.

12. The audiovisual receiver as claimed in claim 11;

wherein it comprises the particular characteristic consists in maintaining the navigation command beyond a determined time.

13. The audiovisual receiver as claimed in claim 11;

wherein the particular characteristic consists in entering on the entry means a commit command that is not a navigation key.

14. The audiovisual receiver as claimed in claim 12;

wherein the maintaining of the navigation command beyond a determined time or the entry of the commit command activates a display means for updating an audiovisual content displayed on the screen background.

18. The audiovisual receiver as claimed in claim 11;

wherein, if the second button is located at one end of the button bar, then the means of entering the navigation command aiming to select it triggers the selection of the third button and activates the means of highlighting the third button.

15. The audiovisual receiver as claimed in 11 wherein the means of entering a navigation command activates the display means to reposition the buttons of the bar for the third duly selected button to be displayed in the middle of the screen.

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)