User interface having a cross arrangement

Abstract

A tangible computer readable storage medium storing instructions which when executed on a programmed processor carry out a process for navigation of menu options available to a user of an audio / visual (AV) system has instructions that enter a graphical user interface (GUI) in a menu system that is displayed on a video display; instructions that generate a signal for displaying a first navigable list of menu options on the video display, the first navigable list of menu options having a plurality of fields arranged in a first linear configuration that overlays the AV content currently playing on the video display with one of the menu options shown at a location of the video display that is highlighted; and instructions responsive to a navigation command from a remote controller, that move the first navigable list of menu options of the GUI to cause another field of the plurality of fields to move to the location that is highlighted, and thus highlight the another field while continuing to display the AV content currently playing on the television video display

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED DOCUMENTS[0001]This application is a divisional application of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 767,473, filed Jan. 29, 2004 to Proehl et al., which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 615,871, filed Jun. 13, 2000 to Proehl, et al, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,690,391 all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates generally to the use of audio / visual (AV) information on display apparatus of AV systems, and more particularly to the efficient and intuitive presentation, navigation, and selection of available AV information in a graphical user interface (GUI) that is displayed on a display apparatus of an AV system and controlled through judicious manipulation of a scrolling mechanism and selection mechanism of a navigation and selection device of the AV system.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]The continued growth of the numerous AV options available for viewing and / or listening by u...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]It is accordingly an object of the invention to be able to quickly and intuitively view, navigate, and select available AV options and information of an AV system.

[0007]Therefore, according to the present invention, an improved method, navigation and selection device, GUI and system are presented. In an AV system having one or more AV devices, a display apparatus capable of displaying interactive AV information, a navigation and selection device having an integral scrolling mechanism, and a GUI displayed on the display apparatus, a user of the system is able to quickly, intuitively, and efficiently navigate available AV options displayed during an interactive mode of the GUI through appropriate manipulation of the scrolling mechanism. Related AV options are organized by management software of the navigation and selection device as items within lists that, in turn, correspond to navigable fields of a status bar of the GUI during the GUI interactive mode. The AV options of a list are related in the sense that they will generally share one or more identifiable characteristics. A field of the status bar that is highlighted by a cursor of the GUI will display its list of related AV information options arranged as items within the list, assuming the highlighted field is navigable. Items within the list may be navigated by the user simply engaging the scrolling mechanism of the navigation and selection device to scroll the items through the highlighted field of the GUI status bar. A different field of the status bar may be selected by the user moving the scrolling mechanism in a lateral movement. Activation of the selection mechanism of the navigation and selection device will cause an AV device of the system to be controlled in accordance with the AV options displayed within the status bar fields at the time the selection mechanism is activated.

Problems solved by technology

The sources of such programming can today provide hundreds of stations to viewers who must navigate through myriad broadcasting choices, a prospect that is both time-consuming and frustrating.

This is a cumbersome and unsatisfactory solution, however, in that it requires the user to use these buttons many times to reach a desired on-screen option in the guide.

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