Graphical user interface for interactive television with an animated agent

• US 5,524,195 A
• Filed: 03/04/1994
• Issued: 06/04/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Janssens, Marcel D., Clanton, Charles H. III, Palrang, Joseph M., Young, Emilie
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Breene, John E.
• Application Number:
  US08/206,749
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 395/152-153, 395/161, 395/149, 345/117-120, 345/146, 345/902, 345/173-178, 345/122, 348/6-7, 348/12-13, 434/110
• US Class Current: 725/61
• 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 3/00 Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• 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 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/465 Distributed object oriented systems remote method invocation [RMI] G06F9/548
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/14 with provision for individual teacher-student communication
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/0025 in a remote control unit remote control tuning in general H03J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 2200/25 Remote control device with display
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 2200/26 Remote control device with touch screen display
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2812 describing content present in a home automation network, e.g. audio video content retrieval from the Internet G06F16/95
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 : having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4131 : home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• 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 21/426 : Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• 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 21/43615 : Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 : End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 : for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 : Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 : End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 : using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 : End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 : by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A graphical user interface for displaying and selecting video programs, such as video on demand, includes a video on demand server coupled to a communication medium. A plurality of settop box receivers are coupled to the communication medium for receiving digitized programming in the form of movies and the like from the video on demand server. The settop box includes a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to a memory and other electronic modules. The CPU generates and displays the graphical user interface on the subscriber'"'"'s television. The graphical user interface is based upon a metaphor in which a world of spaces are organized as part of a studio back lot through which a user may navigate. The back lot includes a Poster wall which presents to the user a series of movie posters representing available selections. When a user touches a Poster on a touch sensitive screen of the television, the CPU generates an animation which displays the Poster coming off of the wall and appearing in the foreground of the screen. If a subscriber selects the Poster to view a feature presentation, the video on demand server downloads the selected video which is displayed on the television. The interface of the present invention further includes Extras which appear in animated form on the interface and move freely between spaces within the studio back lot metaphor. If a user selects an Extra, the Extra is transformed into a movie poster or advertisement. The user may then select the Poster and view the feature presentation.

Claims

1. A display system for display of audiovisual programming, comprising:

a receiver including a circuit for receiving said audiovisual programming from an audiovisual program source;

a user interface for the display of said audiovisual programming on a display, said user interface incorporating a metaphor having a plurality of Spaces, wherein at least one of said Spaces presents said user with a plurality of representations of available audiovisual programming for display on said display, and further wherein said Spaces are arranged such that each of said Spaces is disposed relative to one another within said metaphor;

a user interacting with said Spaces using a user input device, said interaction permitting said user to select a desired audiovisual program, such that said selection results in said selected audiovisual program being displayed on said display;

an element enabling said user to navigate between said Spaces in said metaphor;

wherein said user interface further includes an Agent which moves within said metaphor in an animated fashion between said Spaces.

2. The display system as defined by claim 1 wherein said Agent, upon activation by said user using said input device, displays a representation of an additional audiovisual program selectable by said user.

3. The display system as defined by claim 1 or 2 wherein upon said selection of one of said representations by said user using said input device, said user interface displays a video viewing space on said display.

4. The display system as defined by claim 3 wherein said audiovisual program corresponding to said selected representation is displayed for viewing by said user in said video viewing space.

5. The display system as defined by claim 4 wherein said video viewing space includes a plurality of user selectable controls displayed on said display.

6. The display system as defined by claim 5 wherein a preview of said selected audiovisual program of said selected representation is displayed prior to said selected audiovisual program, said selected audiovisual program being displayed upon a further selection of said selected representation by said user.

7. The display system as defined by claim 6 wherein said at least one of said Spaces presenting said user with a plurality of said representations of available programming is in a form of a wall, and each of said plurality of representations is in a form of a Poster disposed on said wall.

8. The display system as defined by claim 7 wherein upon said user selecting one of said Posters disposed on said wall, said Poster is displayed in an animated form in a foreground of said metaphor on said display.

9. The display system as defined by claim 8 wherein said Poster displayed in animated form on said display further displays additional information relating to the audiovisual representation to which said Poster relates.

10. The display system as defined by claim 9 wherein said Agent, upon selection by a user, is displayed on said interface as changing into the form of a Poster in the foreground of said metaphor on said display.

11. The display system as defined by claim 10 wherein said Agent which has changed into the form of said Poster displayed in animated form on said display, further displays additional information relating to the audiovisual representation to which said Poster relates.

12. The display system as defined by claim 11 wherein said controls displayed on said display in said video viewing space includes a volume adjustment control selectable by said user.

13. The display system as defined by claim 11 wherein said controls displayed on said display in said video viewing space includes a mute control adjustment selectable by said user.

14. The display system as defined by claim 11 wherein said controls displayed on said display in said video viewing space includes a Wayback exit control selectable by said user, the selection of said exit control resulting in said user interface automatically navigating said user to the last Space from which said user was located in said metaphor prior to said user entering said video viewing space.

15. The display system as defined by claim 11 wherein said audiovisual source comprises a video on demand server for providing a plurality of user selectable audiovisual programs to said receiver.

16. The display system as defined by claim 15 wherein said audiovisual source further provides television audiovisual programming to said receiver.

17. The display system as defined by claim 16 wherein said controls displayed in said video viewing space includes a video purchase control selectable by said user for purchasing an audiovisual program selected by said user.

18. The display system as defined by claim 17 wherein said video purchase control may be activated by said user during the display of a preview of said selected audiovisual program in said video viewing space.

19. The display system as defined by claim 17 wherein said controls displayed in said video viewing space includes a television channel selector, said user selecting a desired television channel for viewing on in said video viewing space using said input device.

20. The display system as defined by claim 17 wherein said controls displayed in said video viewing space include an intermission control, activation of said intermission control by said user resulting in said video on demand server pausing said selected video purchased by said user using said video purchase control.

21. The display system as defined by claim 20 wherein said video on demand server pauses said selected video purchased by said user for a predetermined time.

22. The display system as defined by claim 21 wherein said input device includes a touch sensitive screen.

23. The display system as defined by claim 21 wherein said input device comprises a remote control device in communication with said receiver.

24. In a display system for display of audiovisual programming, a method for the display and selection of said programming comprising the steps of:

providing an element including a circuit for receiving said audiovisual programming from an audiovisual program source;

providing a user interface for the display of said audiovisual programming on a display, said user interface incorporating a metaphor having a plurality of Spaces, wherein at least one of said Spaces presents said user with a plurality of representations of available audiovisual programming for display on said display, and further wherein said Spaces are arranged such that each of said Spaces is disposed relative to one another within said metaphor;

providing an element for interacting with said Spaces using a user input device, said interaction permitting a user to select a desired audiovisual program, such that said selection results in said selected audiovisual program being displayed on said display;

enabling said user to navigate between said Spaces in said metaphor;

wherein said user interface further includes an Agent which moves within said metaphor in an animated fashion between said Spaces.

25. The method as defined by claim 24 wherein said Agent, upon activation by said user using said input device, displays a representation of an additional audiovisual program selectable by said user.

26. The method as defined by claim 24 or 25 wherein upon said selection of one of said representations by said user using said input device, said user interface displays a video viewing space on said display.

27. The method as defined by claim 26 wherein said audiovisual program corresponding to said selected representation is displayed for viewing by said user in said video viewing space.

28. The method as defined by claim 27 further including the step of displaying in said video viewing space a plurality of user selectable controls displayed on said display.

29. The method as defined by claim 28 further including the step of displaying a preview of said selected audiovisual program of said selected representation prior to said selected audiovisual program, said selected audiovisual program being displayed upon a further selection of said selected representation by said user.

30. The method as defined by claim 29 wherein said at least one of said Spaces presenting said user with a plurality of said representations of available programming is in a form of a wall, and each of said plurality of representations is in a form of a Poster disposed on said wall.

31. The method as defined by claim 30 wherein upon said user selecting one of said Posters disposed on said wall, said poster is displayed in an animated form in a foreground of said metaphor on said display.

32. The method as defined by claim 31 wherein said poster displayed in animated form on said display further displays additional information relating to the audiovisual representation to which said Poster relates.

33. The method as defined by claim 31 wherein said Agent, upon selection by a user, is displayed on said interface as changing into the form of a Poster in the foreground of said metaphor on said display.

34. The method as defined by claim 33 wherein said Agent which has changed into the form of said Poster displayed in animated form on said display, further displays additional information relating to the audiovisual representation to which said Poster relates.

35. The method as defined by claim 28 further including the step of displaying a volume adjustment control selectable by said user as one of said controls displayed on said display in said video viewing space.

36. The method as defined by claim 28 further including the step of displaying a mute control adjustment control selectable by said user as one of said controls displayed on said display in said video viewing space including.

37. The method as defined by claim 28 further including the step of displaying said controls displayed on said display in said video viewing space including a Wayback exit control selectable by said user, the selection of said Wayback exit control resulting in said user interface automatically navigating said user to the last Space from which said user was located in said metaphor prior to said user entering said video viewing space.

38. The method as defined by claim 28 wherein said audiovisual source comprises a video on demand server for providing a plurality of user selectable audiovisual programs to said receiver.

39. The method as defined by claim 38 wherein said audiovisual source further provides television audiovisual programming to said receiver.

40. The method as defined by claim 39 further including the step of displaying a video purchase control selectable by said user for purchasing an audiovisual program selected by said user as one of said controls displayed in said video viewing space.

41. The method as defined by claim 40 wherein said video purchase control may be activated by said user during the display of a preview of said selected audiovisual program in said video viewing space.

42. The method as defined by claim 41 further including the step of displaying a television channel selector, said user selecting a desired television channel for viewing on in said video viewing space using said input device.

43. The method as defined by claim 42 further including the step of displaying an intermission control, the activation of said intermission control by said user resulting in said video on demand server pausing said selected video purchased by said user using said video purchase control.

44. The method as defined by claim 43 wherein said video on demand server pauses said selected video purchased by said user for a predetermined time upon the activation of said intermission control.

45. The method as defined by claim 44 wherein said input device includes a touch sensitive screen.

46. The method as defined by claim 44 wherein said input device comprises a remote control device in communication with said receiver.

47. A video display system for display of video programming comprising:

a settop box including a circuit for receiving said video programming from a video server;

a user interface for the display of said video programming on a display, said user interface incorporating a metaphor having a plurality of Spaces, wherein at least one of said Spaces presents said user with a plurality of representations of available audiovisual programming for display on said display, and further wherein said Spaces are arranged such that each of said Spaces is disposed relative to one another within said metaphor;

a user interacting with said Spaces using a user input device, said interaction permitting said user to select a desired video program, such that said selection results in said selected video program being displayed on said display;

an element enabling said user to navigate between said Spaces in said metaphor;

said user interface further includes an Extra which moves within said metaphor in an animated fashion between said Spaces.

48. The display system as defined by claim 47 wherein said Extra, upon activation by said user using said input device, displays a representation of an additional audiovisual program selectable by said user.

49. The display system as defined by claim 48 wherein upon said selection of one of said representations by said user using said input device, said user interface displays a video viewing space on said display.

50. The display system as defined by claim 49 wherein said audiovisual program corresponding to said selected representation is displayed for viewing by said user in said video viewing space.

51. The display system as defined by claim 50 wherein said video viewing space includes a plurality of user selectable controls displayed on said display.

52. The display system as defined by claim 51 wherein a preview of said selected audiovisual program of said selected representation is displayed prior to said selected audiovisual program, said selected audiovisual program being displayed upon a further selection of said selected representation by said user.

53. The display system as defined by claim 52 wherein said at least one of said Spaces presenting said user with a plurality of said representations of available programming is in a form of a wall, and each of said plurality of representations is in a form of a Poster disposed on said wall.

54. The display system as defined by claim 53 wherein upon said user selecting one of said Posters disposed on said wall, said Poster is displayed in an animated form in a foreground of said metaphor on said display.

55. The display system as defined by claim 54 wherein said Poster displayed in animated form on said display further displays additional information relating to the audiovisual representation to which said Poster relates.

56. The display system as defined by claim 55 wherein said Extra, upon selection by a user, is displayed on said interface as changing into the form of a Poster in the foreground of said metaphor on said display.

57. The display system as defined by claim 56 wherein said Extra which has changed into the form of said Poster displayed in animated form on said display, further displays additional information relating to the audiovisual representation to which said Poster relates.

58. In an interactive video display system for display of video programming, a method for the display and selection of said video programming comprising the steps of:

providing a settop box, including a circuit, for receiving said video programming from a video server;

providing a user interface for the display of said audiovisual programming on a display, said user interface incorporating a metaphor having a plurality of Spaces, wherein at least one of said Spaces presents said user with a plurality of representations of available video programming for display on said display, and further wherein said Spaces are arranged such that each of said Spaces is disposed relative to one another within said metaphor;

interacting with said Spaces using a user input device, said interaction permitting a user to select a desired video program, such that said selection results in said selected video program being displayed on said display;

enabling said user to navigate between said Spaces in said metaphor;

wherein said at least one of said Spaces is in a form of a wall and presents said user with said plurality of said representations of available video programming, said representations in a form of video Posters disposed on said wall;

said user interface further includes an Extra which moves within said metaphor in an animated fashion between said Spaces.

59. The method as defined by claim 58 wherein said Extra, upon activation by said user using said input device, displays a Poster of an additional video program selectable by said user.

60. The method as defined by claim 59 further including the step of displaying a preview of said selected video program of said selected Poster prior to said selected video program, said selected video program being displayed upon a further selection of said selected Poster by said user.

61. The method as defined by claim 60 wherein upon said user selecting one of said Posters disposed on said wall, said Poster is displayed in an animated form in a foreground of said metaphor on said display.

62. The method as defined by claim 61 wherein said Poster displayed in animated form on said display further displays additional information relating to the video program to which said Poster relates.

63. The method as defined by claim 62 wherein said Extra, upon selection by a user, is displayed on said interface as changing into the form of a Poster in the foreground of said metaphor on said display.

64. The method as defined by claim 63 wherein said Extra which has changed into the form of said Poster displayed in animated form on said display, further displays additional information relating to the video program to which said Poster relates.