Graphical user interface comprising intersecting scroll bar for selection of content

• US 6,976,228 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2001
• Issued: 12/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Bernhardson, Marcus
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Kristine
• Assistant Examiner(s): PESIN, BORIS M
• Application Number:
  US09/891,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20030001898A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,630 Days
• Field of Search: 345/841, 345/427, 345/336, 725/40, 725/53, 348/564, 715/830, 715/833, 715/786
• US Class Current: 715/830
• 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: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums

Abstract

A digital interactive television set has a graphical user interface for displaying content from a plurality of different sources on its screen e.g. from digital satellite or cable broadcasts or through the Internet, the interface comprising: a focus region (16), and horizontally and vertically extending scroll bars (H, V) which each comprise a plurality of scroll bar elements that can be scrolled successively through the focus region, the scroll bar elements of the horizontal scroll bar signifying groupings of content sources. Elements of the horizontal scroll bar are scrolled individually into the focus region, and the scroll bar elements of the vertical scroll bar signify content sources which are included within a grouping thereof associated with the individual element of the horizontal scroll bar, so that the scroll bar elements of the vertical scroll bar can then be scrolled through the focus region to select a content source of the grouping. The scroll bar elements of the horizontal scroll bar comprise a three dimensional depiction of more than one of the content source groupings, and an individual one of the groupings may be selected from the three dimensional depiction for the focus region. The three dimensional elements are the horizontal scroll bar may comprise rectangular blocks that are rotatable about a common longitudinal axis.

Claims

1. A device to provide a graphical user interface for selecting content from a plurality of sources thereof, the user interface comprising:

first and second transversely extending and intersecting scroll bars which each comprise a plurality of scroll bar elements that can be scrolled successively through a focus region positioned at an intersection between the first and second scroll bars;

the scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar signifying groupings of content sources, such that when elements of the first scroll bar are scrolled individually into the focus region, the scroll bar elements of the second scroll bar signify content sources which are included within a grouping thereof associated with the individual element of the first scroll bar, whereby the scroll bar elements of the second scroll bar can be scrolled through the focus region to select a content source of the grouping;

at least one of the scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar being preprogrammed to comprise a multiple depiction of more than one of said content source groupings, whereby an individual one of the groupings may be selected from the multiple depiction for the focus region; and

a viewing region for viewing the contents associated with said content sources selected in dependence on the depiction in the focus region.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the elements are polygonal and are rotatable about a common axis extending longitudinally of the first scroll bar.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the elements are rotatable in unison about said axis.

4. The device in accordance with claim 1 comprising:

a controller to allow users to define content source groupings; and

wherein

the elements of the first scroll bar signifying the user-defined groupings of content sources; and

at least one of the scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar is pre-programmed to confine a multiple depiction of more than one of said user-defined content source groupings whereby an individual one of the user-defined groupings may be selected from the multiple depiction for the focus region.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the multiple depiction of said more than one user-defined content source groupings comprises a three dimensional depiction thereof.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the controller is further operable by a user to scroll the scroll bars individually through the focus region.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the controller includes a selector device to select a content source corresponding to an individual scroll bar element when scrolled into the focus region.

8. The device of claim 4 wherein the scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar include facets that signify individual user-defined groupings of the content sources.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the elements each include facets associated with respective different users.

10. An interactive display device for displaying content from a plurality of different sources thereof on a display screen, comprising:

circuitry to be coupled to the display screen for providing thereon a graphical user interface device for selecting content from the sources thereof, the user interface comprising first and second transversely extending and intersecting scroll bars which each comprise a plurality of scroll bar elements that can be scrolled successively through a focus region positioned at an intersection between the first and second scroll bar, the scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar signifying groupings of content sources, such that when elements of the first scroll bar are scrolled individually into the focus region, the scroll bar elements of the second scroll bar signify content sources which are included within a grouping thereof associated with the individual element of the first scroll bar, whereby the scroll bar elements of the second scroll bar can be scrolled through the focus region to select a content source of the grouping, at least one of the scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar being pre-programmed to comprise a multiple depiction of more than one of said content source groupings whereby an individual one of the groupings may be selected from the multiple depiction for the focus region, and a viewing region for viewing the contents associated with said content sources selected in dependence on the depiction in the focus region; and

a controller operable by a user to control operation of said circuitry such that the scroll bars of the graphical user interface are scrolled individually through the focus region so that the user can select a content source to be displayed in the viewing region of the display screen.

11. The device of claim 10 further including the display screen.

12. The device according to claim 10 comprising a control unit for multi-channel television set.

13. The device according to claim 12 and comprising a set top box.

14. The device according to claim 10 configured to receive programming data selected from a group consisting of satellite transmissions, cable transmissions, the Internet and pre-recorded digital data.

15. The device of claim 10 wherein the controller comprises a handheld device connected to the circuitry by a wireless link.

16. The device in accordance with claim 10 comprising:

a controller to allow users to define content source groupings; and

wherein

the elements of the first scroll bar signifying the user-defined groupings of content sources; and

the scroll bar elements of the second scroll bar signify content sources which are included within the user-defined groupings thereof associated with the individual elements of the first scroll bar whereby the scroll bar elements of the second scroll bar can be scrolled through the focus region to select a content source of the user-defined groupings, at least one of the scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar are pre-programmed to comprise a multiple depiction of more than one of the said user-defined content source groupings, whereby an individual one of the user-defined groupings may be selected from the multiple depiction for the focus region.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the multiple depiction of said more than one user-defined content source groupings comprises a three dimensional depiction thereof.

18. A storage medium provided with a program for execution by a processor to provide a graphical user interface for selecting content from a plurality of sources thereof, the user interface comprising first and second transversely extending and intersecting scroll bars which each comprise a plurality of scroll bar elements that can be scrolled successively through a focus region positioned at an intersection between the first and second scroll bars, the scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar signifying groupings of content sources, such that when elements of the first scroll bar are scrolled individually into the focus region, the scroll bar elements of the second scroll bar signify content sources which are included within a grouping thereof associated with the individual element of the first scroll bar, whereby the scroll bar elements of the second scroll bar can be scrolled through the focus region to select a content source of the grouping, at least one of the scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar being pre-programmed to comprise a multiple depiction of more than one of said content source groupings, whereby an individual one of the groupings may be selected from the multiple depiction for the focus region and a viewing region for viewing the contents associated with said content sources selected in dependence on the depiction in the focus region.

19. The storage medium of claim 18 wherein the program is to control operation of the processor in dependence on regions from a controller, and wherein a number of content source groupings have been defined by users;

and

the elements of the first scroll bar signifying the user-defined groupings of control sources, the scroll bar elements of the second scroll bar can be scrolled through the focus region to select a content source of the user-defined grouping, at least one of the scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar are pre-programmed to comprise a multiple depiction of more than one of said user-defined content source groupings whereby an individual one of the user-defined groupings may be selected from the multiple depiction for the focus region.

20. A method of operating a graphical user interface to select content from a plurality of sources thereof, the user interface comprising:

first and second transversely extending and intersecting scroll bars which each comprise a plurality of scroll bar elements that can be scrolled successively through a focus region positioned at the intersection of the scroll bars, the scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar signifying groupings of content sources, such that when elements of the first scroll bar are scrolled individually into the focus region, the scroll bar elements of the second scroll bar signify content sources which are included within a grouping thereof associated with the individual element of the first scroll bar, at least one of the scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar being pre-programmed to comprise a multiple depiction of more than one of said content source groupings, whereby an individual one of the groupings may be selected from the multiple depiction for the focus region and a viewing region for viewing the contents associated with said content sources selected in dependence on the depiction in the focus region, the method comprising;

selecting an individual one of the groupings from the multiple depiction for the focus region;

moving the selected grouping into the focus region;

displaying sources associated with the grouping in the scroll bar elements of the second scroll bar; and

scrolling the second scroll bar through the focus region whereby to select a source therefrom.

21. The method of claim 20 comprising a number of content source groupings previously defined by users using a controller;

and

the elements of the first scroll bar signifying the user-defined groupings;

at least one of the scroll bar elements of the first scroll is pre-programmed to comprise a multiple depiction of more than one of said user-defined content source groupings; and

selecting an individual one of the user-defined groupings from the multiple depiction for the focus region.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the selecting the user-defined groupings from the multiple depiction includes rotating the elements of the first scroll bar.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the selecting of the user-defined groupings from the multiple depiction includes shuffling facets which signify the user-defined groupings.