User control interface for interactive digital television

Abstract

A method of controlling a television increasing a control function when a user-movable object is on one side of a line displayed on a layout, and decreasing the control function when the user-movable object is on the other side of the line. The method may involve movements in one, two, or three dimensions.

Description

[0001]This application claims priority under 35 USC 119 to U.S. Provisional Application 61 / 253,601, filed Oct. 21, 2009, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present inventions relate to interactive television, and to the display on a television screen of video and other content communicated over the Internet.[0003]Interactive television (iTV) is television or video programming that incorporates interactivity. Interactive television is used as an umbrella term for the convergence of television with digital media technologies including Internet communications. Television and Internet content are viewed over similar display devices, but have profound differences. The Internet represents a two-way medium that carries largely static content based upon point-to-point distribution. Television remains primarily a one-way medium with dynamic content distributed in point-to-multipoint methods. Interactive television can be considered a combi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]Principal goals of the present invention include (a) Simplicity—employing a simple and consistent organization of elements to facilitate visual perception, together with a straightforward sequence of operations in navigating the user interface; and (b) Distance Viewing—providing a user interface that is compatible with viewing at a distance, the “ten foot experience”

[0015]Uses three dimensional effects, employing the axis extending into and out of the screen, that enhance the ten foot experience.

[0025]In a more advanced version of the horizon line user interface, horizontal and vertical horizon line controls are used in combination, thereby providing simultaneous increase-decrease control of two different functions. This two-dimensional horizon line control can help the user visualize a coordinated increase or decrease of the level of the controlled functions.

[0026]In a further variation, a Z-axis horizon line control is used with the x- and y-axis controls to provide three degrees of control (3D horizon line interface). In one embodiment, the 3D horizon line interface includes a threshold plane and an active plane. The active plane may comprise a user-movable object that can move from a location in front of the threshold plane, to a location behind the threshold plane (or vice versa), in order to change between increase and decrease of a Z-axis controlled function. Depth cues such as linear perspective and size may improve visualization of the Z-axis dimension of control.

[0039]According to still another aspect of the invention, a method of controlling a television, the method including: providing a line and a user-movable object (cursor) on a layout displayed on the television; and increasing a control function when the user-movable object is on one side of the line, and decreasing the control function when the user-movable object is on the other side of the line.

Problems solved by technology

On the other hand, putting Web page from a computer browser directly on a television screen is generally not satisfactory to the user.

Adapting the personal computer user interface to the ten foot experience poses serious challenges in the visual interface design, and in the use of input devices for user interaction with the iTV.

In the ten foot experience, normal Web fonts and graphics are typically too small to be comfortably viewed.

In addition, whereas computer screens usually have a cursor to visually indicate the user's location on the screen, on TVs other than HDTVs cursors were difficult to locate.

However, most companies are not prepared to spend the time or money to go through this effort.

One of the challenges in designing interactive television for the ten foot experience has been planning user input to the iTV.

It is difficult to interact with traditional web pages using input devices typically associated with television.

Navigation and typing are particularly difficult with infrared remote controls or a virtual keyboard rather than a mouse and real keyboard.

In addition, it is difficult for a user to select hyperlinks using infrared remotes.

Alphanumeric input has also been cumbersome using TV remotes, typically requiring entry of characters one-by-one using an alphanumeric menu.

In summary, the use of a handheld TV remote for iTV navigation is awkward in comparison to a computer mouse and real keyboard located in fixed positions on a desk or table, which provide fast homing times and efficient alphanumeric input.

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