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

"The present invention is a user interface for interactive television that aims to be simple and consistent in its design. It employs a handheld user input device and a screen layout with hot zones and a central menu screen. The interface is designed to be easily navigated at a distance viewing angle and provides a \"ten foot experience\". It uses a combination of click actions and motion sensors for interaction with the user. The interface is designed to be simple and consistent in its design, with a screen layout that includes hot zones and a central menu screen. The handheld input device allows for click actions and the interface provides a three-click navigation method. The invention also includes an efficient GUI navigation method and a unique screen layout with active pixel areas that interact with the pointing device. The user interface is designed to provide a better user experience and facilitate distance viewing of the television."

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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