KR20020033834A - TV interaction paradigm for live and stored content - Google Patents

Abstract

The system and method arranges and manages content for an on-screen user interface. Content such as a television program is represented by raindrops. The raindrop shape moves past the current line area in the cumming area when the content it represents becomes the current content (ie, the television program becomes live). The term "content" relates to any type of programming or information that may be broadcast or otherwise transmitted to a user.

Description

Display TV interaction symbol for live and stored content {TV interaction paradigm for live and stored content}

Digital television has changed and will continue to change home entertainment by providing vast amounts of digital content. The number of channels and the variety of available content will be so great that it will be impossible for any viewer to view the content using existing channel surfing methods. Electronic Program Guide (EPG), as disclosed in U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,706,121 and 5,353,121, which is incorporated herein by reference, provides a schedule for providing viewers with a convenient way of selecting programs based on selection criteria supplied by the viewer. Disclosed are content processing systems. However, despite the current development of EPGs, EPGs are not sufficient to provide some level of personalization for the vast amount of available content.

Various devices and systems, such as personal TV recorder and agent technology, provide some level of personalization. These systems operate at the meta-data level using EPG and user preferences. Such devices usually have a hard disk with the ability to store several hours of video content to facilitate preferred program viewing processing. However, these devices and systems have difficulty presenting the content to the user for ease of use.

Cross Reference of Related Applications

This application has, as inventors, George Marmaropoulos, Clive Van Heerden and Nevenka dimitrova, filed on July 28, 2000, incorporated by reference in US Serial No. 60 / 221,405, US Provisional and Provisional. and parent application), "TV INTERACTION PARADIGM FOR LIVE AND STORED CONTENT-THE RAINDROP MODEL".

The present invention relates generally to program schedules and guidance, and more particularly to a user interface system that can be used to display content for ease of use.

1 is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of a raindrop shaped user interface.

2 is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of a system in which a raindrop-shaped user interface may be displayed.

3 is a block diagram of program segments stored on a processor readable medium for arranging and managing content in an on-screen raindrop shaped user interface;

4 is a block diagram of program segments stored on a processor readable medium storing content in an on-screen raindrop shaped user interface.

5 is a block diagram of a program segment stored on a processor readable medium for deleting stored content in an on-screen raindrop shaped user interface.

In accordance with the present invention, systems and methods arrange and manage content for an on-screen user interface. In one aspect, the method includes presenting and displaying content, such as a television program, as a raindrop. The raindrop shape moves past the current line region in the coming region when the content it represents becomes the current content (ie, the television program goes live).

The term "content" refers to any type of programming or information that can be broadcast or otherwise transmitted to a user.

In some embodiments, the user may optionally mark a raindrop shape for storage or viewing. This produces a stored raindrop shape. The method further includes storing the selected content indicated by the stored raindrop shape on the storage medium and displaying the stored raindrop shape on the storage area. The method also includes passing at least one stored raindrop shape into the drainage region over a preset period of time and deleting the stored content represented by the raindrop shape when the stored raindrop shape has completely passed through the drainage region.

In various embodiments of the present invention, the length, area, or width of the raindrops is proportional to the temporal length of the content. The raindrop shape may include a representative still picture, a representative moving picture, or an actual segment of content represented by the raindrop shape. In addition, the raindrop shape may move vertically or horizontally on the screen.

In other embodiments of the present invention, the user performs selectively marking by using a remote control device to highlight the shape of the raindrops. Highlighted raindrop shapes include an indication when selected for storage.

In other embodiments, the stored raindrop shape takes a different shape than the raindrop shape. In addition, the stored raindrop shapes include an expiration date and time. The stored raindrop shapes begin to pass through the drainage area at the expiration date and time. The user may also change the expiration date and time.

In another aspect, the system displays a raindrop shaped user interface. The system includes display means for displaying raindrop shapes corresponding to various types of content (such as a television program). Raindrop shapes move in time from the coming region through the current line region. The system also includes a microprocessor and a storage medium.

In some embodiments, the system includes means for moving a cursor to selectively mark raindrop shapes for storage or viewing. The system may also include means for recording or viewing content corresponding to optionally marked raindrop shapes.

In one embodiment, the display means is a television or monitor screen.

In various other embodiments, the storage medium temporarily stores all content passing through the current line area until it completely passes through the current line area. Once completely through the current line area, optionally unmarked content is deleted.

In another aspect, a program segment stored on a processor readable medium arranges and manages content for an on-screen user interface. The program segment includes portions that display raindrops representing content and portions that move the raindrops from the cumming area through the current line area when the content represented by the raindrops becomes the current content.

In another embodiment, the program segment also includes portions that selectively mark the raindrop shape to store the content to create the stored raindrop shape. The program segment may also include portions for storing the selected content indicated by the stored raindrop shape on the storage medium and portions for displaying the raindrop shape stored in the storage area. The program segment also includes portions that pass at least one stored raindrop shape into the drainage region over a preset period of time, and delete the stored content represented by the raindrop shape when the stored raindrop shape has completely passed through the drainage region.

The present invention provides many advantages over the prior art. For example, systems and methods may display content in an integrated space where current (ie live), future (ie comming), and past (ie, stored) content can be viewed simultaneously and immediately. Can be. Some other benefit is that you can quickly organize vast amounts of content and easily view them using raindrop shapes for icons and displays. In addition, the stored content is organized to be clear and easy to use. Placement can be controlled by the user and observable occurrences take precedence. These and many other advantages are described with reference to the following examples.

The proposed method and system can display user's preferred content in the integrated space. The unified space includes a current line area (live content currently being broadcast, a comming area (future content), and a past region (stored content) that can be viewed immediately and simultaneously.

1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the proposed user interface system. The type of content displayed is based on the choices made by the user. The user selects from content features such as category 20, sub-category 21, and with respect to other parameters such as personal viewing preferences, viewing history, agent discovery, and the like. Once this pre-filtering process is complete, the relevant content (ie television programs) is displayed.

Originally, the device of the present invention utilizes a raindrop shape as displaying the coming, live, and stored content. Raindrop shapes 10, 11, 12 represent content that can be stored or exit through drainage region 13. For example, the comming content (ie, raindrops 11, 12) is represented by an image or icon of a corresponding vertical "raindrop" shape. These raindrop shapes are automatically generated by the system or provided to the comming area 22 by the broadcaster. Live content (i.e., raindrop shape 10) is marked as passing through the current line area 40 to the sphere area 23. When the comming content begins to air (i.e., is live), the content is the sphere area. At 23 it begins to pass through the current line region 40.

The length of each raindrop shape 10, 11, 12 represents the temporal length of the content. Cumming (ie, raindrops 11, 12) and live (ie, raindrops 10) content moves down the screen one time along the vertical axis. Horizontally, the content is arranged along channels 31, 32, 33. Channels 31, 32, and 33 are displayed in alphabetical order, numerical order, or in any order based on the user's personal preferences and viewing history. It is possible to scroll horizontally if there are more channels involved than the system can display.

The user can move up, down, left, and right to select content using a conventional input device such as a remote controller or any other custom designed input device. When the content is highlighted (ie, the raindrop shape 10 includes a cursor 41 that brightly highlights the outside of the raindrop shape 10), a representative still or moving image 50 is displayed in the background. Is displayed. Some text content 51 may be included in addition to still or moving image 50. In the case of live content, the live video may be displayed on the background. In order to avoid being too crowded and thus confused with the visual environment, it is proposed to make all still and moving images 50 used as a background into a double color tone form.

The user can record either the comming (ie, the raindrop shapes 11 and 12) and the live (ie the raindrop shape 10) indicated by the various raindrop shapes. Once selected by the user, an indicator, such as symbol 100, appears on the raindrop shape 10 to indicate that recording the presented content has been selected.

A raindrop shape (not shown) with no record selection may indicate whether a portion of the previously broadcasted content will be stored or not by changing its appearance as it passes through the current line 40.

When live content ends (i.e., has passed completely through the current line 40) and no recording selection is made, this content may disappear from the screen. However, if the recording selection is made, the raindrop shape of this content becomes a circular shape. The circular shape or the stored raindrop shape is automatically moved to the bottom of the screen, and the stored raindrop shapes, such as the stored raindrop shape 60, are displayed at the bottom of the screen. In order to enhance the visual effect, this operation can be done in an animated manner.

The stored raindrop shape 60 is displayed on the bottom area of the screen (ie, the storage area 61). The stored raindrop shapes are arranged in chronological order regardless of the channel order in which the stored raindrop shapes are recorded. Alternatively, the stored raindrop shapes may be arranged according to the viewer's predetermined personal viewing preferences.

As with the comming content 11, 12 and the live content 10, the selection of the stored raindrop shape 60 is possible by moving up, down, left and right using a conventional input device, such as a remote control or any other custom designed input device. When the stored raindrop shape 60 is highlighted, the content represented by the raindrop shape begins to air in the background. For the same visual clarity reasons, the video may be displayed on the background in the form of a dual tone.

If the number of stored raindrops is larger than the system can display on the screen at once, it is possible to scroll the channels horizontally. The scrolling of the comming content (ie, raindrops 11 and 12) and the live content (ie, raindrops 10) is independent of each other. This is to keep the spatial imprint provided to the user at all times and not to jump from one space to another.

Each stored raindrop shape is placed over an opening that appears above the bottom of the screen, for example opening 14. This bar is called drainage area 13. All stored raindrop shapes may have an expiration date and time predetermined by the user. Alternatively, the system may determine the content storage period for a predetermined time (ie, four days) or based on the user's preferences, available space, and the content to be provided for recording. If the stored raindrop shape has not been used for that period of time, it begins to disappear through the drainage area 13. This means that it is erased from the storage of the system. The erase process may be immediate, but may take some predetermined period. During this period, the circular stored raindrop shape, which represents the stored content, slowly passes through the corresponding drain hole 14. The user may choose to restore specific content until the point where the entire stored raindrops disappear. The user may choose to retain content by removing the expiration date and time, as desired. This can be represented in graphical form by filling the holes 24 of the drainage 13 under the corresponding stored raindrop shape 60. The hole can be reopened at any time. This will revive the expiration date and time.

2 illustrates a system in which a raindrop-shaped user interface may be displayed. The display screen 101 displays the user interface 102. The user interface 102 consists of a comming area 22, a current line area 40, and a sphere area 23 for displaying comming and current content by corresponding raindrop shapes 10, 11, 12. do. The raindrop shapes 10, 11, 12 move from the coming region 22, past the current line region 40, to the sphere region 23.

Raindrop shapes may be selected and displayed for storage or viewing by the cursor 41. The cursor 41 may be moved up, down, left, and right using an existing input device such as the remote controller 105 or any other conventional input device known in the art. The input device and the display device may be integrated together (eg, a touch screen display of a computer or palmtop device). The interface can also be implemented on an LCD display of a mobile phone or any other communication device capable of transmitting control and data over a communication channel. This is useful if, for example, a user is on vacation and wants to know what content is stored on their home device and what to keep until they return home.

Raindrop shapes marked for storage are placed in the storage area 61. The stored raindrop shapes once pass through the drainage region 13 over a preset time once they reach their expiration date and time. The stored content represented by the stored raindrop shapes is deleted when the stored raindrop shapes 60 have completely passed through the drainage area 13.

The microprocessor 103 selects content and raindrop shapes based on user input and stores them in the storage medium 104. The amount of content that the system can record at the same time depends on the number of available tuners 106 and the storage capacity of the storage medium 104 of the system. If there is a sufficient amount of tuner and storage capacity, the system temporarily stores this content until all live content has completely passed the current line area, and deletes it if it is not marked for recording. This allows the user to save or delete content at any time during the broadcast time. The link between the storage medium 104 and the microprocessor can be a local communication channel and a network (public or private). The storage device may be a storage server array capable of storing all content.

The block diagram of FIG. 3 illustrates how program segments stored on a processor readable medium for on-screen user interfaces arrange and manage content. The program segment determines whether the content from tuner 106 matches the available category 20 in step 300. If the content does not match the available category 20, the program directs the microprocessor 103 to filter or delete the content at step 301. If the content matches the available category 20, the program verifies in step 302 if a raindrop shape exists for that content. The program directs the microprocessor 103 to create a raindrop shape if nothing exists in step 303. Once the raindrop shape exists for that content, or once the raindrop shape has been created, the program directs the microprocessor 103 to determine the content length in step 301 and adjust the area of the raindrop shape accordingly.

In step 305, the program verifies whether the content is coming content. If so, the program directs the microprocessor 103 to display the corresponding raindrop shape (ie, the raindrop shape 12) in the coming region 22 in step 306. In step 308, the program directs the microprocessor 103 and the display screen 101 to move the raindrop shape in time until the raindrop shape reaches the current line region 40.

If the program determines in step 308 that the content is not comming content or that the raindrops do not reach the current line in step 308, the program verifies in step 307 whether the content is current content. If the content is not current content, the program directs the microprocessor 103 to filter or delete the content at step 301. If the content is current content, the program directs the microprocessor 103 to display a raindrop shape on the display screen 101 at least partially within the current line area 40 in step 309. In step 310 the program directs the microprocessor 103 to move the raindrop shape in time until the raindrop shape has completely passed through the current line region 40.

4 shows a block diagram of a program segment stored on a processor readable medium having stored content for an on-screen raindrop shaped user interface. The program determines whether a raindrop shape is selected in step 400. If not, the program directs the microprocessor 103 so that the raindrop shape continues to move through the current line region 40 in step 401. The program queries at step 402 whether the raindrop shape is currently passing through the line area 40. If so, the program directs the microprocessor 103 to remove the raindrop shape from the display in step 403 to erase the content represented by the raindrop shape. Otherwise, the program returns to step 401.

If the program determines that the raindrop shape has been selected in step 400, the program queries in step 404 whether the user wants to store the content represented by the raindrop shape. Otherwise, the program returns to step 401. If the user wishes to store, the program displays the indicator 100 in step 405 and directs the microprocessor 103 to store the content in the storage medium 104 in step 406. The program then queries whether the raindrop shape is currently passing through the line area 40 at step 407. If so, the program directs the microprocessor 103 to generate and display the stored raindrop shape (ie, the stored raindrop shape 60) in step 409. If not, the program directs the microprocessor in step 408 such that the raindrop shape continues to move past the current line region 40.

5 illustrates a block diagram of a program segment stored on a processor readable medium for deleting stored content, for an on-screen raindrop shaped user interface. The program queries at step 500 whether the expiration date and time is set for the stored raindrop shape (ie, stored raindrop shape 60). If no expiration date and time have been set, the program directs microprocessor 103 to request entry of the expiration date and time in step 501. The program determines in step 502 whether an expiration date and time have been entered. If not, the program repeats step 501. When the user enters an expiration date and time, the program directs the microprocessor 103 to store the information entered in step 503.

Once the expiration date and time have been set, the program queries in step 504 if the expiration date and time has been reached. Otherwise, the program directs the microprocessor 103 to retain and display the stored raindrop shape and the storage medium 104 to retain the content represented by the stored raindrop shape. This happens in step 505. Once the expiration date and time is reached, the program directs the microprocessor 103 such that the raindrops stored at step 506 pass through the drainage region 13. Step 506 may occur immediately or over a period of time observable by the user. The program verifies that the raindrops stored at step 507 completely passed through the drainage area. If not, the program directs the microprocessor 103 to continue passing raindrops stored in the drain region in step 508. If the stored raindrop shape has completely passed through the drainage area, the program directs the microprocessor 103 to delete the stored raindrop shape at step 509. The program directs the microprocessor 103 to delete the content represented by the raindrops stored in step 509.

The foregoing expressions and examples are examples and do not limit the following claims.

Claims (31)

A method of arranging and managing content for an on-screen user interface, the method comprising: Displaying at least one raindrop shape representing the content; Moving the at least one raindrop shape from a coming region through the current line region when the content represented by the at least one raindrop shape becomes current content. 2. The method of claim 1, optionally marking the at least one raindrop shape for storing content to produce a stored raindrop shape, and Storing the selected content indicated by the stored raindrop shape on a storage medium. 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising displaying the stored raindrop shape in a storage area. The method of claim 2, further comprising: passing at least one stored raindrop shape through the drainage region over a preset period and deleting the stored content indicated by the raindrop shape when the stored raindrop shape has completely passed through the drainage region. Further comprising, the method. The method of claim 1, wherein the coming region represents future content, the current line region represents live content, and a past region represents past content. The method of claim 1, wherein the moving step further comprises vertical or horizontal movement on the screen. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one raindrop shaped length, area, or width is proportional to the length of the content. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one raindrop shape comprises a representative still or moving picture. The method of claim 8, wherein the moving picture comprises a segment of content represented by the at least one raindrop shape. The method of claim 2, wherein the stored raindrop shape comprises a shape different from the at least one raindrop shape. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the selectively marking further comprises the use of a remote control device to highlight the at least one raindrop shape. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one highlighted raindrop shape includes an indication when it is selected for storage. The method of claim 1, wherein the storage area is adjacent to the drainage area. The method of claim 2, wherein the stored raindrop shape further comprises an expiration date and time. The method of claim 14, wherein the stored raindrop shape begins to pass through the drainage area at the expiration date and time. The method of claim 15, wherein the expiration date and time may be changed or removed by the user. A system in which a raindrop-shaped user interface can be displayed, Display means for displaying content as the at least one raindrop shape, wherein at least one raindrop shape temporarily moves from the coming area through the current line area; Microprocessor; And System comprising a storage medium. 18. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for moving a cursor to selectively mark the at least one raindrop shape for storing or viewing content. 18. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for recording or viewing content corresponding to the optionally marked at least one raindrop shape. 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the display means comprises a television or a monitor. 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the content further comprises at least one television program. 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the storage medium temporarily stores the content represented by the at least one raindrop shape until the at least one raindrop shape passes completely through the current line area. 23. The system of claim 22 wherein selectively unmarked content is deleted. 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for recording or viewing further comprises at least one television tuner. 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the storage device is a server with very large capacity. 27. The system of claim 25, wherein the server can be remotely connected using a mobile communication device. 27. The system according to claim 26, wherein said mobile communication device comprises display means and accepts input commands. 27. The system of claim 26, wherein the mobile communication device further comprises a touch screen interface or a palm top device. A program segment stored on a processor readable medium for arranging and managing content for an on-screen user interface, Portions for displaying at least one raindrop shape representing the content; And And portions for moving the at least one raindrop shape from the coming area through the current line area when the content represented by the at least one raindrop shape becomes the current content. 30. The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising: portions for selectively marking at least one raindrop shape for storing content to produce a stored raindrop shape; Portions for storing the selected content indicated by the stored raindrop shape on a storage medium; And And portions for displaying the stored raindrop shape in a storage area. 31. The apparatus of claim 30, further comprising: passing portions of at least one stored raindrop shape to the drainage region over a predetermined period of time, and deleting the stored content represented by the raindrop shape when the stored raindrop shape has completely passed through the drainage region. Program segment, including.