Representing a plurality of independent data items

• US 8,495,520 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2003
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Islam, Farhad Fuad, Carlyle, Neil Eric, Hanna, Margaret
• Primary Examiner(s): Shih, Haoshian
• Application Number:
  US10/350,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20030169303A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,833 Days
• Field of Search: 715763-767, 715/772, 715/800, 715/801, 715/815, 715/836, 715/837, 715848-852, 715/859, 725/37, 725/39, 725/40, 725 43- 47, 725/50, 725/56, 725/61
• US Class Current: 715/848
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• 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 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

The method represents a plurality of independent data items. The method first assigns a multi-dimensional iconic representation to each data item, then alters at least one dimension of each iconic representation according to a change in a corresponding state of the corresponding data item.

Claims

1. A method of attracting a user'"'"'s attention to the arrival of a television program selected by a user, in a television system receiving a television broadcast and displaying a television program on a television monitor, using information related to a broadcast start time of the selected television program, by displaying a nature scene image on the television monitor until the broadcasting of the selected television program starts, the method comprising:

an assigning step of assigning a specific animated icon to the selected television program, the animated icon being an image of a creature;

a displaying step of displaying the specific animated icon over the nature scene image on the television monitor;

a first altering step of altering a display position of the specific animated icon towards a first pre-designated location in the nature scene image, said first pre-designated location being associated with the broadcasting of the selected television program, wherein

a distance between the current display position of the specific animated icon and the first pre-designated location depends on a time left till a start of the broadcasting of the selected television program, and

the specific animated icon moves, increasing in size, from a position corresponding to the back-portion of the nature scene to a position corresponding to the fore-portion of the nature scene in the nature scene image as time progresses;

a first displaying step of displaying a preview of the selected television program, upon displaying the specific animated icon at the first pre-designated location for a predetermined period of time;

a second altering step of altering the display position of the specific animated icon towards a second pre-designated location in the nature scene image, said second pre-designated location being associated with a recording of the selected television program; and

a second displaying step of displaying the specific animated icon performing a pre-designated action at the second pre-designated location in the nature scene image during the recording of the selected television program.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein

the television system includes a recording unit for recording the television program, and

in said second displaying step, at least one of a size, a position, and a motion of the specific animated icon is altered depending on a recording status of the selected television program by the recording unit.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein a color of the specific animated icon is related to a category of the selected television program.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein a form of the specific animated icon is associated with one of a plurality of users.

5. A method according to claim 2, wherein the recording status includes the status during recording and after recording.

6. A television system for receiving a television broadcast and displaying a television program on a television monitor, and for attracting a user'"'"'s attention to the arrival of a television program selected by a user using information related to a broadcast start time of the selected television program by displaying a nature scene image on the television monitor until the broadcasting of the selected television program starts, the system comprising:

said television monitor;

a memory for storing data and a computer program; and

a processor coupled to said memory to execute the computer program, said processor functioning as;

an assigning unit which assigns a specific animated icon to the selected television program, the animated icon being an image of a creature;

a displaying unit which displays the specific animated icon over the nature scene image on the television monitor;

a first altering unit which alters a display position of the specific animated icon towards a first pre-designated location in the nature scene image, said first pre-designated location being associated with the broadcasting of the selected television program, wherein

a distance between the current display position of the specific animated icon and the first pre-designated location depends on a time left till a start of the broadcasting of the selected television program, and

the specific animated icon moves, increasing in size, from a position corresponding to the back-portion of the nature scene to a position corresponding to the fore-portion of the nature scene in the nature scene image as time progresses;

a first displaying unit which displays a preview of the selected television program, upon displaying the specific animated icon at the first pre-designated location for a predetermined period of time;

a second altering unit for altering a display position of the specific animated icon towards a second pre-designated location in the nature scene image, said second pre-designated location being associated with a recording of the selected television program; and

a second displaying unit which displays the specific animated icon performing a pre-designated action at the second pre-designated location in the nature scene image during the recording of the selected television program.