Method and apparatus for automatically updating a primary display area

1. A computer implemented method for receiving commands from a remote controller and activating display areas for navigation, the method comprising:

concurrently displaying a plurality of content display areas, the plurality of content display areas respectively corresponding to a plurality of content items, the plurality of content display areas including a primary display area wherein cursor navigation is activated and secondary display areas wherein cursor navigation is prevented;

causing a first content item to be resident within the primary display area such that cursor navigation is active for the first content item;

receiving a content selection command that is distinct from cursor navigation commands, the content selection command being received while cursor navigation remains active for the first content item; and

recognizing the content selection command as corresponding to a second content item, and thereby causing the second content item to be resident within the primary display area such that cursor navigation is active for the second content item.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the content selection command is from a dedicated numerical input of the remote controller.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of content items are respectively assigned a plurality of numbers corresponding to the keypad number input of the remote controller, wherein a first number provides the content selection command for the assigned content item and the second number activates a supplemental operation for the assigned content item.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the content selection command is a number that is recognized based upon received speech commands.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein cursor navigation corresponds to dedicated cursor inputs of the remote controller.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein cursor navigation corresponds to dedicated cursor inputs of the remote controller and the content selection command corresponds to a dedicated numerical input of the remote controller.

7. A computer program product for receiving commands from a remote controller and activating display areas for navigation, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having program code stored thereon, the program code including instructions that when executed provide operations comprising:

concurrently displaying a plurality of content display areas, the plurality of content display areas respectively corresponding to a plurality of content items, the plurality of content display areas including a primary display area wherein cursor navigation is activated and secondary display areas wherein cursor navigation is prevented;

causing a first content item to be resident within the primary display area such that cursor navigation is active for the first content item;

receiving a content selection command that is distinct from cursor navigation commands, the content selection command being received while cursor navigation remains active for the first content item; and

recognizing the content selection command as corresponding to a second content item, and thereby causing the second content item to be resident within the primary display area such that cursor navigation is active for the second content item.

8. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the content selection command is from a dedicated numerical input of the remote controller.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of content items are respectively assigned a plurality of numbers corresponding to the keypad number input of the remote controller, wherein a first number provides the content selection command for the assigned content item and the second number activates a supplemental operation for the assigned content item.

10. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the content selection command is a number that is recognized based upon received speech commands.

11. The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein cursor navigation corresponds to dedicated cursor inputs of the remote controller.

12. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein cursor navigation corresponds to dedicated cursor inputs of the remote controller and the content selection command corresponds to a dedicated numerical input of the remote controller.

13. A system for receiving commands from a remote controller and activating display areas for navigation, the system comprising:

means for concurrently displaying a plurality of content display areas, the plurality of content display areas respectively corresponding to a plurality of content items, the plurality of content display areas including a primary display area wherein cursor navigation is activated and secondary display areas wherein cursor navigation is prevented;

means for causing a first content item to be resident within the primary display area such that cursor navigation is active for the first content item;

means for receiving a content selection command that is distinct from cursor navigation commands, the content selection command being received while cursor navigation remains active for the first content item; and

means for recognizing the content selection command as corresponding to a second content item, and thereby causing the second content item to be resident within the primary display area such that cursor navigation is active for the second content item.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the content selection command is from a dedicated numerical input of the remote controller.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of content items are respectively assigned a plurality of numbers corresponding to the keypad number input of the remote controller, wherein a first number provides the content selection command for the assigned content item and the second number activates a supplemental operation for the assigned content item.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the content selection command is a number that is recognized based upon received speech commands.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein cursor navigation corresponds to dedicated cursor inputs of the remote controller.

18. The system of claim 13 , wherein cursor navigation corresponds to dedicated cursor inputs of the remote controller and the content selection command corresponds to a dedicated numerical input of the remote controller.

19. A computer implemented method for receiving commands from a remote controller and activating display areas for navigation, the method comprising:

concurrently displaying a plurality of content display areas respectively corresponding to a plurality of content items;

determining at least one of the plurality of content display areas as a first focused display area and allowing cursor navigation in the first focused display area while preventing cursor navigation in the remaining content display areas;

receiving a numerical input command and associating the numerical input command to one of the remaining content display areas; and

determining the content display area associated with the numerical input command as a second focused display area and allowing cursor navigation in the second focused display area while preventing cursor navigation in the remaining content display areas.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of content display areas comprise a primary display area and secondary display areas.

21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising:

receiving a selection command corresponding to a selectable item within the second focused display area, the second focused display area being one of the secondary display areas; and

launching content corresponding the selectable item within the primary display area.

22. A computer program product for receiving commands from a remote controller and activating display areas for navigation, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having program code stored thereon, the program code including instructions that when executed provide operations comprising:

concurrently displaying a plurality of content display areas respectively corresponding to a plurality of content items;

determining at least one of the plurality of content display areas as a first focused display area and allowing cursor navigation in the first focused display area while preventing cursor navigation in the remaining content display areas;

receiving a numerical input command and associating the numerical input command to one of the remaining content display areas; and

determining the content display area associated with the numerical input command as a second focused display area and allowing cursor navigation in the second focused display area while preventing cursor navigation in the remaining content display areas.

23. The computer program product of claim 22 , wherein the plurality of content display areas comprise a primary display area and secondary display areas.

24. The computer program product of claim 23 , wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a selection command corresponding to a selectable item within the second focused display area, the second focused display area being one of the secondary display areas; and

launching content corresponding the selectable item within the primary display area.

25. A system for receiving commands from a remote controller and activating display areas for navigation, the system comprising:

means for concurrently displaying a plurality of content display areas respectively corresponding to a plurality of content items;

means for determining at least one of the plurality of content display areas as a first focused display area and allowing cursor navigation in the first focused display area while preventing cursor navigation in the remaining content display areas;

means for receiving a numerical input command and associating the numerical input command to one of the remaining content display areas; and

means for determining the content display area associated with the numerical input command as a second focused display area and allowing cursor navigation in the second focused display area while preventing cursor navigation in the remaining content display areas.

26. The system of claim 25 , wherein the plurality of content display areas comprise a primary display area and secondary display areas.

27. The system of claim 26 , further comprising:

means for receiving a selection command corresponding to a selectable item within the second focused display area, the second focused display area being one of the secondary display areas; and

means for launching content corresponding the selectable item within the primary display area.