USOO6976228B2
`
`(12)
`
`United States Patent
`Bernhardson
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,976,228 B2
`*Dec. 13, 2005
`
`(54)
`
`(75)
`
`(73)
`
`GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE
`COMPRISING INTERSECTING SCROLL
`BAR FOR SELECTION OF CONTENT
`
`Inventor: Marcus Bernllardson, Linkiiping (SE)
`
`Assignee: Nokia Corporation, Espoo (Fl)
`
`6,483.548 Bl "
`6,594,825 Bl "
`6597.358 82 "
`
`....................... 348/564
`11/2002 Allport
`7/2003 Goldschmidt Iki et a1.
`725/53
`7/2003 Miller
`345/427
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`PF
`EP
`W0
`
`0 845 604
`0645604
`0065429
`
`3/1995
`3/1995
`11/2000
`
`.......... 001C 21/20
`........... G061j 3/033
`
`(*)
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 639 days.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner—Kristine Kincaid
`Assistant Examiner—Boris Pesin
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis-
`claimer.
`
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Finn—Antonelli, Terry, Stout and
`Kraus, LLP.
`
`Appl. No.: 09/891,330
`
`Filed:
`
`Jun. 27, 2001
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2003/0001898 A1
`
`Jan. 2, 2003
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`(58)
`
`(56)
`
`US. Cl.
`
`Int. Cl."l
`
`G06F 3/00; GOGF 9/00;
`GOéF 17/(D
`715/830; 715/841; 715/836;
`715/833; 715/786; 725/40; 725/53
`345/841, 427,
`Field of Search
`345/336; 725/40, 53; 348/564; 715/830,
`715/833. 786
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5.059.965 A
`5,283,560 A
`5.289.573 A
`5,452,414 A *
`5.623.613 A ‘
`5,677,708 A
`5.737.029 A
`5,812,123 A
`6.243.071 Bl
`6,412,110 B1 *
`
`10/1991 Geiser ........................ 340/995
`21994 Bartlett ....................... 345/113
`2/1994 Kataoka el al.
`395/156
`
`.
`. 345/836
`9/1995 Rosendahl et al.
`
`4/1997 Rowe etal.
`345/841
`10/1997 Matthews, 111 et al.
`345/115
`4/1998 Ohkura et al.
`9/1998 Rowe et al.
`6.12001 Shwarts etal.
`6/2002 Schein et al.
`
`725/40
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`interactive television set has a graphical user
`A digital
`interface for displaying content from a plurality of difl'ercnt
`sources on its screen eg. from digital satellite or cable
`broadcasts or through the Internet, the interface comprising:
`a focus region (16), and horizontally and vertically extend—
`ing scroll bars (H, V) which each comprise a plurality of
`scroll bar elements that can be scrolled successively through
`the focus region, the scroll bar elements of the horizontal
`scroll bar signifying groupings of content sources. Elements
`of the horizontal scroll bar are scrolled individually into the
`focus region, and the scroll bar elements of the vertical scroll
`bar signify content sources which are included within a
`grouping thereof associated with the individual element of
`the horizontal scroll bar, so that the scroll bar elements of the
`vertical scroll bar can then be scrolled through the focus
`region to select a content source of the grouping. The scroll
`bar elements of the horizontal scroll bar comprise a three
`dimensional depiction of more than one of the content
`source groupings, and an individual one of the groupings
`may be selected from the three dimensional depiction for the
`focus region. The three dimensional elements are the hori-
`zontal scroll bar may comprise rectangular blocks that are
`rotatable about a common longitudinal axis.
`
`23 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`programm'ng content information text area
`
`P.1
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`SONY - Ex.-1007
`Sony Corporation - Petitioner
`
`

`

`US. Patent
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`*Dcc. 13,2005
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`Sheet 1 0f3
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`US 6,976,228 B2
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`1
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`I
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`EE
`5
`get
`El
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`5
`E
`E
`E!
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`-humanin
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` User interface
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`P.2
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`US. Patent
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`*Dec. 13,2005
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`Sheet 2 0f3
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`US 6,976,228 B2
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`programming content
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`P.3
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`US. Patent
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`*Dec. 13,2005
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`Sheet 3 on
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`Us 6,976,228 B2
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`
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`H4
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`Falher-
`Drama
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`H5
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`Father-
`Business
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`.,_x
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`
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`Y
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`——————————————V\
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`H0
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`Shopping
`Channel 1
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`H1
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`H2
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`H3
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`H4
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`H5
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`WAY-733775??? '
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`.other- Mother-.atden shopping
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`{'S'fiébfii'iiém
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`Momer-Health
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`Mother-Fashion
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`Mothet—Drama
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`Mother—Soaps
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`----«—--X
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`“Cartoon
`Channel 2
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`Canoon
`Channel 1
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`H0
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`H1
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`H2
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`H3
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`H4
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`H5
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`m ,
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`.
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`A
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`..
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`,
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`~
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`..
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`P.4
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`US 6,976,228 B2
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`1
`GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE
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`COMPRISING INTERSECTING SCROLL
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`BAR FOR SELECTION OF CONTENT
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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`1. Field of the Invention
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`This invention relates to providing a graphical user inter-
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`face for selecting content from a plurality of content sources
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`and has particular but not exclusive application to an inter-
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`active multi-channel television set for selecting content from
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`a variety of different sources such as digital
`television
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`broadcast channels, pre-recorded content and the Internet.
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`2. Description of the Prior Art
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`Multiple channel
`television sets which can receive a
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`multiplicity of digital broadcast channels via terrestrial
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`broadcasts, satellite or cable are becoming popular. Very
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`large numbers of channels can be transmitted by digital
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`techniques, and so improved channel management systems
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`are needed to enable the viewer to make an informed
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`selection without having to surf all of the available channels.
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`The television set can also be used to provide Internet access
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`so it is desirable to provide a system which can bookmark
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`individual web sites and pages that are of interest to the user.
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`Proposals have been made to provide a conventional
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`computer keyboard for connection to a television set in order
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`to enable management of the Internet and channel access.
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`However, conventional television sets are usually provided
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`with a handheld remote control device that communicates
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`with the television set through an infrared link. The hand-
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`held device has limited functionality as compared with a
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`conventional keyboard but is more convenient to use than
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`the keyboard in most viewing situations.
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`International Published Application WO 00/65429 dis-
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`closes a graphical user interface for display on a screen such
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`as the monitor of a television set, in which object fields
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`corresponding to pre-defined choices of content sources is
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`displayed in a vertical column of object fields and a hori-
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`zontal row of subordinate object fields. The row and the
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`column extend along vertical and horizontal side edges of
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`the display screen respectively. The row and the column
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`intersect in a focus area and are each scrollable that is act as
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`scroll bars so that the individual object fields can be scrolled
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`into the focus area. Each of the object fields in the column
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`may define a general group of content sources and thus may
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`act as a folder which contains a number of individual
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`bookmarks for Internet sites and channels of interest to the
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`user. When the individual object field or folder is brought
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`into the focus area by scrolling the vertical scroll bar, the
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`horizontal scroll bar is populated with bookmarks associated
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`with the folder. The user can then scroll the horizontal scroll
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`bar to bring the bookmarks into the focus area and then
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`select the bookmark in the focus area. The bookmark in the
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`focus area may itself contain a number of sub-object fields,
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`and if so, these are then displayed in the object fields of the
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`vertical scroll bar so that the vertical scroll bar can again be
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`scrolled in order to make a selection from them.
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`This configuration has the advantage that the scroll bars,
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`which extend vertically and horizontally, can conveniently
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`be controlled by the conventional vertical and left and right
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`scrolling or arrow keys of the handheld remote control
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`device and thus can be operated intuitively by the user.
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`However, the arrangement has the disadvantage that because
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`successive selections of the vertical and horizontal scroll
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`bars need to be made, the user can become confused by the
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`navigational process.
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`2
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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`The invention provides a graphical user interface which
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`may be used to select content sources which is easier for the
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`user to navigate.
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`Broadly stated, the invention provides a device to provide
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`a graphical user interface for selecting content from a
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`plurality of sources thereof, the user interface comprising: a
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`focus region, and first and second transversely extending
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`scroll bars which each comprise a plurality of scroll bar
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`elements that can be scrolled successively through the focus
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`region, the scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar signi-
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`fying groupings of content sources, such that when elements
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`of the first scroll bar are scrolled individually into the focus
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`region,
`the scroll bar elements of the second scroll bar
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`signify content sources which are included within a group-
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`ing thereof associated with the individual element of the first
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`scroll bar, whereby the scroll bar elements of the second
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`scroll bar can be scrolled through the focus region to select
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`a content source of the grouping, at least one of the scroll bar
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`elements of the first scroll bar comprising a multiple depic-
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`tion of more than one of the content source groupings,
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`whereby an individual one of the groupings may be selected
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`from the multiple depiction for the focus region.
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`The multiple depiction of the content source groupings
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`may comprise a three dimensional depiction such that the
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`scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar include facets that
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`signify the individual groupings of the content sources. The
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`facets may be associated with respective different users such
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`as different family members
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`The scroll bar elements may be polygonal and rotatable
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`about a common axis extending longitudinally of the first
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`scroll bar and the elements may be rotatable in unison about
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`the axis.
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`A controller, such as a wireless remote controller may be
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`provided to enable a user to scroll the scroll bars individually
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`through the focus region. The invention has particular appli-
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`cation to digital television sets and set top boxes.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`Further objects and advantages of the invention will be
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`better understood from the following detailed description
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`given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in
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`which
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`FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a television set and an
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`associated infrared remote controller;
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`FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the
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`circuitry of the arrangement shown in FIG. 1;
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`FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of an display of the
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`graphical user interface provided on the television set,
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`showing vertical and horizontal scroll bars;
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`FIGS. 4A—C illustrate successive steps in the operation of
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`the horizontal scroll bar shown in FIG. 3; and
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`FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 illustrate alternative configurations for
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`the scroll bar elements.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
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`INVENTION
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`Referring to FIG. 1, a home entertainment device 1
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`includes a television display monitor 2, control unit 3 and a
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`handheld remote controller 4 coupled through a wireless link
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`for example infrared, to the control unit 3.
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`The TV monitor 2 is configured to display content from
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`a plurality of a different sources such as satellite transmis-
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`sions, cable transmissions and materials received through
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`P.5
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`P. 5
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`US 6,976,228 B2
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`3
`the Internet as well as locally stored content. Thus, the TV
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`monitor 2 may comprise a conventional television set and
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`the control unit 3 may comprise a set top box providing
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`suitable signals to the television set 2. Alternatively, the TV
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`monitor 2 may be solely a monitor and the control unit 3
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`provides data for direct display on the monitor. As another
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`alternative, the units 2, 3 may comprise a personal computer.
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`In the following example, the TV monitor 2 comprises a
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`conventional television set with a display screen 5 and the
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`control unit 3 comprises a set top box configured to receive
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`multi-channel digital broadcast transmissions via satellite
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`and cable, and also is provided with an Internet connection.
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`The major circuit components of the set
`top box are
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`shown in more detail in FIG. 2. The set top box 3 shown
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`within dotted outline receives digital satellite multi-channel
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`transmissions from a satellite source 6 shown schematically.
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`Similarly, cable digital
`transmissions are received from
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`source 7. The set top box 3 also has an Internet connection
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`8.
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`The set top box 3 may also include a device for retrieving
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`digital data from a pre-recorded source, such as a DVD or
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`hard disc shown schematically as data store 9.
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`Programming content data from the sources 6, 7, 8 and 9
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`is fed to content data control circuitry 10 which appropri-
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`ately passes or otherwise prepares the data from the indi-
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`vidual source for display on the screen 5 of the TV monitor
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`2. Selection of the programming content data to be displayed
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`is made by means of the infrared controller 4, which controls
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`operation of a program controlled processor 11. The con-
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`trolling program provides the graphics user interface. The
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`program may be stored in ROM in the processor 11 or in the
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`data store 14.
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`The data selected by the processor 11 is fed to drive
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`circuitry 12 to render the data in an appropriate form for
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`display by the TV display 5. As well known in the art, the
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`data also includes audio data which is fed to a loudspeaker
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`shown schematically by loudspeaker 13. It will be under-
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`stood that the circuitry includes appropriate D to A convert-
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`ers although these are not shown in order to simplify the
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`description. The loudspeaker 13 may comprise a conven-
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`tional loudspeaker in the TV monitor rather than in the set
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`top box 3 as shown.
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`In accordance with the invention, the set top box 3 is
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`configured to provide a graphical user interface on the
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`display screen 5 to enable the user to select the content
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`source to be displayed. Data for the graphical user interface
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`is held in a data store 14 and is supplied to the processor 11
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`by graphics display circuitry 15, so as to be included in the
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`display on screen 5.
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`An example of the graphical user interface is shown in
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`FIG. 3. The interface comprises a vertically extending scroll
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`bar V which extends generally vertically adjacent to the left
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`hand side edge of screen 5, together with a horizontally
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`extending scroll bar H that extends generally horizontally
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`adjacent to the lowermost horizontal edge of screen 5. The
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`scroll bars intersect in a focus region 16 in the lower left
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`hand corner of the display 5.
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`Each of the scroll bars V, H comprise a series of scroll bar
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`elements VO—VM and HO—HN. Considering the vertical scroll
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`bar V, the scroll bar elements VO—VM comprise individual
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`object fields in which information concerning sources of
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`program content can be displayed. In this example,
`the
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`vertical scroll bar elements comprise essentially two-dimen-
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`sional rectangular displays. The scroll bar elements V can be
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`scrolled vertically through the focus region 16 by use ofthe
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`“up” and “down” scroll buttons 17 and 18, so as to achieve
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`scrolling in the direction of arrow 19 shown in FIG. 3. The
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`4
`scroll bar elements HO— N comprise depictions of three
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`dimensional elements which include more than one object
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`field. In the example of FIG. 3,
`the horizontal elements
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`comprise polygonal elements, in the form of a three dimen-
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`sional rectangular block for which the individual faces or
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`facets comprise individual object fields. The horizontal
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`scroll bar H can be scrolled left and right in horizontal
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`scrolling direction 20 under the control of “left” and “right”
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`scrolling buttons 21, 22 on the remote controller 4 shown in
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`FIG. 1. Thus, the horizontal scroll bar can be scrolled so as
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`to move the individual scroll bar elements into the focus
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`region 16. The user interface is so arranged that when an
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`individual horizontal scroll bar element is moved into the
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`focus region 16, the objects fields for the vertically extend-
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`ing scroll bar elements V are populated with a group of
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`objects which signify individual content sources i.e.
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`provide details concerning content sources that fall within a
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`group associated with the individual horizontal scroll bar
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`element displayed in the focus region 16. The population of
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`the individual vertical scroll bar elements with the content
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`source information is initiated by depressing a select button
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`23 on the remote controller 4 shown in FIG. 1. As will be
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`explained in more detail hereinafter, the horizontal scroll bar
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`elements can be personalized for individual users of the
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`home entertainment device. For example in a family, the
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`scroll bar can be configured for use by father, mother, son
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`and daughter. In the example of FIG. 3, the horizontal scroll
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`bar has been configured for use by the father and a horizontal
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`scroll bar element H1 concerning “news” has been horizon-
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`tally scrolled into the focus region 16. Then, by depressing
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`the select button 23 on the remote controller, the vertical
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`scroll bar elements are populated with details concerning
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`content sources that the father has selected to form a group
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`associated with “news” for the horizontal scroll bar element
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`H1. Having selected the scroll bar element H1 for “news” in
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`the focus region 16, the user can then operate the vertical
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`scrolling keys 17, 18 on the controller 4 to scroll the vertical
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`scroll bar V so as to move one of the vertical scroll bar
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`elements V into the focus region 16. As shown in FIG. 3, the
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`vertical scroll bar elements may individually signify differ-
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`ent sources of news programming content or example broad-
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`cast news channel 1 (V2) which may be conventional
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`broadcast channel, cable news channel 2 (V3), received
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`through the cable programming source 7 (FIG. 2), an
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`Internet news site (V4) accessible through the Internet
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`source 8 and a satellite news channel (V5) for which content
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`is received from the source 6 shown in FIG. 2. When the
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`desired vertical scroll bar element has been scrolled into the
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`focus region 16, the select button 23 of the controller 4 is
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`operated, which results in the programming source being
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`selected and displayed on the display 5. Textual information
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`concerning the selected programming source is displayed
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`optionally in a text area 24 on the display. The programming
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`content itself for the selected source is initially display in
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`region 25. Thereafter, the graphical user interface can be
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`switched off and the programming content displayed over
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`the entire area of the screen 5. This may be at the control of
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`the user or after a predetermined time following operation of
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`the select button 23. Also, the programming content when
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`displayed in region 25 may be used to provide a preview of
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`the content of individual programming sources. Thus, by
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`scrolling the vertical scroll bar, individual scroll bar ele-
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`ments can be moved into the focus region 16 and their
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`corresponding content displayed as a preview.
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`In accordance with the invention, the horizontal scroll bar
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`elements H comprise three-dimensional depictions of more
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`than one content source grouping. Thus, in the example of
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`10
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`30
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`60
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`65
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`P.6
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`P. 6
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`5
`FIG. 3, the horizontal bar elements each provide content
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`source groupings for individual family members—father,
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`mother, son, daughter. The groupings for individual family
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`members can be selected by rotating the horizontal scroll bar
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`about its longitudinal axis as shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4A
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`illustrates the configuration of scroll elements shown in FIG.
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`3, with father’s content source groupings, facing forwardly;
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`hence father’s groupings are active. In order to activate the
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`groupings for other family members, the scroll bar is rotated
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`about longitudinal axis X—X' in the direction of arrow Y.
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`This may be achieved by operating the controller 4. For
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`example, a “rotate” button 26 may be depressed, which
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`causes the horizontal scroll bar to rotate through 90° into the
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`configuration shown in FIG. 4B, with mother’s groupings
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`facing forward and hence active. Considering the scroll bar
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`elements H1 that is located in the focus region 16,
`the
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`grouping “mother-shopping” is brought into the active focus
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`region by the rotation of the horizontal scroll bar. Then, if the
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`select button 23 is depressed,
`the vertical scroll bar is
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`populated with programming sources concerning shopping,
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`as shown in FIG. 4b. Furthermore, the horizontal scroll bar
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`can then be scrolled to bring other horizontal scroll bar
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`elements into the focus region 16 for example element H3,
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`in which case the vertical scroll bar element can be popu-
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`lated with programming source information concerning
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`“fashion”. Thereafter, an individual programming source
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`can be selected by scrolling the vertical scroll bar as previ-
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`ously described.
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`Content groupings for the other family members can be
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`selected by further rotating the horizontal scroll bar H. As
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`shown in FIG. 4C, thr groupings for “son” are rendered
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`active. It will be understood that a further rotation of the
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`scroll bar will select the groupings for “daughter”.
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`The naming of the facets for the individual horizontal
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`scroll bar elements can be carried out using keys of the
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`remote controller 4 and the user may use the remote con-
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`troller to select the groups of programming content sources,
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`and the sources to be included in the groups during an initial
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`setting up operation. Thus, the users: father, mother etc can
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`select their groupings and sources to be included in the
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`groupings.
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`Many modifications and variations of the graphical user
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`interface fall within the scope of the invention. For example,
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`the horizontal scroll bar elements H may be rotatable
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`individually rather than in unison. The program may pro-
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`duce drive signals to speaker 13 to provide a distinctive
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`sound each time the horizontal scroll bar is rotated. Further-
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`more, the scroll bar elements of the vertical scroll bar may
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`comprise sub-groupings of program source information con-
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`tained in the corresponding horizontal scroll bar element,
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`rather than data concerning a single programming source.
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`Thus, the individual vertical scroll bar elements may com-
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`prise three dimensional depictions of a plurality of program
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`sources, in the manner of the horizontal scroll bar elements,
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`which are individually rotatable to select an individual
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`program source to be scrolled vertically into the focus region
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`16.
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`Alternative forms of scroll bar element are shown in
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`FIGS. 5, 6, and 7. FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative form of the
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`horizontal scroll bar element H2 shown in FIG. 3. As
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`previously explained, four rectangular facets of the three
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`dimensional rectangular block shown in FIG. 3 signify
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`individual program source groupings. In the modification of
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`FIG. 5, the four facets are configured as a three dimensional
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`stack of files 27—30 which contain the four individual
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`groupings associated with block H2 i.e.
`father—sport,
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`mother—health, son—games and daughter—children’s TV.
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`US 6,976,228 B2
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`6
`Operation of the rotate button 26 on controller 4 causes the
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`facets to be shuffled so that the first, active file is taken to the
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`back of the stack. Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, the file 27 is
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`currently active and on operation of the button 26, is moved
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`in the direction of arrow Z to the back of the stack, so as to
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`reveal file 28—mother—health. Further operations of the
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`rotate button 26 offer the other files in the stack for selection.
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`In the modification of FIG. 6,
`the three dimensional
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`rectangular block H2 is depicted in a more schematic form,
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`with only two of the facets being shown, so as to display to
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`the user the active face 27 together with the next available
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`face 28 available for selection. Operation of the rotate button
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`26 causes facet 28 to move into the position of facet 27,
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`which itself moves out of view. Facet 28 then becomes
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`replaced by facet 29. In FIG. 6, the facets 27, 28 are shown
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`as if they were part of a rectangular block but the angular
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`disposition need not be at right angles; a non-rectangular
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`configuration could be used if desired.
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`Another modification is shown in FIG. 7 in which the
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`individual scroll bar elements are configured to rotate about
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`a vertical axis rather than the horizontal axis X—X' shown in
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`FIG. 4. Thus, successive operations of the rotate button 26
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`of the controller 4 causes the block to rotate about the
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`vertical axis in the direction of arrow Z to select the facets
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`as previously described.
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`It will be understood that any of the modifications of
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`FIGS. 5 to 7 could be applied to the vertical scroll bar
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`elements. Furthermore, other scroll bar element configura-
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`tions can be used, for example non-rectangular polygonal
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`elements. Whilst the invention has been described in relation
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`to a home entertainment device, it will be understood that
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`the graphical user interface can be used in other situations,
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`for example in connection with a home computer, gaming
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`devices and vending machines. Thus, it will be evident that
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`the content sources need not necessarily be remote broadcast
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`sources and the content need not necessarily be programmed
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`content data.
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`I claim:
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`1. A device to provide a graphical user interface for
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`selecting content from a plurality of sources thereof, the user
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`interface comprising:
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`first and second transversely extending and intersecting
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`scroll bars which each comprise a plurality of scroll bar
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`elements that can be scrolled successively through a
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`focus region positioned at an intersection between the
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`first and second scroll bars;
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`the scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar signifying
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`groupings of content sources, such that when elements
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`of the first scroll bar are scrolled individually into the
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`focus region,
`the scroll bar elements of the second
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`scroll bar signify content sources which are included
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`within a grouping thereof associated with the individual
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`element of the first scroll bar, whereby the scroll bar
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`elements of the second scroll bar can be scrolled
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`through the focus region to select a content source of
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`the grouping;
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`at least one of the scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar
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`being preprogrammed to comprise a multiple depiction
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`of more than one of said content source groupings,
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`whereby an individual one of the grouping