Methods and apparatus for implementing a remote application over a network

• US 7,213,228 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2003
• Issued: 05/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ROVI Product Corporation (Xperi Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Macrovision Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Putterman, Daniel, Dietrich, Brad, Freitas, Pedro, Doornbos, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Khatri; Anil
• Application Number:
  US10/391,116
• Publication Number:
  US 20040183827A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,506 Days
• Field of Search: 717109-111, 717171-173, 717176-177, 717/113, 717/139, 709/203, 709/219, 709/225, 715/700, 715/500
• US Class Current: 717/109
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/452 Remote windowing, e.g. X-Window System, desktop virtualisation protocols for virtual reality H04L67/131
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• 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 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• 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 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications

Abstract

A user interface, operating on a display client, for an application program, operating on a remote computer, is implemented such that the division of functionality between the application program and the user interface does not require the application program to possess information regarding the display capabilities of the display client. The remote computer transfers, to the display computer, an identification of a scene for a user interface of the application program. The scene defines an abstract layout for a screen display of the user interface. The user interface receives input from a user (e.g., the user selects a menu item from the user interface). The input event is interpreted, and data is generated based on the interpretation of the input event. The display client interprets the scene, and the data, based on the display capabilities of the display client. Based on this interpretation, the display client generates a display scene and display data for the scene. The display data is rendered on an output device of the display client.

Claims

1. A method for implementing, on first and second display clients, a user interface of an application program operating on a remote computer, said method comprising the steps of:

operating application logic for said application program on said remote computer;

transferring, from said remote computer to said first and second display clients, a scene descriptor identifying an abstract scene for at least one screen display of said user interface, wherein said first and second display clients have one or more different display characteristics comprising screen resolution, supported color palettes, or ability to produce graphics or textual display;

interpreting a first input event received through said user interface at first display client to generate first input event data and a second input event received through said user interface at second display client to generate second input event data;

interpreting said scene descriptor and said first input event data at said first display client based on one or more display characteristics of said first display client to generate first display data;

interpreting said scene descriptor and said second input event data at said second display client based on one or more display characteristics of said second display client to generate second display data; and

displaying said first display data at said first display client and said second display data at said second display client to display the at least one screen display of said user interface at said first and second display clients.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

transferring a scene descriptor identifying a scene further comprises the step of assigning a plurality of slots to said scene;

generating said first display data comprises iterating through said slots of said scene to generate said first display data; and

generating said second display data comprises iterating through said slots of said scene to generate said second display data.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising implementing at least one widget comprising a controller for interpreting an input event, a model for generating input event data and a view for generating display data.

4. The method as set forth in claim 3, wherein implementing at least one widget comprises implementing a controller that is remote from or local to said first and second display clients.

5. The method as set forth in claim 3, wherein implementing at least one widget comprises implementing a model that is remote from or local to said first and second display clients.

6. The method as set forth in claim 3, wherein implementing at least one widget comprises implementing a view that is remote from or local to said first and second display clients.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said user interface is implemented on said first and second display clients without said application program having information regarding display characteristics of the first and second display clients.

8. A system comprising:

network;

remote computer, coupled to said network, configured for operating application logic for an application program, for implementing, on first and second display clients, a user interface of said application program, and for transferring to said first and second display clients, a scene descriptor identifying an abstract scene for at least one screen display of said user interface, wherein said first and second display clients have one or more different display characteristics comprising screen resolution, supported color palettes, or ability to produce graphics or textual display;

software configured for interpreting a first input event to generate first input event data and a second input event to generate second input event data;

first display client, coupled to said network, configured for implementing a said user interface for receiving said first input event through said user interface, for interpreting said scene descriptor and said first input event data based on one or more display characteristics of said first display client to generate a first display data, and for displaying said first display data to display the at least one screen display of said user interface; and

second display client, coupled to said network, configured for implementing said user interface, for receiving said second input event through said user interface, for interpreting said scene descriptor and said second input event data based on one or more display characteristics of said second display client to generate second display data, and for displaying said second display data to display the at least one screen display of said user interface.

9. The system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said first and second display clients are further configured for:

storing a plurality of pre-defined scenes; and

instantiating said scene based on a pre-defined scene and said scene descriptor.

10. The system as set forth in claim 8, wherein:

transferring a scene descriptor identifying a scene comprises assigning a plurality of slots to said scene;

generating said first display data comprises iterating through said slots of said scene to generate said first display data; and

generating said second display data comprises iterating through said slots of said scene to generate said second display data.

11. The system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said software comprises at least one widget comprising a controller configured for interpreting an input event, a model configured for generating input event data, and a view configured for generating display data.

12. The system as set forth in claim 11, wherein said controller of said widget is implemented remote from said first and second display clients or at said first and second display clients.

13. The system as set forth in claim 11, wherein said model of said widget is implemented remote from said first and second display clients or at said first and second display clients.

14. The system as set forth in claim 11, wherein said view of said widget is implemented remote from said first and second display clients or at said first and second display clients.

15. The system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said user interface is implemented on said first and second display clients without said application program having information regarding display characteristics of the first and second display clients.

16. A computer readable storage medium comprising a plurality of instructions stored thereon, which when executed, implement, on first and second display clients, a user interface of an application program operating on a remote computer, the computer readable medium comprising sets of instructions for:

operating application logic for an application program on a remote computer;

transferring, from said remote computer to said first and second display clients, a scene descriptor identifying an abstract scene for at least one screen display of said user interface, wherein said first and second display clients have one or more different display characteristics comprising screen resolution, supported color palettes, or ability to produce graphics or textual display;

interpreting a first input event received through said user interface at first display client to generate first input event data and a second input event received through said user interface at second display client to generate second input event data;

interpreting said scene descriptor and said first input event data at said first display client based on one or more display characteristics of said first display client to generate first display data;

interpreting said scene descriptor and said second input event data at said second display client based on one or more display characteristics of said second display client to generate second display data; and

displaying said first display data at said first display client and said second display data at said second display client to display the at least one screen display of said user interface at said first and second display clients.

17. The computer readable storage medium as set forth in claim 16, wherein transferring a scene descriptor identifying a scene comprises:

storing a plurality of pre-defined scenes at said first and second display clients; and

instantiating, at said first and second display clients, said scene based on a pre-defined scene and said scene descriptor.

18. The computer readable storage medium as set forth in claim 16, wherein:

transferring a scene descriptor identifying a scene further comprises the step of assigning a plurality of slots to said scene;

generating said first display data comprises iterating through said slots of said scene to generate said first display data; and

generating said second display data comprises iterating through said slots of said scene to generate said second display data.

19. The computer readable storage medium as set forth in claim 16, further comprising a set of instructions for implementing at least one widget comprising a controller for interpreting an input event, a model for generating input event data, and a view for generating display data.

20. The computer readable storage medium as set forth in claim 19, wherein implementing at least one widget comprises implementing a controller that is remote from or local to said first and second display clients.

21. The computer readable storage medium as set forth in claim 19, wherein implementing at least one widget comprises implementing a model that is remote from or local to said first and second display clients.

22. The computer readable storage medium as set forth in claim 19, wherein implementing at least one widget comprises implementing a view that is remote from or local to said first and second display clients.

23. The computer readable storage medium as set forth in claim 16, wherein said user interface is implemented on said first and second display clients without said application program having information regarding display characteristics of the first and second display clients.