SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NAVIGATING A USER INTERFACE USING THRESHOLD DETECTION

1 . A method, comprising:

receiving input data transmitted from a remote control device in communication with a client device executing an application, the remote control device having a touch-enabled surface by which the input data is detected;

causing concurrent movement of a user interface element and a focus element that visually emphasizes the user interface element on a user interface of the application based on the input data;

detecting that the focus element and the user interface element are approaching a threshold boundary of the user interface;

initiating a transition from the user interface to a next user interface, the transition revealing a portion of the next user interface at a rate corresponding to a velocity of movement of the focus element and the user interface element toward the threshold boundary.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting that the focus element and the user interface element are approaching the threshold boundary comprises:

determining a location of the focus element and the user interface element within the user interface;

determining the velocity and direction of movement of the focus element and the user interface element from the input data; and

calculating a rate of approach of the focus element and the user interface element based on the velocity and the direction of movement of the focus element and the user interface element,

wherein the transition is initiated based on the location of the focus element and the user interface element and the rate of approach causing the focus element and the user interface element to approach the threshold boundary within a predetermined period of time.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising causing the transition from the user interface to the next user interface based on the focus element and the user interface element reaching the threshold boundary of the user interface.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting that the focus element and the user interface element are moving away from the threshold boundary; and

causing the portion of the next user interface being revealed to be reduced at a rate corresponding to a second velocity of movement of the focus element and the user interface element away from the threshold boundary.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the input data corresponds to a gesture performed on the touch-enabled surface of the remote control device, and wherein the input data includes a velocity of movement of the gesture and a direction of movement of the gesture.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the focus element and the user interface element are concurrently moved on the user interface in the direction of movement of the gesture and at the velocity of movement of the gesture.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the client device is one of a set-top box and a television, and wherein the user interface element is a content item.

8 . A machine-readable storage medium storing a set of instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving input data transmitted from a remote control device in communication with a client device executing an application, the remote control device having a touch-enabled surface by which the input data is detected;

causing concurrent movement of a user interface element and a focus element that visually emphasizes the user interface element on a user interface of the application based on the input data;

detecting that the focus element and the user interface element are approaching a threshold boundary of the user interface;

initiating a transition from the user interface to a next user interface, the transition revealing a portion of the next user interface at a rate corresponding to a velocity of movement of the focus element and the user interface element toward the threshold boundary.

9 . The machine-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the detecting that the focus element and the user interface element are approaching the threshold boundary comprises:

determining a location of the focus element and the user interface element within the user interface;

determining the velocity and direction of movement of the focus element and the user interface element from the input data; and

calculating a rate of approach of the focus element and the user interface element based on the velocity and the direction of movement of the focus element and the user interface element,

wherein the transition is initiated based on the location of the focus element and the user interface element and the rate of approach causing the focus element and the user interface element to approach the threshold boundary within a predetermined period of time.

10 . The machine-readable storage medium of claim 8 , further comprising causing the transition from the user interface to the next user interface based on the focus element and the user interface element reaching the threshold boundary of the user interface.

11 . The machine-readable storage medium of claim 8 , further comprising:

detecting that the focus element and the user interface element are moving away from the threshold boundary; and

causing the portion of the next user interface being revealed to be reduced at a rate corresponding to a second velocity of movement of the focus element and the user interface element away from the threshold boundary.

12 . The machine-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the input data corresponds to a gesture performed on the touch-enabled surface of the remote control device, and wherein the input data includes a velocity of movement of the gesture and a direction of movement of the gesture.

13 . The machine-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the focus element and the user interface element are concurrently moved on the user interface in the direction of movement of the gesture and at the velocity of movement of the gesture.

14 . The machine-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the client device is one of a set-top box and a television, and wherein the user interface element is a content item.

15 . A system, comprising:

at least one processor;

a remote control interface module implemented by the at least one processor and configured to receive input data transmitted from a remote control device in communication with a client device executing an application, the remote control device having a touch-enabled surface by which the input data is detected;

an user interface controller module implemented by the at least one processor and configured to cause concurrent movement of a user interface element and a focus element that visually emphasizes the user interface element on a user interface of the application based on the input data; and

a threshold detector module implemented by the at least one processor and configured to detect that the focus element and the user interface element are approaching a threshold boundary of the user interface,

the user interface controller module being further configured to initiate a transition from the user interface to a next user interface, the transition revealing a portion of the next user interface at a rate corresponding to a velocity of movement of the focus element and the user interface element toward the threshold boundary.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the threshold detector module detects that the focus element and the user interface element are approaching the threshold boundary by being further configured to:

determine a location of the focus element and the user interface element within the user interface;

determine the velocity and direction of movement of the focus element and the user interface element from the input data; and

calculate a rate of approach of the focus element and the user interface element based on the velocity and the direction of movement of the focus element and the user interface element,

wherein the transition is initiated based on the location of the focus element and the user interface element and the rate of approach causing the focus element and the user interface element to approach the threshold boundary within a predetermined period of time.

17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the threshold detector module is further configured to cause the transition from the user interface to the next user interface based on the focus element and the user interface element reaching the threshold boundary of the user interface.

18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the threshold detector module is further configured to:

detect that the focus element and the user interface element are moving away from the threshold boundary; and

cause the portion of the next user interface being revealed to be reduced at a rate corresponding to a second velocity of movement of the focus element and the user interface element away from the threshold boundary.

19 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the input data corresponds to a gesture performed on the touch-enabled surface of the remote control device, and wherein the input data includes a velocity of movement of the gesture and a direction of movement of the gesture.

20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the user interface controller module is configured to concurrently move the focus element and the user interface element on the user interface in the direction of movement of the gesture and at the velocity of movement of the gesture.