(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2002/0060750 A1
`(43) Pub. Date:
`May 23, 2002
`Istvan et al.
`
`US 2002006O750A1
`
`(54) SINGLE-BUTTON REMOTEACCESS TO A
`SYNTHETIC CHANNEL PAGE OF
`SPECIALIZED CONTENT
`(76) Inventors: Anthony F. Istvan, Snoqualmie, WA
`(US); Paul G. Allen, Mercer Island,
`WA (US)
`Correspondence Address:
`TOWNSEND AND TOWNSEND AND CREW,
`LLP
`TWO EMBARCADERO CENTER
`EIGHTH FLOOR
`SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111-3834 (US)
`(21) Appl. No.:
`09/788,997
`(22) Filed:
`Feb. 16, 2001
`Related U.S. Application Data
`(63) Non-provisional of provisional application No.
`60/258,134, filed on Dec. 22, 2000. Non-provisional
`
`of provisional application No. 60/193,046, filed on
`Mar. 29, 2000. Continuation-in-part of application
`No. 09/624,198, filed on Jul. 24, 2000, which is a
`continuation-in-part of application No. 09/591,547,
`filed on Jun. 8, 2000.
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51) Int. Cl. ................................................. G06F 13/00
`(52) U.S. Cl. ............................... 348/569; 725/38; 7.25/51
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`A method of displaying multimedia content on a display area
`of a broadband Internet-enabled television system includes
`providing a remote control to control contents being dis
`played on the display area. A television content is displayed
`on the display area. A first instruction transmitted by the
`remote control in response to activation of a first button is
`received. A first Synthetic channel page is displayed in
`response to the first instruction. The first Synthetic channel
`page includes a television content Section and an Internet
`content Section.
`
`30 6
`
`Logo
`
`
`
`302
`
`BrOWSer
`
`304
`
`Channel and network Call letters
`Program title
`Current time
`
`300
`
`EX. 1006
`LG Electronics, Inc. / Page 1 of 38
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`May 23, 2002 Sheet 1 of 25
`
`US 2002/0060750 A1
`
`s
`N
`
`1- - - - -
`
`seounos
`
`9?, ?.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`EX. 1006
`LG Electronics, Inc. / Page 2 of 38
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`May 23, 2002 Sheet 2 of 25
`
`US 2002/0060750 A1
`
`
`
`EX. 1006
`LG Electronics, Inc. / Page 3 of 38
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 23, 2002 Sheet 3 of 25
`
`US 2002/0060750 A1
`
`
`
`S
`
`2
`C)
`st
`D
`c
`C
`1
`
`- s ()
`
`C
`t
`s
`d
`
`S.
`
`(
`C
`O
`
`:
`
`EX. 1006
`LG Electronics, Inc. / Page 4 of 38
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`May 23, 2002. Sheet 4 of 25
`
`US 2002/0060750 A1
`
`
`
`EX. 1006
`LG Electronics, Inc. / Page 5 of 38
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 23, 2002 Sheet 5 of 25
`
`US 2002/0060750 A1
`
`
`
`EX. 1006
`LG Electronics, Inc. / Page 6 of 38
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 23, 2002 Sheet 6 of 25
`
`US 2002/0060750 A1
`
`
`
`?Uueu Jasn
`
`
`
`EX. 1006
`LG Electronics, Inc. / Page 7 of 38
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 23, 2002 Sheet 7 of 25
`
`US 2002/0060750 A1
`
`
`
`
`
`EX. 1006
`LG Electronics, Inc. / Page 8 of 38
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`May 23, 2002 Sheet 8 of 25
`
`US 2002/0060750 A1
`
`
`
`EX. 1006
`LG Electronics, Inc. / Page 9 of 38
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 23, 2002 Sheet 9 of 25
`
`US 2002/0060750 A1
`
`
`
`eujeujesn
`
`EX. 1006
`LG Electronics, Inc. / Page 10 of 38
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 23, 2002 Sheet 10 of 25
`
`US 2002/0060750 A1
`
`000||
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`?uueu J?ST)
`
`AL
`
`|- Z08
`
`EX. 1006
`LG Electronics, Inc. / Page 11 of 38
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 23, 2002 Sheet 11 of 25
`
`US 2002/0060750 A1
`
`90l?
`
`O!pny
`
`301 noS
`
`
`
`EX. 1006
`LG Electronics, Inc. / Page 12 of 38
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 23, 2002 Sheet 12 of 25
`
`US 2002/0060750 A1
`
`Q o 21
`
`
`
`EX. 1006
`LG Electronics, Inc. / Page 13 of 38
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 23, 2002 Sheet 13 of 25 US 2002/0060750 A1
`
`
`
`N
`
`i
`
`
`
`d s s
`
`EX. 1006
`LG Electronics, Inc. / Page 14 of 38
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 23, 2002 Sheet 14 of 25 US 2002/0060750 A1
`
`
`
`:
`
`EX. 1006
`LG Electronics, Inc. / Page 15 of 38
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 23, 2002 Sheet 15 of 25 US 2002/0060750 A1
`
`
`
`i R
`
`and
`
`s
`
`EX. 1006
`LG Electronics, Inc. / Page 16 of 38
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`May 23, 2002. Sheet 16 of 25 US 2002/0060750 A1
`
`
`
`EX. 1006
`LG Electronics, Inc. / Page 17 of 38
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 23, 2002 Sheet 17 of 25
`
`US 2002/0060750 A1
`
`
`
`
`
`~}--~~~~ ~~~~%%+)~~~~u, ~~~~…*…*…*---=- ~~~~ ~~~~~
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`... ----w----------a-Ya-- ruram-Yue - vacuser.--
`
`s N.
`
`
`
`– %)|- ----------------- - - - - - ----- - --?
`
`&a
`(N
`ts
`
`--
`r
`S.
`
`SÆT?T| | ||
`
`S.
`s
`
`S
`
`------------
`
`EX. 1006
`LG Electronics, Inc. / Page 18 of 38
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 23, 2002 Sheet 18 of 25
`
`US 2002/0060750 A1
`
`
`
`EX. 1006
`LG Electronics, Inc. / Page 19 of 38
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 23, 2002 Sheet 19 of 25
`
`US 2002/0060750 A1
`
`
`
`b) '91-'
`
`EX. 1006
`LG Electronics, Inc. / Page 20 of 38
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 23, 2002 Sheet 20 of 25
`
`US 2002/0060750 A1
`
`
`
`(v)
`
`IG):
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`EX. 1006
`LG Electronics, Inc. / Page 21 of 38
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 23, 2002 Sheet 21 of 25
`
`US 2002/0060750 A1
`
`
`
`EX. 1006
`LG Electronics, Inc. / Page 22 of 38
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 23, 2002 Sheet 22 of 25 US 2002/0060750 A1
`
`2100
`Y-
`
`Watch TV
`
`Activate "Enter" Button
`
`Display Main Menu
`
`21 O2
`
`2104
`
`2106
`
`2108
`
`Scroll to AOL Channels (several clicks)
`
`
`
`Display AOL Channel Menu
`
`Scroll to Sports Channel (several clicks)
`
`Display Sport Channel
`
`Fig. 21B
`
`EX. 1006
`LG Electronics, Inc. / Page 23 of 38
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`May 23, 2002 Sheet 23 of 25 US 2002/0060750A1
`
`
`
`EX. 1006
`LG Electronics, Inc. / Page 24 of 38
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 23, 2002 Sheet 24 of 25 US 2002/0060750 A1
`
`1
`
`232,
`
`232)
`2?
`
`23.0%
`
`Watch W
`
`Press Sports button
`
`
`
`
`
`Goo TWitton
`
`Display synthethic sports channel page
`
`2 A0.
`
`d
`/ 24
`
`As a
`
`Watch W
`
`Press Sports button
`
`
`
`Press Sports button
`
`Display synthethic sports channel page
`
`Fig. 24
`
`EX. 1006
`LG Electronics, Inc. / Page 25 of 38
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication May 23, 2002 Sheet 25 of 25 US 2002/0060750 A1
`
`
`
`Watch TV
`
`First synthetic sports channel page
`
`Second synthetic sports channel page
`
`Third synthetic sports channel page
`
`Fig. 25
`
`EX. 1006
`LG Electronics, Inc. / Page 26 of 38
`
`

`

`US 2002/0060750 A1
`
`May 23, 2002
`
`SINGLE-BUTTON REMOTEACCESS TO A
`SYNTHETIC CHANNEL PAGE OF SPECIALIZED
`CONTENT
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`0001. The present application is related to and claims
`priority from provisional application U.S. Serial No. 60/193,
`046, entitled “User Interface for Interactive Television with
`Broadband Connectivity to the Internet,” filed Mar. 29,
`2000, with inventor Anthony F. Istvan, which is hereby
`incorporated by reference in its entirety. The present appli
`cation is also a continuation-in-part of nonprovisional appli
`cation U.S. Ser. No. 09/624,198, entitled “User Customiz
`able Interface to TV and Internet Content,” filed Jul. 24,
`2000, with inventor Anthony F. Istvan, which is in turn a
`continuation-in-part of nonprovisional application U.S. Ser.
`No. 09/591,547, entitled “L Configured User Interface to
`Television and Internet Content,” filed Jun. 8, 2000, with
`inventors Anthony F. Istvan and Lisa M. Wilkins, which are
`both hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
`
`COPYRIGHT NOTICE
`0002 A portion of the disclosure of this patent document
`contains material which is Subject to copyright protection.
`The copyright owner has no objection to the Xerographic
`reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent
`disclosure in exactly the form it appears in the Patent and
`Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise
`reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`0003. The present application pertains to the fields of
`television reception and Internet access. More particularly,
`the present application pertains to a user interface to tele
`Vision broadcasts and Internet content.
`
`BACKGROUND
`0004 Televisions and Internet technologies are begin
`ning to converge. In particular, access to the World Wide
`Web via an Internet-enabled television System is progressing
`and becoming more popular. However, prior art user inter
`faces for Such Systems are limited in their capabilities and do
`not provide for user-friendly access to both broadcast tele
`vision (TV) and Internet content.
`0005 U.S. Pat. No. 6,034,689, entitled “Web Browser
`Allowing Navigation Between Hypertext Objects. Using
`Remote Control,” discloses browser software implemented
`in a Set-top box which allows a user to navigate using a
`remote control through World Wide Web pages. This
`browser Software has limited capabilities and comprises a
`relatively simple user interface which allows for selection of
`hypertext anchors. In this Simple user interface, access to
`Web pages is provided for Separately from access to broad
`cast TV.
`
`SUMMARY
`0006 User interfaces for Internet-enabled television sys
`tems have unique needs Stemming from their need to dis
`play, in a user-friendly way, both broadcast television and
`Internet content. The present invention provides for user
`friendly access to both broadcast television and Internet
`content via a Single integrated user interface.
`
`0007. In one embodiment, a method of displaying mul
`timedia content on a display area of a broadband Internet
`enabled television System includes providing a remote con
`trol to control contents being displayed on the display area.
`A television content is displayed on the display area. A first
`instruction transmitted by the remote control in response to
`activation of a first button is received. A first synthetic
`channel page is displayed in response to the first instruction.
`The first Synthetic channel page includes a television content
`Section and an Internet content Section.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`0008 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram depicting a system
`100 for distributing Internet content, in addition to TV
`content, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
`invention.
`0009 FIG. 2 is an illustrative screen frame of a display
`with a full-size Video being displayed.
`0010 FIG. 3 depicts an example layout 300 of a user
`interface (UI) which has been activated in accordance with
`an embodiment of the present invention.
`0011 FIG. 4 is an illustrative screen frame of a UI which
`has been activated in accordance with an embodiment of the
`present invention.
`0012 FIG.5 depicts an example layout 500 of a UI with
`a user Submenu activated in accordance with an embodiment
`of the present invention.
`0013 FIG. 6 depicts an example layout 600 of a UI with
`a TV Submenu 602 activated in accordance with an embodi
`ment of the present invention.
`0014 FIG. 7 depicts an example layout 700 of a UI with
`television listing controls in the context-sensitive area 304 in
`accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
`0.015 FIG. 8 is an illustrative screen frame of a UI in a
`TV listing mode which provides an electronic programming
`guide (EPG) in accordance with an embodiment of the
`present invention.
`0016 FIG.9 depicts an example layout 900 of a UI with
`a browser Submenu 902 activated in accordance with an
`embodiment of the present invention.
`0017 FIG. 10 depicts an example layout 1000 of a UI
`with browser controls in the context-sensitive area 304 in
`accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
`0018 FIG. 11 is an illustrative design for a remote
`control 1100 in accordance with an embodiment of the
`present invention.
`0019 FIG. 12 depicts a synthetic channel settings page
`1200 for user customization of selections of synthetic chan
`nels focusing on Specialized content categories in accor
`dance with an embodiment of the present invention.
`0020 FIG. 13 depicts an example page of a synthetic
`channel focusing on general news for purposes of illustra
`tion.
`FIG. 14 depicts an example page of a synthetic
`0021
`channel focusing on Sports news for purposes of illustration.
`
`EX. 1006
`LG Electronics, Inc. / Page 27 of 38
`
`

`

`US 2002/0060750 A1
`
`May 23, 2002
`
`0022 FIG. 15 depicts an example page of a synthetic
`channel focusing on financial news for purposes of illustra
`tion.
`0023 FIG. 16 depicts an example page of a synthetic
`channel focusing on entertainment news for purposes of
`illustration.
`0024 FIG. 17 depicts an example page of synthetic
`channel focusing on football for purposes of illustration.
`0025 FIG. 18 depicts a user interface which includes a
`multimedia bar and an embedded media viewer in accor
`dance with an embodiment of the present invention.
`0.026
`FIG. 19 depicts a user interface which includes a
`multimedia bar for use with pop-up media viewers in
`accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
`0.027
`FIG. 20 depicts a pop-up media viewer overlaid
`over a Screen in accordance with an embodiment of the
`present invention.
`0028 FIG. 21A depicts a pop-up text viewer overlaid
`over a Screen in accordance with an embodiment of the
`present invention.
`0029 FIG. 21B illustrates a method of navigating from
`a television mode to a “Sports Channel” mode in an inter
`active television system provided by AOLTV.
`0030 FIG. 22 is an illustrative design for a remote
`control in accordance with an embodiment of the present
`invention.
`0.031
`FIGS. 23-25 are illustrative methods of navigating
`between a television content and a Synthetic Sports channel
`page in accordance with embodiments of the present inven
`tion.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC
`EMBODIMENTS
`FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram depicting a system
`0.032
`100 for distributing Internet content, in addition to TV
`content, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
`invention. In accordance with an embodiment of the present
`invention, the system 100 is integrated with a cable TV
`distribution system. Such cable TV distribution systems may
`include cable headends and are well known in the art.
`0033. The system 100 includes an Internet 102, a plural
`ity of content sources 104, a plurality of distribution centers
`(depicted as headends or H/E) 106, and a plurality of client
`terminals (depicted as set top boxes or STB) 108. In addi
`tion, a content Source 104 is depicted as receiving data from
`data feeds 112, advertisement Servers 114, image Sources
`116, and streaming video sources 118.
`0034. The plurality of content sources 104 are coupled to
`the Internet 102. For example, a content source 104 may
`comprise a web site portal Such as Go2Net.com, or a news
`web site such as CNN.com, or other types of sources. Each
`content source 104 may have various data feeds 112, servers
`114, and sources 116/118 coupled to it.
`0035. For example, news or stock quote feeds 112 may be
`fed into the content source 104. Servers 114 may provide
`advertisements for insertion into multimedia content deliv
`ered by the content source 104. Sources 116/118 may
`provide images 116, Streaming Video 118, and other content
`
`to the content Source 104. Various other feeds, servers and
`Sources may also be coupled to the content Source 104.
`0036) The Internet 102 comprises a network of networks
`and is well known in the art. Communications over the
`Internet 102 are accomplished using Standard protocols Such
`as TCP/IP (transmission control protocol/internet protocol)
`and other protocols. The Internet 102 is coupled to the
`plurality of distribution centers 106. For example, a distri
`bution center 106 may comprise a cable headend (H/E).
`0037 Each distribution center 106 is coupled to a plu
`rality of client terminals 108. For example, a client terminal
`108 may comprise a set top box (STB), a personal computer,
`an interactive television Set, or another type of communi
`cation device.
`0038. In alternative or in addition to the Internet 102
`being used to distribute multimedia content from the content
`Sources 104 to distribution centers 106, communications
`channels or networks 120 apart from the Internet 102 may
`couple one or more content Source 104 to one or more
`distribution center 106. One example of such an alternate
`path for communications is illustrated in FIG. 1. Other
`configurations are also possible and meant to be included
`within the Scope of the present invention.
`0039 FIG. 2 is an illustrative screen frame of a display
`with a full-size video being displayed. While the screen
`frame is a still frame, the actual Video is a motion video
`comprising a multitude of frames in Sequence.
`0040 FIG. 3 depicts an example layout 300 of a user
`interface (UI) which has been activated in accordance with
`an embodiment of the present invention. In one embodi
`ment, when the UI is activated, the full-size display (see
`FIG. 2) shrinks in an “animated” fashion (i.e. with visible
`motion to a viewer) to occupy a reduced-size area 301 of the
`display. Alternatively, when the UI is activated, the L
`configured UI may be Superimposed (overlaid) over the
`full-size display. For example, Shrinking the full-size display
`may be used if the display is showing TV or video content
`while Superimposing over the full-size display may be used
`if the display is showing pages which do not Scale well A
`“menu' button on a remote control unit may be used to
`activate and deactivate the UI.
`0041. The UI includes a group of primary or “permanent”
`controls 302 on a first side of the reduced-size area 301, a
`context-sensitive area 304 on a second side of the reduced
`Size area 301 (perpendicular to the first Side), and a logo area
`306 at the intersection of the two sides. In the example
`layout 300 shown in FIG. 3, the primary controls 302
`include user (“user name”), TV, mail, browser, and help
`controls or control icons.
`0042 Selection of these primary control icons typically
`reveals a corresponding Submenu. For purposes of illustra
`tion, described in detail below are a Selection of Such
`submenus. First, an, example of a user submenu 502 is
`described below in relation to FIG. 5. Second, an example
`of the TV Submenu 602 is described below in relation to
`FIG. 6. Third, an example of a browser Submenu 902 is
`described below in relation to FIG. 9.
`0043. The context-sensitive area 304 may display differ
`ent information (non-Selectable items) and control icons
`(Selectable items) depending upon the content in the display
`
`EX. 1006
`LG Electronics, Inc. / Page 28 of 38
`
`

`

`US 2002/0060750 A1
`
`May 23, 2002
`
`area 301. Initially, the context-sensitive area 304 may dis
`play information on the TV content currently being dis
`played in the display area 301. The information may include,
`for example, channel number/network call letters, program
`title, and current time.
`0044 As the content in the display area 301 varies, so
`will the information and control icons in the context-sensi
`tive area 304. For example, first, when display area 301
`contains TV content, then context-sensitive area 304 may
`have the information shown in FIG. 3. Second, when the
`display area 301 contains electronic programming guide
`(EPG) content, then context-sensitive area 304 may have the
`controls described in relation to FIG. 7. Third, when display
`area 301 contains web content, then context-sensitive area
`304 may have the controls described in relation to FIG. 10.
`004.5 The logo area 306 may display, for example, a logo
`and name for a Service provider. In this example, the Service
`provider is named Charter CommunicationsTM.
`0046) While the particular layout of FIG. 3 shows a “L”
`configured UI along the top and left Sides of the display,
`other “L” configurations are also contemplated and within
`the scope of the present invention. For example, the “L”
`configured UI may instead be along the bottom and left
`Sides, or the bottom and right sides, or the top and right
`Sides.
`0047. In accordance with an embodiment of the present
`invention, a first pair of arrows on a remote control navigates
`among the primary controls, and a Second pair of arrows
`(perpendicular to the first pair) navigates among the context
`Sensitive controls. Switching between navigation among the
`primary controls and navigation among the context-sensitive
`controls occurs automatically upon Switching between using
`the first pair of arrows and using the Second pair of arrows.
`An example of a remote control with Such arrows is shown
`in FG 11 which is described below.
`0048 FIG. 4 is an illustrative screen frame of a UI which
`has been activated in accordance with an embodiment of the
`present invention. The frame shown in FIG. 4 is an imple
`mentation in close (but not exact) correspondence to the
`layout 300 of FIG. 3. Like the layout 300 in FIG. 3, the UI
`of FIG. 4 has primary controls on the left side, a context
`Sensitive area on the top, and a Service provider's logo at the
`upper left corner.
`0049 Regarding the primary controls, “Bob234” is an
`example name of a currently active user. The “Surf control
`corresponds to the browser control. Regarding the context
`sensitive area, “Conde Nast Traveler” corresponds to the
`program title. “Channel 31, DSC corresponds to the chan
`nel/network call letters. And, finally, “1:02 pm 02/28/00”
`corresponds to the current time (and date).
`0050 FIG.5 depicts an example layout 500 of an UI with
`a user Submenu 502 activated in accordance with an embodi
`ment of the present invention. The user submenu 502 is
`activated by Selecting the “user name' on-Screen control
`from the group of primary controls 302. The user submenu
`502 may include various selections.
`0051) The “family” user is the default selection when the
`UI is activated. In one embodiment, the family user will be
`able to acceSS only content which is accessible to all other
`users. In other words, the family user will have a “permis
`
`Sion Space” which is the interSection of permission Spaces of
`all other users. Advantageously, this feature does not require
`a password to be entered upon turning on the TV. Never
`theless, this feature may be used to prevent children from
`accessing excessively violent or adult-oriented content.
`Moreover, the protection provided may extend to both TV
`and Internet content.
`0052 User #2, user #3, ..., user #N, may be individual
`user names, each of which may have a password to protect
`against entry by an unauthorized perSon. For example, the
`different users may correspond to members of a family.
`These user names may be Sorted alphabetically in the user
`Submenu 502. When an individual user name is selected and
`password, if any, entered correctly, then the user name
`becomes the active user.
`0053. The “manage users” and “settings' selections may
`be used to perform Such function as: editing user name,
`password, and other user-related information for a specified
`user account; allowing users to block certain emails, allow
`ing a user with administrative privileges to add or remove
`users and change user privileges, and So on.
`0054 FIG. 6 depicts an example layout 600 of a UI with
`a TV Submenu 602 activated in accordance with an embodi
`ment of the present invention. The TV submenu 602 is
`activated by selecting the “tv' on-screen control from the
`group of primary controls 302. The TV submenu 602 may
`include various Selections.
`0055. The “listing” selection provides an electronic pro
`gramming guide (EPG) to broadcast TV content. When the
`EPG is provide, corresponding controls are provided in the
`context-sensitive area 304 as described below in relation to
`FIG. 7. An example of such an EPG within the UI is
`illustrated in FIG. 8 which is also described below.
`0056. The “info' Selection provides information relating
`to the TV program currently being viewed in the display area
`301. The information may include a brief description of the
`program, names of actors/actresses, copyright year, and So
`O.
`0057 The TV “favorites” selection provides a user with
`a list of his/her favorite TV channels. When a TV channel is
`selected from the favorite list, then the embedded TV display
`changes to that channel.
`0.058. The TV “recents” selection provides small screen
`video images of the last N (where N is a positive integer) TV
`channels viewed. For example, if N=9, then video images of
`the 9 most recently viewed TV channels may be shown in a
`3x3 matrix configuration in the embedded display 301. The
`number N may be fixed, or it may be user selectable.
`0059) The TV “search” selection provides a mechanism
`to Search electronic program guide (EPG) listings for a
`particular program or programs. The Search may be by
`program title, type of program (e.g., “basketball” may be
`Searched to find basketball games being broadcast), by
`actor/actress, and So on.
`0060. These and other selections may be provided in the
`TV submenu 602. For example, “recent links' and “channel
`setup' selections are depicted in the TV submenu 602 of
`FIG. 6. The “recent links' selection provides access to
`hyperlinkS recently received via a mechanism Such as an
`ATVEF (Advanced TV Enhancement Forum) trigger.
`
`EX. 1006
`LG Electronics, Inc. / Page 29 of 38
`
`

`

`US 2002/0060750 A1
`
`May 23, 2002
`
`ATVEF is a cross-industry alliance of companies from
`broadcast and cable networks, television transport, con
`Sumer electronics, and personal computer industries. The
`“channel setup' selection allows a user to specify which TV
`channels are included as channels to tune to as part of the
`channel up/down tuning Sequence.
`0061 FIG. 7 depicts an example layout 700 of a UI with
`television listing controls in the context-sensitive area 304 in
`accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
`The television listing controls are provide when the display
`area 301 is used to provide an electronic programming guide
`(EPG).
`0062) The television listing controls shown in FIG. 7
`include a “change day” control, an EPG “search” control,
`and a “stay on channel” control. The “change day” control
`allows the user to change the day of the program grid being
`shown by the EPG. The EPG “search” control provides
`access to a mechanism to Search EPG listings for a particular
`program or programs. The "stay on channel’ control com
`prises a toggle control to activate/deactivate this option.
`When the option is deactivated, then the TV tuner actively
`tunes to the Selected channel in the program grid of the EPG.
`When the option is activated, then the TV tuner remains on
`the channel that was being displayed before entering the
`EPG.
`0063 FIG. 8 is an illustrative screen frame of a UI in a
`TV listing mode which provides an electronic programming
`guide (EPG) in accordance with an embodiment of the
`present invention. The frame shown in FIG. 8 is an imple
`mentation in close (but not exact) correspondence to the
`layout 700 of FIG. 7. (The frame of FIG. 8, for example,
`does not show a “stay on channel” toggle control.) The EPG
`shown provides a programming grid including rows repre
`Senting different channels, and columns representing differ
`ent timeslots. Other implementations of an EPG are also
`possible.
`0064 FIG. 9 depicts an example layout 900 of a UI with
`a browser Submenu 902 activated in accordance with an
`embodiment of the present invention. The browser submenu
`902 is activated by selecting the “browser' on-screen control
`from the group of primary controls 302. The browser
`submenu 902 may include various selections.
`0065. The “home” selection may provide access to a web
`page designated by a service provider (e.g., a MSO) as its
`“home’ page. In one embodiment, when going to the home
`page, the L configured UI retracts, So that the home page is
`shown on a full-size Screen.
`0.066 The “user defined” selections provide access to
`Specialized web pages which may be focused to various
`categories of content. For example, the Specialized web
`pages may focus on categories Such as news, money, Sports,
`weather, entertainment, and others. Again, in one embodi
`ment, when going to a specialized web page, the L config
`ured UI retracts, So that the Specialized page is shown on a
`full-size Screen.
`0067. These and other selections may be provided in the
`browser submenu 902. For example, “more,”“go to.”
`browser “favorites,” and browser “search' selections are
`depicted in the browser submenu 902 shown in FIG. 9. The
`"more' button provides access to other categories of content
`in addition to those specified by the “user defined” selections
`
`described above. The “go to” button provides a query text
`box which allows a user to specify a URL to be displayed in
`the browser. The browser “favorites” button provides access
`to an organized data Structure of favorite linkS. These
`browser favorites may be provided separately from the TV
`favorites, or they may be provided together in an integrated
`data Structure. The browser “Search” control provides access
`to a mechanism to search for particular Internet or Web
`content. The browser Search may be provided Separately
`from the EPG search, or they may be provided together in
`an integrated Search feature.
`0068 FIG. 10 depicts an example layout 1000 of a UI
`with browser controls in the context-sensitive area 304 in
`accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
`The browser controls are provided when the display area
`301 is used to access World Wide Web content and other
`Similar hyperlinked content.
`0069. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the left and
`right arrows 1002 may be individually selected. The left
`arrow Scrolls or shifts the browser controls one button to the
`left. For example, in FIG. 10, the left arrow would cause the
`“home’ button 1004 to Scroll “behind the arrows 1002 and
`a control button (not shown) to the right of the “reload”
`button 1014 to become visible at the right side of the
`context-sensitive area 304. Similarly, the right arrow scrolls
`or shifts the browser controls one button to the right.
`0070. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the “home”
`button 1004 may provide access to a web page designated by
`a service provider (e.g., a MSO) as its “home” page. The
`“faves” or favorites button 1006 provides access to a list of
`web pages or URLS that the user Selects as his/her favorites.
`The “save” button 1008 enables a user to save a web page
`currently being displayed as a favorite page. The “go to
`button 1010 provides a query text box which allows a user
`to specify a URL to be displayed in the browser. The
`“search” button 1012 provides access to a mechanism to
`search for particular Internet or Web content. The “reload”
`button 1014 causes the content currently in the display 301
`to be refreshed.
`0071 Other buttons may be provided to the right of the
`“reload” button 1014. In one embodiment, the other buttons
`may include a “print” button, a “find” button, a “send”
`button, and an “info' button. The “print” button provides for
`printing, with various options, of the web page being dis
`played. The “find” button provides for finding a specified
`text String within the web page being displayed. The "send’
`button provides for Sending an email with the web page
`being displayed or its URL attached thereto or contained
`therein. Finally, the “info' button provides additional infor
`mation about the web page being displayed.
`0072 FIG. 11 is an illustrative design for a remote
`control 1100 in accordance with an embodiment of the
`present invention. Many other designs with Similar func
`tionality are, of course, possible and would be within the
`Scope of the present invention.
`0073. The menu button 1102 may be used to activate and
`deactivate the UI as described above in relation to FIG. 3.
`The “Go To TV” button 1103 returns the display to a
`full-screen television display as illustrated by FIG. 2.
`0074 The up arrow 1108 and down arrow 1110 may be
`used to navigate among the primary controls 302. The left
`
`EX. 1006
`LG Electronics, Inc. / Page 30 of 38
`
`

`

`US 2002/0060750 A1
`
`May 23, 2002
`
`arrow 1104 and right arrow 1106 may be used to navigate
`among controls in the context-sensitive area 304. Switching
`between navigation among the primary controls and navi
`gation among the context-sensitive controls occurs auto
`matically upon Switching between using the up/down arrows
`1108/1110 and using the left/right arrows 1104/1106. The
`“Go” button (which may also be designated the “OK”
`button) Selects the Screen object currently pointed to and
`triggers whatever event is associated with the object.
`0075. In accordance with an embodiment of the present
`invention, the user interface may advant