Overlaying Graphic Identifiers for Direct Active Element Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Navigation through active elements on TV screens and set-top boxes using conventional remote controls is inefficient, requiring users to traverse the entire screen to reach desired elements, especially for web pages with dynamic content.
Innovation Solution
A device and method that overlays graphic elements corresponding to active elements on the screen, allowing users to select and activate them using a conventional remote control, with the ability to associate a single graphic element with multiple active elements and display additional elements upon group selection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If cursor-based navigation with arrow keys is used, then the system is compatible with conventional remote controls, but navigation speed becomes slow and requires traversing the entire web page
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical cursor movement system (arrow key by arrow key navigation) with a direct selection system using graphic elements and identifiers. Users can directly input identifiers or select from displayed options rather than mechanically moving the cursor across the entire screen, dramatically improving navigation speed while maintaining compatibility with conventional remote controls.
2Ease of operation
If the entire web page is traversed to reach desired active elements, then all elements are accessible, but navigation time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the web page content into distinct active elements, each marked with a graphic element and identifier. This segmentation allows users to directly access specific elements by their identifiers or through selective display of groups, eliminating the need to traverse the entire page sequentially and significantly reducing navigation time while maintaining accessibility to all elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-displaying graphic elements and identifiers for all active elements, or at least those in the current view. This preparation allows users to immediately select desired elements without sequential traversal, as the selection targets are already presented and ready for direct access.
3Ease of operation
If graphic elements are displayed for all active elements, then selection is simplified, but screen space is consumed and may obscure content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by displaying graphic elements and identifiers selectively - either for all elements when screen space permits, or for specific groups/elements based on user interaction. The system adapts the density and distribution of graphic elements to local screen conditions, ensuring ease of selection where space allows while preserving content visibility in constrained areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The display of graphic elements is dynamic rather than static. The system can adjust which elements have visible graphic overlays based on screen space availability, user selection state, and group expansion/collapse. This dynamic behavior allows the interface to optimize between selection ease and content visibility in real-time.
Data Source
AI summary
A first interface of a device receives content from a further device, at least one hardware processor analyses the content to find active elements that will be visible on a screen when displayed, generates a page by overlaying a first part of the content that will be visible on the screen when displayed with graphic elements respectively corresponding to found active elements, sends the page to a third interface for display on the screen and activates a corresponding active element upon reception, via a second interface from a user input device, of a command comprising an identifier displayed in a graphic element. In case the identifier corresponds to a graphic element associated with a group comprising a plurality of active elements, graphic elements corresponding to each active element in the group are overlaid over the first image.