Systems and methods for providing a dynamically controllable user interface that embraces a variety of media
First Claim
1. In a computing system that includes a display screen that is capable of displaying a variety of types of media, a method for providing a dynamically controllable user interface that embraces the variety of types of media, the method comprising the acts of:
- displaying a menu system on the display screen, wherein the menu system includes first and second categories selectable by a viewer, each of the first and second categories having corresponding subcategories;
displaying the first category at a selected location of the display screen;
in response to receiving a selection of the second category by the viewer, automatically replacing the first category with the second category at the selected position of the display screen, and such that each displayed category that is selected is ratcheted to the selected position; and
displaying, with the second category, the subcategories corresponding to the second category in a single horizontal line, such that all of the subcategories corresponding to the second category can be accessed by horizontal scrolling of the menu system and without requiring any vertical scrolling of the menu system, and wherein the only subcategories displayed on the display screen at a given instant in time are the one or more subcategories corresponding to a category displayed at the selected position on the display screen at the given instant in time, and wherein every subcategory corresponding to each of the displayed categories, is only ever displayed at any time for selection on the display screen in the single horizontal line, regardless of which category is selected, and wherein each of the subcategories corresponding to a selected category is accessible without requiring any displayed subcategory of the selected category to move vertically and such that any undisplayed subcategory corresponding to the selected category is accessible during navigation of the subcategories through horizontal navigation, and without any vertical movement of the displayed subcategories corresponding to the selected category.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for providing a dynamically controllable user interface that embraces a variety of media. A menu system, which interfaces between a user and a variety of media and offers contextual and static options to the user, is capable ratcheting upon receipt of one or more input commands. Contextual options allow a user to control various media, such as television programming and/or web pages, on the television screen, while static options allow a user to execute mini applications while viewing television programming and/or surfing the Internet. The ratcheting menu system that organizes the various options, allows a user to control a variety of media through one menu system, and optimizes the display area on a television screen. The menu system allows for access to television programming while providing authentication to maintain security on web pages.
207 Citations
45 Claims
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1. In a computing system that includes a display screen that is capable of displaying a variety of types of media, a method for providing a dynamically controllable user interface that embraces the variety of types of media, the method comprising the acts of:
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displaying a menu system on the display screen, wherein the menu system includes first and second categories selectable by a viewer, each of the first and second categories having corresponding subcategories; displaying the first category at a selected location of the display screen; in response to receiving a selection of the second category by the viewer, automatically replacing the first category with the second category at the selected position of the display screen, and such that each displayed category that is selected is ratcheted to the selected position; and displaying, with the second category, the subcategories corresponding to the second category in a single horizontal line, such that all of the subcategories corresponding to the second category can be accessed by horizontal scrolling of the menu system and without requiring any vertical scrolling of the menu system, and wherein the only subcategories displayed on the display screen at a given instant in time are the one or more subcategories corresponding to a category displayed at the selected position on the display screen at the given instant in time, and wherein every subcategory corresponding to each of the displayed categories, is only ever displayed at any time for selection on the display screen in the single horizontal line, regardless of which category is selected, and wherein each of the subcategories corresponding to a selected category is accessible without requiring any displayed subcategory of the selected category to move vertically and such that any undisplayed subcategory corresponding to the selected category is accessible during navigation of the subcategories through horizontal navigation, and without any vertical movement of the displayed subcategories corresponding to the selected category. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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17. A dynamically controllable menu system for use with a display screen that provides options selectable by a user to perform one or more functions on a variety of different types of media, the menu system comprising:
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a plurality of categories displayed on the display screen, wherein the categories are capable of ratcheting such that any category from the plurality of categories that is selected by a user is automatically displayed at a selected location on the display screen, in response to being selected, while having the selected position remain constant, and such that every displayed category that is selected is ratcheted to the selected position; and a plurality of subcategories corresponding to the plurality of categories, wherein the only subcategories displayed on the display screen at a given instant in time are the one or more subcategories corresponding to the selected category displayed at the selected position on the display screen at the given instant in time, and wherein all of the one or more subcategories corresponding to the selected category are displayed within a single horizontal line, such that all of the subcategories corresponding to the selected category can be accessed by horizontal scrolling of the menu system and without requiring any vertical scrolling of the menu system, and wherein every subcategory corresponding to each of the displayed categories, is only ever displayed at any time for selection on the display screen in the single horizontal line, regardless of which category is selected, and wherein each of the subcategories corresponding to a selected category is accessible without requiring any displayed subcategory of the selected category to move vertically and such that any undisplayed subcategory corresponding of the selected category is accessible during navigation of the subcategories through horizontal navigation, and without any vertical movement of the displayed subcategories corresponding to the selected category. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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22. A menu system for use in a computing system that includes a variety of options available to a user for controlling a variety of media, the menu system comprising:
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a contextual option, which upon selection, controls an aspect of media displayed on a display device; and a static option, which upon selection, executes a mini application while displaying the media on the display device, wherein the contextual option and the static option are organized in a categorical order that includes a plurality of categories, each of the categories having corresponding subcategories, wherein each of the displayed plurality of categories that is selected by the user is automatically displayed at a selected position on the display screen, in response to being selected by a user, and such that a category that is not displayed at the selected position automatically replaces a category that is being displayed at the selected position in response to being selected, wherein all subcategories corresponding to the selected category are displayed within a single horizontal line on the display screen, such that all of the subcategories corresponding to the selected category can be accessed by horizontal scrolling of the menu system and without requiring any vertical scrolling of the menu system, and wherein the only subcategories displayed on the display screen at a given instant in time are the one or more subcategories corresponding to a category displayed at the selected position on the display screen at the given instant in time, and wherein every subcategory corresponding to each of the displayed categories, is only ever displayed at any time for selection on the display screen in the single horizontal line, regardless of which category is selected, and wherein each of the subcategories corresponding to a selected category is accessible without requiring any displayed subcategory of the selected category to move vertically and such that any undisplayed subcategory corresponding to the selected category is accessible during navigation of the subcategories through horizontal navigation, and without any vertical movement of the displayed subcategories corresponding to the selected category. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification