Extended elements and mechanisms for displaying a rich graphical user interface in panel subunit

• US 6,556,221 B1
• Filed: 05/31/2000
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Saturn Licensing LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Atsushi, Nishimura, Takuya, Shima, Hisato
• Primary Examiner(s): Heckler, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US09/585,889
• Time in Patent Office: 1,063 Days
• Field of Search: 345/700, 345/705, 345/764, 345/781, 345/802, 345/810
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25057 Configuration stored in distributed database for real time use
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25083 For each subsystem a configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25092 Customized control features, configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25324 Modules connected to serial bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• 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

Abstract

Methods for realizing advanced graphical user interface (GUI) in panel subunit. The present invention provides, in one embodiment, a button GUI element descriptor that defines a bitmap to be displayed when a button is out of focus and another bitmap to be displayed when the button is in focus. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a table GUI element descriptor that defines a table-like on screen display to be displayed on the contoller device. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a panel GUI element descriptor that includes a focused identifier attribute indicating a pre-determined element of the on-screen display as default focus. In this way, the target device would be able to control the default focus of the controller device when displaying an on-screen display. In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides a text GUI element descriptor that includes a font style attribute that dictates whether the text GUI element should be displayed as bold, underlined and/or reversed. By using these extended elements in panel subunit, more complicated and advanced GUI, such as an electronic programming guide (EPG) can be achieved.

Claims

1. In a system having a controller device and a target device, a method for realizing complex graphical user interface (GUI) on said controller device, said method comprising steps of:

said controller device receiving a button GUI element descriptor from said target device, wherein said button GUI element descriptor defines a button element to be displayed and wherein said button GUI element descriptor further defines a first bitmap image to be displayed when said button element is out of focus and a second bitmap image to be displayed when said button element is in focus; and

said controller device displaying said button element as part of an on-screen display, wherein said button element comprises said first bitmap image when said button element is out of focus and wherein said button element comprises said second bitmap image when said button element is in focus.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said button GUI element descriptor defines a first button label to be displayed when said button element is out of focus.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein said button GUI element descriptor further defines a second button label to be displayed when said button element is in focus.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said on-screen display comprises an electronic program guide (EPG).

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said controller device comprises a digital television.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said target device comprises a set-top box.

7. A controller device configured for coupling to a target device via a digital bus, said controller device comprising:

means for receiving a button GUI element descriptor from said target device, wherein said button GUI element descriptor defines a button element to be displayed and wherein said button GUI element descriptor further defines a first bitmap image to be displayed when said button element is out of focus and a second bitmap image to be displayed when said button element is in focus; and

means for displaying said button element as part of an on-screen display, wherein said button element comprises said first bitmap image when said button element is out of focus and wherein said button element comprises said second bitmap image when said button element is in focus.

8. A controller device as recited in claim 7 wherein said button GUI element descriptor defines a first button label to be displayed when said button element is out of focus.

9. A controller device as recited in claim 8 wherein said button GUI element descriptor further defines a second button label to be displayed when said button element is in focus.

10. A controller device as recited in claim 7 wherein said on-screen display comprises an electronic program guide (EPG).

11. A controller device as recited in claim 7 wherein said target device comprises a set-top box.

12. A target device configured for coupling to a controller device via a digital bus, said target device comprising:

means for storing a button GUI element descriptor, wherein said button GUI element descriptor defines a button element to be displayed and wherein said button GUI element descriptor further defines a first bitmap image to be displayed when said button element is out of focus and a second bitmap image to be displayed when said button element is in focus; and

means for sending said button GUI element descriptor to said controller device such that said controller device displays said first bitmap image when said button element is out of focus and wherein said controller device displays said second bitmap image when said button element is in focus upon receiving said button GUI element descriptor.

13. A target device as recited in claim 12 wherein said descriptor information defines a first button label to be displayed when said button element is out of focus.

14. A target device as recited in claim 13 wherein said descriptor information further defines a second button label to be displayed when said button element is in focus.

15. A target device as recited in claim 12 wherein said on-screen display comprises an electronic program guide (EPG).

16. A target device as recited in claim 12 wherein said controller device comprises a digital television.

17. In a system having a controller device and a target device, a method for realizing complex graphical user interface (GUI) on said controller device, said method comprising steps of:

said controller device receiving a table GUI element descriptor from said target device, wherein said table GUI element descriptor defines a matrix that includes vertically and horizontally aligned information, and wherein said table GUI element descriptor further defines an on-screen display for displaying a portion of said matrix; and

said controller device displaying said on-screen display according to said table GUI element descriptor.

18. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein said table GUI element comprises:

a first attribute corresponding to a total number of columns of said matrix; and

a second attribute corresponding to a total number of rows of said matrix.

19. A method as recited in claim 18 wherein said table GUI element comprises:

a third attribute corresponding to a number of columns of said matrix to be displayed by said on-screen display; and

a fourth attribute corresponding to a number of rows of said matrix to be displayed by said on-screen display.

20. A method as recited in claim 19 wherein said table GUI element comprises:

a fifth attribute corresponding to a column number of a first column of said on-screen display; and

a sixth attribute corresponding to a row number of a first row of on-screen display.

21. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein said table-like GUI comprises an electronic program guide (EPG).

22. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein said controller device comprises a digital television.

23. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein said target device comprises a set-top box.

24. A controller device configured for coupling to a target device via a digital bus, said controller device comprising:

means for receiving a table GUI element descriptor from said target device, wherein said table GUI element descriptor defines a matrix that includes vertically and horizontally aligned information, and wherein said table GUI element descriptor further defines an on-screen display for displaying a portion of said matrix; and

means for displaying said on-screen display according to said table GUI element descriptor.

25. A controller device as recited in claim 24 wherein said table GUI element descriptor comprises:

a first attribute corresponding to a total number of columns of said matrix; and

a second attribute corresponding to a total number of rows of said matrix.

26. A controller device as recited in claim 25 wherein said table GUI element descriptor comprises:

a third attribute corresponding to a number of columns of said matrix to be displayed by said on-screen display; and

a fourth attribute corresponding to a number of rows of said matrix to be displayed by said on-screen display.

27. A controller device as recited in claim 26 wherein said table GUI element descriptor comprises:

a fifth attribute corresponding to a column number of a first column of said on-screen display; and

a sixth attribute corresponding to a row number of a first row of on-screen display.

28. A controller device as recited in claim 24 wherein said on-screen display comprises an electronic program guide (EPG).

29. A controller device as recited in claim 24 wherein said target device comprises a set-top box.

30. A target device configured for coupling to a target device via a digital bus, said controller device comprising:

means for storing a table GUI element descriptor, wherein said table GUI element descriptor defines a matrix that includes vertically and horizontally aligned information, and wherein said table GUI element descriptor further defines an on-screen display for displaying a portion of said matrix; and

means for sending said table GUI element descriptor to said controller device such that said controller device displays said on-screen display according to said table GUI element descriptor.

31. A target device as recited in claim 30 wherein said table GUI element descriptor comprises:

a first attribute corresponding to a total number of columns of said matrix; and

a second attribute corresponding to a total number of rows of said matrix.

32. A target device as recited in claim 31 wherein said table GUI element descriptor comprises:

a third attribute corresponding to a number of columns of said matrix to be displayed by said on-screen display; and

a fourth attribute corresponding to a number of rows of said matrix to be displayed by said on-screen display.

33. A target device as recited in claim 32 wherein said table GUI element descriptor comprises:

a fifth attribute corresponding to a column number of a first column of said on-screen display; and

a sixth attribute corresponding to a row number of a first row of on-screen display.

34. A target device as recited in claim 30 wherein said on-screen display comprises an electronic program guide (EPG).

35. A target device as recited in claim 30 wherein said controller device comprises a digital television.

36. In a system having a controller device and a target device, a method for realizing complex graphical user interface (GUI) on said controller device, said method comprising steps of:

said controller device receiving a panel GUI element descriptor from said target device, wherein said panel GUI element descriptor defines an on-screen display that includes a plurality of elements, and wherein said panel GUI element descriptor further includes a focused identifier attribute that indicates a pre-determined one of said plurality of elements as default focus;

said controller device displaying said on-screen display according to said panel GUI element descriptor; and

said controller device choosing said pre-determined element as focus.

37. A method as recited in claim 36 wherein said on-screen display comprises an electronic programming guide (EPG).

38. A method as recited in claim 36 wherein said on-screen display comprises a pop-up menu.

39. A method as recited in claim 36 wherein said controller device comprises a digital television.

40. A method as recited in claim 36 wherein said target device comprises a set-top box.

41. A controller device configured for coupling to a target device via a digital bus, said controller device comprising:

means for receiving a panel GUI element descriptor from said target device, wherein said panel GUI element descriptor defines an on-screen display that includes a plurality of elements, and wherein said panel GUI element descriptor further includes a focused identifier attribute that indicates a pre-determined one of said plurality of elements as default focus;

means for displaying said on-screen display according to said panel GUI element descriptor; and

means for choosing said pre-determined element as focus.

42. A controller device as recited in claim 41 wherein said on-screen display comprises an electronic programming guide (EPG).

43. A controller device as recited in claim 41 wherein said on-screen display comprises a pop-up menu.

44. A controller device as recited in claim 41 wherein said controller device comprises a digital television.

45. A controller device as recited in claim 41 wherein said target device comprises a set-top box.

46. A target device configured for coupling to a controller device via a digital bus, said target device comprising:

means for storing a panel GUI element descriptor, wherein said panel GUI element descriptor defines an on-screen display that includes a plurality of elements, and wherein said panel GUI element descriptor further includes a focused identifier attribute that indicates a pre-determined one of said plurality of elements as default focus; and

means for sending said panel GUI element descriptor to said controller device such that said controller device displays said on-screen display according to said panel GUI element descriptor and chooses said pre-determined element as focus.

47. A target device as recited in claim 46 wherein said on-screen display comprises an electronic programming guide (EPG).

48. A target device as recited in claim 46 wherein said on-screen display comprises a pop-up menu.

49. A target device as recited in claim 46 wherein said controller device comprises a digital television.

50. A target device as recited in claim 46 wherein said target device comprises a set-top box.

51. In a system having a controller device and a target device, a method for realizing complex graphical user interface (GUI) on said controller device, said method comprising steps of:

said controller device receiving a text GUI element descriptor from said target device, wherein said text GUI element descriptor defines a text element to be displayed and wherein said text GUI element descriptor further includes a font style attribute; and

said controller device displaying said text element according to said font style attribute.

52. A method as recited in claim 51 wherein said font style attribute indicates that said text element is to be displayed in bold.

53. A method as recited in claim 52 wherein said font style attribute indicates that said text element is to be displayed with underline.

54. A method as recited in claim 53 wherein said font style attribute indicates that said text element is to be displayed with text color and background color reversed.

55. A controller device configured for coupling to a target device via a digital bus, said controller device comprising:

means for receiving a text GUI element descriptor from said target device, wherein said text GUI element descriptor defines a text element to be displayed and wherein said text GUI element descriptor further includes a font style attribute; and

means for displaying said text element according to said font style attribute.

56. A controller device as recited in claim 55 wherein said font style attribute indicates that said text element is to be displayed in bold.

57. A method as recited in claim 55 wherein said font style attribute indicates that said text element is to be underlined when displayed.

58. A method as recited in claim 55 wherein said font style attribute indicates that said text element is to be displayed with text color and background color reversed.

59. A target device configured for coupling to a controller device via a digital bus, said target device comprising:

means for storing a text GUI element descriptor, wherein said text GUI element descriptor defines a text element to be displayed and wherein said text GUI element descriptor further includes a font style attribute; and

means for sending said text GUI element descriptor to said controller device such that said controller device displays said text element according to said font style attribute.

60. A target device as recited in claim 59 wherein said font style attribute indicates that said text element is to be displayed in bold.

61. A target device as recited in claim 59 wherein said font style attribute indicates that said text element is to be underlined when displayed.

62. A target device as recited in claim 59 wherein said font style attribute indicates that said text element is to be displayed with text color and background color reversed.