Home menu interface for displaying content viewing options
A method of displaying a home menu interface on a content viewing device, such as a television, is described. The interface is comprised of two components: a launcher and an accelerator. Each of these components include multiple tiles. One type of launcher tile represents a content source. The user can select this tile and enable a direct link to the content source application. Only after selecting the tile, does the content source application open. An accelerator is associated with a specific content source. An accelerator tile displays content previews or enables easy playback of content provided by the content source. The user can select an accelerator tile and enable a deep link to the content, taking the user straight to the content, bypassing a hierarchy of menu options.
1. A method of displaying content viewing options on a content viewing device, the method comprising:
rendering a first tile display interface including a plurality of first tiles, each first tile representing a content source that provides content and providing a direct link to a content source application;
rendering a second tile display interface including a plurality of second tiles in response to receiving a first signal indicating selection of a first tile, each second tile displaying a preview of the content from the content source of the selected first tile and providing a deep link within the content source application to said content;
displaying the preview of the content from the content source via said each second tile on said content viewing device without executing said content source application;
receiving a second signal indicating selection of one of the second tiles;
switching the content viewing device to an input source corresponding to an external device in response to a determination that the selected second tile does not link to software internal to the content viewing device and a determination that the external device is powered on; and
playing back the content on said content viewing device via execution of the content source application and the external device.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
highlighting a last-accessed content source tile from the first tile display interface; and
determining whether a first tile representing a content source has a corresponding second tile display interface.
3. The method as recited in claim 2 , further comprising:
retrieving second tile display interface data.
4. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
highlighting a pre-determined content tile displaying a preview of the content without launching the content source application.
5. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
rendering a source input tile in the first tile display interface;
rendering a settings tile in the first tile display interface; and
rendering a showcase tile in the first tile display interface.
6. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a first user input signal to move focus from the first tile display interface to the second tile display interface.
7. A content viewing device comprising:
a display;
at least one processor coupled to the display; and
at least one memory component including a computer-readable storage medium arranged to store instructions wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the content viewing device to:
render, by the display, a first tile display interface including a plurality of first tiles, each first tile representing a content source that provides content and providing a direct link to a content source application,
render a second tile display interface including a plurality of second tiles in response to receiving a first signal indicating selection of a first tile, each second tile displaying a preview of the content from the content source of the selected first tile and providing a deep link within the content source application to said content,
display the preview of the content from the content source via said each second tile on said content viewing device without executing said content source application,
receive a second signal indicating selection of one of the second tiles,
switch the content viewing device to an input source corresponding to an external device in response to a determination that the selected second tile does not link to software internal to the content viewing device and a determination that the external device is powered on, and
play back the content on said content viewing device via execution of the content source application and the external device.
8. The content viewing device as recited in claim 7 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further causes the device to:
highlight a last-accessed content source tile from the first tile display interface; and
determine whether a first tile representing a content source has a corresponding second tile display interface.
9. The content viewing device as recited in claim 7 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further causes the device to:
highlight a pre-determined content tile displaying a preview of the content without launching the content source application.
10. The content viewing device as recited in claim 7 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further causes the device to:
render a source input tile in the first tile display interface;
render a settings tile in the first tile display interface; and
render a showcase tile in the first tile display interface.
11. The content viewing device as recited in claim 7 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further causes the device to:
receive a first user input signal to move focus from the first tile display interface to the second tile display interface.
12. The content viewing device as recited in claim 7 , wherein a device manufacturer determines the content source apps displayed in a content source tile group.
13. The content viewing device as recited in claim 7 , wherein a content partner determines the content displayed in the second tile display interface.
14. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium containing data stored therein representing software executable by a computer, the software including instructions to display content viewing options on a content viewing device, the storage medium comprising:
instructions for rendering a first tile display interface including a plurality of first tiles, each first tile representing a content source that provides content and providing a direct link to a content source application;
instructions for rendering a second tile display interface including a plurality of second tiles in response to receiving a first signal indicating selection of a first tile, each second tile displaying a preview of the content from the content source of the selected first tile and providing a deep link within the content source application to said content;
instructions for displaying the preview of the content from the content source via said each second tile on said content viewing device without executing said content source application;
instructions for receiving a second signal indicating selection of one of the second tiles:
instructions for switching the content viewing device to an input source corresponding to an external device in response to a determination that the selected second tile does not link to software internal to the content viewing device and a determination that the external device is powered on; and
instructions for playing back the content on said content viewing device via execution of the content source application and the external device.
15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 14 , further comprising:
instructions for rendering a source input tile in the first tile display interface;
instructions for rendering a settings tile in the first tile display interface; and
instructions for rendering a showcase tile in the first tile display interface.
16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 14 , further comprising:
instructions for highlighting a pre-determined content tile displaying a preview of the content without launching the content source application.