US7107531B2 — System and method for focused navigation within a…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 187 words

A method for navigation of television program listings within a user interface, the method comprising: moving a first sequence of visual cards along a first axis through a spatially-fixed focus area within the user interface, each visual card of the first sequence of visual cards comprising a picture representing a respective television program in a broadcast time slot, the first sequence of visual cards being moved without affecting a second sequence of visual cards displayed along a second axis extending through the focus area, the second axis being perpendicular to the first axis, the second sequence of visual cards being movable along the second axis in a direction perpendicular to the movement of the first sequence of visual cards, the visual cards of the second sequence representing a type of option other than television programs in a broadcast time slot such that no visual card In the first sequence is also included in the second sequence; and enabling selection of a particular visual card of the first sequence of visual cards by a user in order to view the television program represented by the selected visual card.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 187 words

A method for navigation of television program listings within a user interface, the method comprising: moving a first sequence of visual cards along a first axis through a spatially-fixed focus area within the user interface, each visual card of the first sequence of visual cards comprising a picture representing a respective television program in a broadcast time slot, the first sequence of visual cards being moved without affecting a second sequence of visual cards displayed along a second axis extending through the focus area, the second axis being perpendicular to the first axis, the second sequence of visual cards being movable along the second axis in a direction perpendicular to the movement of the first sequence of visual cards, the visual cards of the second sequence representing a type of option other than television programs in a broadcast time slot such that no visual card In the first sequence is also included in the second sequence; and enabling selection of a particular visual card of the first sequence of visual cards by a user in order to view the television program represented by the selected visual card.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 1 , further comprising stoning the first sequence of visual cards.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 1 , further comprising halting the moving of the first sequence of visual cards.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 3 , wherein the moving of the first sequence of visual cards is initiated in response to a first remote control button being pressed and halted in response to a second remote control button being pressed.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method of claim 3 , wherein the moving of the first sequence of visual cards is initiated in response to a first remote control button being pressed and halted in response to the first remote control button being pressed a second time.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein the moving of visual cards is in response to a single user action.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 6 , wherein selection of a particular visual card is in response to an additional user action.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein selection of a particular visual card is in response to a single user action.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 55 words

The method of claim 1 , further comprising continuously moving a third sequence of visual cards along the first axis through the focus area in response to a single user command, each visual card of the third sequence of visual cards comprising a picture representing a respective television program in a later broadcast time slot.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 9 , further comprising storing the third sequence of visual cards.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 9 , further comprising halting the moving of the third sequence of visual cards.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 56 words

The method of claim 9 , further comprising displaying a time slot indicator to provide an indication of the broadcast time slot associated with the first sequence of visual cards; and updating the time slot indicator to reflect the broadcast time slot associated with the second sequence of visual cards in response to the user command.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein each visual card in the first sequence represents a program being shown on a different channel during the broadcast time slot.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 57 words

The method of claim 1 , further comprising moving a third sequence of visual cards along the first axis through the focus area of the user interface in response to a single user command, each visual card of the third sequence of visual cards comprising a picture representing a television program In an earlier broadcast time slot.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 46 words

The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying a time slot indicator to provide an indication of the broadcast time slot associated with the first sequence of visual cards and at least one of an earlier broadcast time slot and a later broadcast time slot.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 70 words

The method of claim 1 , further comprising replacing the first sequence of visual cards along the first axis with a third sequence of visual cards along the first axis in response to a visual card from the second sequence being moved into the focus area, the third sequence of visual cards representing a type of option different from those represented by the first and second sequences of visual cards.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 206 words

A system for focused navigation of a plurality of television programs within a user interface, the system comprising: a user input detector configured to detect actions of a user; and a processor configured to move a first sequence of visual cards through a spatially-fixed focus area within the user interface, each visual card of the first sequence of visual cards comprising a picture representing a respective television program in a broadcast time slot, the first sequence of visual cards being moved without affecting a second sequence of visual cards displayed along a second axis extending through the focus area, the second axis being perpendicular to the first axis, the second sequence of visual cards being movable along the second axis in a direction perpendicular to the movement of the first sequence of visual cards, the visual cards of the second sequence representing a type of option other than television programs in a broadcast time slot such that the first and second sequences do not have any visual cards in common, the processor being further configured to enable selection of a particular visual card of the first sequence of visual cards by the user in order to view the television program represented by the selected visual card.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 206 words

A system for focused navigation of a plurality of television programs within a user interface, the system comprising: a user input detector configured to detect actions of a user; and a processor configured to move a first sequence of visual cards through a spatially-fixed focus area within the user interface, each visual card of the first sequence of visual cards comprising a picture representing a respective television program in a broadcast time slot, the first sequence of visual cards being moved without affecting a second sequence of visual cards displayed along a second axis extending through the focus area, the second axis being perpendicular to the first axis, the second sequence of visual cards being movable along the second axis in a direction perpendicular to the movement of the first sequence of visual cards, the visual cards of the second sequence representing a type of option other than television programs in a broadcast time slot such that the first and second sequences do not have any visual cards in common, the processor being further configured to enable selection of a particular visual card of the first sequence of visual cards by the user in order to view the television program represented by the selected visual card.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 17 words

The system of claim 17 , further comprising a storage device configured to store the visual cards.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 23 words

The system of claim 17 , wherein the processor is further configured to halt the moving of the first sequence of visual cards.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 45 words

The system of claim 19 , wherein the processor is to initiate the movement of the first sequence of visual cards in response to a first remote control button being pressed and halt the movement in response to a second remote control button being pressed.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 48 words

The system of claim 19 , wherein the processor is to initiate the movement of the first sequence of visual cards in response to a first remote control button being pressed and halt the movement in response to the first remote control button being pressed a second time.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 20 words

The system of claim 17 , wherein the processor moves the visual cards in response to a single user action.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 21 words

The system of claim 22 , wherein selection of a particular visual card is in response to an additional user action.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 21 words

The system of claim 17 , wherein selection of a particular visual card is in response to a single user action.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 59 words

The system of claim 17 , wherein the processor is further configured to move a third sequence of visual cards through the focus area of the user interface in response to a single user command, each visual card of the third sequence of visual cards comprising a picture representing a respective television program in a later broadcast time slot.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 20 words

The system of claim 25 , further comprising a storage device configured to store the third sequence of visual cards.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 23 words

The system of claim 25 , wherein the processor is further configured to halt the moving of the third sequence of visual cards.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 61 words

The system of claim 25 , wherein the processor is further configured to display a time slot indicator to provide an indication of the broadcast time slot associated with the first sequence of visual cards and update the time slot indicator to reflect the broadcast time slot associated with the second sequence of visual cards in response to the user command.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 58 words

The system of claim 17 , wherein the processor is further configured to move a third sequence of visual cards through the first area of the user interface in response to a single user command, each visual card of the third sequence of visual cards comprising a picture representing a television channel in an earlier broadcast time slot.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 51 words

The system of claim 17 , wherein the processor is further configured to display a time slot indicator to provide an indication of the broadcast time slot associated with the first sequence of visual cards and at least one of an earlier broadcast time slot and a later broadcast time slot.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 75 words

The system of claim 17 , wherein the processor is further configured to replace the first sequence of visual cards along the first axis with a third sequence of visual cards along the first axis in response to a visual card from the second sequence being moved into the focus area, the third sequence of visual cards representing a type of option different from those represented by the first and second sequences of visual cards.

Claim 34

Independent Claim 203 words

A method for navigation of television program listings within a user interface, the method comprising: horizontally moving a first sequence of visual cards through a horizontally and vertically fixed focus area within the user interface, each visual card of the first sequence of visual cards comprising a picture representing a respective application within an interactive television system; in response to a user pausing the moving of the first sequence of visual cards to show a particular visual card representing a television application within the focus area; enabling vertical movement of a second sequence of visual cards through the focus area without affecting the first sequence of visual cards outside of the focus area, each visual card of the second sequence of visual cards representing a corresponding television channel, wherein transitioning from pausing the horizontal movement of the first sequence to vertically moving the second sequence requires no more than a single user action; and enabling selection of a particular visual card of the second sequence of visual cards by a user in order to view a television program on the television channel represented by the selected visual card, wherein no visual card in the first sequence is also included in the second sequence.

Claim 35

Independent Claim 203 words

A method for navigation of television program listings within a user interface, the method comprising: horizontally moving a first sequence of visual cards through a horizontally and vertically fixed focus area within the user interface, each visual card of the first sequence of visual cards comprising a picture representing a respective application within an interactive television system; in response to a user pausing the moving of the first sequence of visual cards to show a particular visual card representing a television application within the focus area; enabling vertical movement of a second sequence of visual cards through the focus area without affecting the first sequence of visual cards outside of the focus area, each visual card of the second sequence of visual cards representing a corresponding television channel, wherein transitioning from pausing the horizontal movement of the first sequence to vertically moving the second sequence requires no more than a single user action; and enabling selection of a particular visual card of the second sequence of visual cards by a user in order to view a television program on the television channel represented by the selected visual card, wherein no visual card in the first sequence is also included in the second sequence.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 32 , wherein the moving of each sequence of visual cards is in response to a single user action.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 33 , wherein selection of a particular visual card is in response to an additional user action.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 32 , wherein selection of a particular visual card is in response to a single user action.

Claim 39

Independent Claim 185 words

A system for focused navigation of a plurality of television programs within a user interface, the system comprising: means for moving a first sequence of visual cards along a first axis through a spatially-fixed focus area of the user interface, each visual card of the first sequence of visual cards comprising a picture representing a respective television channel, the first sequence of visual cards being moved without affecting a second sequence of visual cards displayed along a second axis extending through the focus area, the second axis being perpendicular to the first axis, the second sequence of visual cards being movable along the second axis in a direction perpendicular to the movement of the first sequence of visual cards, the visual cards of the second sequence representing an option other than television channels, wherein no visual card in the first sequence is also included in the second sequence; and means for enabling selection of a particular visual card of the first sequence of visual cards by a user in order to view a television program on the television channel represented by the selected visual card.

Claim 40

Independent Claim 185 words

A system for focused navigation of a plurality of television programs within a user interface, the system comprising: means for moving a first sequence of visual cards along a first axis through a spatially-fixed focus area of the user interface, each visual card of the first sequence of visual cards comprising a picture representing a respective television channel, the first sequence of visual cards being moved without affecting a second sequence of visual cards displayed along a second axis extending through the focus area, the second axis being perpendicular to the first axis, the second sequence of visual cards being movable along the second axis in a direction perpendicular to the movement of the first sequence of visual cards, the visual cards of the second sequence representing an option other than television channels, wherein no visual card in the first sequence is also included in the second sequence; and means for enabling selection of a particular visual card of the first sequence of visual cards by a user in order to view a television program on the television channel represented by the selected visual card.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2009-09-11	2010-03-13	2010-09-12	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2013-09-11	2014-03-13	2014-09-12	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2017-09-11	2018-03-13	2018-09-12	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

System and method for focused navigation within a user interface

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