Graphical user interface for an appliance network

• US 7,260,604 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2002
• Issued: 08/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kuki, Hikaru
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang; Jungwon
• Application Number:
  US10/117,664
• Publication Number:
  US 20030076341A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,965 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/250, 709/205, 345/473, 345/949, 345/733, 345/772, 345/156, 725/37, 700/17, 700/83, 348/569, 705/1, 715/700, 715/763
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34

Abstract

A graphical user interface is disclosed for use with an appliance network. To improve understanding of the network, the interface includes a metaphorical representation of a connected appliance that is animated to metaphorically simulate an activity related to the appliance.

Claims

1. A user interface for a data processing network including at least two appliances that each have an associated display for presenting said user interface to a user, said interface comprising:

(a) one or more first metaphorical representations, each said first metaphorical representation representing a respective appliance in said data processing network; and

(b) a second metaphorical representation of the appliance upon which said display is presented, said second metaphorical representation capable of an animation of a simulated journey of said second metaphorical representation to a user-specified one of said one or more first metaphorical representations, said animation indicating that user instructions are being performed by which said appliance upon which said display is presented is interacting with the appliance associated with said user-specified one of said one or more first metaphorical representations.

2. The user interface of claim 1 where each of said first metaphorical representations pictorially describe the particular appliance respectively represented.

3. The user interface of claim 1 where said second metaphorical representation pictorially describes the particular appliance represented.

4. The user interface of claim 1 where the display of an appliance includes a first metaphorical representation representing said appliance.

5. The user interface of claim 1 where each said appliance is capable of being controlled through the user interface displayed by another said appliance.

6. The user interface of claim 5 where each said first metaphorical representation is capable of animation, animation of which indicates a state of its associated appliance.

7. The user interface of claim 1 where every appliance in said network includes an associated said display.

8. The user interface of claim 1 where said data processing network is a peer-to-peer network.

9. The user interface of claim 1 wherein said second metaphorical representation includes an animated simulation of a journey of said metaphorical representation of said appliance to a web site.