Method and system for displaying an animated focus item
First Claim
1. In a computer system including a memory, a display screen, and a user input device, a method for communicating to a user that a control item displayed on the display screen is in a state responsive to signals from said user input device, comprising the steps of:
- displaying a first control item on the display screen;
determining that the first control item is to have the focus;
displaying a first focus item on the display screen in association with the first control item;
displaying a second control item on the display screen;
receiving a command to change the focus to the second control item;
determining a path on the display screen from the first control item to the second control item;
discontinuing the display of the first focus item in association with the first control item;
generating a transitory focus item for display along the path;
displaying the transitory focus item on the display screen moving along the path from the first control item to the second control item;
discontinuing the display of the transitory focus item; and
displaying a second focus item on the display screen in association with the second control item.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A viewer interface is disclosed for use in an interactive television network operative for providing an animated focus item in association with a control item to indicate that the control item is in a state responsive to commands from a user input device. An "animation" is any form of highlighting that is non-static, including but not limited to flashing, varying illumination, varying size, varying shape, varying position, varying color, varying display components, a moving and/or changing cartoon type image, a video image, a sound track, or a combination of these elements. Selection of the control item to receive focus and selection of options presented by control items having focus are accomplished by viewer interaction with the remote control unit, and such selections do not require a keyboard or mouse to indicate the viewer'"'"'s desire to change the focus from one control item to another or to select an option. The user interface is also suitable for use in a general computing environment as well as in an interactive television environment.
719 Citations
77 Claims
-
1. In a computer system including a memory, a display screen, and a user input device, a method for communicating to a user that a control item displayed on the display screen is in a state responsive to signals from said user input device, comprising the steps of:
-
displaying a first control item on the display screen; determining that the first control item is to have the focus; displaying a first focus item on the display screen in association with the first control item; displaying a second control item on the display screen; receiving a command to change the focus to the second control item; determining a path on the display screen from the first control item to the second control item; discontinuing the display of the first focus item in association with the first control item; generating a transitory focus item for display along the path; displaying the transitory focus item on the display screen moving along the path from the first control item to the second control item; discontinuing the display of the transitory focus item; and displaying a second focus item on the display screen in association with the second control item. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A computer system operative for communicating to a user that a control item is in a state responsive to user commands, comprising:
-
a user input device for providing said user commands; a memory; a display screen for displaying said control item; and a processing unit operative for; determining that the first control item is to have the focus; displaying a first focus item on the display screen in association with the first control item; displaying a second control item on the display screen; receiving a command to change the focus to the second control item; determining a path on the display screen from the first control item to the second control item; discontinuing the display of the first focus item in association with the first control item; generating a transitory focus item for display along the path; displaying the transitory focus item on the display screen moving along the path from the first control item to the second control item; discontinuing the display of the transitory focus item; and displaying a second focus item on the display screen in association with the second control item. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
-
-
37. In an interactive television system for bi-directional communication including a headend system, a memory, a display screen, and a user input device, a method for communicating to a user that a control item is in a state responsive to signals from the user input device for causing a communication to be transmitted from a user to the headend system and for manipulating the state of the control item, comprising the steps of:
-
displaying on the display screen a television program transmitted by the headend system; displaying on the display screen a control item having a configuration; receiving from the headend system configuration defining information relating to the television program; generating a focus item that has a configuration based on the configuration of the control item and on the configuration defining information relating to the television program; and displaying the focus item on the display screen simultaneously and in association with the control item. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76)
-
-
45. The method of 44, further comprising the steps of:
-
determining a path on the display screen from the first control item to the second control item; generating a transitory focus item for display along the path; and displaying the transitory focus item on the display screen. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47)
-
-
65. The method of 64, further comprising the steps of:
-
determining a path on the display screen from the first control item to the second control item; generating a transitory focus item for display along the path; and displaying the transitory focus item on the display screen. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67)
-
-
77. In an interactive television system for bi-directional communication including a headend system, a memory, a display screen, and a user input device, a method for communicating to a user that a control item is in a state responsive to signals from the user input device for causing a communication to be transmitted from a user to the headend system and for manipulating the state of the control item, comprising the steps of:
-
displaying on the display screen a television program transmitted by the headend system; displaying on the display screen first and second control items, each having a configuration; receiving from the headend system configuration defining information relating to the television program; generating a first focus item with a configuration based on the configuration of the first control item and on the configuration defining information relating to the television program; displaying on the display screen the first focus item simultaneously and in association with the first control item; displaying on the display screen at least one cursor under the control of the user via the user input device; manipulating the position of the cursor on the display screen in response a signal from the user input device caused by the action of the user; in response to a predetermined relation between the position of the second control item on the display screen and the position of the cursor on the display screen; discontinuing the display of the first focus item; generating a second focus item with a configuration based on the configuration of the second control item and on the configuration defining information relating to the television program; and displaying on the display screen the second focus item simultaneously and in association with the second control item.
-
Specification