KR20080088833A - Method for providing gui including extended area for selecting item and video apparatus thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for providing GUI having an extended area for selecting an item and a video apparatus employing the same are provided to allow a user to select a desired item conveniently by selecting the item even when a pointer is positioned at a peripheral region of a region where the item is displayed. A controller controls a GUI generating unit to display a GUI including a pointer and items on a display(S310). When a front side of a remote controller is moved(S320), the controller controls the GUI generating unit to display the pointer on the display(S330). When it is determined that the pointer is positioned at an item region or a peripheral region(S340), the controller changes an item displayed at the item region such that it can be selected by the pointer(S350). When a select button of the remote controller is pressed by the user(S360), the controller executes a function indicated by the item(S370).

Description

Method for providing GUI including extended area for selecting item and video device applying the same

1A to 1C are diagrams provided for explaining a broadcast receiving system to which the present invention is applicable;

2 is a detailed block diagram of a DTV and a remote controller;

3 is a flowchart provided to explain a GUI providing method in which an area for selecting an item is enlarged according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4A and 4B are views provided to further explain the GUI providing method illustrated in FIG. 3, and

5A and 5B are diagrams provided to further explain the GUI providing method illustrated in FIG. 3.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

100: DTV D: Display

130: GUI generation unit 160: control unit

200: remote control P: pointer

410-1 to 410-6: item area 450-1 to 450-6: surrounding area

The present invention relates to a method for providing a graphical user interface (GUI) and an image device using the same, and more particularly, to a method for providing a GUI that allows a user to select a desired item using a pointer and an image device using the same.

GUIs for selecting items such as icons or menus displayed on the display using a pointer are already common. In order to input a user command in the GUI environment, the user moves the pointer to a desired item by using an input device such as a mouse or a touch pad, and an item on which the pointer is located is operated by pressing a specific button provided on the input device. You can instruct it to execute the function it points to.

However, an operation of moving the pointer to a desired item by using an input device may be troublesome for the user. This hassle is further increased as the size of the display is larger and the size of the item is smaller.

In using the GUI, the user seeks a more convenient operation method. Accordingly, the user is required to search for a method for selecting a desired item more conveniently.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention, a method for selecting a desired item more convenient for the user, a method for providing a GUI in which the area to select the item is expanded and It is to provide a video device applying this.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a GUI providing method comprising: displaying a pointer and at least one item; Switching the specific item to a selectable state when the pointer is located at any one of an item area in which a specific item is displayed and a peripheral area within a specific range from the item area; And if the specific item is selected, executing a function indicated by the specific item.

The switching may include changing a display state of at least one of the item area and the peripheral area when the pointer is located at any one of the item area and the peripheral area.

In addition, in the modifying step, when the pointer is located at any one of the item area and the peripheral area, the outer angle of the peripheral area may be visually displayed.

The pointer may be moved in the same direction as the movement direction of the user-input device when the movement of the user-input device movable in space is generated by the user.

On the other hand, the imaging device according to the present invention, a display that displays a pointer and at least one item; And when the pointer is located at any one of an item area in which a specific item is displayed and a peripheral area within a specific range from the item area, switch the specific item to a selectable state, and when the specific item is selected, the specific item is indicated. And a control unit for executing a function.

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings will be described the present invention in more detail.

1A is a diagram illustrating a broadcast receiving system to which the present invention is applicable. As shown in FIG. 1A, the broadcast receiving system is constructed of a DTV 100, which is a type of broadcast receiving device, and a remote controller (remote control device) 200, which is a type of user-input device.

The DTV 100 provides a user with a broadcast received by wire or wirelessly through the display D. In addition, the DTV 100 may provide the user with an external input received from a wired or wirelessly connected external device through the display D, as well as files (video files, still images) stored in an internal storage medium. Files, music files, etc.) can be played and provided to the user.

The remote controller 200 transmits the user's manipulations to the DTV 100, and the DTV 100 performs a function corresponding to the received manipulations of the user. Although the remote controller 200 illustrated in FIG. 1A is illustrated as having a plurality of buttons, the remote controller 200 may be provided with one or two buttons as necessary. In addition, as shown in FIG. 1A, a plurality of buttons are all provided on the upper surface of the remote controller 200, but some may be implemented to be provided on a surface other than the upper surface (for example, a side or a lower surface).

As can be seen through the dotted arrow shown in Figure 1a, the front of the remote control 200 is movable in space by the user. The front surface of the remote controller 200 is movable in the space in the up-direction, down-direction, left-direction, right-direction or a combination thereof (for example, left-up-direction) by the user. That is, the front surface of the remote controller 200 is movable in any direction.

For example, the movement of the front surface of the remote controller 200 by the user may be performed while drawing a trajectory on a virtual plane parallel to the screen of the display D. FIG. FIG. 1B illustrates a case in which the front surface of the remote controller 200 is moved to the left by drawing a trajectory on a virtual plane parallel to the screen of the display D by the user.

The virtual plane and the display D screen of the TV 100 do not have to be completely parallel, and the virtual plane may not be a perfect plane. This is to consider that it is practically impossible for the user to move the front surface of the remote controller 200 in a perfect plane that is completely parallel to the screen of the display D.

Therefore, the present invention can be applied even when the movement of the front surface of the remote controller 200 by the user is made in an incomplete plane which is in incomplete parallel with the screen of the display D. FIG.

Meanwhile, the user may move the front surface of the remote controller 200 by fixing the arm holding the remote controller 200 and rotating only the wrist.

That is, when the user rotates the wrist in an up-direction, down-direction, left-direction, right-direction, or a combination thereof (eg, left-up-direction), the front surface of the remote controller 200 is a virtual hemisphere. While drawing a curve trajectory on a plane, it moves in an upward direction, a downward direction, a left direction, a right direction, or a combination thereof (for example, an upper left direction). FIG. 1C illustrates a case in which the front surface of the remote controller 200 is moved in a left-direction by drawing a curve trajectory on a virtual hemispherical surface by the user.

It should be noted that the virtual hemisphere in which the front surface of the remote controller 200 is moved by the rotation of the user's wrist may not be mathematically a perfect hemisphere. This is to consider that it is practically impossible to move the front of the remote controller 200 by the user's wrist rotation while drawing the trajectory in the mathematically perfect hemisphere.

Accordingly, the present invention can be applied to a case in which the movement of the front surface of the remote controller 200 by the user draws a curve trajectory on a rather incomplete hemisphere rather than a mathematically perfect hemisphere.

In summary, it can be said that the pointer P displayed on the display D is moved by the spatial movement of the remote controller 200 by the user. Here, the movement of the front surface of the remote controller 200 is distinguished from the movement of the PC mouse made on the floor in that the movement is performed in space.

When the front surface of the remote controller 200 is moved in space, the pointer P displayed on the display D is moved in the same direction as the front surface of the remote controller 200. For example, i) when the user moves the front of the remote control 200 in the up-direction in space, the pointer (P) also moves in the up-direction, ii) the user moves the front of the remote control 200 in the upper left in the space The pointer P also moves in the upper-left direction.

Hereinafter, the DTV 100 and the remote controller 200 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 2. 2 is a detailed block diagram of the DTV 100 and the remote controller 200.

As shown in FIG. 2, the remote controller 200 includes a movement detector 210, a transmitter 220, a remote controller 230, and a button input unit 240.

The movement detector 210 detects the movement of the front surface of the remote controller 200 by the user, and transfers the detection result to the remote controller controller 230 to be described later. The movement detector 210 may be implemented using, for example, a two-axis gyro sensor.

The button input unit 240 is provided with a power button, a channel button, a volume button, a select button, and the like.

The remote controller 230 transmits the information about the movement (movement direction and movement distance) obtained through the detection result received from the movement detector 210 to the DTV 100 through the transmitter 220. In addition, the remote controller 230 transmits the information about the button pressed by the user through the button input unit 240 to the DTV 100 through the transmitter 220.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 2, the DTV 100 includes a broadcast receiver 110, an A / V processor 120, a GUI generator 130, an image outputter 140, an audio outputter 150, and a controller. And a receiving unit 170.

The broadcast receiving unit 110 receives and demodulates a broadcast by wire or wireless from a broadcasting station or a satellite.

The A / V processing unit 120 performs signal processing such as video decoding, video scaling, and audio decoding on the broadcast output from the broadcast receiving unit 110. The A / V processor 120 transmits the video signal to the GUI generator 130 and the audio signal to the audio output unit 150, respectively.

The GUI generator 130 generates a GUI to be displayed on the display D, and adds the generated GUI to an image output from the A / V processor 120.

The image output unit 140 displays an image to which the GUI output from the GUI generator 130 is added on the display D, or an external device (eg, an external TV) connected through an external output terminal (not shown). Will output

The audio output unit 150 outputs the audio output from the A / V processing unit 120 through a speaker or to an external device connected through an external output terminal.

The control unit 160 grasps the user command based on the user's operation contents (movement information on the front of the remote control unit 200 and information about a pressed button) transmitted from the remote control unit 200 through the receiving unit 170, and grasps the user command. In accordance with the command to control the overall operation of the DTV (100).

In particular, the controller 160 determines the moving direction of the front surface of the remote controller 200 by the user based on the movement information of the front surface of the remote controller 200 received through the receiving unit 170, and the pointer P according to the determined moving direction. The GUI generator 130 is controlled to be displayed while being moved on the display D. FIG.

In this case, when the pointer P is located in an area in which an item is displayed (hereinafter, abbreviated as an item area), the controller 160 converts the item displayed in the item area into a selectable state by the pointer.

In addition, even when the pointer P is located in an 'area within a specific range from the item area' (hereinafter, abbreviated as 'peripheral area'), the controller 160 may select an item displayed in the item area with the pointer. Switch to

When the user selects an item using the pointer P, the controller 160 executes a function indicated by the selected item, which will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3.

3 is a flowchart provided to explain a GUI providing method in which an area for selecting an item is enlarged according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, first, the controller 160 controls the GUI generator 130 to display a GUI including a pointer P and items on the display D (S310). 4A shows a display D on which a GUI consisting of a pointer P and six items (Item-1 to Item-6) is displayed.

Thereafter, when the front surface of the remote controller 200 is moved by the user (S320-Y), the controller 160 controls the GUI generator 130 to move and display the pointer P on the display D (S330). . In step S330, the moving direction of the pointer P is the same as the moving direction of the front surface of the remote controller 200 in step S320.

In this case, the controller 160 determines whether the pointer P is located in the item area or the peripheral area (S340). Here, the 'item area' is an area where an item is displayed, and the 'peripheral area' is an area within a specific range from the item area.

For further explanation of the item area and the surrounding area, in FIG. 4B, the item areas 410-1 to 410-6 for the items (Item-1 to Item-6) are solid lines, and the peripheral areas 450-4 are illustrated in FIG. 4B. 1 to 450-6) are shown as dotted lines, respectively.

If it is determined that the pointer P is located in the item area or the peripheral area (S340-Y), the controller 160 switches the item displayed in the item area to the state selectable by the pointer (S350).

In operation S350, the controller 160 may control the GUI generator 130 to display a display indicating that the item is selectable by using the pointer on the display D. FIG.

In FIG. 5A, the pointer P is positioned in the peripheral area 450-1 of item-1, and the outer angle of the peripheral area 450-1 of item-1 is displayed on the display D. In FIG. 5B, the pointer P is shown. ) Is positioned in the peripheral area 450-2 of item-2, and the outside of the peripheral area 450-2 of the item-2 is displayed on the display D.

At this time, when the selection-button provided on the remote controller 200 is pressed by the user (S360-Y), the controller 160 executes a function indicated by the item (S370).

So far, a method of providing a GUI providing with an enlarged area in which an item can be selected can be described in detail with reference to a preferred embodiment.

In the present embodiment, as an indication for notifying that the specific item has been switched to the selectable state, the outer shell of the peripheral area of the specific item is described as being displayed on the display D. However, this is merely an example for convenience of description and may be implemented differently.

For example, when the pointer P is located in the item area or the surrounding area, a highlight may be displayed on the item or the color of the item may be converted into a color different from the color of other items.

In this embodiment, the DTV is described as an example of a broadcast receiving apparatus. However, the present invention may be applied to a broadcast receiving apparatus other than the DTV. Other applicable broadcast receivers include STB (Set Top Box), DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcast) receiver, and a portable device having a broadcast receiving module capable of performing a broadcast receiving function (for example, a DMB receiving module). A built-in mobile phone). In the case of a portable device, the pointer can be moved using a touchpad instead of a remote controller.

In addition, the present invention can be applied to any video apparatus that can provide a GUI through a display even if the apparatus is not a broadcast receiving apparatus. The remote controller for moving the pointer according to the type of video apparatus may be replaced with a touch pad, a mouse, a button input device, or the like.

As described above, according to the present invention, the area in which the item can be selected is enlarged, and the user's operation for moving the pointer becomes more convenient.

In particular, since the item can be selected even when the pointer is positioned in the area around the area where the item is displayed, the user can select a desired item more conveniently.

In addition, although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, but the technical field to which the invention belongs without departing from the spirit of the invention claimed in the claims. Of course, various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art, and these modifications should not be individually understood from the technical spirit or the prospect of the present invention.

Claims (5)

Displaying a pointer and at least one item; Switching the specific item to a selectable state when the pointer is located at any one of an item area in which a specific item is displayed and a peripheral area within a specific range from the item area; And If the specific item is selected, executing a function indicated by the specific item; GUI providing method comprising a. The method of claim 1, The conversion step, And changing the display state of at least one of the item area and the peripheral area when the pointer is located at any one of the item area and the peripheral area. The method of claim 2, The changing step, And when the pointer is located at any one of the item area and the peripheral area, visually displaying an outer corner of the peripheral area. The method of claim 1, The pointer is And a movement of the user-input device movable in space by the user is performed in the same direction as the movement direction of the user-input device. A display on which a pointer and at least one item are displayed; And A function of switching the specific item to a selectable state when the pointer is located at any one of an item area in which a specific item is displayed and a peripheral area within a specific range from the item area, and instructing the specific item when the specific item is selected And a controller for executing the video apparatus.

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