(12) INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT)
`
`(19) World Intellectual Property Organization
`International Bureau
`
`4 March 2010 (04.03.2010) (10) International Publication Number
`
`(43) International Publication Date
`
`WO 2010/025168 Al
`
`
`G1)
`
`QD
`
`International Patent Classification:
`G06F 3/00 (2006.01)
`
`International Application Number:
`PCT/US2009/055005
`
`(22)
`
`International Filing Date:
`
`26 August 2009 (26.08.2009)
`
`(81) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every
`kind of national protection available): AE, AG, AL, AM,
`AO, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BH, BR, BW, BY, BZ,
`CA, CH, CL, CN, CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM, DO,
`DZ, EC, EE, EG, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, GT,
`HN, HR, HU, ID,IL, IN,IS, JP, KE, KG, KM, KN, KP,
`KR, KZ, LA, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LY, MA, MD,
`ME, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MY, MZ, NA, NG, NI,
`NO, NZ, OM,PE, PG, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, RU, SC, SD,
`SE, SG, SK, SL, SM, ST, SV, SY, TJ, TM, TN, TR, TT,
`TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VC, VN, ZA, ZM, Zw.
`
`English
`English
`
`(25) Filing Language:
`(26) Publication Language:
`(30) Priority Data:
`61/190,224
`12/283,427
`
`26 August 2008 (26.08.2008)
`11 September 2008 (11.09.2008)
`
`except US):
`(or all designated States
`(71) Applicant
`OPENTY, INC. [US/US]; 275 Sacramento Street, San
`Francisco, CA 94111 CUS).
`
`us (84) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every
`US
`kind of regional protection available): ARIPO (BW, GH,
`GM, KE, LS, MW, MZ, NA, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG, ZM,
`ZW), Eurasian (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ,
`TM), European (AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE,
`ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LT, LU, LV,
`MC, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, SE, SI, SK, SM,
`(72) Inventors; and
`MeArMerae oe CMP GAs GN: GO. GW
`(75) Inventors/Applicants (for US only): CHAL Crx, K.
`>
`>
`>
`>
`>
`).
`[US/US]; 28 Anair Way, Oakland, CA 94605 (US).
`FISHMAN, Alex [US/US]; 100 20th Avenue, #6, San Published:
`i
`5
`
`Francisco, CA 94121 (US). —_with international search report (Art. 21(3))
`(74) Agents: ARORA, Suneel et al.; Schwegman, Lundberg
`& Woessner, PA, P.O. Box 2938, Minneapolis, MN
`55402 (US).
`
`(54) Title: COMMITMENT-BASED GUI
`
`FIG. I a
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`
`
`
`SET-TOP BOX ci?
`SYSTFM TO PROVIDE
`COMMITMENT-BASED GLI
`
`
`
`DISPLAY DEVICE
`
`140
`rc
`SIGNAL SCURCES
`
`148
`146
`
`oo
`144
`142
`L
`BROADCAST
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`pproancasr roost content||\aneo on nEMAKD
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`(57) Abstract: A commitment-based GUI is provided. In one example embodiment, a system to provide commitment-based GUI
`comprises a menu activation module, an actions monitor, a commitment detector, and a presentation control module. The menu
`activation module may be configured to activate a multi-panel media interface on a display device, the multi-panel media interface
`presenting one or more menu panels. The actions monitor may be configured to monitor activity ofa user with respect to the mul-
`ti-panel media interface. The commitment detector may be configured to determine a commitment level of the user, the commit-
`mentlevel indicating the user's interest level in navigating a menustructure associated with the multi-panel media interface. The
`presentation control module may be configured to adjust presentation of the multi-panel media interface based on the determined
`commitment level.
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`WO 2010/025168
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`COMMITMENT-BASED GUI
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`[0001]
`
`This patent application claims the benefit of priority to U.S.
`
`Patent Application Serial No. 12/283,427, filed on September 11, 2008, which
`
`claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 61/190,224,
`
`filed on August 26, 2008, which applications are incorporated hercin by
`
`10
`
`reference in their entirety.
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`[0002]
`
`‘This application relates to the ficlds of media and entertainment
`
`and specifically to commitment-based graphical user interface (GUD.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`15
`
`[0003]
`
`The approachesdescribed in this section could be pursued, but are
`
`not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued.
`
`Therefore, unless otherwise indicated herein, the approaches described in this
`
`section are not prior art to the claimsin this application and are not admitted to
`
`be prior art by inclusion in this section.
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`20
`
`[0004]
`
`In the field of media and entertainment, there is a new generation
`
`of viewers that has a high expectation of the level of entertainment to be enjoyed
`
`from various sources of content, such as, e.g., television programming, the
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`Internet, and locally stored content. These viewers may expect more choice,
`
`moreflexibility, as well as the ability to interact and participate more with the
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`25
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`viewable content.
`
`[0005]
`
`Onthe other hand, the sheer volume of content that is available
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`for viewing is exploding dramatically. Just the numberof television channels
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`that are now available is almost unmanageable. The amountof contentthat is
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`available via free video or video on demandserviceis also increasing. It is now
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`possible to view content over a wider span of time by employing time shifting
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`technologies, such as Personal Video Recording (PVR) (sometimesreferred to as
`
`DVRor Digital Video Recording). This explosion of content may be described
`
`as a paradox of choice, where the excess of choices causes a viewer’s inability to
`
`choose.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
`
`[0006]
`
`Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not
`
`limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references
`
`indicate similar elements and in which:
`
`[0007]
`
`Figure 1 illustrates an environment within which an example
`
`commitment-based GUI may be implemented, in accordance with an example
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`embodiment;
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`[0008]
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`Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating a system to provide a
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`commitment-based GUI, in accordance with an example embodiment, to
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`navigate viewable content;
`
`10
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`15
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`[0009]
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`Figure 3 is a flow chartillustrating a method for providing a
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`commitment-based GUI, in accordance with an example embodiment, to present
`
`a GUI based on commitment level of a user;
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`20
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`[0010]
`
`Figures 4-8 show presentations of a multi-panel media interface,
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`in accordance with an example embodiment; and
`
`[0011]
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`Figure 9 illustrates a diagrammatic representation of a machine in
`
`the example form of a computer system within whicha set of instructions, for
`
`causing the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed
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`herein, may be executed.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`[0012]
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`A commitment-based GUIis a next generation unified media
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`interface that may be configured to permit users to quickly and easily access
`
`content. It may also be configured as a community focused media viewing
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`environment, that enables users to open up their virtual living room to others and
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`thus expand their media universe. A commitment-based GUILis a menustructure
`
`that comprises a number of menu panels that are made accessible to a user as the
`
`user explores various menu options. A menu is a componentofa user interface
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`that allows the user to make selections and choices fromalist (e.g., a preset list
`10
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`or a list generated on the fly based on broadcast information, user preferences,
`
`etc.).
`
`[0013]
`
`The multi-panel menu, in one example embodiment, originates in
`
`the left hand margin of the viewer's screen.
`
`It may be activated by a user, e.g.,
`
`by using the right arrow key or some other particular key on a remote control
`
`device. As the user navigates deeper into the menustructure, additional
`
`information is progressively revealed based on the commitment metrics of the
`
`user. Commitment metrics of the user provide an indication of how committed
`
`the user is to navigating the menu rather than to watching currently displayed
`
`content (referred to as the main content). It will be noted that the term
`
`“navigating,” when used with respect to the multi-panel media interface,
`
`includes viewing a panel that is part of the multi-panel media interface. For
`
`example, a hover panes may be presented to a viewer automatically and may not
`
`include any selectable choices. Commitment-based GUIpresents a visual
`
`representation of the user's commitment. Por example, each next layer in the
`
`menustructure may take up a larger portion of the display area because the
`
`example commitment-based GUI may make an assumption that the user who
`
`continues navigating the menu structure is less interested in what she is currently
`
`watching and moreinterested in the menu content.
`
`In order to provide an
`
`indication of how deep the useris in the menu structure, the commitment-based
`
`GUI mayutilize various visual representation techniques, such as, e.g., shading.
`
`In one embodiment, the color of the menu items becomes darker as the user
`
`navigates deeper into the menu.
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`[0014]
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`Example commitment-based GUIis designedto interfere as little
`
`as possible with viewing of the main content on one hand and to encourage
`
`interaction in an intuitive and consistent manner. For example, while watching
`
`television, a user may wish to access a digital photograph stored on the user's
`
`personal computer (PC), a song stored on the user's universal serial bus (USB)
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`device, or a clip available via the Internet. Commitment-based GUT may be
`
`configured to consolidate various types of media available for access via an STB
`
`and to group the available media by content type so that a user can accessall of
`
`her media content via the example commitment-basedinterface.
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`[0015]
`
`Some example features of the commitment-based GUI include
`
`personalization, consistent navigation, and center focus. Personalization may
`
`include utilizing users' profiles to adjust presentation of the menusto align it
`
`with the needs and preferences of individual users. Consistent navigation may
`
`be described as a feature where activating the left arrow key or some other
`
`particular key on a remote control device causes navigating back onelevel in the
`
`menustructure and activating the right arrow key or some different particular
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`key on the remote control device causes navigating forward onelevel in the
`
`menu structure. Center focus is a feature where the menu focus is always
`
`positioned vertically centered on the screen to makeit easier for a user to follow
`
`content as the user navigates the menu structure.
`
`[0016]
`
`Other features may include persistent focus, hover focus, throttled
`
`list scrolling, and an action panel. Once the multi panel media interface is
`
`activated, the focus color or shape follows the focus from level to level. The
`
`focus is fluid, which makesit easier for a user to follow menu selections and the
`
`associated content content.
`
`In one example embodiment, focus persists in the
`
`form of a white colored bar. A hover focus is a way to provide a user with a
`
`preview of a next menu panel.
`
`In one embodiment, commitment-based GUI
`
`uses a time-based auto preview mechanism. For example, if a user stays on a
`
`menuitem for a certain duration of time (e.g., 3 seconds), the user is presented
`
`with a preview in the form of a hover focus. Examples of a hover focus are
`
`discussed with reference to igures 4-8.
`
`[0017]
`
`Throttled list scrolling is a way to accelerate scrolling though
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`menu items when a user indicates that she needs to navigate through the menu
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`items faster. For example, if a user depresses a navigation key on a remote
`
`control device with a greater force or depresses a navigation key on a remote
`
`control device for a certain period of time, the speed of scrolling through menu
`
`items may be automatically increased. Throttled list scrolling techniques may be
`
`used advantageously where a menu panel hasa large number of menu items,
`
`such as where the menu items correspond to 400 television channels available to
`
`a user, to allow the user to quickly access the desired content item.
`
`Commitment-based GUI may include a so called action panel, which is a menu
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`panelthat provides a user with a selection of actions that may be performed with
`
`respect to a content item. Some example actions may include playing the
`
`selected content item, recording, deleting, sharing, saving, rating, searching for
`
`related content items, etc., as illustrated in Figure 6.
`
`[0018]
`
`Commitment-based GUI may beutilized beneficially in the
`
`context of a network environment. Figure 1 illustrates an environment 100
`
`within which an example commitment-based GUI may be implemented. The
`
`environment 100 includes a set top box 110 in communication with an
`
`entertainment display device 120 and a control device 130. The set-top box
`
`(STB) 110 may be a device that connects to a television and an external source
`
`of signal, turning the signal into content which can then be displayed on the
`
`television screen.
`
`In one example embodiment, the entertainment display device
`
`120 is a television set, and the control device 130 is a remote control device that
`
`may be used for switching between television channels, for example. The set-
`
`top box 110 may be configured to include a system 112 to provide a
`
`commitment-based GUI that may include features outlined above. The set-top
`
`box 110 may be configured to receive content from sources such as, e.g., an
`
`Ethernet cable, a satellite dish, a coaxial cable, a telephone line (including digital
`
`subscriber line (DSL) connections), Broadband over Power Line, as well as very
`
`high frequency (VHF) or ultra high frequency (UHF) antenna. Content, in this
`
`context, could mean anyorall of video, audio, Internet web pages, interactive
`
`games, or other possibilities. As shown in Figure 1,
`
`the set-top box 110 is
`
`shownas having access to signal sources 140, including broadcast programming
`
`142, video on demand programs 144, as well as to local content 146 and Internet
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`content 148.
`
`[0019]
`
`As mentioned above, an example commitment-based GUI may be
`
`provided in the form of a multi-panel menu structure. The presentation of the
`
`menu structure to a user may be influenced by a perceived commitment of the
`
`user to navigating the menu structure, wherein the menu panels and the menu
`
`items appcar more prominently on the associated display screcn as the perccived
`
`commitment increases. An example system to provide commitment-based GUI
`
`may be described with reference to Figure 2.
`
`[0020]
`
`Figure 2 illustrates an example system 200 to provide
`
`commitment-based GUI. The system 200 includes a menu activation module
`
`210, an actions monitor 220, a commitment detector 230, and a presentation
`
`control module 240. The menu activation module 210 may be configured to
`
`activate the commitment-based GUI. In one embodiment, as discussed in more
`
`detail below, the commitment-based GUI may includehierarchically structured
`
`menu panels and may thusbe referred to as a multi-panel media interface. Such
`
`multi-panel media interface may be activated, e.g., in response to a command
`
`received by the set top box 110 from the remote control device 130 of Figure 1.
`
`Whenthe multi-panel media interface is activated, a user is presented with a
`
`main menu panel that appears at the left-hand margin of a display area on the
`
`display device 120 of Figure 1. The actions monitor 220 may be configured to
`
`monitor actions of the user with respect to the menu pancls presented by the
`
`commitment-based GUI in order to collect information that may be then used by
`
`other modules of the system 200 to fine-tune presentation of the one or more of
`
`the menu panels associated with the multi-panel media interface. For example, as
`
`mentioned above and is described in further detail below, if a user does not
`
`navigate away from a certain menu item, this state is detected by the actions
`
`monitor 220, and the associated information (e.g., the duration of viewing of the
`
`menu item) may be used to determine that the user should be presented with a
`
`preview of a next level menu panelor the associated metadata related to the
`
`menu item. Information collected by the actions monitor 220 may also be used
`
`by the commitment detector 230.
`
`[0021]
`
`The commitment detector 230 may be configured to determine a
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`commitment level of a user to navigating the menu structure as opposed to
`
`watching the main content. This determination may be based on and may be
`
`expressed by a value indicating, e.g., how long the user had been viewing the
`
`menuitems, as well as how deep in the menustructure has the user navigated.
`
`The determined commitment level may be then used by the presentation control
`
`module 240. The presentation control module 240 may be configured to adjust
`
`presentation of the menus provided by the multi-panel media interface based on
`
`the commitmentlevel of the user. Example operations performed by the system
`
`200 may be described with reference to Figure 3.
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`[0022]
`
`Figure 3 illustrates an example method 300 of providing a
`
`commitment-based GUI. The method 300 may be performedin the context of
`
`media and entertainment, e.g., in the context of television entertainment. The
`
`method 300 may be performed by processing logic that may comprise hardware
`
`(e.g., dedicated logic, programmable logic, microcode, etc.), software (such as
`
`run on a general purpose computer system or a dedicated machine), or a
`
`combination of both.
`
`It will be noted, that, in an example embodiment, the
`
`processing logic may reside in any of the modules shownin Figure 2.
`
`[0023]
`
`As shown in Figure 3, the method 300 commences with operation
`
`310, where the menu activation module 210 of Figure 2 activates a multi pancl
`
`media interface e.g., in response to a commandissued by a user from a remote
`
`control device. At operation 320, the actions monitor 320 of Figure 2
`
`commences monitoring of activity of the user with respect to the multi panel
`
`media interface. At operation 330, the commitment detector 230 of Figure 2
`
`determines a level of commitment of the user with respect to navigating the
`
`menustructure. In one embodiment, the commitment detector 230 may
`
`determine a value that reflects a commitmentlevel of the user, e.g., the value
`
`associated with the duration or the depth of the user's navigating the menu
`structure.
`
`[0024]
`
`The presentation control module 240 of Figure 2 adjusts
`
`presentation of the multi panel media interface based on the determined level of
`
`commitment. For example, a menu panel that correspond to a menu item that
`
`has not been actively selected by a user but is expected to be of interest to the
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`user may be presented in a semi-transparent fashion to give the user a preview of
`
`menu items available at the next menu level. If the commitment detector 230
`
`determinesthat the user has not navigated away from a current presentation of
`
`the multi panel media interface for a predetermined period of time, the
`
`presentation control module 240 mayadjust presentation of the menu panels
`
`suchthat the menu panel associated with the next menu level becomes more
`
`opaque. Example visual presentations of various features of the multi panel
`
`commitment-based media interface are provided in Figures 4-8.
`
`[0025]
`
`An example presentation interface showingthefirst level of the
`
`menustructure associated with commitment-based GUIis illustrated in Figure 4.
`
`As shownin Figure 4, a presentation area 400 comprises area 410 that includes a
`
`main content. The main content may be a television program, previously
`
`recorded content, an Internet web page, a locally stored digital photo, etc. Area
`
`420 includesthe first level menu (or the main menu) that permits a user to select
`
`a type of content(e.2., video, music, or images), to participate in the community
`
`(e.g., by rating content, or providing recommendationsto others), to search for
`
`content, etc. As mentioned above, commitment-based GUI enables viewers to
`
`easily access content. The navigational paradigm uses a consistent navigation
`
`model, whereby pressing the right arrow key on a control device always moves
`
`the menu presentation forward a level and the left arrow key on the control
`
`device always moves the menu presentation back a level. As shownin Figure 4,
`
`the focus is clearly denoted by the white bar. Specifically, in the area 420, the
`
`"VIDEO" menu item appears on a white background andis vertically centered in
`
`the presentation area 400. Shownto the right of the main menu,in area 430, is a
`
`so called hover focus, which provides a semi-transparent hint of the next level
`
`menu panel.
`
`[0026]
`
`As mentioned above, the right and left directional arrow keys may
`
`be used to navigate horizontally between menu panels. A menu item (or an
`
`option) may beassociated with a specific menu panel that expandsandretracts
`
`in line with the depth of the available menu options or based on additional
`
`information. The up and down arrow keys on a remote control device may be
`
`used to vertically scroll and navigate content within a menu panel. As the
`
`vertical menu panel focus changes, so does the presented hover focus.
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`[0027]
`
`As shown in Figure 5, the “Video” menu item that appeared in
`
`focus in the area 420 in Figure 4 has been expanded (in response to a user
`
`selecting the right arrow key on a remote control device) and the
`
`“RECORDINGS”menuitem in area 520 has been putin focus (in responseto a
`
`user selecting the down arrow key on the remote control device). In the area
`
`520, the "RECORDINGS" menu item appears on a white backgroundand is
`
`vertically centered in the presentation area 500. The hover focus associated with
`
`the "RECORDINGS" menu item appears in area 530. The hover focus provides
`
`a hint of the next level of menu options - here, the list of available recordings.
`
`The hoverfocusis displayed when the viewer commits to the menu option in
`
`focus, e.g., by not navigating away from the menu displayed in the area 420 for
`
`more than 3 seconds. The main contentis still displayed in area 510.
`
`[0028]
`
`Figure 6 illustrates an expanded multi-panel media interface
`
`presented in a presentation area 600.
`
`In this example, the viewer has chosen to
`
`select the menu itemtitled “Bicycle Race” - referenced in the hover focus in the
`
`area 530 of Figure 5 - by pressing the right arrow key on a remote control
`
`device. As a result, the user's commitment metric to this navigational route
`
`extends, which causes the increased amount of relevant information to be
`
`displayed. As shown in Figure6, the titles displayed in the hover focus in the
`
`area 530 of Figure 5 are presented in area 620 of Figure 6. The " Bicycle Race"
`
`menu item appears on a white background and is vertically centered in the
`
`presentation area 600. As the viewer navigates further into the menu structure,
`
`the depth may be denoted by a layered z-order of condensed panels (e.g., at the
`
`far left of the screen). The condensed panels may be differentiated by the level of
`
`opacity assigned (not shown).
`
`[0029]
`
`The hover focus that appears in area 630 when a specific menu
`
`item is selected appears in area 620 is aso called action panel. As shown in
`
`Figure 6, the hover focus presented in the area 630 is a panel menu with its own
`
`interdependent hover preview in area 640. An action panel may be employed to
`
`permit a user to access various actionable functionality associated with the
`
`selected content. Example action menu items and the associated functionality is
`
`listed below
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`PLAY-—play the recorded content.
`
`DELETE - delete the recorded content.
`
`KEEP — protect the content from being deleted.
`
`RATE-—rate the content.
`
`EXPORT- transferring content to external device.
`
`SHARE — share content recommendation.
`
`[0030]
`
`The action panel displayed in the area 630 and the hover preview
`
`displayed in the area 640 together may bereferred to as a media panel. In one
`
`example embodiment, the commitment-based GUI presents the viewer with a
`
`picture-in-picture hover preview of the content along with a synopsis, as can be
`
`seen in the arca 640.
`
`‘This additional information may be progressively revealed
`
`in line with the user's determined commitment level with respect to navigating
`
`the menustructure.
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`[0031]
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`Whenthe presentation 600 is available to the viewer, as shown in
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`Figure 6, the vieweris also able to activate a rating selector via the media panel
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`by navigating to the "RATE" menu item in the area 630 and then pressing the
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`right arrow key. The viewer can then select the numberof stars to be associated
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`with the their rating of the content. Once the content(here, the "Bicycle Race")
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`is rated, the rating data may be aggregated either globally or locally. Globally
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`aggregated ratings may then be added to a global list accessible via the multi-
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`pancl menustructure, depicting the most recommended showsfrom all
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`participating viewers. A viewer can chooseto record, rate or simply get more
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`information regarding a global recommendationorrating.
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`[0032]
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`T'igure 7 illustrates another example of an expanded multi-panel
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`media interface. Shownin the presentation arca 700 is the multi-pancl interface
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`design for live television (TV) content. A time panel is shownin area 720 on the
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`left-hand-side of the presentation area 700, while the main content appears in
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`area 710. The time panel allowsto navigate vertically between different time
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`slots, which permits a viewer to quickly view time-specific television program
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`listings. The programsthat are playing noware listed in area 730. The
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`programs that are scheduled to play during the next timeslot are listed as a hover
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`menu in area 740.
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`[0033]
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`Figure 8 illustrates presentation area 800 where a viewerselected
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`a particular content item, "Bicycle Race," from the menu panel in area 830. A
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`time pancl is shownin arca 820, while the main content appears in arca 810.
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`The selection of a specific content item may be effectuated by pressing the right
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`arrow key on a remote control device. The viewer may then quickly navigate
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`vertically through an extensive amountof content, e.g., using throttled list
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`scrolling. In response to detecting a selection of a content item by a user, the
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`multi-panel media interface may present an associated action panel shown in
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`area 840, as well as a hover preview of the selected content item (shownin area
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`850).
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`[0034]
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`Figure 9 showsa diagrammatic representation of machine in the
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`example form of a computer system within whicha set of instructions, for
`
`causing the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed
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`herein, may be executed.
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`[0035]
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`In alternative embodiments, the machine operates as a standalone
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`device or may be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines.
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`In a networked
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`deployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or a client
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`machine in server-client network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-
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`peer (or distributed) network environment. The machine may bea personal
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`computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a Personal Digital Assistant
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`(PDA), a cellular telephone, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge,
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`or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (Sequential or
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`otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. Further, while only
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`a single machineis illustrated, the term “‘machine” shall also be taken to include
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`any collection of machinesthat individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple
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`sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed
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`herein.
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`[0036]
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`The example computer system 900 includes a processor 902 (e.g.,
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`a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU) or both), a
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`main memory 904 and a static memory 906, which communicate with each other
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`via a bus 908. The computer system 900 may further include a video display
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`unit 910 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The
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`computer system 900 also includes an alphanumeric input device 912 (e.g., a real
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`or virtual keyboard), a viewer interface (UD navigation device 914 (e.g., a
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`remote control or a mouse), a disk drive unit 916, a signal generation device 918
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`(e.g., a speaker) and a network interface device 920.
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`[0037]
`
`The disk drive unit 916 includes a machine-readable medium 922
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`on whichis stored one or more sets of instructions and data structures(e.g.,
`
`software 924) embodying or utilized by any one or more of the methodologies or
`
`functions described herein. The software 924 mayalso reside, completely or at
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`least partially, within the main memory 904, within the processor 902 during
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`execution thereof by the computer system 900, the main memory 904 and the
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`processor 902 also constituting machine-readable media. The main memory 904
`
`comprises storage locations that are addressable by the processor 902 for storing
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`software program code. The memory may comprise a form of random access
`
`memory (RAM). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other memory
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`means, such as FLASH memory media, may also be used for storing the
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`program instructions and data structures shown in the main memory 904.
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`[0038]
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`The software 924 may further be transmitted or received over a
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`network 926 via the network interface device 920 utilizing any onc of a number
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`of well-knowntransfer protocols (e.g., HTTP).
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`While the machine-readable medium 922 is shown in an example
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`embodiment to be a single medium, the term "machine-readable medium" may
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`be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or
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`distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or
`
`more sets of instructions. The term "machine-readable medium” shall also be
`
`taken to include any medium (e.g., FLASH memory media) that is capable of
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`storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by the machine
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`and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of
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`the present invention, or that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying data
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`structures utilized by or associated with such a set of instructions. The term
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`"machine-readable medium”shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be
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`limited to, solid-state memories, optical and magnetic media.
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`[0040]
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`The embodiments described herein may be implemented in an
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`operating environment comprising software installed on a computer, in
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`hardware, or in a combination of software and hardware.
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`[0041]
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`Thus, a content based GUIthat permits navigating content
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`available for viewing (e.g., satellite content, cable content, mobile telephony
`
`content, IPTV content, and the like) and to manage a viewer’s choice have been
`
`described. In the description above, for purposes of explanation, numerous
`
`specific details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding
`
`of one example embodiment. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the
`
`art that the present invention may be practiced withoutthese specific details.
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`It
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`is to be noted that the delivery mechanism for the content for viewing may be via
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`a satellite, cable, terrestrial broadcast, Internet, local storage, a local network,
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`mobile telephony, or any other content distribution network. Accordingly, the
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`viewing device need not be a television set but may be any display unit of any
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`device (including portable devices). It will be noted that any references to
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`television content will be understoodto include any content available for
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`viewing on an entertainment display device, such as a television screen. Such
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`content may include television programming, as well as locally stored content,
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`such as stored vidcofiles or digital images, as well as content accessible via the
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`Internet. It will be noted that the term viewer may be understood broadly as any
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`viewer of the system to navigate television content.
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`CLAIMS
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`1.
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`A computer-implemented method comprising:
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`activating a multi-panel media interface on a display device, the multi-
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`panel media interface to present one or more menu panels;
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`monitoring activity of a user with respect to the multi-panel media
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`interface;
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`determining a value indicating a commitmentlevel of the user to
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`navigating a menu structure associated with the multi-panel media interface; and
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`adjusting presentation of the multi-panel media inter