US6154205A
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Navigating web-based content in a television-based system
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
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Filing: 1998-03-25
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Granted: 2000-11-28
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Expires: 2018-03-25
Abstract
Abstract A television-based hyperlink content navigation system includes a display device having a viewing area for displaying visual content such as an Internet Web document. Generally, the visual content has a content area that is larger than the viewing area, and includes a plurality of selectable objects such as hyperlinks and image maps. A user-manipulated operator such as a joystick allows navigation through the various hyperlinks and image maps, and also initiates scrolling of the visual content. Assuming that a focus is initially on a first one of the objects, moving the trackball tabs the focus to a nearby second object if the second object is within a predefined linear distance from the first object. If there is no second object within the predefined distance, moving the trackball causes the visual content to scroll at a speed that is proportional to the trackball speed. If a currently focused object is an image, such as an image map, that has a continuous two-dimensional range of selectable points, moving the trackball moves a pointer over the image in a continuous manner. Such a pointer is displayed only when the focus is on such a continuous image.
Inventors
- 👤 Josh Carroll
- 👤 Sven Pleyer
- 👤 Daniel J. Shoff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:05
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/47; H04N21/478; H04N21/4782; G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/957; G06F16/9577; H04N21/41; H04N21/422; H04N21/42204; H04N21/43; H04N21/443; H04N21/4438; H04N5/00; H04N5/44; H04N5/445; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S715/00; Y10S715/973
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 51
Claim 1
Independent Claim
252 words
A television-based hyperlink content navigation system, comprising: a viewing area for displaying visual content, wherein the visual content has a content area that is larger than the viewing area; a plurality of selectable objects in the visual content; a focus that is initially on a first one of the objects; a user-manipulated operator that can be manipulated by a user in different directions; wherein the navigation system is responsive to activation of the user-manipulated operator in a selected direction to perform steps comprising: determining a speed value from the activation of the user-manipulated operator; if there is a second one of the objects within a predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value exceeds a first threshold, tabbing the focus to said second object and scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area if necessary to bring the second one of the objects onto the viewing area; if there is not a second one of the objects within the predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value does not exceed the first threshold, scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area; if the second one of the objects includes a continuous image having a continuous two-dimensional range of selectable points, displaying a pointer over the continuous image and moving the pointer smoothly over the continuous image in response to further directional activation of the user-manipulated operator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
252 words
A television-based hyperlink content navigation system, comprising: a viewing area for displaying visual content, wherein the visual content has a content area that is larger than the viewing area; a plurality of selectable objects in the visual content; a focus that is initially on a first one of the objects; a user-manipulated operator that can be manipulated by a user in different directions; wherein the navigation system is responsive to activation of the user-manipulated operator in a selected direction to perform steps comprising: determining a speed value from the activation of the user-manipulated operator; if there is a second one of the objects within a predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value exceeds a first threshold, tabbing the focus to said second object and scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area if necessary to bring the second one of the objects onto the viewing area; if there is not a second one of the objects within the predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value does not exceed the first threshold, scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area; if the second one of the objects includes a continuous image having a continuous two-dimensional range of selectable points, displaying a pointer over the continuous image and moving the pointer smoothly over the continuous image in response to further directional activation of the user-manipulated operator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A television-based hyperlink content navigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the navigation system removes the focus during the scrolling step.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
250 words
A television-based hyperlink content navigation system, comprising: a viewing area for displaying visual content, wherein the visual content has a content area that is larger than the viewing area; a plurality of selectable objects in the visual content; a focus that is initially on a first one of the objects; a user-manipulated operator that can be manipulated by a user in different directions; wherein the navigation system is responsive to activation of the user-manipulated operator in a selected direction to perform steps comprising: determining a speed value from the activation of the user-manipulated operator; if there is a second one of the objects within a predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value does not exceed a threshold, tabbing the focus to said second object and scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area if necessary to bring the second one of the objects onto the viewing area; if there is not a second one of the objects within the predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value exceeds the threshold, scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area; if the second one of the objects includes a continuous image having a continuous two-dimensional range of selectable points, displaying a pointer over the continuous image and moving the pointer smoothly over the continuous image in response to further directional activation of the user-manipulated operator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
250 words
A television-based hyperlink content navigation system, comprising: a viewing area for displaying visual content, wherein the visual content has a content area that is larger than the viewing area; a plurality of selectable objects in the visual content; a focus that is initially on a first one of the objects; a user-manipulated operator that can be manipulated by a user in different directions; wherein the navigation system is responsive to activation of the user-manipulated operator in a selected direction to perform steps comprising: determining a speed value from the activation of the user-manipulated operator; if there is a second one of the objects within a predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value does not exceed a threshold, tabbing the focus to said second object and scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area if necessary to bring the second one of the objects onto the viewing area; if there is not a second one of the objects within the predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value exceeds the threshold, scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area; if the second one of the objects includes a continuous image having a continuous two-dimensional range of selectable points, displaying a pointer over the continuous image and moving the pointer smoothly over the continuous image in response to further directional activation of the user-manipulated operator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
A television-based hyperlink content navigation system as recited in claim 1, the navigation system performing further steps comprising: performing the tabbing step only if the speed value does not exceed a second threshold; if the speed value does not exceed the first threshold or does exceed the second threshold, scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area without tabbing to consecutive objects.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A television-based hyperlink content navigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the user-manipulated operator comprises a trackball.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A television-based hyperlink content navigation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the selectable objects include hypertext links.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A television-based hyperlink content navigation system as recited in claim 1, the navigation system performing a further step of displaying scroll indicators showing whether scrolling is possible in vertical directions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A television-based hyperlink content navigation system as recited in claim 1, the navigation system performing a further step of indicating to the user whether scrolling is possible in vertical directions.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
171 words
A method of navigating visual content in response to activation of a user-manipulated operator in a selected direction, wherein the visual content is displayed on a viewing area, the visual content has a content area that is larger than the viewing area, the visual content includes a plurality of selectable objects, and a first one of the objects is initially the subject of a focus, the method comprising the following steps: determining a speed value from the activation of the user-manipulated operator; if there is a second one of the objects within a predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value exceeds a first threshold, tabbing the focus to said second object; if there is not a second one of the objects within the predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value does not exceed the first threshold, scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
171 words
A method of navigating visual content in response to activation of a user-manipulated operator in a selected direction, wherein the visual content is displayed on a viewing area, the visual content has a content area that is larger than the viewing area, the visual content includes a plurality of selectable objects, and a first one of the objects is initially the subject of a focus, the method comprising the following steps: determining a speed value from the activation of the user-manipulated operator; if there is a second one of the objects within a predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value exceeds a first threshold, tabbing the focus to said second object; if there is not a second one of the objects within the predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value does not exceed the first threshold, scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the tabbing step includes a step of scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area if necessary to bring the second one of the objects onto the viewing area.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as recited in claim 9, comprising a further step of removing the focus during the scrolling step.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the second one of the objects includes a continuous image having a plurality of selectable areas, the method further comprising: displaying a pointer over the continuous image; moving the pointer smoothly over the continuous image in response to directional activation of the user-manipulated operator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
85 words
A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the second one of the objects includes a continuous image having a plurality of selectable areas, the method further comprising: displaying a pointer over the continuous image; moving the pointer smoothly over the continuous image in response to directional activation of the user-manipulated operator; when the pointer moves off of the continuous image, removing the pointer and either tabbing the focus or scrolling the visual content depending on the proximity of other objects in the content area.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of navigating visual content in response to activation of a user-manipulated operator in a selected direction, wherein the visual content is displayed on a viewing area, the visual content has a content area that is larger than the viewing area, the visual content includes a plurality of selectable objects, and a first one of the objects is initially the subject of a focus, the method comprising the following steps: determining a speed value from the activation of the user-manipulated operator; if there is a second one of the objects within a predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value does not exceeds a threshold, tabbing the focus to said second object; if there is not a second one of the objects within the predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value exceeds the threshold, scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of navigating visual content in response to activation of a user-manipulated operator in a selected direction, wherein the visual content is displayed on a viewing area, the visual content has a content area that is larger than the viewing area, the visual content includes a plurality of selectable objects, and a first one of the objects is initially the subject of a focus, the method comprising the following steps: determining a speed value from the activation of the user-manipulated operator; if there is a second one of the objects within a predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value does not exceeds a threshold, tabbing the focus to said second object; if there is not a second one of the objects within the predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value exceeds the threshold, scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as recited in claim 9, further comprising: performing the tabbing step only if the speed value does not exceed a second threshold; if the speed value does exceed the second threshold, scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area without tabbing to consecutive objects.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the user-manipulated operator is a trackball.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the selectable objects include hypertext links.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as recited in claim 9, further comprising a step of displaying scroll indicators showing whether scrolling is possible in vertical directions.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as recited in claim 9, further comprising a step of indicating to the user whether scrolling is possible in vertical directions.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
A computer-readable storage medium containing instructions that are executable by a computer to perform the steps comprising the steps of claim 9.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
A hyperlink content browser configured to navigate visual content by performing steps comprising the steps of claim 9.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
173 words
A user interface for navigating visual content, comprising: a viewing area for displaying the visual content, wherein the visual content has a content area that is larger than the viewing area; a plurality of selectable objects displayed in the visual content; a focus that is initially on a first one of the objects; wherein the user interface is responsive to activation of a user-manipulated operator in a selected direction to perform steps comprising: determining a speed value from the activation of the user-manipulated operator; if there is a second one of the objects within a predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value exceeds a first threshold, tabbing the focus to said second object; if there is not a second one of the objects within the predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value does not exceed the first threshold, scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
173 words
A user interface for navigating visual content, comprising: a viewing area for displaying the visual content, wherein the visual content has a content area that is larger than the viewing area; a plurality of selectable objects displayed in the visual content; a focus that is initially on a first one of the objects; wherein the user interface is responsive to activation of a user-manipulated operator in a selected direction to perform steps comprising: determining a speed value from the activation of the user-manipulated operator; if there is a second one of the objects within a predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value exceeds a first threshold, tabbing the focus to said second object; if there is not a second one of the objects within the predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value does not exceed the first threshold, scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
39 words
A user interface as recited in claim 22, wherein the tabbing step includes a step of scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area if necessary to bring the second one of the objects onto the viewing area.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
A user interface as recited in claim 22, wherein the user interface removes the focus during the scrolling step.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
66 words
A user interface as recited in claim 22, wherein the second one of the objects includes a continuous image having a plurality of selectable areas, the user interface performing further steps after tabbing the focus to the second object, said steps comprising: displaying a pointer over the continuous image; moving the pointer smoothly over the continuous image in response to directional activation of the user-manipulated operator.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
99 words
A user interface as recited in claim 22, wherein the second one of the objects includes a continuous image having a plurality of selectable areas, the user interface performing further steps after tabbing the focus to the second object, said steps comprising: displaying a pointer over the continuous image; moving the pointer smoothly over the continuous image in response to directional activation of the user-manipulated operator; when the pointer moves off of the continuous image, removing the pointer and either tabbing the focus or scrolling the visual content depending on the proximity of other objects in the content area.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
56 words
A user interface as recited in claim 22, the user interface performing further steps comprising: determining a speed value from the activation of the user-manipulated operator; performing the tabbing step only if the speed value exceeds a threshold; if the speed value does not exceed the threshold, scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
171 words
A user interface for navigating visual content, comprising: a viewing area for displaying the visual content, wherein the visual content has a content area that is larger than the viewing area; a plurality of selectable objects displayed in the visual content; a focus that is initially on a first one of the objects; wherein the user interface is responsive to activation of a user-manipulated operator in a selected direction to perform steps comprising: determining a speed value from the activation of the user-manipulated operator; if there is a second one of the objects within a predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value does not exceed a threshold, tabbing the focus to said second object; if there is not a second one of the objects within the predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value exceeds the threshold, scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
171 words
A user interface for navigating visual content, comprising: a viewing area for displaying the visual content, wherein the visual content has a content area that is larger than the viewing area; a plurality of selectable objects displayed in the visual content; a focus that is initially on a first one of the objects; wherein the user interface is responsive to activation of a user-manipulated operator in a selected direction to perform steps comprising: determining a speed value from the activation of the user-manipulated operator; if there is a second one of the objects within a predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value does not exceed a threshold, tabbing the focus to said second object; if there is not a second one of the objects within the predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value exceeds the threshold, scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
60 words
A user interface as recited in claim 22, the user interface performing further steps comprising: performing the tabbing step only if the speed value does not exceed a second threshold; if the speed value does not exceed the first threshold or does exceed the second threshold, scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area without tabbing to consecutive objects.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
15 words
A user interface as recited in claim 22, wherein the selectable objects include hypertext links.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
27 words
A user interface as recited in claim 22, the user interface performing a further step comprising displaying scroll indicators showing whether scrolling is possible in vertical directions.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
27 words
A use interface as recited in claim 22, the user interface performing a further step comprising indicating to the user whether scrolling is possible in vertical directions.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
161 words
A computer-readable storage medium containing instructions for performing steps comprising: displaying visual content on a viewing area, wherein the visual content has a content area that is larger than the viewing area, the visual content including a plurality of selectable objects; placing a focus on a first one of the objects; detecting activation of a user-manipulated operator in a selected direction; determining a speed value from the activation of the user-manipulated operator; if there is a second one of the objects within a predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value exceeds a first threshold, tabbing the focus to said second object; if there is not a second one of the objects within the predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value does not exceed the first threshold, scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
161 words
A computer-readable storage medium containing instructions for performing steps comprising: displaying visual content on a viewing area, wherein the visual content has a content area that is larger than the viewing area, the visual content including a plurality of selectable objects; placing a focus on a first one of the objects; detecting activation of a user-manipulated operator in a selected direction; determining a speed value from the activation of the user-manipulated operator; if there is a second one of the objects within a predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value exceeds a first threshold, tabbing the focus to said second object; if there is not a second one of the objects within the predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value does not exceed the first threshold, scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
40 words
A computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 33, wherein the tabbing step includes a step of scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area if necessary to bring the second one of the objects onto the viewing area.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
23 words
A computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 33, the steps further comprising a step of removing the focus during the scrolling step.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
54 words
A computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 33, wherein the second one of the objects includes a continuous image having a plurality of selectable areas, the steps further comprising: displaying a pointer over the continuous image; moving the pointer smoothly over the continuous image in response to directional activation of the user-manipulated operator.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
87 words
A computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 33, wherein the second one of the objects includes a continuous image having a plurality of selectable areas, the steps further comprising: displaying a pointer over the continuous image; moving the pointer smoothly over the continuous image in response to directional activation of the user-manipulated operator; when the pointer moves off of the continuous image, removing the pointer and either tabbing the focus or scrolling the visual content depending on the proximity of other objects in the content area.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
54 words
A computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 33, the steps further comprising: determining a speed value from the activation of the user-manipulated operator; performing the tabbing step only if the speed value exceeds a threshold; if the speed value does not exceed the threshold, scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
159 words
A computer-readable storage medium containing instructions for performing steps comprising: displaying visual content on a viewing area, wherein the visual content has a content area that is larger than the viewing area, the visual content including a plurality of selectable objects; placing a focus on a first one of the objects; detecting activation of a user-manipulated operator in a selected direction; determining a speed value from the activation of the user-manipulated operator; if there is a second one of the objects within a predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value does not exceed a threshold, tabbing the focus to said second object; if there is not a second one of the objects within the predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value exceeds the threshold, scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
159 words
A computer-readable storage medium containing instructions for performing steps comprising: displaying visual content on a viewing area, wherein the visual content has a content area that is larger than the viewing area, the visual content including a plurality of selectable objects; placing a focus on a first one of the objects; detecting activation of a user-manipulated operator in a selected direction; determining a speed value from the activation of the user-manipulated operator; if there is a second one of the objects within a predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value does not exceed a threshold, tabbing the focus to said second object; if there is not a second one of the objects within the predefined linear distance in the content area from the first object in approximately the selected direction and the speed value exceeds the threshold, scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
58 words
A computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 33, the steps further comprising: performing the tabbing step only if the speed value does not exceed a second threshold; if the speed value does not exceed the first threshold or does exceed the second threshold, scrolling the visual content relative to the viewing area without tabbing to consecutive objects.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
16 words
A computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 33, wherein the selectable objects include hypertext links.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
27 words
A computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 33, the steps further comprising a step of displaying scroll indicators showing whether scrolling is possible in vertical directions.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
25 words
A computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 33, further comprising a step of indicating to the user whether scrolling is possible in vertical directions.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-11-28 | 2004-05-29 | 2004-11-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-11-28 | 2008-05-29 | 2008-11-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-11-28 | 2012-05-29 | 2012-11-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |