(12) United States Patent
`Billmaier et a1.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,752,564 B2
`*Jul. 6, 2010
`
`USOO7752564B2
`
`(54)
`
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FOC USED
`NAVIGATION USING OPTION TYPE FILTERS
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors:
`
`James A. Billmaier. Woodinville. WA
`(US); John M. Kellum. Seattle. WA
`(US); Dewey Reid. San Rafael. CA
`(US): Philip Rogan. Bozeman. MI (US)
`
`(52)
`
`[1.8. CI.
`
`....................... 715/765; 715/767: 715/810:
`715/835; 725/45; 725/47: 725/52
`(58) Field of Classification Search ................. 715/738.
`715/760. 764. 765. 767. 781. 784. 802. 810.
`715/821. 822. 823. 825. 835. 838. 839: 725/37.
`725/39. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 52. 54
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(73)
`
`(*)
`
`Assignee:
`
`ARRIS Group, lnc.. Suwanee. GA (US)
`
`(56)
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer. the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`This patent is subject to a tenninal dis-
`claimcr.
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5.602.596 A “
`
`221997 Claussen et a].
`
`.............. 725.137
`
`(Continued)
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`KR
`
`10-2002-0013868
`
`2200.?
`
`(Continued)
`OTI III-R PUBLICATIONS
`
`Office Action mailed Jul. 29. 2008 in US. App]. No. 101097.174. filed
`Mar. 12. 2002.
`
`(Continued)
`
`Primarr Examinerix. L Bautista
`(74) .4 Home; '. Agent, or Firm—Troy A. Van Aacken; Robert .1 .
`Starr
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A sequence of cards representing filters is displayed along a
`first axis ofa user interface with a single card being displayed
`in a focus area. The card in the focus area defines a selected
`
`object type filter. which is applied to another sequence of
`available options. The filtered sequence is then displayed
`along another (perpendicular) axis of the user interface.
`which only includes options corresponding to the selected
`option type filter.
`
`22 ( flaims. 16 Drawing Sheets
`
`(21)
`
`App]. No.:
`
`12/356,486
`
`(22)
`
`(65)
`
`(63)
`
`(60)
`
`Filed:
`
`Jan. 20, 2009
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2009/0125843 A1
`
`May 14. 2009
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`1 1/442.926. filed on
`Continuation of application No.
`May 30. 2006. now Pat. No. 7.487.459. which is a
`continuation of application No. 10/113.820. filed on
`Mar. 29. 2()02. now Pat. No. 7.055.104. which is a
`continualion-in—part of application No. 10/097.l74.
`filed on Mar. 12. 2002. now abandoned.
`Provisional application No. 60/315731. filed on Aug.
`29. 2001. provisional application No. 60/317.612.
`filed on Sep. 6. 2001. provisional application No.
`60/324.997. filed on Sep. 26. 2001.
`
`(51)
`
`Int. (3|.
`
`G06F 3/00
`G06F 13/00
`G096 5/00
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`am—
`.302
`mam:
`
`
`
`w) m
`
`SONY - Ex.—1001
`Sony Corporation - Petitioner
`
`

`

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`US 7,752,564 B2
`
`Page 2
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`
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`W0
`W0
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`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
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`
`
`
`
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`
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`
`
`
`
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`filed Sep. 30, 2002.
`
`
`
`
`Office Action mailed Apr. 14, 2009 in US. Appl. \Io. 10/328,754,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`filed Dec. 23, 2002.
`
`
`
`
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`
`
`
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`filed Jun. 23, 2006.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`
`
`
`
`P.2
`
`
`P. 2
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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 6, 2010
`
`Sheet 1 of 16
`
`US 7,752,564 B2
`
`102
`
`110
`
`104
`
`FIG. 1
`
`R3
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 6, 2010
`
`Sheet 2 of 16
`
`US 7,752,564 B2
`
`204
`
`206
`
`208
`
`210
`
`2023
`
`202b
`
`2020
`
`212
`212
`212
`
`200a
`
`200b
`
`2000
`
`204
`
`206
`
`208
`
`210
`
`FIG. 2
`
`R4
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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 6, 2010
`
`Sheet 3 of 16
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`US 7,752,564 B2
`
`306
`
`202a
`
`110
`
`102
`
`104
`
`FIG. 3
`
`P.5
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 6, 2010
`
`Sheet 4 of 16
`
`US 7,752,564 B2
`
`.......
`
`300
`
`I
`
`102
`
`110
`
`
`104
`
`110
`
`102
`
`104
`
`102
`
`104
`
`110
`
`402
`
`
`
`FIG. 4
`
`P.6
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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 6, 2010
`
`Sheet 5 of 16
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`US 7,752,564 B2
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`
`
`FIG. 5
`
`R7
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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 6, 2010
`
`Sheet 6 of 16
`
`US 7,752,564 B2
`
`204
`
`206
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`2 08
`
`2 1 0
`
`20 28
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`21 2
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`60 2
`
`604
`
`502
`
`2003
`
`212
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`602
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`604
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`f 302
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`"Dick '5 First
`Birthday”
`
`ceici‘f:5'°'"s°”rs
`Militia; onmEafirtht
`
`:3
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`

`

`
`US. Patent
`
`
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`Jul. 6, 2010
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`
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`Sheet 7 of 16
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`US 7,752,564 B2
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`
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`
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`Dallas v. Denver -\., 212
`2nd Quarter
`
`
`151 and 10 P7023
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`celebrates his first
`birthday on Earth
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`
`
`
`45 min. remaining.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 7
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`
`
`P.9
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`P. 9
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`

`

`US. Patent
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`Jul. 6, 2010
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`Sheet 8 of 16
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`US 7,752,564 B2
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`wzooa
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`[3008
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`P. 10
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`

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`US. Patent
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`Jul. 6, 2010
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`Sheet 9 of 16
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`US 7,752,564 B2
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`110
`
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`FIG. 9
`
`P.11
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`

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`US. Patent
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`Jul. 6, 2010
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`Sheet 10 of 16
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`US 7,752,564 B2
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`_______
`
`300
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`102
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`104
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`
`To receive your 4 issues,
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`
`Welcome to TIME
`
`P. 12
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`US. Patent
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`Jul. 6, 2010
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`Sheet 11 0f 16
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`US 7,752,564 B2
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`110611081110
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`P. 13
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`P. 13
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 6, 2010
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`Sheet 12 of 16
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`US 7,752,564 B2
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`Filter
`
`
`
`(sitcoms)
`
`P. 14
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`

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`US. Patent
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`Jul. 6, 2010
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`Sheet 13 of 16
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`US 7,752,564 B2
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`P. 15
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`

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`US. Patent
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`Jul. 6, 2010
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`Sheet 14 of 16
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`US 7,752,564 B2
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`Interface
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`1408
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`1216
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`Network
`
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`1402
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`Interface
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`1410
`
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`
`To
`
`
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`
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`
`TV 102
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 14
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`P. 16
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`
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` Mass
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`
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`
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`1406
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`P. 16
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`

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`US. Patent
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`Jul. 6, 2010
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`Sheet 15 of 16
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`US 7,752,564 B2
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`15.02
`
`
`
`
`Store a sequence of cards
`
`
`
`Obtain supplemental information
`
`
`
`
`Wait for user input
`
`detected?
`
`
`
`
`”it?“ 1506
`
` Yes
`
`Successively display the cards in a
`focus area of user interface with any
`
`associated supplemental information
`
`detected?
`
`Yes
`
`Discontinue the successive display to
`show a particular card
`
`1512
`
`FIG. 15
`
`P. 17
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`

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`US. Patent
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`Jul. 6, 2010
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`Sheet 16 of 16
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`US 7,752,564 B2
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`m2
`
`Store sequence of cards
`reooresentin TV ro-rams
`
`Store sequence of cards
`.
`.
`reo-resentln filters
`
`1602
`
`1604
`
`Display filter cards along first axis
`
`1606
`
`Receive user selection of filter card
`
`1608
`
`Filter TV sequence according to
`selected filter
`
`Displayed filtered sequence of TV
`.
`cards alon- second aXIS
`
`1610
`
`1612
`
`Receive user selection of TV card
`
`1614
`
`Tune to selected TV program
`
`1616
`
`FIG. 16
`
`P. 18
`
`

`

`
`1
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FOCUSED
`
`
`
`
`
`NAVIGATION USING OPTION TYPE FILTERS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`
`
`
`This application is a continuation of US. patent applica-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`tion Ser. No. 11/442,926, filed May 30, 2006, for “System and
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Method for Focused Navigation Using Option Type Filters,”
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`which is a continuation of US. patent application Ser. No.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`10/113,820, filed Mar. 29, 2002, for “System and Method for
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Focused Navigation Using Filters,” which is a continuation-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`in-part of US. patent application Ser. No. 10/097,174, filed
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Mar. 12, 2002, for “System and Method for Focused Naviga-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`tion within an Interactive Television User Interface.” The
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`present application is also related to and claims the benefit of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`US. Provisional Application No. 60/315,731, filed Aug. 29,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`2001, entitled “System and Method for Visual Channel Surf-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ing.” The present application is further related to and claims
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the benefit of US. Provisional Application No. 60/317,612,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`filed Sep. 6, 2001, entitled “System and Method for Visual
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Channel Surfing.” The present application is also related to
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`and claims the benefit of US. Provisional Application No.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`60/324,997, filed Sep. 26, 2001 , entitled “System and Method
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`for Visual Channel Surfing Using Center-Focused Naviga-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`tion.”All of the foregoing applications are fully incorporated
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`herein by reference.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`
`
`
`
`The present invention relates generally to the field of infor-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`mation systems. More specifically,
`the present
`invention
`
`
`
`
`
`
`relates to a system and method for focused navigation using
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`filters.
`
`2. Description of Related Background Art
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Recent advances in technology have vastly increased the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`number of available options within personal computers
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(PCs), interactive television (ITV) systems, personal digital
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`assistant (PDAs), cellular telephones, and other information
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`systems. For instance, current ITV systems offer hundreds of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`broadcast channels and a variety of interactive options,
`
`
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`including e-mail, videoconferencing,
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`Unfortunately, despite technological advances, user inter-
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`making navigation through all of the newly available options
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`must scan through potentially hundreds of channels and other
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`system.
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`Similar problems exist with PC interfaces. The graphical
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`representing user options are arranged in rows and columns
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`navigation of a plurality of options without the drawbacks of
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`conventional approaches.
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`need not repeatedly press a button to display each available
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`option, as is often the case with conventional TV or ITV
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`interfaces. Likewise, it would be an advancement in the art to
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`provide an interface in which a user need not scan through an
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`arrangement ofmultiple icons, as is the case in many conven-
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`tional PC interfaces.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`Non-exhaustive
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`embodiments of
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`FIG. 1 is a block diagram ofan ITV system;
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`FIG. 2. is an illustration of a plurality of cards;
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`FIGS. 3-10 are illustrations of various techniques for
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`focused navigation of a plurality of options within a user
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`interface;
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`FIG. 11 is a timing diagram for displaying a sequence of
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`cards;
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`FIG. 12 is an illustration of a technique for filtering
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`sequences of cards;
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`FIG. 13 is an illustration of a sequence of cards represent-
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`ing filters within a user interface;
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`FIG. 14 is a schematic block diagram of a set-top box
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`(STB);
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`FIG. 15 a flowchart of a method for focused navigation of
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`a plurality of options within a user interface; and
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`FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a method for focused navigation
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`using filters.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
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`EMBODIMENTS
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`Reference throughout this specification to “one embodi-
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`ment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular described
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`feature, structure, or characteristic is included in at least one
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`embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of
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`various places throughout this specification are not necessar-
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`ily all referring to the same embodiment.
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`Furthermore, the described features, structures, or charac-
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`teristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or
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`more embodiments. In the following description, numerous
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`specific details are provided, such as examples of program-
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`ming, software modules, user selections, network transac-
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`tions, database queries, database structures, etc., to provide a
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`thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention.
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`One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that
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`the invention can be practiced without one or more of the
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`specific details, or with other methods, components, materi-
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`als, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials,
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`or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid
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`obscuring aspects of the invention.
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`While the following description makes particular reference
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`to ITV systems,
`it should be recognized that the present
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`invention may be used in conjunction with any type of infor-
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`mation system in which selectable options may be displayed
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`on a display screen. Examples of such information systems
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`include, but are not limited to, ITV systems, personal com-
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`puters, and mobile computing devices, such as PDAs, web-
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`pads, cellular telephones, and the like.
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`Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a block diagram of
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`an ITV system 100 according to an embodiment of the inven-
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`tion. In one configuration, the ITV system 100 includes a
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`television (TV) 102 or other display device having a display
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`screen 104, a set-top box (STB) 106, and a remote control
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`108.
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`The STE 106 serves as a gateway between the TV 102 and
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`a broadband communication network (not shown), such as a
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`cable television network or a direct broadcast satellite (DBS)
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`network. One commercially-available example of an STE
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`106 is the Motorola DCT5000® interactive set-top terminal.
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`The STE 106 receives encoded television signals and other
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`data from the broadband network and processes the same for
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`display on the display screen 104. The STE 106 may also
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`include hardware and software for presenting a graphical user
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`interface (GUI) 110 on the display screen 104 for operating
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`the various functions and services of the STE 106.
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`In alternative embodiments, the STE 106 may be inte-
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`grated into the TV 102, a mobile computing device, or the
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`like. In still other embodiments, the term “STB” may broadly
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`encompass a personal computer (PC) that performs STB-like
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`functions. In such an embodiment, a PC may be used to
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`process TV signals and other data received from the broad-
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`band network. The PC may operate in the context of a home
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`network to provide display signals to a variety of devices,
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`including one or more television sets, computer monitors,
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`personal digital assistants (PDAs), cellular phones, and the
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`like. A variety of home networking systems and protocols
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`may be used, such as Ethernet, 802.1 lb, Bluetooth, etc.
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`The remote control 108 is provided for convenient remote
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`operation ofthe STE 106 and the TV 102. The remote control
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`108 may include a wireless transmitter 112 for transmitting
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`control signals to a wireless receiver 114 within the STE 106
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`using radio frequency (RF) or infrared (IR) techniques.
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`In addition, the remote control 108 may include a number
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`of buttons or other similar controls. For instance, the remote
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`control 108 may include a “Up” button 116, a “Down” button
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`118, a “Left” button 120, a “Right” button 122, and a “Select”
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`button 124. Of course, a variety of other buttons or controls
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`may be provided within the scope of the invention. In alter-
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`native implementations,
`the remote control 108 may be
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`embodied as a keyboard, mouse, or other suitable input
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`device.
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`As noted, an ITV system 100 typically provides access to a
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`plurality of selectable options, such as channels, programs,
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`applications, digital media files, etc. For instance, an ITV
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`system 100 may provide access to literally hundreds ofbroad-
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`cast TV channels, pay-per-view (PPV) channels, music chan-
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`nels, and the like. Additionally, an ITV system 100 may
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`provide access to a number of interactive channels or appli-
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`cations, including web browsers, e-mail programs, chat cli-
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`ents, personal video recorder (PVR) applications, contact
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`directories, and the like. Furthermore, an ITV system 100
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`may store or provide access to stored PVR recordings, digital
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`photographs, audio (MP3) files, or other forms of digital
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`media.
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`As shown in FIG. 2, each selectable option within the ITV
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`system 100 may be associated with a card 200. A card 200 is
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`an object or other suitable data structure that provides infor-
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`mation about and/or access to an available option within an
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`ITV system 100. A card 200 may be a container of all of the
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`attributes, actions, and/or states needed to facilitate interac-
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`tion with the option represented thereby. Cards 200 may be
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`stored in any suitable format within a memory or disk drive of
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`the ITV system 100.
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`Each card 200 may include a graphical representation 202
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`for display in the GUI 110, as described in detail below. The
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`graphical representation 202 may include various types or
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`combinations ofartwork, digital photography, captured video
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`frames, animations, or the like.
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`As depicted in FIG. 2, cards 200a-c may be used to repre-
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`sent television programs or channels. The television pro-
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`grams may be ongoing (live), upcoming, or previously-re-
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`corded. In addition to a graphical representation 202, such
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`cards 200 may include, for instance, a channel number 204, a
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`channel name or identifier 206, a starting time 208, a running
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`time 210, and a text description 212. Of course, cards 200
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`representing other types of options may include additional or
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`different types of information, such as audio/video clips, file
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`or path names, network addresses (URLs), etc.
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`The graphical representations 202 associated with cards
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`200 may have different levels of specificity or granularity. For
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`instance, a graphical representation 202a may correspond
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`generally to a television series, e.g., “3rd Rock from the Sun”,
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`while another graphical representation 2021) may correspond
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`to a television station or network, e. g., “CBS”. In other
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`embodiments, a graphical representation 202 may corre-
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`spond to a specific episode of a television series (e. g., a series
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`premier), or even a product (purchase opportunity) associated
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`with the television program. In still other embodiments, a
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`generic graphical representation 202 may be provided, which
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`may be overlaid by the channel number 204, text description
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`212, or other information, where a more specific card 200 is
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`not available.
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`Cards 200 may be generated locally within an ITV system
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`100 or may be received via the broadband network using
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`HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol), FTP (file transfer proto-
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`col), ATVEF (advanced television enhancement forum) trig-
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`gers or other well-known protocols or techniques. In one
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`embodiment, a card 200 may be received with data encoded in
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`the vertical blanking interval (VBI) of a television signal.
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`Additionally, information associated with cards 200 (e. g.,
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`channel number 204, starting time 208, running time 210)
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`may be dynamically updated with information received in
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`ATVEF triggers.
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`Referring to FIG. 3, a plurality of cards 200 may be linked
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`or grouped together in a package or sequence 300. The
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`sequence 300 may be circular (as depicted), linear, or config-
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`ured in other ways. The sequence 300 may be linked in
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`numerical order by channel number 204, in alphabetical order
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`by the text description 212, or in other preset or user-defined
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`ways. For instance, the sequence 300 may be determined
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`based on one or a combination of other inputs, such as user
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`profile information, user preferences, external events or data
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`feeds (e. g., telephone rings, PVR notifications, alerts for
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`external programming sources).
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`In the illustrated embodiment, one card 200a in the
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`sequence 300 is active or in “focus”. As shown, the active card
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`200a may be displayed within a focus area 302 of a GUI 110
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`displayed on the TV 102. For brevity, the phrase “displaying
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`a card” refers herein to displaying a graphical representation
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`202 associated with the card 200. Other information associ-
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`ated with the card, e.g., the channel number 204 or text
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`description 212, may or may not be displayed.
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`A focus area 302 is a single location of the GUI 110 at
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`which the cards 200 are successively displayed (displayed
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`one at a time in sequence). The focus area 302 may be located
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`at a central or visually dominant location of the GUI 110,
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`although the invention is not limited in this respect. As used
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`herein, the term “focused navigation” refers to a technique of
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`displaying a sequence 300 of cards 200 within a focus area
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`302.
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`In response to a single user action, the cards 200 in a
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`sequence 300 are successively displayed within the focus area
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`302. Where the sequence 300 is circular, the successive dis-
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`play of cards 200 may continue indefinitely until halted by the
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`user by a subsequent action, as described more fully below.
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`The single user action to initiate navigation may be press-
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`ing (or pressing and holding down) a button on the remote
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`control 108. For example, the user may press the “Up” button
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`P. 20
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`P. 20
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`US 7,752,564 B2
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`5
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`116 to initiate the successive display in a first direction within
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`the sequence 300 (indicated by line 304), and press the
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`“Down” button 118 to initiate navigation in the opposite
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`direction (indicated by line 306). Alternatively, the user may
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`speak a command into a microphone (either within the STE
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`106 or remote control 108) to initiate navigation. Of course,
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`the user may initiate navigation in a variety of other ways
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`within the scope of the invention.
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`In one embodiment, the sequence 300 of cards 200 is
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`successively displayed at a rate selected by the user. For
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`instance, initially pressing the “Up” button 116 may cause the
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`sequence 300 to be displayed at a rate of two cards 200 per
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`second. As the user continues to hold the “Up” button 116, the
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`rate may increase gradually or in steps to any practical rate
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`within the limit of a typical user’s ability to recognize indi-
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`vidual cards 200 when they are displayed. Many users are
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`able to recognize individual cards 200 at a rate of seven or
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`more cards 200 per second (420 per minute), facilitating rapid
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`navigation of available options.
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`The cards 200, when displayed within the focus area 302,
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`may be sufficiently large to permit user recognition from a
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`comfortable viewing distance for the particular display
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`screen 104. Thus, unlike PC icons, which typically occupy as
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`little as 1/200 of the display area of the display screen 104, the
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`displayed cards 200 (and the card 200 in the focus area 302 in
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`particular) may occupy between 1/10 and 1A ofthe total display
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`area.
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`When the user sees a card 200 being displayed of a channel
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`or option that she desires to select or view, the user may take
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`some additional action and the successive display of cards
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`200 is halted. For example, where navigation was initiated by
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`pressing and holding down the “Up” button 116, the user may
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`release the “Up” button 116 to discontinue navigation. In an
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`alternative embodiment, where the successive display was
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`initiated simply by pressing a button, the user may press the
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`same or a different button to halt the successive display. Of
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`course, the user may discontinue navigation in a variety of
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`other ways within the scope of the invention.
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`If the user’s reaction time is fast enough, the card 200
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`representing the desired channel remains displayed in the
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`focus area 302 once navigation is discontinued. However, the
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`user’s reaction time may not be fast enough and one or more
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`cards 200 may be subsequently displayed. In such a case, the
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`user may manually backtrack to the desired card 200 by
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`repeatedly activating a suitable control on the remote control
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`108. For example, briefly pressing the “Up” or “Down” but-
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`tons 116, 118 may result in the previous or next card 200,
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`respectively, being displayed. Alternatively, as described in
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`greater detail below, the ITV system 100 may attempt to
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`determine the delay between the user recognizing the desired
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`card 200 and taking the sub sequent action and compensate for
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`that delay by reverting to a previously-displayed card 200.
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`The user may select the channel or option associated with
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`the displayed card 200 by taking a selection action. For
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`instance, the user may press the “Select” button 124 on the
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`remote control 108. Alternatively, the selection action may
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`simply be waiting a set amount oftime without activating any
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`controls on the remote control 108.
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`The effect of activating the card 200 will vary dramatically
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`depending on the type of card 200. For instance, in the case of
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`a card 200 representing a live television program, the GUI
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`110 may be replaced by a full-size version of the program.
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`Alternatively, activating a card 200 corresponding to a pur-
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`chase opportunity may result in the display of a web browser
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`directed to a particular website.
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`As shown in FIG. 4, one or more previous and next cards
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