Focused navigation interface for a PC media center and extension device
First Claim
1. A home entertainment system comprising:
- a personal computer media center for providing media content to a plurality of remotely located televisions within a home, the home media center including;
a user interface module to generate graphical commands usable by a separate media center extension to render a user interface on one of the plurality of televisions, wherein the user interface comprises;
a focus area intersected by a first axis and a second axis, the second axis being perpendicular to the first axis;
a first sequence of cards displayed along the first axis, wherein a user is allowed to scroll the first sequence of cards through a focus area of the user interface to place a particular card within the focus area;
a second sequence of cards displayed along a second axis in response to a first card from the first sequence being scrolled into the focus area without an additional selection action with respect to the first card, wherein a user is allowed to scroll the second sequence of cards along the second axis;
wherein each card represents a single option, and wherein a representation of only one option at a time is scrolled through the focus area; and
a network interface to send the graphical commands representing the user interface through a home network to a media center extension; and
a plurality of media center extensions coupled to the personal computer media center via the home network, each media center extension including;
a network interface to receive the graphical commands from the home media center via the home network; and
a display interface to render the graphical commands into the user interface on a respective television.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Within a personal computer media center, a user interface module generates graphical commands representing a user interface. A network interface then sends the graphical commands via a home network to a media center extension, where a display interface renders the graphical commands into the user interface on a television. In one configuration, the user interface includes a focus area intersected by a first axis, as well as a first sequence of cards displayed along the first axis, each card graphically representing an available option, one card being displayable within the focus area. The first sequence of cards is to be scrolled along the first axis in response to an initiating action to progressively change the card within the focus area. Furthermore, the scrolling of cards is to be halted in response to a terminating action to show a selected card from the first sequence within the focus area.
212 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A home entertainment system comprising:
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a personal computer media center for providing media content to a plurality of remotely located televisions within a home, the home media center including; a user interface module to generate graphical commands usable by a separate media center extension to render a user interface on one of the plurality of televisions, wherein the user interface comprises; a focus area intersected by a first axis and a second axis, the second axis being perpendicular to the first axis; a first sequence of cards displayed along the first axis, wherein a user is allowed to scroll the first sequence of cards through a focus area of the user interface to place a particular card within the focus area; a second sequence of cards displayed along a second axis in response to a first card from the first sequence being scrolled into the focus area without an additional selection action with respect to the first card, wherein a user is allowed to scroll the second sequence of cards along the second axis; wherein each card represents a single option, and wherein a representation of only one option at a time is scrolled through the focus area; and a network interface to send the graphical commands representing the user interface through a home network to a media center extension; and a plurality of media center extensions coupled to the personal computer media center via the home network, each media center extension including; a network interface to receive the graphical commands from the home media center via the home network; and a display interface to render the graphical commands into the user interface on a respective television. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method within a home entertainment system for providing media content to a plurality of remotely located televisions within a home, the method comprising:
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connecting a personal computer media center to one of a plurality of a media center extensions in communication with the media center through a home network, each of the media center extensions being coupled to a respective one of the plurality of televisions; generating graphical commands within the personal computer media center representing a user interface, wherein the user interface comprises; a focus area intersected by a first axis and a second axis, the second axis being perpendicular to the first axis; a first sequence of cards displayed along the first axis, wherein a user is allowed to scroll the first sequence of cards through a focus area of the user interface to place a particular card within the focus area; a second sequence of cards displayed along a second axis in response to a first card from the first sequence being scrolled into the focus area without an additional selection action with respect to the first card, wherein a user is allowed to scroll the second sequence of cards along the second axis; wherein each card represents a single option, and wherein a representation of only one option at a time is scrolled through the focus area; transporting the graphical commands to the media center extension through the home network; and rendering the graphical commands into the user interface on a television attached to the media center extension. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification