Invisible Menu Buttons for Optical Storage Media
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical storage media menus, such as DVD-Video, are limited in features and functionality, primarily offering static visual buttons for user interaction, which restricts flexibility and functionality in content management and control.
Innovation Solution
The method introduces invisible menu buttons and non-button objects that can be activated through remote control keys, allowing for more flexible menu systems with enhanced functionality, including multi-page menus and access to hidden content, while providing aural feedback and utilizing the same data structure as visible buttons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If all menu functions are represented by visible buttons, then user interface completeness is improved, but visual clutter and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts certain menu functions from the visible display area by implementing invisible buttons that are activated through remote control keys rather than visual display. This removes unnecessary visual elements while preserving full menu functionality, directly resolving the contradiction between interface completeness and visual clutter.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the remote control keys serve multiple functions: they both navigate visible buttons and activate invisible buttons. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain complete menu capabilities without requiring additional visual display elements, thus reducing visual clutter while preserving adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If invisible buttons are introduced, then menu flexibility is improved, but user interface complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of visible and invisible buttons into a unified menu system managed by the same data structure and control logic. The remote control serves as a universal interface for both button types, simplifying the overall interface structure despite the introduction of invisible buttons.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the same data structure for invisible buttons as for visible buttons, essentially creating a conceptual copy of the button framework that simply lacks visual representation. This reuses existing processing logic and reduces the need for separate complex handling mechanisms.
3Ease of operation
If remote control keys activate invisible buttons, then direct content access is improved, but navigation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the remote control key functions into two categories: navigation keys for visible buttons and direct access keys for invisible buttons. This segmentation allows users to access content directly without navigating through visible menu structures, improving ease of operation while maintaining clear navigation logic through separate key handling.
Data Source
AI summary
Optical storage media often contain data structures for a menu suitable for selection of a title, a chapter, a parameter or others. Such menus usually comprise a number of buttons to be displayed, with each button having a state. Possible states of buttons are e.g. “unselected”, “selected” or “activated”. According to the invention, the menu may contain buttons that can be selected through the keys on the remote control, but that don't have any images or text associated. This allows creating “invisible buttons” that automatically execute commands upon selection. Further, a sound or sound sequence, e.g. melody or click, may be associated to a buttons state, and may be played back when the button enters this state. Such menu data may be stored e.g. on a Blu-ray disc.