WO2014139149A1

WO2014139149A1 - Remote control interaction with an operating system through a device display

Info

Publication number: WO2014139149A1
Application number: PCT/CN2013/072707
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zhi Ping PANG; Xin Zhou; Yuan Liang HUANG
Original assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
Priority date: 2013-03-15
Filing date: 2013-03-15
Publication date: 2014-09-18

Abstract

An apparatus partitions a display into a plurality of regions, each region having a plurality of associated selectable icons. The apparatus receives a signal from a remote control for selecting one of the plurality of regions. Additional signals for selecting one or more sub-regions of the selection region may be received by the apparatus. The apparatus presents an emphasized image of the selected region or one or more sub- regions, while presenting a deemphasized image of the unselected regions or sub- regions. The apparatus receives a signal from the remote control for selecting one of the plurality of icons associated with the selected region or one or more sub-regions.

Description

REMOTE CONTROL INTERACTION WITH AN OPERATING SYSTEM

THROUGH A DEVICE DISPLAY

BACKGROUND

Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to interactive operating systems, and more particularly, to methods and apparatuses for remote control interaction with operating system through a device display.

Background

[0002] A user device, e.g., smart phone, executing a direct manipulation operating system, such as Android, generally has screen displays that are typically made up of application icons and widgets. Application icons launch an associated application, whereas widgets display live, auto-updating content such as the weather forecast, email inbox, or a news ticker directly on the home screen. If the user device includes a touch screen display, a user can select an icon or widget easily by touching the screen of the device. If, however, the user device does not include a touch screen display, the user meets a difference situation. For example, in the case of smart TVs, interaction with icons on the screen display is performed through a remote control. As such, icon selection is typically made through direction buttons on the remote control.

[0003] In cases where there are numerous icons on the screen, the user may have to press a direction button many times in order to reach and select the icon of interest. Sometimes, the user may press a particular direction button too many times and pass the icon of interest. In such instances, the user has to change the direction by pressing another direction button in order to reach the icon of interest. This is inconvenient and may become frustrating to the user. A proposed alternative to remote control interaction with user devices executing a direct manipulation operating system involves a remote computer mouse. This approach, however, is less than ideal in that it is often difficult to move a screen cursor to a correct position via a remote computer mouse. SUMMARY

In an aspect of the disclosure, a method, a computer program product, and an apparatus are provided. An apparatus, such as a smart TV, partitions a display into a plurality of regions. Each region has a plurality of associated selectable icons. The apparatus receives a signal from a remote control for selecting one of the plurality of regions. Additional signals for selecting one or more sub-regions of the selected region may be received by the apparatus. The apparatus presents an emphasized image of the selected region or one or more sub-regions, while presenting a deemphasized image of the unselected regions or sub-regions. The apparatus receives a signal from the remote control for selecting one of the plurality of icons associated with the selected region or one or more sub-regions. Upon selection of an icon, the apparatus may execute the application associated with the icon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for remote control interaction with an operating system through a display.

FIG. 2 illustrates a remote control for use with the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method of remote control interaction with an operating system through a display.

FIGs. 4-7 illustrate various display screen shots at different levels of interaction between the remote control and the apparatus of FIG. 1

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating the modules/means/components of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for the apparatus of FIG. 1 employing a processing system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various configurations and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the concepts described herein may be practiced. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well known structures and components are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring such concepts.

[0012] Several aspects of an apparatus for remote control interaction with an operating system through a display will now be presented with reference to various apparatus and methods. These apparatus and methods will be described in the following detailed description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings by various blocks, modules, components, circuits, steps, processes, algorithms, etc. (collectively referred to as "elements"). These elements may be implemented using electronic hardware, computer software, or any combination thereof. Whether such elements are implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system.

[0013] By way of example, an element, or any portion of an element, or any combination of elements may be implemented with a "processing system" that includes one or more processors. Examples of processors include microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), state machines, gated logic, discrete hardware circuits, and other suitable hardware configured to perform the various functionality described throughout this disclosure. One or more processors in the processing system may execute software. Software shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executables, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise.

[0014] Accordingly, in one or more exemplary embodiments, the functions described may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on or encoded as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Computer- readable media includes computer storage media. Storage media may be any available media that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer. Disk and disc, as used herein, includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), and floppy disk where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer- readable media.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a block diagram 100 illustrating an apparatus 102 for remote control interaction with an operating system through a display. The apparatus 102 includes a processor 104, a display 106 and a remote control sensor 108. In an exemplary implementation the user device 102 is a television. A remote control 110 may be used to communicate with the user device 102 via the remote control sensor 108. The processor 104 executes an operating system that is based on direct manipulation. An example of such an operating system is Android. The operating system may be resident within the processor 104 and/or may be in another device, e.g., a hard drive, connected to the processor 104. In a typical touch screen device, a user can interact with the direct manipulation operating system through touch inputs via a touch screen display. In the apparatus 102 disclosed herein, however, user interaction with the direct-manipulation operating system is performed through the display 106 via buttons on the remote control 110.

[0016] The operating system resident in the user device 102 presents a home screen to the display 106. The home screen is the primary navigation and information point for the device 102. The home screen is typically made up of numerous application icons and widgets. In order to select an icon on the home screen, the user interacts with the home screen on the display 106 via the remote control 110. In order to navigate through the numerous icons on a home screen, region buttons on the remote control 110 facilitate selection of a region of icons, and possible sub-region of icons, while direction buttons facilitate selection of a desired icon within a region or sub-region.

[0017] FIG. 2 is an illustration 200 of a remote control 202 for use in interacting with a direct-manipulation operating system through a device display. The remote control 202 may be an example of the remote control 110 that is configured to interact with the user device 102 of FIG. 1. The remote control 202 is based on traditional remote controls and accordingly, includes an "OK" button 204 surrounded by an "UP" direction button 206, a "DOWN" direction button 208, a "LEFT" direction button 210 and a "RIGHT" direction button 212. The remote control 202 also includes a "LEFT TOP" (LT) region button 214, a "RIGHT TOP" (RT) region button 216, a "LEFT BOTTOM" (LB) region button 218 and a "RIGHT BOTTOM" (RB) region button 220. The remote control 202 may further include an additional "BACK" button (not shown). For example, the "BACK" button may be implemented on the back side of the remote control. The "BACK" button may facilitate movement from a current screen display to a previous screen display.

With the above described region button scheme, and the following method, a user can choose a screen icon very easily. As noted above, with reference to FIG. 2, an exemplary remote control may include region buttons according to the following layout of buttons:

[0019] In the above layout, the buttons in bold letters represent region buttons, and other buttons are the traditional remote control buttons. An image of the region selection scheme shown above may be included in the corner of the display screen. The remote control 202 may further include an additional "back" button (not shown). For example, the "back" button may be implemented on the back side of the remote control. The "back" button facilitates movement from a current screen display to a previous screen display.

[0020] The operating system home screen displayed on the display 106 may be divided into several regions. For example, the screen may be divided into four regions, left- top, right-top, left-bottom, and right-bottom. The regions may be "virtual" in that the presentation of regions on a display may not provide a visual indication of the regions. In this case, the user is expected to have a general sense of the locations and boundaries of the regions. When the user selects one of the regions by pressing one of the region buttons, e.g., the LT region button 214, the RT region button 216, the LB region button 218 and the RB region button 220, the selected region corresponding to the pressed region button is emphasized, for example by enlarging to full screen. The selection of a region and corresponding enlargement is referred to as a first zoom level. The other regions, i.e., the unselected regions, may be deemphasized, for example by being hidden or reduced in size. The user can then use the direction arrow buttons, e.g., the "UP" direction button 206, the "DOWN" direction button 208, the "LEFT" direction button 210 and the "RIGHT" direction button 212, to highlight the icon, and press the "OK" button 204 on the remote to select the marked icon.

[0021] The selected region may be further divided into virtual sub-regions. For example, if the user finds there are still too many icons on a region screen after the selected region is enlarged, the user can select a sub-region in the region screen by pressing the region button corresponding to the selected sub-region. Upon pressing the region button, the selected sub-region will enlarge to full screen while the other sub-regions become hidden or minimized. Enlarging of the selected sub-region is referred to as the second zoom level. The user may repeat this several times to reach the next zoom levels, until the user achieves an icon number and a size of screen presentation conducive to his or her preferences that allow for easy marking and selection of icons. The user can press the "back" button to return to a previous zoom level. For example, if the user is at a sub-sub-region level, e.g., the third zoom level, he may press the "back" button to return to the previous sub-region level, e.g., the second zoom level.

[0022] To make it more convenient, the virtual regions of a screen may share a common portion of the screen. For example, the sub-regions on the screen may overlap in a center region of the screen, and thus icons in the center region of the screen may be associated with, or common to, all sub-regions. As such, the user does not need to guess which region, e.g., top left, top right, bottom left, bottom right, centrally located icons belong, as these icons are included in all regions.

[0023] While the above description has focused on a screen divided into four regions, i.e., 2x2 regions, the screen may be divided into a different number of regions, such as 2x3, 3x3, etc. In these configurations, the remote control has six and nine region buttons, respectively. Further, different shaped regions, e.g., square, rectangular, triangular, etc. may be implemented. The concepts described herein may be implemented by modifying the infrared (IR) driver of the user device, e.g., TV, such that signals from the remote corresponding to the region buttons and back button do not affect the operating system. Instead, when the IR driver of the TV receives a signal from the remote corresponding to the region button on the remote, the TV screen module emphasizes the relative region to achieve the appropriate zoom level. Likewise, when the IR driver of the TV receives a signal from the remote corresponding to the back button, the TV screen module deemphasizes the region to return to the appropriate prior zoom level. When the IR driver of the TV receives a signal from the remote corresponding to a direction button, the TV screen module causes the icons within the current zoom level to be highlighted in accordance the received direction signals. When the IR driver of the TV receives a signal from the remote corresponding to actuation of the "OK" button, the IR driver routs that signal to cause the operating system to execute the application associated with the selected icon.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart 300 of a method of remote control interaction of with an operating system through a display. The method may be performed by a user device, such as the user device 102 of FIG. 1, which may be a smart TV. At step 302, the user device partitions the display of the user device into a plurality of regions. Each region has a plurality of associated selectable icons. For example, referring to FIG. 4, the processor 104 of the user device 102 may partition the display into a plurality of regions 402, 404, 406, 408, each region having a plurality of associated selectable icons il-il6, il7-i32, i33-i48, and Ϊ49-Ϊ64.

At step 304, the user device receives a signal from a remote control, the signal for selecting one of the plurality of regions. For example, referring again to FIG. 4, the processor 104 of the user device 102 may receive a signal from the remote control 110 corresponding to a selection of one of the plurality of regions 402, 404, 406, 408. The signal may be provided to the user device 102 upon actuation of a region button on a remote control 110.

At step 306, the user device presents an emphasized image of the selected region, while presenting a deemphasized image of the unselected regions. For example, referring to FIG. 5, the processor 104 of the user device 102 may cause the display 106 to present an enlarged image of the selected first region 402 including the icons il-il6 of the selected first region, and to remove the images of the other three unselected regions 404, 406, 408.

At step 308, the user device determines whether to further partition the selected region into sub-regions. Such determination is based on whether the user device 102 receives a signal from the remote control 110 indicating further actuation of a region button. If the user device determines not to partition the selected region into sub-regions, the process proceeds to step 316, where the user device receives a signal from the remote control, the signal for selecting one of the plurality of icons associated with the selected region. For example, referring again to FIG. 5, the user device 102 may select icon il in response to actuations of the direction keys on the remote control. Once the icon is selected, the user device 102 may execute the application associated with the icon upon receipt of a signal from the remote control corresponding to actuation of the OK button 204. The user may press the direction buttons 206, 208, 210, and 212 of the remote control 202 to move a highlight cursor to a desired icon and the OK button 204 to select the icon.

If at step 308, the user device 102 determines to partition the selected region into sub-regions, then the process proceeds to step 310, where the user device partitions the selected region into a plurality of sub-regions. For example, referring to FIG. 5, the user device 102 may partition the previously selected region 402 into sub-regions 502, 504, 506, 508.

At step 312, the user device receives a signal from the remote control, the signal for selecting one of the plurality of sub-regions. For example, referring to FIG. 5, the processor 104 of the user device 102 may receive a signal from the remote control 110 corresponding to a selection of one of the plurality of regions 502, 504, 506, 508. The signal may be provided to the user device upon actuation of a region button on a remote control 110.

At step 314, the user device presents an emphasized image of the selected sub- region, while presenting a deemphasized image of the unselected sub-regions. For example, referring to FIG. 6, the processor 104 of the user device 102 may cause the display to present an enlarged image of the selected first sub-region 502 including the icons il, i2, i5, and i6 of the selected sub-region 502, and to remove the images of the unselected sub-regions 504, 506, 508. At step 316, the user device receives a signal from the remote control, the signal for selecting one of the plurality of icons associated with the selected sub-region. For example, referring again to Fig. 6, the user may use the direction buttons 206, 208, 210, 212 of the remote control 202 to send a signal to the user device 102 to move the highlight cursor to a desired icon. Actuation of the OK button 204 transmits a signal to the user device, which causes the user device 102 to execute the application associated with icon il .

Referring to FIG. 7, as previously mentioned, the user device 102 may partition the display into multiple regions such that each of the plurality of regions may include an area or section in common with at least one of the other plurality of regions. The common area may include one or more icons. In the example illustrated in FIG. 7, in the center of the display, the regions 702 and 704 have a common area 708. Icons il 6, i290, i36, and i49 are within the common area 708. The user may select the common area 708 or common icons by pressing either of the region buttons corresponding to the region 702 or the region 704. As such, the user does not have to guess which region button to press in order to select the common area or common icons in the center of the display.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram 800 illustrating the modules/means/components of an apparatus 802 that provides remote control interaction with an operating system through a display device. The apparatus 802 includes a partitioning module 804 that partitions the display into a plurality of regions. Each region has a plurality of associated selectable icons. The apparatus 802 also includes a receiving module 806 that receives a signal from a remote control. The signal is for selecting one of the plurality of regions. The apparatus 802 further includes a presentation module 808 that presents an emphasized image of the selected region, while presenting a deemphasized image of the unselected regions. The apparatus 802 further includes a display module 810 that displays the presentation of the emphasized image of the selected region and the presentation of the deemphasized image of the unselected regions. Each of the plurality of regions may include at least one icon in common with at least one of the other plurality of regions.

The presentation module 808 may enlarge the image of the selection region relative to the images of the unselected regions. The presentation module 808 may reduce the images of the unselected regions and/or remove the images of the unselected regions. The receiving module 806 may receive a signal from the remote control, for selecting one of the plurality of icons associated with the selected region. The partitioning module 804 may partition the selected region into a plurality of sub-regions. The receiving module 806 may receive a signal from the remote control, for selecting one of the plurality of sub-regions. The presentation module 808 may present an emphasized image of the selected sub-region, while presenting a deemphasized image of the unselected sub-regions.

[0036] The apparatus may include additional modules that perform each of the steps of the algorithm in the aforementioned flow chart of FIG. 3. As such, each step in the aforementioned flow chart of FIG. 3 may be performed by a module and the apparatus may include one or more of those modules. The modules may be one or more hardware components specifically configured to carry out the stated processes/algorithm, implemented by a processor configured to perform the stated processes/algorithm, stored within a computer-readable medium for implementation by a processor, or some combination thereof.

[0037] FIG. 9 is a diagram 900 illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for an apparatus 802 employing a processing system 914. The processing system 914 may be implemented with a bus architecture, represented generally by the bus 924. The bus 924 may include any number of interconnecting buses and bridges depending on the specific application of the processing system 914 and the overall design constraints. The bus 924 links together various circuits including one or more processors and/or hardware modules, represented by the processor 904, the modules 804, 806, 808, and 810, and the computer-readable medium 906. The bus 924 may also link various other circuits such as timing sources, peripherals, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art, and therefore, will not be described any further.

[0038] The processing system 914 includes a processor 904 coupled to a computer- readable medium 906. The processor 904 is responsible for general processing, including the execution of software stored on the computer-readable medium 906. The software, when executed by the processor 904, causes the processing system 914 to perform the various functions described supra for any particular apparatus. The computer-readable medium 906 may also be used for storing data that is manipulated by the processor 904 when executing software. The processing system further includes at least one of the modules 804, 806, 808, and 810. The modules may be software modules running in the processor 604, resident/stored in the computer readable medium 906, one or more hardware modules coupled to the processor 904, or some combination thereof.

[0039] In one configuration, the apparatus 802 includes means for partitioning the display into a plurality of regions, each region having a plurality of associated selectable icons; means for receiving a signal from a remote control, the signal for selecting one of the plurality of regions; and means for presenting an emphasized image of the selected region, while presenting a deemphasized image of the unselected regions. Each of the plurality of regions may include at least one icon in common with at least one of the other plurality of regions. The means for presenting an emphasized image of the selected region, while presenting a deemphasized image of the unselected regions may be configured to enlarge the image of the selection region relative to the images of the unselected regions. The means for presenting an emphasized image of the selected region, while presenting a deemphasized image of the unselected regions may be configured to perform one of reducing the images of the unselected regions or removing the images of the unselected regions.

[0040] The apparatus 802 may further include means for receiving a signal from the remote control, the signal for selecting one of the plurality of icons associated with the selected region. The apparatus 802 may further include means for partitioning the selected region into a plurality of sub-regions, means for receiving a signal from the remote control, the signal for selecting one of the plurality of sub-regions, and means for presenting an emphasized image of the selected sub-region, while presenting a deemphasized image of the unselected sub-regions. The aforementioned means may be one or more of the aforementioned modules of the apparatus 802 and/or the processing system 914 of the apparatus configured to perform the functions recited by the aforementioned means.

[0041] It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the processes disclosed is an illustration of exemplary approaches. Based upon design preferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the processes may be rearranged. Further, some steps may be combined or omitted. The accompanying method claims present elements of the various steps in a sample order, and are not meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.

The previous description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein, but is to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean "one and only one" unless specifically so stated, but rather "one or more." Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term "some" refers to one or more. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is to be construed as a means plus function unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase "means for."

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

Claims

1. A method of remote interaction with an operating system through a display of a device, said method comprising:

partitioning the display into a plurality of regions, each region having a plurality of associated selectable icons;

receiving a signal from a remote control, the signal for selecting one of the plurality of regions; and

presenting an emphasized image of the selected region, while presenting a deemphasized image of the unselected regions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of regions includes an area in common with at least one of the other plurality of regions.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the common area includes at least one icon.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting an emphasized image of the selected region comprises enlarging the image of the selection region relative to the images of the unselected regions.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting a deemphasized image of the unselected regions comprises one of reducing the images of the unselected regions or removing the images of the unselected regions.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a signal from the remote control, the signal for selecting one of the plurality of icons associated with the selected region.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

partitioning the selected region into a plurality of sub-regions;

receiving a signal from the remote control, the signal for selecting one of the plurality of sub-regions; and presenting an emphasized image of the selected sub-region, while presenting a deemphasized image of the unselected sub-regions.

8. An apparatus for providing interaction between a remote control and an operating system through a display, said apparatus comprising:

means for partitioning the display into a plurality of regions, each region having a plurality of associated selectable icons;

means for receiving a signal from a remote control, the signal for selecting one of the plurality of regions; and

means for presenting an emphasized image of the selected region, while presenting a deemphasized image of the unselected regions.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein at least one of the plurality of regions includes an area in common with at least one of the other plurality of regions.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the common area includes at least one icon.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the means for presenting an emphasized image of the selected region, while presenting a deemphasized image of the unselected regions is configured to enlarge the image of the selection region relative to the images of the unselected regions.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the means for presenting an emphasized image of the selected region, while presenting a deemphasized image of the unselected regions is configured to perform one of reducing the images of the unselected regions or removing the images of the unselected regions.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising means for receiving a signal from the remote control, the signal for selecting one of the plurality of icons associated with the selected region.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

means for partitioning the selected region into a plurality of sub-regions; means for receiving a signal from the remote control, the signal for selecting one of the plurality of sub-regions; and

means for presenting an emphasized image of the selected sub-region, while presenting a deemphasized image of the unselected sub-regions.

15. An apparatus providing interaction between a remote control and an operating system through a display, said apparatus comprising:

a processing system configured to:

partition the display into a plurality of regions, each region having a plurality of associated selectable icons;

receive a signal from a remote control, the signal for selecting one of the plurality of regions; and

present an emphasized image of the selected region, while presenting a deemphasized image of the unselected regions.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein at least one of the plurality of regions includes an area in common with at least one of the other plurality of regions.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the common area includes at least one icon.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein to present an emphasized image of the selected region, the processing system is further configured to enlarge the image of the selection region relative to the images of the unselected regions.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein to present a deemphasized image of the unselected regions, the processing system is further configured to reduce the images of the unselected regions or remove the images of the unselected regions.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processing system is further configured to receive a signal from the remote control, the signal for selecting one of the plurality of icons associated with the selected region.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

partition the selected region into a plurality of sub-regions;

receive a signal from the remote control, the signal for selecting one of the plurality of sub-regions; and

present an emphasized image of the selected sub-region, while presenting a deemphasized image of the unselected sub-regions.

22. A computer program product for an apparatus providing interaction between a remote control and an operating system through a display, said product comprising: a computer-readable medium comprising code for:

23. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein at least one of the plurality of regions includes an area in common with at least one of the other plurality of regions.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the common area includes at least one icon.

25. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein presenting an emphasized image of the selected region comprises enlarging the image of the selection region relative to the images of the unselected regions.

26. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein presenting a deemphasized image of the unselected regions comprises one of reducing the images of the unselected regions or removing the images of the unselected regions.

27. The computer program product of claim 22, further comprising code for receiving a signal from the remote control, the signal for selecting one of the plurality of icons associated with the selected region.

28. The computer program product of claim 22, further comprising code for:

partitioning the selected region into a plurality of sub-regions;

receiving a signal from the remote control, the signal for selecting one of the plurality of sub-regions; and

presenting an emphasized image of the selected sub-region, while presenting a deemphasized image of the unselected sub-regions.