IP Library Granted Patent US 8,935,635
Granted Patent B2
US 8,935,635 · App. 12/919,809 · Granted Jan 13, 2015

Method and device for enabling selection of an item from a plurality of items

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,935,635
App. No.
12/919,809
Granted
Jan 13, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

The method of the invention enables selection of an item ( 21 ) from a plurality of items ( 21, 23, 25 ). The method comprises the steps of visually representing a selected item ( 21 ) and reproducing at least part of an audio segment representing the selected item ( 21 ). The method further comprises applying a visual spatial effect to the visual representation of the selected item ( 21 ) and applying a spatial audio effect corresponding to the visual spatial effect to the reproduction of the audio segment. The device of the invention comprises electronic circuitry which is operative to perform the method of the invention. The computer program product of the invention enables a programmable device to perform the method of the invention.

Claims (27)

1. A method of enabling selection of an item from a plurality of items, the method comprising the steps of:

visually representing a selected item at a center position among visual representations of the plurality of items arranged in one of a three-dimensional wheel and a three-dimensional matrix;

reproducing at least part of an audio segment representing the selected item;

applying a visual spatial effect to the visual representation of the selected item; and

applying a spatial audio effect corresponding to the visual spatial effect to the reproduction of the audio segment, further comprising:

selecting a further item instead of the selected item;

visually representing the selected further item at the center position; and

reproducing at least part of a further audio segment representing the selected further item upon said selection; and

applying a further visual spatial effect to the visual representation of the selected further item; and

applying a further spatial audio effect corresponding to the further visual spatial effect to the reproduction of the further audio segment, wherein (i) both (i)(a) the audio segment and (i)(b) the further audio segment are simultaneously reproduced and (ii) respective corresponding visual spatial effects and spatial audio effects for both (ii)(a) the selected item and (ii)(b) the further selected item are simultaneously applied, during at least a transition period such that (iii) a user can hear, via the spatial audio effect and the further spatial audio effect, that a view is moving away from (iii)(a) the selected item towards (iii)(b) the selected further item, further wherein (iv) in addition to the selected item and the further selected item, other audio segments representing non-selected items of the plurality of items are reproduced simultaneously as well to indicate what other items are available for selection.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

enabling, via a scroll wheel, a user to select the item by rotating a wheel of items.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

enabling, via cursor keys, a user to select the item by navigating through items in a matrix.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein items along at least one of the dimensions of the matrix are ordered according to an attribute of the items.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the visual spatial effect and the spatial audio effect are applied in a three-dimensional space.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable medium embodied with a computer program executable by a programmable device for enabling the programmable device to perform the method of claim 1 .

7. A device for enabling selection of an item from a plurality of items, the device comprising electronic circuitry, the electronic circuitry being operative to:

visually represent a selected item at a center position among visual representations of the plurality of items arranged in one of a three-dimensional wheel and a three-dimensional matrix;

reproduce at least part of an audio segment representing the selected item;

apply a visual spatial effect to the visual representation of the selected item; and

apply a spatial audio effect corresponding to the visual spatial effect to the reproduction of the audio segment, further operative to:

select a further item instead of the selected item;

visually represent the selected further item at the center position; and

reproduce at least part of a further audio segment representing the selected further item upon said selection; and

apply a further visual spatial effect to the visual representation of the selected further item; and

apply a further spatial audio effect corresponding to the further visual spatial effect to the reproduction of the further audio segment, wherein (i) both (i)(a) the audio segment and (i)(b) the further audio segment are simultaneously reproduced and (ii) respective corresponding visual spatial effects and spatial audio effects for both (ii)(a) the selected item and (ii)(b) the further selected item are simultaneously applied, during at least a transition period such that (iii) a user can hear, via the spatial audio effect and the further spatial audio effect, that a view is moving away from (iii)(a) the selected item towards (iii)(b) the selected further item, further wherein (iv) in addition to the selected item and the further selected item, other audio segments representing non-selected items of the plurality of items are reproduced simultaneously as well to indicate what other items are available for selection.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 28, 2018
From: GIBSON INNOVATIONS BELGIUM NV
To: MMD HONG KONG HOLDING LIMITED
Reel/Frame 048175/0190 →
CHANGE OF NAME & ADDRESS Recorded Oct 8, 2015
From: WOOX INNOVATIONS BELGIUM NV
To: GIBSON INNOVATIONS BELGIUM NV
Reel/Frame 036815/0461 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 9, 2015
From: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
To: WOOX INNOVATIONS BELGIUM NV
Reel/Frame 034916/0566 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 30, 2014
From: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS, N.V.
To: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
Reel/Frame 032795/0521 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 27, 2010
From: HARMA, AKI SAKARI; BERGERE, JULIEN LAURENT
To: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N V
Reel/Frame 024897/0454 →