KR101239971B1 - Displaying Method Of Menu Picture - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a display method of a menu screen. A method of displaying a menu screen having a main item and a sub-item according to the present invention includes the steps of: displaying the main item having a sub-area extending in a virtual one axis direction in a 3D environment; Stacking and displaying at least one first sub-item on another layer in an upper layer of the sub-region; Receiving a selection signal for selecting at least one of the first sub-items; And displaying a second sub-item corresponding to the first sub-item stacked in another layer on an upper end of the sub-region in which the first sub-item is displayed. As a result, the menu items displayed on the display unit are displayed in three dimensions, so that the user can select a menu more easily. In addition, it is possible to easily grasp the position of the path of the selected menu item, the relation between the menu items and the overall menu structure.

Description

Display Method of Menu Picture

1 is a control block diagram of a display device to which a menu screen display method is applied according to the present invention;

2A to 2C are diagrams illustrating a screen that is changed every time a sub-item is selected in the menu screen display method according to the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a menu screen display method according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

10: tuner 30: signal processor

35: signal processor 37: UI generation unit

50: display unit 70: control unit

80: user selection unit

The present invention relates to a method of displaying a menu screen, and more particularly, to a method of displaying a menu screen in which a menu screen to be displayed is improved when a menu item having a main item and a sub item is searched.

A general display apparatus for displaying an image such as a television, a monitor, or a PDP apparatus includes a display unit for displaying an image screen, a signal processor for processing an input image signal, and converting the image signal to be displayed on the display unit. And a microcomputer for controlling their operation.

Such a display device displays a user adjustment menu including various adjustment items for adjusting the state of the display device on an on screen display (OSD) screen. Thus, the user can adjust the state of the display apparatus while viewing the user adjustment menu.

On the other hand, in order to meet the adjustment of various functions that increase as the function of the display device is diversified and the user's demand increases, the number of menu items for adjustment by the user to be displayed is increased or the detailed setting of the menu items is increased. We use the Depth concept or the Page concept to control this.

For example, in the conventional display apparatus, when the predetermined menu item is selected to adjust detailed settings corresponding to the predetermined menu item among the displayed menu items of the user adjustment menu, the display device corresponds to the predetermined menu item. A sub menu item, that is, a sub item of the menu item is displayed. That is, the displayed menu item is converted to the lower menu item and displayed.

However, users who use the custom menu on the display device may not understand how the menu screen is switched by using the depth concept or the page concept, or even if the user understands the instruction or the selected item accurately. There is.

Recently, a method of displaying a GUI (Graphic User Interface) such as the above-described user adjustment menu so as to be easily understood by a user has emerged. As a representative method, a method of adjusting the size and color or luminance level of an indicated item is not indicated. A halftone method may be used to make it easier for a user to distinguish between an item that is not indicated and an indicated item, or to display a background image and a user adjustment menu by overlapping the displayed item by lowering a display tone of the indicated item.

However, this is still a 2D (2-Dimension) process, which may limit the user visually distinguish from the indicated or selected item.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a menu screen display method in which a user can select a menu more easily by displaying menu items displayed on a display unit in three dimensions.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide a method of displaying a menu screen which can easily grasp the position of the path of the selected menu item, the relation between the menu items and the overall menu structure.

According to the present invention, there is provided a method of displaying a menu screen having a main item and a sub-item, the method comprising: displaying the main item having a sub-area extending in a virtual one axis direction in a 3D environment; Displaying at least one first sub-item stacked on top of the sub-area in another layer; Receiving a selection signal for selecting at least one of the first sub-items; A second sub-item corresponding to the first sub-item is displayed by being stacked in different layers on top of the sub-area where the first sub-item is displayed. do.

The first subitem and the second subitem may be provided in plural, and the first subitem may be stacked in different layers on an upper end of the subregion. The second sub-items may be arranged in perspective on each other, and the second sub-items may be arranged in a different layer on the top of the sub-region.

And in the step of displaying the main item in a 3D environment, receiving a selection signal displayed as a plurality of the main items and selecting one of the plurality of main items; The selected main item may further include a step of displaying differently from other main items.

In addition, after the selection signal is received, the selected first sub-item further comprises a step in which the distance is arranged closer than the other first sub-item based on a predetermined axis, wherein the step of displaying the second sub-item, perspective Receiving a selection signal for selecting one of the plurality of second sub-items; The selected second subitem may be arranged to have a closer distance than other second subitems based on a predetermined axis.

Wherein a predetermined rank is given to sub-items listed at the top of the sub-area; Receiving a selection signal for selecting one of the sub-items listed at the top; And displaying the ranking of the selected sub-item.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail an embodiment of the present invention.

1 illustrates that a display apparatus applied to a method of displaying a menu screen according to the present invention is a digital television as an example. However, the display device according to the present invention is not necessarily limited to digital television.

As shown in FIG. 1, the display apparatus according to the present invention includes a signal processor 30, a display 50, a user selector 80, and a controller 70 for controlling them. In addition, the display apparatus according to the present invention may further include a signal receiver 15 for receiving a broadcast signal from an external source such as a broadcast station and a tuner 10 for tuning the broadcast signal according to a channel as necessary. .

The display unit 50 receives an image signal output from the signal processor 30 to be described later and displays an image on the screen. The display unit 50 includes a display module (not shown) for displaying an image and a module driver (not shown) for processing an input image signal to display an image on the display module.

The display module according to the present invention is applicable to various types of display modules such as a cathode ray tube (CRT), a digital light processing (DLP), a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display panel (PDP), and the like. Herein, when the display module is DLP, the module driver includes an optical engine. When the display module is an LCD, the module driver includes a printed circuit board for converting an image signal input from the signal processor unit 30 into a data signal and a gate signal. It will include. Similarly, each display unit 50 may have a configuration of a corresponding module driver according to the type of each display module.

The tuner 10 tunes a predetermined channel according to the pre-international language signal from the controller 70 to be described later among the plurality of channels received through the signal receiver 15 such as an antenna.

The signal processor 30 processes the image signal so that the display unit 50 can display and outputs the image signal to the display unit 50. Here, the signal processor 30 may include a UI generator 37 and a signal processor 35. When the broadcast signal is a digital signal, the signal processor 30 may further include a demultiplexer 31 and a decoder 33 as necessary.

When the digital broadcast signal tuned from the tuner 10 is applied, the demultiplexer 31 separates and outputs the digital broadcast signal input in the form of a transport stream into a video signal, an audio signal, and data, and the decoder 33 Each signal separated by the demultiplexer 31 is decoded and output to the signal processor 35.

The UI (User Interface) generation unit 37 generates a predetermined interface screen and outputs it to the signal processing unit 35. Here, the UI generator 37 may include an OSD generator for generating a predetermined interface screen, a region of the graphics card, a 3D graphics engine capable of processing an image in 3D (3-Dimension), and a corresponding program. Can be implemented.

In addition, the UI generator 37 may generate an interface screen (menu screen) having a predetermined menu under the control of the controller 70 to be described later. Here, the menu may include a plurality of main items and a plurality of sub items for the main items.

Here, the UI generating unit 37 may display the menu having the main item and the sub item in the display unit 50 by 3D processing to have a perspective as described below. In this case, the UI generator 37 processes the menu in two-dimensional coordinates, and may change the display state according to the distance so that the user may feel in three dimensions.

Alternatively, the UI generator 37 may model a geometric shape of the content information using a three-dimensional coordinate system, including a three-dimensional engine, project the three-dimensional shape on a two-dimensional plane, and generate the same. The process of rendering the color and contrast of the three-dimensional shape is processed. The rendering process is a process of adding realism by adding three-dimensional textures such as shadows or color changes to graphics, such as hidden surface removal, shading, texture mapping, and the like. It may include.

As such, when the UI generator 37 calculates a display state of each piece of content information in a three-dimensional coordinate system including a three-dimensional engine and displays each piece of content information in the display unit 50 in three-dimensional coordinates having a perspective, 2 It is possible to provide the user with an improved interface screen than the one processed by the dimensional coordinates.

The signal processor 35 may process the interface screen generated by the UI generator 37 and output the processed interface screen to the display unit 50. Alternatively, the signal processor 35 may separately process the screen and the UI generator 37 separately processed by the signal processor 35. The generated interface screen may be synthesized and output to the display unit 50.

The user selector 80 outputs a predetermined key signal to the controller 70 to be described later in accordance with a user's operation. The user selector 80 is used by a user to input or select a predetermined function, and may be variously implemented using a plurality of input keys, buttons, a remote controller, a mouse, and the like. Here, the user may operate the user selector 80 to output a selection signal for displaying a menu on the display unit 50 to the controller 70, and the selection signal for selecting items of the menu is also included in the controller 70. ) Can be printed.

The controller 70 controls each unit of the display device to display an image on the display unit 50.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, when a signal for displaying a menu on the display unit 50 is received through the user selector 80, the controller 70 controls the UI generator 37 to generate a menu. can do. At this time, the controller 70 controls the signal processor 30 to display a menu screen having a main item and a sub item on the display unit 50 when a menu is selected through the user selector 80. In addition, the controller 70 according to the present invention may control the signal processor 30 to display a plurality of sub-items in perspective with each other.

At this time, the control unit 70 is a signal so that when some of the plurality of main items are selected through the user selection unit 80, the selected main item and sub-items are displayed differently from the sub-yields for other main items and other main items. The processor unit 30 may be controlled. In detail, the controller 70 may control the signal processor 30 such that the selected main item and the subitem height or luminance are displayed differently from the other main items and the sub-yields for the other main items.

That is, when the selection signal for displaying the menu is received, the controller 70 controls the signal processor 30 to display the plurality of main items and sub-items corresponding to each of the plurality of main items on the display unit 50. Can be controlled.

At this time, the controller 70 controls the UI generator 37 to display a main item having a sub-region extending in one virtual axis direction (z-axis direction) in a 3D environment. The controller 70 controls the UI generator 37 to display at least one first sub-item stacked in different layers on the top of the sub-region. In this case, when one of the main items is selected, the controller 70 may display the first sub-items corresponding to the selected main item by being stacked in different layers on the top of the sub-region. Alternatively, when a signal for displaying a menu screen is received through the user selector 80, the controller 70 may allow the main item and the first sub-item for each main item to be displayed on the other side at the top of the sub-region. .

When the selection signal for selecting at least one of the first subitems is received from the user selector 80, the controller 70 displays the first subitem as the second subitem corresponding to the first subitem. The UI generator 37 may be controlled to be displayed on the upper portion of the sub area to be stacked in different layers.

Here, the first sub-item is a sub-item for the menu item, and is a sub-item different from the main item and dependent. The second sub-item is a sub-item for the first sub-item, and is a sub-item different from the first sub-item and dependent.

Referring to FIG. 2A, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the main items are "Input (53a)", "Picture (53b)", "Sound (53c)", "Channel (53d)", and "Setup (53e)". It may include a menu. Sub-items of the main item “Input 53a” may include “Source list”, Edit Name ”, Anynet,“ D-Net ”, and“ Wiselink ”. Sub-items of the main item "Setup (53e)" are "Language (55a)", "Time (55b)", "V-chip (55c)", "Caption (55d)" and "Menu Transparency (55e). ) ". Sub-items of the main item "Sound 53c" may include "Mode", "Equalizer", "SRS Trusurround XT", "Auto Stereo", and "Multi-Track Option". As shown in FIG. 2, the main items "Picture 53b and" Channel 53d "may also include a plurality of sub-items as shown.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the main item and the sub item are displayed in a 3D environment. In this case, the plurality of main items are displayed side by side on one axis (see x axis of FIG. 2) in one region of the display unit 50, and the sub items intersect with the aforementioned one axis (x axis) in which the main items are displayed side by side. It may be arranged in the direction of the axis (see z-axis of Figure 2a). At this time, the sub-items may be arranged in a perspective with each other in the direction of the axis (z-axis) intersecting the aforementioned one axis (x-axis) in which the main items are displayed side by side. That is, the main items "Input (53a)", "Picture (53b)", "Sound (53c)", "Channel (53d)", and "Setup (53e)" items are parallel to each other on one axis (x-axis). Is displayed. For example, "Language (55a)", "Time (55b)", "V-chip (55c)", "Caption (55d)", and "Menu Transparency () which are sub-items for" Setup (53e) ". 55e) "items may be arranged in perspective along the axis (z axis) intersecting with the aforementioned one axis (x axis).

Here, the controller 70 may assign a predetermined rank to each of the subitems. Although not shown, if one of the main items is selected and one of the at least one first subitem is indicated, the controller 70 displays the rank of the first subitem indicated on one floor of the subregion, and the other. The first subitems may be indicated in the layer. That is, although not shown, after the screen shown in FIG. 2A is displayed on the display unit 50, when "Time 55b" is selected, the main item "Setup (53e)" is displayed on the first floor of the sub-area. On the second floor, the ranking item 57 to be described later, for example, 2/5, may be displayed, and the first sub item may be displayed on the third floor.

Referring to FIG. 2B, when the item “Time 55b” is selected among the first sub items, the controller 70 determines that the second sub item for the “Time 55b” item is the first sub item for the sub area. The UI generator 37 may be controlled to be displayed to be stacked in different layers on the top. Here, the second sub-item for the item "Time 55b" may be provided with an item "Clock 55f" and an item "Alarm 55g". At this time, when the rank No. 1 is set in the item "Alarm (55g)" No. 1 in the "Clock (55f)" item and the "Clock (55f)" item is instructed, the control unit 70 performs The ranking may be displayed in one area of the display unit 50.

In this case, as described above, the ranking item 57 may be provided in the sub area according to an embodiment of the present invention. In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the ranking may display both the total number of corresponding subitems and the order of indicated subitems. Accordingly, 1/2 is displayed to display both the number of the second subitems and the number 1 of the indicated "Clock 55f" item.

2C, when the item "Clock 55f" is selected, the third sub-item for the item "Clock 55f" is displayed to be stacked on top of the sub-region. Here, the third sub-item is an example in which items "Clock Mode 55h", "Clock Set 55i", "Time Zone 55j", and "DST 55k" are provided.

That is, as shown in Figs. 2A to 2C, after selecting the "Setup (53e)" item in the main item in the present embodiment, select the "Time (55b)" item in the first sub-item, the second sub After selecting the "Clock (55f)" item in the item, the "Clock Mode (55h)" item is indicated in the third sub-item.

As shown in Fig. 3, the method for displaying a menu screen according to the present invention operates as follows.

The menu screen according to the present invention includes a main item and a sub item. Here, the sub-item is a sub-item of the main item, and includes a first sub-item belonging to the next layer of the main item, a sub-item of the second sub-item, and a second sub-item belonging to the next layer of the first sub-item. . Here, each subitem may be provided as necessary in order of each hierarchical order, first subitem, second subitem, and third subitem.

According to the menu screen display method according to the present invention, when the display of the menu screen is selected through the user selection unit 80 (S11), the control unit 70 displays the main item on the display unit 50. At this time, the main item has a sub-region extending in the direction of one virtual axis (z-axis of FIG. 2A) and is displayed in a 3D environment (S13).

At least one first subitem is stacked on the upper portion of the subregion in a different layer from the main item. At this time, when a plurality of first sub-items are provided, it is preferable that the plurality of first sub-items are displayed by being 3D processed with a perspective in each other (S15). Here, the direction in which the sub-items are stacked is preferably the y-axis direction in FIGS. 2A to 2C, but is not necessarily limited thereto.

Here, as described above, step S15 may be performed simultaneously with step S13 after step S11, or may be performed after step S13. In addition, step S15 may be automatically executed after step S13, or if one of the main items is selected after step S13, it may be performed only for the first subitem corresponding to the selected main item.

Thereafter, when at least one of the first sub-items is indicated (S17), the indicated first sub-items may be arranged closer to a distance than other first sub-items based on a predetermined axis (z-axis) (S19). ). That is, referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the item "Time 55b" is displayed after the item "Language 55a" in FIG. 2A. Here, when the item "Time 55b" is indicated, as shown in FIG. 2B, the item "Time 55b" is displayed first in the first subitem.

In addition, in order to view a second subitem that is a subitem of the first subitem indicated by the user, the first subitem may be selected (S20). Then, the second subitem corresponding to the first subitem is stacked and displayed in another layer on the upper end of the subregion in which the first subitem is displayed. When a plurality of second sub-items is provided, the plurality of second sub-items are arranged on the same floor with each other in perspective (S21).

The second subitem is operated in the same manner as the first subitem.

That is, as in step S17, when the second subitem is indicated (S23), the indicated second subitem is closer than the other second subitem based on a predetermined axis (z-axis) in one layer. It is listed (S25). When the second subitem is selected, the third subitem, which is a subitem of the selected second subitem, is stacked and displayed on top of the second subitem.

Meanwhile, the controller 70 according to the present invention may assign a predetermined rank to each sub-item, and display the rank given to the sub-item in one area of the display unit 50 when the predetermined sub-item is selected. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the ranking item 57 is also provided as a layer in the subregion in FIGS. 2B and 2C. However, it is sufficient if the ranking item 57 is provided in one area on the display. The ranking item 57 is sufficient to inform the user of the relationship or position between the selected subregion and the other subregions, and is not limited to displaying the ranking given among the total number and the total number of the subregions. Here, the controller 70 preferably displays the above-described ranking item 57 for the subitems listed at the top of the subregion, but is not necessarily limited thereto.

Meanwhile, an item selected to display a sub item among the plurality of main items may be displayed differently on the display from other main items. For example, the selected main item may be displayed differently from other items, such as different heights or different luminances than other main items, but is not necessarily limited thereto.

Meanwhile, when the menu is selected according to the present invention, the controller 70 may display a predetermined screen 51 on one area of the display 50. When the display state of the screen 51 is changed according to the selection of the menu, the controller 70 may control the signal processor 30 to change the display state of the screen 51 to reflect the changed display state. have.

As described above, in the method of displaying a menu screen according to the present invention, when a user selects a menu item, the selected sub-items are stacked and displayed on the upper item. Therefore, the user can follow the selected path until the menu item is finally selected, and can easily grasp the subordinate relationship between the items and the overall menu structure.

In FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C, the main item, the first subitem, the second subitem, the third subitem, and the rank item 57 are stacked and stacked in a mutual step shape. However, this is only one embodiment, and each item is sufficient to be stacked on each other and does not need to be stacked on a staircase.

Although some embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the embodiment without departing from the spirit or spirit of the invention. . The scope of the invention will be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a method of displaying a menu screen in which a user can select a menu more easily by displaying menu items in three dimensions.

In addition, the present invention provides a menu screen that can easily determine the position of the path of the selected menu item, the relationship between the menu items and the overall menu structure.

Claims (5)

In the method of displaying a menu screen having a main item and a sub item, Displaying the main item having a sub-area extending in one virtual direction in a 3D environment; Stacking and displaying at least one first sub-item on another layer in an upper layer of the sub-region; Receiving a selection signal for selecting at least one of the first sub-items; And displaying a second sub-item corresponding to the first sub-item stacked in different layers on an upper end of the sub-region in which the first sub-item is displayed. The method of claim 1, The first subitem and the second subitem are provided in plural, In the step of displaying the first sub-items stacked on top of the sub-regions in different layers, the plurality of the first sub-items are arranged in perspective with each other on one layer, And displaying the second sub-items stacked in different layers on top of the sub-area, wherein the plurality of second sub-items are arranged in a perspective with each other on one layer. 3. The method of claim 2, In the step of displaying the main item in a 3D environment, it is displayed as a plurality of the main item, Receiving a selection signal for selecting one of a plurality of main items provided; And displaying at least one of a color, contrast, height, and luminance different from the selected main item differently from the other main items. The method of claim 3, After the selection signal is received, the selected first subitems are further arranged to have a closer distance than the other first subitems based on a predetermined axis, The step of displaying the second sub-item, Receiving a selection signal for selecting one of the plurality of second sub-items provided in perspective; And arranging the selected second sub-items closer to each other than other second sub-items based on a predetermined axis. 5. The method of claim 4, Assigning a predetermined rank to the subitems listed at the top of the subregion; Receiving a selection signal for selecting one of the sub-items listed at the top; Displaying the rank of the selected sub-item.

Images