Interactive content guide for television programming
A navigation interface display system generates a navigation element that organizes television programming data in an easy-to-use manner. The navigation element employs a hierarchical display protocol for a plurality of selection items that represent the various television programs, channels, and/or networks. The hierarchical display scheme displays a limited number of active selection items at a first magnification level and additional active selection items at a second magnification level. In addition, the selection items are displayed on distinctive areas or features of the navigation element, where such features represent different content genres or categories. Subcategories can also be displayed in a hierarchical manner, thus providing additional information related to the content as the magnification level of the navigation element changes.
1 - 26 . (canceled)
27 . A control framework for organizing, selecting and launching media items comprising:
means for organizing said media items;
means for pointing to one of said media items;
means for selecting one of a plurality of different semantic levels associated with said one of said media items; and
means for launching said one of said media items at said selected one of said plurality of different semantic levels.
28 . The control framework of claim 27 , wherein said means for pointing to one of said media items includes a trackball.
29 . The control framework of claim 27 , wherein said means for selecting one of a plurality of different semantic levels further comprises:
a display unit for displaying objects including selection objects associated with said media items; and
a zoomable graphical user interface for generating said selection objects at said plurality of different semantic levels.
30 . The control framework of claim 29 , wherein at a first semantic level a first set of predetermined information objects is visible and at a second semantic level a second set of predetermined information objects is visible.
31 . The control framework of claim 30 , wherein at said first semantic level a selection option is not available for user selection and at said second semantic level said selection option is available for user selection.
32 . The control framework of claim 27 , wherein said means for organizing further comprises:
a set of icons each of which is associated with a particular media category, wherein selection of one of said icons results in the display of a plurality of selection items within a respective media category.
33 . A control framework comprising:
a display screen for displaying graphical user interface objects;
an input device for providing user input to a graphical user interface; and
a graphical user interface for coordinating display of said graphical user interface objects on said display screen, said graphical user interface including:
means for zooming from one image scope to another image scope based on first input from said input device;
means for selecting one of said graphical user interface objects based on second input from said input device;
means for moving a selection target through a list of screen positions based on third input from said input device; and
means for initiating an action in said graphical user interface framework based on said indicated position and fourth input from said input device.
34 . The control framework of claim 33 , wherein the input device includes a trackball.
35 . The control framework of claim 33 , wherein the input device includes a touchpad.
36 . The control framework of claim 33 , wherein the input device includes a television remote control device.
37 . The control framework of claim 33 , wherein the means for moving a selection target includes a touchpad and said third input is a movement on said touchpad.
38 . The control framework of claim 33 , wherein the display screen is a television.
39 . A method for displaying information on a graphical user interface comprising the steps of:
displaying a first plurality of images at a first magnification level;
receiving a first selection indication that identifies a subset of said plurality of images;
displaying a first zoomed version of said selected subset of said plurality of images at a second magnification level;
receiving a second selection indication that identifies an image within said subset of images; and
displaying a second zoomed version of said identified image, wherein said second zoomed version of said identified image includes at least one user-actuable control element.
40 . The method of claim 39 , further comprising the step of:
displaying a cursor which can move over said plurality of images, wherein said first and second selection indications are based on a position of said cursor.
41 . The method of claim 39 , further comprising the step of:
providing a transition effect between said steps of displaying said first zoomed version and said step of displaying said second zoomed version.
42 . The method of claim 39 , wherein said first step of displaying further comprises:
grouping each of said plurality of images by category into a plurality of groups.
43 . The method of claim 39 , wherein said first step of displaying further comprises the step of grouping said images such that at least two of said groups have a different display area relative to one another.
44 . The method of claim 43 , wherein said display areas are rectangular.
45 . The method of claim 39 , wherein said step of receiving a first selection indication further comprises the step of:
receiving at least one signal from a pointing device indicating a selection and a location of a cursor.
46 . The method of 41 , wherein said step of providing a transition effect further comprises the step of:
shrinking and translating the first zoomed version of said identified image.
47 . The method of claim 39 , wherein said control element is not visible in said first zoomed version.
48 . A graphical user interface (GUI) comprising:
a first GUI screen which displays a first plurality of images at a first magnification level;
means for receiving a first selection indication that identifies a subset of said plurality of images;
a second GUI screen which displays a first zoomed version of said selected subset of said plurality of images at a second magnification level;
means for receiving a second selection indication that identifies an image within said subset of images; and
a third GUI screen which displays a second zoomed version of said identified image, wherein said second zoomed version of said identified image includes at least one user-actuable control element.
49 . The GUI of claim 48 , further comprising:
means for displaying a cursor which can move over said plurality of images, wherein said first and second selection indications are based on a position of said cursor.
50 . The GUI of claim 48 , further comprising:
means for providing a transition effect between said steps of displaying said first zoomed version and said step of displaying said second zoomed version.
51 . The GUI of claim 48 , wherein said first GUI screen displays each of said plurality of images by category in a plurality of groups.
52 . The GUI of claim 51 , wherein said first GUI screen displays said plurality of groups such that at least two of said groups have a different display area relative to one another.
53 . The GUI of claim 52 , wherein at least some of said display areas are rectangular.
54 . The GUI of claim 50 , wherein said means for providing a transition effect further comprises:
means for shrinking and translating the first zoomed version of said identified image.
55 . A device comprising:
a processor for receiving media input, controlling media output and generating a zoomable graphical user interface (GUI); and
said GUI enabling a user to select a media item from among a plurality of media items for output to one of audio/video output devices, said GUI including:
a first GUI screen which displays a first plurality of images at a first magnification level;
means for receiving a first selection indication that identifies a subset of said plurality of images;
a second GUI screen which displays a first zoomed version of said selected subset of said plurality of images at a second magnification level;
means for receiving a second selection indication that identifies an image within said subset of images; and
a third GUI screen which displays a second zoomed version of said identified image, wherein said second zoomed version of said identified, wherein said second zoomed version of said identified image includes at least one user-actuable control element.
56 . The device of claim 55 , further comprising:
means for displaying a cursor which can move over said plurality of images, wherein said first and second selection indications are based on a position of said cursor.
57 . The device of claim 55 , further comprising:
means for providing a transition effect between said steps of displaying said first zoomed version and said step of displaying said second zoomed version.
58 . The device of claim 55 , wherein said first GUI screen displays each of said plurality of images by category in a plurality of groups.
59 . The device of claim 55 , wherein said first GUI screen displays said plurality of groups such that at least two of said groups have a different display area relative to one another.
60 . The device of claim 59 , wherein said display areas are rectangular.
61 . The device of claim 55 , wherein said means for receiving said first selection indication further comprises:
means for receiving at least one signal from a pointing device indicating a selection and a location of a cursor.
62 . The device of claim 55 , wherein said means for providing a transition effect further comprises:
means for shrinking and translating the first zoomed version of said identified image.
63 . The control framework of claim 33 , wherein said means for zooming from one image scope to another image scope based on said first input from said input device further comprises:
means for progressively scaling and displaying on said display screen said graphical user interface objects to provide a visual impression of movement of said graphical user interface objects toward, or away from, an observer.
64 . The method of claim 39 , wherein said step of displaying said first zoomed version of said selected subset of said plurality of images at a second magnification level further comprises the step of:
progressively scaling and displaying said selected subset of said plurality of images to provide a visual impression of movement of said selected subset of said plurality of images toward an observer.
65 . The GUI of claim 50 , wherein said means for providing a transition effect between said steps of displaying said first zoomed version and said step of displaying said second zoomed version further comprises:
means for progressively scaling and displaying said selected subset of said plurality of images to provide a visual impression of movement of said selected subset of said plurality of images toward an observer.
66 . The device of claim 57 , wherein said means for providing a transition effect between said steps of displaying said first zoomed version and said step of displaying said second zoomed version further comprises:
means for progressively scaling and displaying said selected subset of said plurality of images to provide a visual impression of movement of said selected subset of said plurality of images toward an observer.