Patent US6281940B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6281940B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Display of previewed channels with rotation of multiple previewed channels along an arc
Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 1999-03-31
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Granted: 2001-08-28
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Expires: 2019-03-31
Abstract
Abstract Information corresponding to previewed channels is displayed using a sequential arrangement having a main channel location and several remaining channel locations. A currently previewed channel resides in the main channel location. The channels move along the sequential arrangement and into the main channel location for previewing. An arc shaped arrangement having the main channel location at an intermediate point allows channels to progress from one side of the arc, then into the main channel location for previewing, then to the other side of the arc. A jog dial can be rotated to cause the previewed channels to rotate along the arc. Thus, the user can cycle through available channels or a subset of channels by merely holding the jog dial in a given position.
Inventors
- 👤 Eduardo A. Sciammarella
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 07:38
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/44; H04N5/50; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/41; H04N21/422; H04N21/42204; H04N21/42206; H04N21/43; H04N21/431; H04N21/4312; H04N21/47; H04N21/482; H04N21/426
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
A method for displaying information corresponding to previewed channels, the method comprising: displaying a plurality of channel information locations in a sequential arrangement, the plurality of channel information locations including a main channel location and a plurality of remaining channel locations, wherein the sequential arrangement comprises an arc wherein the main channel position resides at a location along the arc; displaying information for a first channel in the main channel location and information for a second channel in a first remaining channel location; responsive to a first control signal, causing the information for the second channel to rotate into the main channel location and the information for the first channel to rotate out of the main channel location, wherein the information for the first channel rotates into a second remaining channel location when it rotates out of the main channel location; and responsive to a second control signal, causing the information for a third channel to rotate into the main channel location, the information for the first channel to rotate into a third remaining channel location, and the information for the second channel to rotate into the second remaining channel location.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
191 words
A method for displaying information corresponding to previewed channels, the method comprising: displaying a plurality of channel information locations in a sequential arrangement, the plurality of channel information locations including a main channel location and a plurality of remaining channel locations, wherein the sequential arrangement comprises an arc wherein the main channel position resides at a location along the arc; displaying information for a first channel in the main channel location and information for a second channel in a first remaining channel location; responsive to a first control signal, causing the information for the second channel to rotate into the main channel location and the information for the first channel to rotate out of the main channel location, wherein the information for the first channel rotates into a second remaining channel location when it rotates out of the main channel location; and responsive to a second control signal, causing the information for a third channel to rotate into the main channel location, the information for the first channel to rotate into a third remaining channel location, and the information for the second channel to rotate into the second remaining channel location.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 , for use with a remote control, wherein the first control signal is produced responsive to a first position of a jog dial on the remote control.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 2 , for use with the remote control, wherein the first control signal and the second control signal are produced when the jog dial on the remote control remains in the first position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the remaining channel locations are at first and second sides of the arc separated by the main channel position, such that channels to be previewed rotate from the first side of the arc, then to the main channel position for previewing, and then to the second side of the arc after they have been previewed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 , for use with a remote control, wherein rotating the jog dial clockwise causes the previewed channels to rotate clockwise along the arc.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein rotating the jog dial counter-clockwise from the default position causes the previewed channels to rotate counter-clockwise along the arc.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the first, second and third channels are from the set of all available channels.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the first, second and third channels are from a subset of all available channels.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein audio and video are provided for the channel in the main channel location, and a still image is provided for the channels in the remaining channel locations.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for displaying information corresponding to previewed channels, the apparatus comprising: a channel index module, which provides a list of channels including a first channel and a second channel; and a preview display module, which displays a plurality of channel information locations in a sequential arrangement, the plurality of channel information locations including a main channel location a plurality of remaining channel locations; displays information for a first channel in the main channel location and information for a second channel in a first remaining channel location; and, responsive to a first control signal, causes the information for the second channel to rotate into the main channel location and the information for the first channel to rotate out of the main channel location.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for displaying information corresponding to previewed channels, the apparatus comprising: a channel index module, which provides a list of channels including a first channel and a second channel; and a preview display module, which displays a plurality of channel information locations in a sequential arrangement, the plurality of channel information locations including a main channel location a plurality of remaining channel locations; displays information for a first channel in the main channel location and information for a second channel in a first remaining channel location; and, responsive to a first control signal, causes the information for the second channel to rotate into the main channel location and the information for the first channel to rotate out of the main channel location.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the information for the first channel rotates into a second remaining channel location when it rotates out of the main channel location.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the preview display module responds to receiving a second control signal by causing the information for a third channel to rotate into the main channel location, the information for the first channel to rotate into a third remaining channel location, and the information for the second channel to rotate into the second remaining channel location.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 12 , for use with a remote control, wherein the first control signal and the second control signal are produced when a jog dial on the remote control remains in a first position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the sequential arrangement comprises an arc wherein the main channel position resides at a location along the arc.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the remaining channel locations are at first and second sides of the arc separated by the main channel position, such that channels to be previewed rotate from the first side of the arc, then to the main channel position for previewing, and then to the second side of the arc after they have been previewed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 14 , for use with a remote control, wherein rotating the jog dial clockwise causes the previewed channels to rotate clockwise along the arc.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein rotating the jog dial counter-clockwise from the default position causes the previewed channels to rotate counter-clockwise along the arc.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein audio and video are provided for the channel in the main channel location, and a still image is provided for the channels in the remaining channel locations.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first, second and third channels are a sequence in the set of all channels that are available for viewing in a television system.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first, second and third channels are from a subset of all channels that are available for viewing in a television system.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US6028600A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-08-27 | 2005-02-26 | 2005-08-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-08-27 | 2009-02-26 | 2009-08-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-08-27 | 2013-02-26 | 2013-08-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |