WO2006027614A1 - A method of navigating through a content database stored on a digital media player - Google Patents

A method of navigating through a content database stored on a digital media player Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2006027614A1
WO2006027614A1 PCT/GB2005/003504 GB2005003504W WO2006027614A1 WO 2006027614 A1 WO2006027614 A1 WO 2006027614A1 GB 2005003504 W GB2005003504 W GB 2005003504W WO 2006027614 A1 WO2006027614 A1 WO 2006027614A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
navigation system
digital media
user
item
database
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2005/003504
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Andrew Richards
Original Assignee
Radioscape Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Radioscape Limited filed Critical Radioscape Limited
Publication of WO2006027614A1 publication Critical patent/WO2006027614A1/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
    • G06F3/048—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
    • G06F3/0487—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
    • G06F3/0489—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/41—Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
    • H04N21/4104—Peripherals receiving signals from specially adapted client devices
    • H04N21/4112—Peripherals receiving signals from specially adapted client devices having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
    • G06F3/048—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
    • G06F3/0481—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
    • G06F3/0482—Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/488—Data services, e.g. news ticker

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a method of navigating through a content database stored on a digital media player; the player receives broadcast digital media content and the database defines the different digital media content available for viewing or listening to on the player.
  • the method enables, in one implementation, an end-user to browse an Electronic Programme -Guide (EPG) using a single selection button and a single navigation system; the navigation system merely has to allow the user to navigate up and down a list and can hence be as simple as up and down buttons.
  • EPG Electronic Programme -Guide
  • Digital media players that receive broadcast digital media content are principally digital radios, such as radios conforming to the DAB or DRM standards; digital televisions (e.g. conforming to the DVB-H standard) form an emerging category.
  • digital radios such as radios conforming to the DAB or DRM standards
  • digital televisions e.g. conforming to the DVB-H standard
  • These devices will typically receive and display information defining the different digital media content available.
  • a DAB digital radio will receive and store a list of the available station names in a database; the user can typically scroll through this list, which generally just shows the name of a single station at any one time; the user can select a station and the DAB radio will then automatically tune to that station. More complex navigation is currently not possible.
  • Digital televisions have EPGs that are far richer and complex than the limited EPGs found on current digital radios.
  • a user can typically call up an EPG that lists programmes according to genre (e.g. News, kids, Films etc); when watching a particular channel, it is also typically possible to call up information on the programme being watched and to navigate to information about earlier and later programmes on that channel. It is also usually possible to see a list of the programmes on other stations currently being broadcast.
  • the manner in which this information is called up is not generally that intuitive or easy to recall.
  • the information can take up considerable space on the display, which can be problematic where the display is small.
  • navigation usually requites significantly more than 3 hard buttons.
  • the present invention aims to address these deficiencies.
  • the invention relates to a method of navigating through a database stored on a digital media player that receives broadcast digital media content, the database defining the different digital media content available for viewing or listening to on the player.
  • the method comprises the steps of: (a) displaying items from the database; (b) providing a selecting system activated by only a single button, to enable the end- user to select an item in the list;
  • buttons/controls are very useful where the type of input device is very limited - if for example, there is very little space on the media player for more than a very small number of buttons/controls.
  • the method described needs, in one implementation, only three buttons to perform all the editing functions — e.g. a single selection button, plus a navigation system using a pair of left and right buttons.
  • Other implementations deploy a navigation system that is a pair of up and down buttons, a rotary encoder, a jog dial, a joy stick or a slider control.
  • the method is versatile and allows a large number of types of controls to be modified using a single formalism. For example, if the EPG lists a given programme name, plus associated programme time and station, and the user selects the programme time, then it becomes possible for the user to alter the value of this category using the up/down buttons; if the down button is activated - e.g. pressed once, then the EPG will scroll down to the subsequent programme stored in the content database (i.e. the next programme on the same station). If pressed again, then information on the programme after that will be shown. Hence, the user can readily select (using the single selection button) any category corresponding to an item displayed on the player. Using the up/down navigation buttons, he can then explore what other programmes are listed in the stored database and that have different values for the selected category.
  • the digital media player can be a digital radio, digital television player or mobile telephone. It may conform to any of the following standards: DAB, DRM, DVB-H, FM-RDS, AMSS, IBOC.
  • Figure 1 depicts three successive screen of a digital media player, showing moving from item to item in an edit list
  • Figure 2 shows an alternative form of selection, highlighting the "Set” button;
  • Figure 3A shows the "Repeat” item ("Once") in the selected state;
  • Figure 3B shows the "Repeat" item in the editing state (as denoted by the left and right arrows).
  • buttons Two are designated as left and right (or equivalently up and down). The third is enter. The left and right buttons are used for moving the selection highlight and for modifying values. The enter button is used for entering and leaving an edit mode.
  • the method is useful in. situations where a number of different user interface controls must be manipulated on a single screen.
  • the Station two each for Start and Duration times, one for Date and one for Repeat.
  • Each editable element on the screen is put into an ordered list which determines the manner in which they will be traversed in selection mode. Normally this list will follow some aspect of screen layout.
  • selection mode the element selected can be changed and in editing mode the value of the selected element can be changed.
  • selection mode the selected element or the element on which the user may wish to operate is highlighted. This distinguishes it from other unselected elements.
  • selection mode the selected element may be changed by pressing the left or right buttons. This moves the selection to the next or previous element in the edit list. Only a single element may be selected at once.
  • Figure 1 shows an example of the selection moving between elements.
  • Editing tnode is entered from selection mode by pressing the enter button.
  • the selection highlight should be changed to indicate this.
  • Figures 3A and B demonstrate an example of this. Under some circumstances this may not be possible due to display size or functionality constraints.
  • buttons increment or decrement the "value" in the control.
  • the data in the control may be of any ordinal type, for example, a number, a list of text items or a date.
  • the manner in which the editing mode is exited depends on the control itself. For controls which modify a value (e.g. number, list item, date, time, etc) the editing mode would normally be exited by pressing the enter button a second time. However, for some controls the edit mode may transitory. In the case of a push button, for example (see Figure 2), edit mode would only be entered in order to indicate that a the button had been activated. For a check box, the state of the box would changed from unchecked to checked (and vice versa). After exiting editing mode the system returns to selection mode and the element is redrawn in its selected stated. .

Abstract

The digital media player presents a simple approach to navigating through content information; it requires typically just three buttons to accomplish all navigation tasks: a selection button, an up button and a down button. If the EPG lists a given programme name, plus associated programme time and station, and the user selects the programme time, then it becomes possible for the user to alter the value of this category using the up/down buttons; if the down button is pressed once, then the EPG will scroll down to the subsequent programme stored in the content database (i.e. the next programme on the same station). If pressed again, then information on the programme after that will be shown. Hence the user can readily select (using the single selection button) any category corresponding to an item displayed on the player. Using the up/don navigation buttons, he can then explore what other programmes are listed in the stored database and that have different values for the selected category.

Description

A METHOD OF NAVIGATING THROUGH A CONTENT DATABASE STORED ON A DIGITAL MEDIA PLAYER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method of navigating through a content database stored on a digital media player; the player receives broadcast digital media content and the database defines the different digital media content available for viewing or listening to on the player.
The method enables, in one implementation, an end-user to browse an Electronic Programme -Guide (EPG) using a single selection button and a single navigation system; the navigation system merely has to allow the user to navigate up and down a list and can hence be as simple as up and down buttons.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIORART
Digital media players that receive broadcast digital media content are principally digital radios, such as radios conforming to the DAB or DRM standards; digital televisions (e.g. conforming to the DVB-H standard) form an emerging category. These devices will typically receive and display information defining the different digital media content available. For example, a DAB digital radio will receive and store a list of the available station names in a database; the user can typically scroll through this list, which generally just shows the name of a single station at any one time; the user can select a station and the DAB radio will then automatically tune to that station. More complex navigation is currently not possible.
Digital televisions have EPGs that are far richer and complex than the limited EPGs found on current digital radios. A user can typically call up an EPG that lists programmes according to genre (e.g. News, Kids, Films etc); when watching a particular channel, it is also typically possible to call up information on the programme being watched and to navigate to information about earlier and later programmes on that channel. It is also usually possible to see a list of the programmes on other stations currently being broadcast. However, the manner in which this information is called up is not generally that intuitive or easy to recall. Also, the information can take up considerable space on the display, which can be problematic where the display is small. Finally, navigation usually requites significantly more than 3 hard buttons.
The present invention aims to address these deficiencies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method of navigating through a database stored on a digital media player that receives broadcast digital media content, the database defining the different digital media content available for viewing or listening to on the player. The method comprises the steps of: (a) displaying items from the database; (b) providing a selecting system activated by only a single button, to enable the end- user to select an item in the list;
(c) providing a navigation system to enable the end-user to navigate up and down through the list; such that, once an item has been navigated to and selected by activating the single button, then activating the navigation system enables the end-user to alter the value of that item.
This approach is very useful where the type of input device is very limited - if for example, there is very little space on the media player for more than a very small number of buttons/controls. The method described needs, in one implementation, only three buttons to perform all the editing functions — e.g. a single selection button, plus a navigation system using a pair of left and right buttons. Other implementations deploy a navigation system that is a pair of up and down buttons, a rotary encoder, a jog dial, a joy stick or a slider control.
The structured nature of the design also lends itself to easy implementation in an object oriented programming language.
The method is versatile and allows a large number of types of controls to be modified using a single formalism. For example, if the EPG lists a given programme name, plus associated programme time and station, and the user selects the programme time, then it becomes possible for the user to alter the value of this category using the up/down buttons; if the down button is activated - e.g. pressed once, then the EPG will scroll down to the subsequent programme stored in the content database (i.e. the next programme on the same station). If pressed again, then information on the programme after that will be shown. Hence, the user can readily select (using the single selection button) any category corresponding to an item displayed on the player. Using the up/down navigation buttons, he can then explore what other programmes are listed in the stored database and that have different values for the selected category.
The digital media player can be a digital radio, digital television player or mobile telephone. It may conform to any of the following standards: DAB, DRM, DVB-H, FM-RDS, AMSS, IBOC.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 depicts three successive screen of a digital media player, showing moving from item to item in an edit list;
Figure 2 shows an alternative form of selection, highlighting the "Set" button; Figure 3A shows the "Repeat" item ("Once") in the selected state;
Figure 3B shows the "Repeat" item in the editing state (as denoted by the left and right arrows). DETAILED DESCRIPTION
User Input
All user input is performed using three inputs or buttons. Two are designated as left and right (or equivalently up and down). The third is enter. The left and right buttons are used for moving the selection highlight and for modifying values. The enter button is used for entering and leaving an edit mode.
Editing lists
The method is useful in. situations where a number of different user interface controls must be manipulated on a single screen. In the example shown in Figure 1 there are seven separately editable elements (the Station, two each for Start and Duration times, one for Date and one for Repeat). Each editable element on the screen is put into an ordered list which determines the manner in which they will be traversed in selection mode. Normally this list will follow some aspect of screen layout.
Selection modes
At any time the system is said to be in either selection mode or editing mode. In selection mode the element selected can be changed and in editing mode the value of the selected element can be changed.
Selection mode
In selection mode the selected element or the element on which the user may wish to operate is highlighted. This distinguishes it from other unselected elements. In selection mode the selected element may be changed by pressing the left or right buttons. This moves the selection to the next or previous element in the edit list. Only a single element may be selected at once. Figure 1 shows an example of the selection moving between elements.
The exact method of representing the selection may be unique to the control being edited. For example in Figure 1 a dark coloured bar is used to identify the selected element. In Figure 2, the "Set" button is highlighted by two arrows. Editing Mode
Editing tnode is entered from selection mode by pressing the enter button. When entering edit mode, ideally, the selection highlight should be changed to indicate this. Figures 3A and B demonstrate an example of this. Under some circumstances this may not be possible due to display size or functionality constraints.
Once in editing mode the function of the left and right buttons changes. Now these buttons increment or decrement the "value" in the control. The data in the control may be of any ordinal type, for example, a number, a list of text items or a date.
The manner in which the editing mode is exited depends on the control itself. For controls which modify a value (e.g. number, list item, date, time, etc) the editing mode would normally be exited by pressing the enter button a second time. However, for some controls the edit mode may transitory. In the case of a push button, for example (see Figure 2), edit mode would only be entered in order to indicate that a the button had been activated. For a check box, the state of the box would changed from unchecked to checked (and vice versa). After exiting editing mode the system returns to selection mode and the element is redrawn in its selected stated. .

Claims

1. Method of navigating through a database stored on a digital media player that 5 receives broadcast digital media content, the database defining the different digital media content available for viewing ot listening to on the player, and the method comprising the steps of:
(a) displaying items from the database;
(b) providing a selecting system activated by only a single button to enable the end- 10 user to select an item in the list;
(c) providing a navigation system to enable the end-user to navigate up and down through the list; such that, once an item has been navigated to and then selected by activating the single button, then activating the navigation system enables the end-user to alter the 15 value of that item.
2. The method of Claim 1 in which the navigation system is a pair of left and right buttons.
20 3. The method of Claim 1 in which the navigation system is a pair of up and down buttons.
4. The method of Claim 1 in which the navigation system is a rotary encoder.
25 5. The method of Claim 1 in which the navigation system is a jog dial.
6. The method of Claim 1 in which the navigation system is a joy stick.
7. The method of Claim 1 in which the navigation system is a slider control. 30.
8. The method of Claim 1 in which the value of an item is one of the following items stored in the database: a number, list item, date, time or any other information stored in the database.
9. The method of Claim 1 in which pressing the single button prevents further changes in the value.
10. The method of Claim 1 in which the digital media player is a digital radio, digital television player or mobile telephone.
11. The method of Claim 10 in which the digital media player conforms to any of the following standards: DAB, DRM, DVB-H, FM-RDS, AMSS, IBOC.
12. The method of Claim 1 in which there is an edit mode and a selection mode, such that (a) when the device is in the selection mode, the navigation system operates to enable the end-user to navigate up and down the list and (b) when in the edit mode, the navigation system instead operates to enable the end-user to alter the value of the selected item. j
13. A digital media player adapted to perform the method of any preceding Claims 1 - 12.
PCT/GB2005/003504 2004-09-10 2005-09-12 A method of navigating through a content database stored on a digital media player WO2006027614A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB0420056.4A GB0420056D0 (en) 2004-09-10 2004-09-10 A method of editing screen elements on a display with limited input devices
GB0420056.4 2004-09-10

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2006027614A1 true WO2006027614A1 (en) 2006-03-16

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PCT/GB2005/003504 WO2006027614A1 (en) 2004-09-10 2005-09-12 A method of navigating through a content database stored on a digital media player

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GB (2) GB0420056D0 (en)
WO (1) WO2006027614A1 (en)

Citations (3)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6310634B1 (en) * 1997-08-04 2001-10-30 Starfish Software, Inc. User interface methodology supporting light data entry for microprocessor device having limited user input
EP1197834A2 (en) * 2000-10-11 2002-04-17 Microsoft Corporation Browser navigation for devices with a limited input system
US6724892B1 (en) * 1997-02-21 2004-04-20 Nokia Mobile Phones Limited Handset with oblique key for actuation by a user's pivoting thumb movement

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2359697A (en) * 2000-02-18 2001-08-29 Sensei Ltd Mobile telephone with improved display navigation

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6724892B1 (en) * 1997-02-21 2004-04-20 Nokia Mobile Phones Limited Handset with oblique key for actuation by a user's pivoting thumb movement
US6310634B1 (en) * 1997-08-04 2001-10-30 Starfish Software, Inc. User interface methodology supporting light data entry for microprocessor device having limited user input
EP1197834A2 (en) * 2000-10-11 2002-04-17 Microsoft Corporation Browser navigation for devices with a limited input system

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
"SCROLLING KEYBOARD FOR THREE KEY INPUT OF ALPHANUMERIC CHARCTERS", IBM TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE BULLETIN, IBM CORP. NEW YORK, US, vol. 40, no. 2, February 1997 (1997-02-01), pages 25 - 27, XP000692158, ISSN: 0018-8689 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0518552D0 (en) 2005-10-19
GB2418120A (en) 2006-03-15
GB0420056D0 (en) 2004-10-13

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