Nested user interfaces for multiple displays

• US 8,782,555 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2007
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Morris, Ronald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nunez, Jordany
• Application Number:
  US11/897,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20090064020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,511 Days
• Field of Search: 715/810, 715/793, 715/765
• US Class Current: 715/810
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/027 Arrangements and methods specific for the display of internet documents
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• 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

Abstract

Nested user interfaces for multiple displays is described. In embodiment(s), user interface panels can be generated for individual display on a small screen device as well as for display together to form a nested user interface on a larger display device. Each user interface panel can be individually displayed to encompass a small display screen on the small screen device. Additionally, a television client device can render a nested user interface that includes a plurality of the user interface panels displayed together to form the nested user interface on a larger display device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving user interface panels each configured for individual display on a small screen device, each user interface panel representing a page of a user interface and encompassing a small display screen when displayed;

displaying a nested user interface that includes a plurality of the user interface panels, including at least a first user interface panel and a second user interface panel, displayed together to form the nested user interface on a display device, the plurality of the user interface panels displayed proximate one another for display as a cascading menu of media content menu choices, the plurality of the user interface panels of the nested user interface displayed together on a television client device;

responsive to a user selection of a media content menu choice in the first user interface panel, transitioning a focus of the nested user interface from the first user interface panel to the second user interface panel by at least repositioning both the first user interface panel and the second user interface panel; and

displaying the user interface panels individually and sequentially on the small screen device.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the user interface panels are configured for display one at a time on the small display screen as the cascading menu of media content menu choices.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a selectable input via the first user interface panel of the nested user interface; and

transitioning from the first user interface panel to the second user interface panel on the nested user interface in response to receiving the selectable input.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, further comprising modifying the display of the first user interface panel of the nested user interface when transitioning the focus to the second user interface panel.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein modifying the display of the first user interface panel includes displaying the first user interface panel as a background of the nested user interface.

6. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein modifying the display of the first user interface panel includes fading the display of the first user interface.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising communicating the at least first and second user interface panels to the television client device that displays the nested user interface.

8. A nested user interface system, comprising:

at least a processor and a memory having instructions executable by the processor to implement;

a user interface panel configured for display on a small display screen, the user interface panel representing a page of a user interface and encompassing the small display screen when displayed;

at least an additional user interface panel configured for display on the small display screen that replaces the user interface panel when displayed on the small display screen, the user interface panel and the at least additional user interface panel configured for sequential, individual display on the small display screen; and

a nested user interface that includes the user interface panel and the at least additional user interface panel, the user interface panels configured for display together on a display device to form the nested user interface, the user interface panels nested as a cascading menu of media content menu choices, the user interface panel and the additional user interface panel both being repositioned when transitioning from the user interface panel to the additional user interface panel responsive to a user selection of a media content menu choice in the user interface panel, and the user interface panels of the nested user interface displayed together on a television client device.

9. A nested user interface system as recited in claim 8, wherein the nested user interface includes the user interface panels displayed together on the television client device as the cascading menu of media content menu choices.

10. A nested user interface system as recited in claim 9, wherein a content provider generates and communicates the user interface panels to the television client device.

11. A nested user interface system as recited in claim 8, wherein the small display screen is integrated with a portable device that is configured to display the user interface panels one at a time on the small display screen.

12. A nested user interface system as recited in claim 8, wherein a display of the user interface panel in the nested user interface is modified when transitioning from the user interface panel to the additional user interface panel.

13. A nested user interface system as recited in claim 12, wherein the user interface panel is modified such that the user interface panel is displayed as a section of the background of the nested user interface.

14. A method comprising:

receiving a user interface panel configured for display on a small display screen and a large display screen, the user interface panel representing a page of a user interface;

receiving one or more subsequent user interface panels, wherein a subsequent user interface panel replaces a previous user interface panel displayed on the small display screen and wherein the subsequent user interface panel nests with the previous user interface panel to display as a nested user interface on the large display screen;

displaying the nested user interface to include the previous user interface panel and the subsequent user interface panel displayed proximate one another as a cascading menu of media content menu choices, the previous user interface panel and the subsequent user interface panel of the nested user interface displayed together on a television client device;

transitioning from the previous user interface panel to the subsequent user interface panel in response to a selection of a menu item in the previous user interface panel, the transitioning including at least repositioning both the subsequent user interface panel and the previous user interface panel;

modifying a display of the subsequent user interface panel based on the menu item selected in the previous user interface panel; and

displaying the user interface panels individually and sequentially on the small display screen.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the nested user interface includes all of the user interface panels displayed together on the television client device.

16. A method as recited in claim 14, further comprising communicating said user interface panels from a portable device integrated with the small display screen to the television client device integrated with the large display screen.

17. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein a display of the previous user interface panel in the nested user interface is modified when said transitioning from the previous user interface panel to the subsequent user interface panel.

18. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein the previous user interface panel is modified to display as a section of a background of the nested user interface.

19. A method as recited in claim 14, further comprising modifying the display of the subsequent user interface panel to include a background associated with the menu item selected in the previous user interface panel.