USER INTERFACE FOR AUDIO VIDEO DISPLAY DEVICE SUCH AS TV
A graphical user interface (GUI), for an audio video display device (AVDD) such as a TV includes an expanded information panel containing information pertaining to a viewer-selected subject and juxtaposed with the expanded panel, plural subject panels associated with subject matter related to the subject in the expanded panel. A viewer scroll command causes the subject panels to translate across the AVDD but the expanded panel is pinned in place and thus does not scroll. Selection of a subject panel causes new information related to the subject panel to appear in the expanded panel and new subject panels are presented showing information of a different subject genre than the original subject panels.
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This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent, application Ser. No. 61/473,098, filed Apr. 7, 2011.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present application relates generally to user interfaces (UI) for audio video display devices (AVDD) such as televisions (TVs).
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONGraphical user interfaces (GUI) for audio video display devices (AVDD) such as TVs have been provided for enabling viewers to browse and select video streams for play on the TV. An electronic, program guide (EPG) is an example. As understood herein, EPGs are convenient when viewer input is via a remote control (RC) but should other forms of user input be afforded, GUIs should be provided that are more conveniently tailored for that input.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to principles set forth further below, an audio vided display device (AVDD) has a processor, a video display presenting demanded images, and a computer readable storage medium bearing instructions executable by the processor to present on the display a first graphical user interface (GUI) including plural content panels. Each content panel represents a respective video. Responsive to a viewer selection of a content panel in the first GUI, the processor presents on the display a second GUI in which two content panels from the first GUI are replaced by a single expanded panel containing information pertaining to the video of the selected content panel from the first GUI. Also, the second GUI contains plural actor panels each representing a respective actor associated with the video represented in the expanded panel. The processor responds to viewer scroll commands by moving the actor panels transitionally across the display but not moving the expanded panel. Instead, the processor shows the expanded remaining in place on the display as the actor panels scroll. Responsive to a viewer selection of an actor panel in the second GUI, the processor presents on the display a third GUI having a single expanded, panel containing, information pertaining to the actor of the selected actor panel from the second GUI. The third GUI contains plural video panels, each representing a respective video associated with the actor represented in the expanded panel. The processor responds to viewer scroll commands by moving the video panels transitionally across the display but not moving the expanded panel. Instead, the processor shows the expanded remaining in place on the display as the video panels scroll.
In example embodiments the first GUI includes eight content panels and a current video panel together arranged in a three by three grid. The eight content panels are scrolled responsive to a viewer scroll command but the current video panel is not scrolled responsive to the scroll command. The second and third GUIs may also include the current video panel.
If desired, pursuant to transitioning from the first GUI to the second GUI the processor animates an image from the selected content panel of the first GUI to move into the expanded panel in the second GUI. Also, pursuant to transitioning from the second GUI to the third GUI the processor can animate an image from the selected actor panel of the second GUI to move into the expanded panel in the third GUI.
In nonlimiting examples, responsive to a command to show more information about a subject of the expanded panel, of the second or third GUI, the processor overlays an expanded metadata window onto the GUI. The expanded metadata window contains information appertaining to the subject of subject the expanded panel. The expanded metadata window can at least partially obscure all other panels on the GUI.
In another aspect, a method includes receiving, at an audio video display device (AVDD), a viewer selection of a content panel from a first graphical user interface (GUI). Responsive to the viewer selection, plural panels in the first GUI are replaced with an expanded panel in a second GUI. The expanded panel contains information pertaining to a video represented by the content panel selected by the viewer. The method, further includes presenting in the second GUI plural actor panels each containing information pertaining to a respective actor appearing in the video represented in the expanded panel. Responsive to a scroll command, the method includes moving the actor panels translationally across the display but not moving the expanded panel responsive to the scroll command. Further, responsive to selection of an actor panel in the second GUI, the method presents a third GUI having an expanded panel containing information pertaining to the actor associated with the actor panel in the second GUI that was selected. The third GUI also presents plural video panels each representing a respective view in which the actor represented by the expanded panel appears. Responsive to a scroll command, the video panels are moved translationally across the display but the expanded panel is moved responsive to the scroll command.
In another aspect an audio video display device (AVDD) has a processor, a video display presenting demanded images, and a computer readable storage medium bearing instructions executable by the processor to present on the display a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI includes an expanded information panel containing information pertaining to a viewer-selected subject. The GUI also juxtaposes with the expanded panel plural first subject panels associated with subject matter of a first genre related to the subject, in the expanded panel. Responsive to a viewer scroll command, the processor translates the subject panels across the display but does not move the expanded panel.
The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:
Referring initially to the non-limiting example embodiment shown in
TV programming from one or more terrestrial, TV broadcast sources 32 as received by a terrestrial broadcast antenna 34 which communicates with the AVDD 12 may be presented, on the display 28 and speaker 22. The terrestrial broadcast programming may conform, to digital ATSC standards and may carry within it a terrestrial broadcast EPG, although the terrestrial broadcast EPG may be received from alternate sources, e.g., the Internet via Ethernet, or cable communication link, or satellite communication link.
TV programming from a cable TV head end 36 may also be received at the TV for presentation of TV signals on the display 28 and speakers 22. When basic cable only is desired, the cable from the wall typically carries TV signals in QAM or NTSC format and is plugged directly into the “F-type connector” 38 on the TV chassis in the U.S., although the connector used for this purpose in other countries may vary in contrast, when the user has. An extended cable subscription for instance, the signals from the head end 36 are typically sent through a STB 40 which may be separate from or integrated within the TV chassis but in any case which sends HDMI baseband signals to the TV. Other types of connections may be used, USB, 1394 protocols, DLNA.
Similarly, HDMI baseband signals transmitted from a satellite source 42 of TV broadcast signals, received by an integrated receiver/decoder (IRD) 44 associated with a home satellite dish may be input to the AVDD 12 for presentation, on the display 28 and speakers 22. Also, streaming video may be received from the Internet 46 for presentation on the display 28 and speakers 22. The streaming video may be received at the computer modern 24 or it may be received at an in-home modem 48 that is external to the AVDD 12 and conveyed to the AVDD 12 over a wired or wireless Ethernet link and received at an RJ45 or 802.11x antenna on the TV chassis.
Also, in some embodiments a video camera 50, which may, be integrated in the chassis if desired or mounted separately and electrically connected thereto, may be connected to the processor 18 to provide to the processor 18 video images, of viewers looking at the display 28. Furthermore, a microphone 52 may be provided on the chassis or separate therefrom and can be electrically connected to the processor 18 to provide viewer-generated voice commands to the processor 18.
Also, a back key 64 may be provided to cause the display 28 to go back a screen shot, i.e., to present the screen shot immediately prior to the one being displayed when the back signal is generated, so as to enable a user to navigate through the various GUIs shown herein. A home key 66 may be provided to cause the below-described “home” GUI to be presented on the display 28, and an options key 68 may be provided to allow a user to cause a list of GUI options to be presented in the display 28. Volume output by the speakers 22 of the AVDD 12 can be controlled using a volume up/down rocker key 70. Manipulation of a key or the pad 62 on the RC 30 causes a respective signal to be sent to an RC processor 72 in the RC 30, which transmits the corresponding command to the AVDD 12 using a wireless transceiver 74 such as but not limited to an infrared transceiver. In addition, if desired four arrow keys may be arranged on the RC 30 to move a cursor up, down, left, and right on the display 28. Also, channel up/down keys may be provided as well as a microphone for voice input. A full QWERTY keyboard or keypad may be provided if desired. The touch pad 62 may be provided with a buzzer, or other device to generate tactile feedback to the user.
As shown at 78, a numeral may be provided next to each panel, so that the panels may be numbered onscreen from one to nine as shown. This facilitates a user selecting to play video content from a panel by saying the numeral associated with the panel. Also, as shown at 80 a genre indicator may be presented next to each panel. The genre indicator may be an arrow in the case of the first panel 76 indicating that the first panel 76 is presenting the currently selected video. The genre indicator may be a heart, (as shown in
Additionally, if desired the GUI shown in
Further, a menu of selections may be presented as shown along the bottom of the GUI, including a “just for you” selector 84 to cause the GUI to contain panels with content personalized to a recognized user. A search selector 86 can be selected to cause a search for a user-input term to be executed. Also, a bookmark selector 88 can be selected, to bookmark the currently playing video in panel 76 or to bookmark content in a panel over which the screen cursor is positioned.
Still, referring to
In any case, as mentioned above in the example shown, the currently selected video content is always presented in the upper left panel 76 of the GUI. Should the user select another panel by using the RC 30 or by speaking the number of the panel or by the appropriate gesture captured by the camera 50, video content front the source associated with the selected panel automatically replaces the video content which was presented in the upper left panel 76 prior to receiving the new select signal. Indeed, should the user scroll the panels left or right to view additional content the upper left panel 76 remains unmoving as the other panels move on and off the display 28 as they are replaced by previously hidden content panels, with the upper left panel 76 always showing the currently selected video program.
The panel layout shown in
Transition between the two views of
The GUI shown in
Non-limiting examples of corresponding RC, voice, and gesture commands that accomplish the same tasks are:
Additional gesture commands can be: pointed finger—attach cursor; move pointed finger or speak “move cursor [left] [right]”—move cursor per finger movement/voice command; clenched fist or spoken “select”—select panel under cursor for further info; pump clenched fist or voice command “play”—select panel under cursor to be new current video for presentation in pinned panel 76; two clenched fists or voice command “more info”—show expanded metadata window for cursor video, etc.
Now referring to
As alSo shown in
Now suppose the viewer selects one of the actor panels 116, e.g., the panel representing “Actor G”. In, response, the processor 18 can use animation showing the photo from the selected actor panel 116 moving upward on the display 28, replacing the video image 112 of
It may now be appreciated that the above GUIs facilitate easily finding the cast members of a movie and then finding the movies a selected actor was in. Furthermore; the above GUIs, with relatively enlarged panels functioning a selector elements, works well for gesture command input.
Moving to block 142, responsive to a scroll command the non-pinned panels 116 are moved as described and shown in cross-reference to
The panels, images, and metadata discussed above may be made available to the AVDD processor 18 via any of the communications shown in
While the particular USER INTERFACE FOR AUDIO VIDEO DISPLAY DEVICE SUCH AS TV is herein shown and described, in detail, it is to be understood that the subject matter which is encompassed by the present, invention is limited only by the claims.
Claims
1. Audio video display device (AVDD) comprising:
- processor;
- video display presenting demanded images;
- computer readable storage medium bearing instructions executable by the processor to:
- present on the display a first graphical user interface (GUI) including plural content panels, each content panel representing a respective video;
- responsive to a viewer selection of a content panel in the first GUI, present on the display a second GUI in which two content panels from the first GUI are replaced by a single expanded panel containing information pertaining to the video of the selected content panel from the first GUI, the second GUI containing plural actor, panels each representing a respective actor associated with the video represented in the expanded panel, the processor responding to viewer scroll commands by moving the actor panels transitionally across the display but not moving the expanded panel, the processor showing the expanded remaining in place on the display as the actor panels scroll; and
- responsive to a viewer selection of an actor panel in the second GUI, present on the display a third GUI having single expanded panel containing information pertaining to the actor of the selected actor panel from the second GUI, the third GUI containing plural video panels each representing a respective video associated with the actor represented in the expanded panel, the processor responding to viewer scroll commands by moving the video panels transitionally across the display but not moving the expanded panel, the processor showing the expanded remaining in place on the display as the video panels scroll.
2. The AVDD of claim 1, wherein the first GUI includes eight content panels and a current video panel together arranged in a three, by three grid, the eight content panels being scrolled responsive to a viewer scroll command, the current video panel not being scrolled responsive to the scroll command.
3. The AVDD of claim 2, wherein the second and third GUIs also include the current video panel.
4. The AVDD of claim 1, wherein, pursuant to transitioning from the first GUI to the second GUI the processor animates an image from the selected content panel of the first GUI to move into the expanded panel in the second GUI.
5. The AVDD of claim 1, wherein pursuant to transitioning from the second GUI to the third GUI the processor animates an image from the selected actor panel of the second GUI to move into the expanded panel in the third GUI.
6. The AVOID of claim 1, wherein responsive to a command to show more information about a subject of the expanded panel of the second or third GUI, the processor overlays an expanded metadata window onto the GUI, the expanded metadata window containing information appertaining to the subject of subject the expanded panel.
7. The AVDD of claim 6, wherein the expanded metadata window at least partially obscures all other panels on the GUI.
8. Method, comprising:
- receiving, at an audio video display device (AVDD), a viewer selection of a content panel from a first graphical user interface (GUI);
- responsive to the viewer selection, replacing plural panels in the first GUI with an expanded panel in a second GUI, the expanded panel containing information pertaining to a video represented by the content panel selected by the viewer;
- presenting in the second GUI plural actor panels each containing information pertaining to a respective actor appearing in the video represented in the expanded panel;
- responsive to a scroll command moving the actor panels translationally across the display but not moving the expanded panel responsive to the scroll command;
- responsive to selection of an actor panel in the second GUI, presenting a third GUI having an expanded panel containing information pertaining to the actor associated with the actor panel in the second GUI that was selected, the third GUI also presenting plural video panels each representing a respective view in which the actor represented by the expanded panel appears; and
- responsive to a scroll command, moving the video panels translationally across the display but not moving the expanded panel responsive to the scroll command.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first GUI includes eight content panels and a current video panel together arranged in a three by three grid, the eight content panels being scrolled responsive to a viewer scroll command, the current video panel not being scrolled responsive to the scroll command.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the second and third GUIs also include the current video panel.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein pursuant to transitioning from the first GUI to the second GUI an image from the selected content panel of the first GUI is animated to move into the expanded panel in the second GUI.
12. The method of claim 8, wherein pursuant to transitioning from the second GUI to the third GUI an image from the selected actor panel of the second GUI is animated to move into the expanded panel in the third GUI.
13. The method of claim 8, wherein responsive to a command to show more information about a subject of the expanded panel of the second or third GUI, an expanded metadata window is overlaid onto the GUI, the expanded metadata window containing information appertaining to the subject of subject the expanded panel.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the expanded metadata window at least partially obscures all other panels on the GUI.
15. Audio video display device (AVDD) comprising:
- processor;
- video display presenting demanded images;
- computer readable storage medium bearing instructions executable by the processor to:
- present on the display a graphical user interface (GUI) including an expanded information panel containing information pertaining to a viewer-selected subject, the GUI also juxtaposing with the expanded panel plural first subject panels associated with subject matter of a first genre related to the subject in the expanded panel; and
- responsive to a viewer scroll command, translate the subject panels across the display but not moving the expanded panel.
16. The AVDD of claim 15, wherein the processor responds to selection of a subject panel by presenting new information related to the selected subject panel to appear in the expanded panel and by presenting new subject panels showing information of a second subject genre different than the first subject genre.
17. The AVDD of claim 16; wherein the first subject genre is actor information pertaining to an actor appearing in the selected video and the second subject genre is a video in which a selected actor appears.
18. The AVDD of claim 15, wherein pursuant to transitioning from a first GUI to a second GUI the processor animates an image from a selected panel of the first GUI to move into the expanded panel in the second GUI.
19. The AVDD of claim 15, wherein the GUI presents a current video panel showing a current video, the current video not being moved responsive to the scroll command.
20. AVDD of claim 15, wherein responsive to a command to show more information about a subject of the expanded panel, the processor overlays an expanded metadata window onto the GUI, the expanded metadata window containing information appertaining to the subject of subject the expanded panel.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 8, 2011
Publication Date: Oct 11, 2012
Applicant:
Inventors: Steven FRIEDLANDER (San Diego, CA), David YOUNG (San Diego, CA), Sabrina Tai-Chen YEH (Laguna Beach, CA)
Application Number: 13/155,569
International Classification: G06F 3/01 (20060101);