U.S. patent application number 13/969588 was filed with the patent office on 2014-03-06 for panel user interface for an intelligent television.
This patent application is currently assigned to Flextronics AP, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Flextronics AP, LLC. Invention is credited to Mohammed Selim, Sanjiv Sirpal.
Application Number | 20140068674 13/969588 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50099797 |
Filed Date | 2014-03-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140068674 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sirpal; Sanjiv ; et
al. |
March 6, 2014 |
PANEL USER INTERFACE FOR AN INTELLIGENT TELEVISION
Abstract
An intelligent television, methods for displaying content, and
methods for user interaction between the intelligent television and
the user are provided. In general, a user is provided with an
application panel allowing for navigation, categories, favorites,
and search options that enable one or more functions associated
with the intelligent television. The presentation of options is
based on input received by the intelligent television. As a user
provides input to the intelligent television via a remote control
or other input device. The intelligent television is configured to
interpret the input and provide interactive functionality in the
form of content presented to the display of the intelligent
television without obstructing the user from viewing content
displayed on the screen of the intelligent television.
Inventors: |
Sirpal; Sanjiv; (Oakville,
CA) ; Selim; Mohammed; (Oakville, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Flextronics AP, LLC |
San Jose |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Flextronics AP, LLC
San Jose
CA
|
Family ID: |
50099797 |
Appl. No.: |
13/969588 |
Filed: |
August 18, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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61684672 |
Aug 17, 2012 |
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61702650 |
Sep 18, 2012 |
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61697710 |
Sep 6, 2012 |
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61700182 |
Sep 12, 2012 |
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61736692 |
Dec 13, 2012 |
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61798821 |
Mar 15, 2013 |
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61804942 |
Mar 25, 2013 |
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61804998 |
Mar 25, 2013 |
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61804971 |
Mar 25, 2013 |
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61804990 |
Mar 25, 2013 |
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61805003 |
Mar 25, 2013 |
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61805053 |
Mar 25, 2013 |
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61805030 |
Mar 25, 2013 |
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61805027 |
Mar 25, 2013 |
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61805042 |
Mar 25, 2013 |
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61805038 |
Mar 25, 2013 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
725/43 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/23109 20130101;
H04N 21/482 20130101; H04N 21/24 20130101; H04N 21/26291 20130101;
H04N 21/4307 20130101; H04N 21/437 20130101; H04N 21/8545 20130101;
H04N 5/445 20130101; H04N 21/42225 20130101; H04N 21/4316 20130101;
H04N 21/4821 20130101; H04N 21/6175 20130101; H04N 5/45 20130101;
H04N 21/258 20130101; H04N 21/4782 20130101; H04N 5/44 20130101;
H04N 21/40 20130101; H04N 21/44213 20130101; H04N 21/6582 20130101;
H04N 21/41265 20200801; H04N 21/42203 20130101; H04N 21/432
20130101; H04N 21/47 20130101; H04N 21/4823 20130101; G06F 3/04883
20130101; H04N 21/25 20130101; H04N 21/44204 20130101; H04N 21/4302
20130101; H04N 21/4312 20130101; H04N 21/441 20130101; H04N 5/50
20130101; H04N 21/4755 20130101; H04N 21/8166 20130101; H04L 51/32
20130101; H04N 21/414 20130101; H04N 21/431 20130101; H04N 21/43
20130101; H04N 21/478 20130101; H04N 21/25883 20130101; H04N 21/422
20130101; H04N 21/2543 20130101; H04N 21/25891 20130101; H04N
21/435 20130101; H04N 21/44222 20130101; H04N 21/4826 20130101;
H04N 21/4882 20130101; H04N 17/04 20130101; H04N 21/4858 20130101;
H04N 21/433 20130101; H04N 21/442 20130101; G06F 3/017 20130101;
H04N 21/251 20130101; H04N 21/4332 20130101; H04N 21/4532 20130101;
H04N 21/475 20130101; H04N 21/4753 20130101; H04N 21/25808
20130101; H04N 21/462 20130101; H04N 21/235 20130101; H04N 21/42206
20130101; H04N 21/8126 20130101; H04N 21/4415 20130101; H04N
21/4622 20130101; H04N 21/8358 20130101; G06F 3/04817 20130101;
H04N 1/00448 20130101; H04N 21/4314 20130101; H04N 21/47205
20130101; H04N 21/4788 20130101; H04N 21/485 20130101; H04N 21/6125
20130101; H04N 21/85 20130101; G06F 2203/04804 20130101; H04N
21/42222 20130101; H04N 21/42684 20130101; H04N 21/488 20130101;
H04N 21/8173 20130101; H04N 21/84 20130101; H04N 21/4756 20130101;
H04N 21/4828 20130101; H04N 21/8133 20130101; H04N 21/42204
20130101; G06F 3/04842 20130101; H04N 21/426 20130101; H04N 21/4396
20130101; H04N 21/472 20130101; G06F 3/0481 20130101; H04N 21/4221
20130101; H04N 21/4725 20130101; H04N 21/2187 20130101; H04N
21/47202 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
725/43 |
International
Class: |
H04N 21/478 20060101
H04N021/478; H04N 21/488 20060101 H04N021/488; H04N 21/482 20060101
H04N021/482 |
Claims
1. A method, comprising: presenting, via a display of an
intelligent television (TV), live TV broadcast content, wherein the
live TV broadcast content is presented to a first portion of the
display; receiving an application panel input at the intelligent
TV, wherein the application panel input corresponds to at least one
of a categories input, a favorites input, and a search input;
determining, by a processor associated with the intelligent TV and
in response to receiving the application panel input, live TV
application panel content that corresponds to a live TV application
and the application panel input received; retrieving, from at least
one source, the live TV application panel content; and presenting,
via the display, the live TV application panel content to a second
portion of the display, wherein the second portion of the display
is associated with a live TV application panel, and wherein the
live TV application panel overlaps at least a portion of the
presented live TV broadcast content.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the live TV
application panel content further comprises: referring to rules
stored in a memory, wherein the rules include one or more
application panel content fields mapped to at least one live TV
application panel content type; comparing a live TV application
panel content type associated with the presented live TV broadcast
content with the one or more mapped application panel content
fields; determining select application panel content fields from
the one or more mapped application panel content fields; and
including the select application panel content fields in the live
TV application panel content for retrieval.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the live TV application panel
content is retrieved from two or more signal sources.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one source is at
least one of a local memory, a remote memory, a broadcast signal,
and a memory located across a network.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the live TV
application panel content and the live TV application panel is at
least partially transparent, and wherein the presented live TV
broadcast content is visible beneath the presented live TV
application panel content.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein a size of the first portion is
maintained upon presenting the live TV application panel content
via the second portion of the display.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the presented live TV broadcast
content includes at least one of a movie, a TV program, a sport
event, a TV special, and a radio program.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the presented live TV application
panel content includes at least one of a category, a channel
identifier, a thumbnail graphic, an electronic program guide (EPG),
a favorite, and a search term.
9. A tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium having
instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor,
perform the method comprising: presenting, via a display of an
intelligent television (TV), live TV broadcast content, wherein the
live TV broadcast content is presented to a first portion of the
display; receiving an application panel input at the intelligent
TV, wherein the application panel input corresponds to at least one
of a categories input, a favorites input, and a search input;
determining, by a processor associated with the intelligent TV and
in response to receiving the application panel input, live TV
application panel content that corresponds to a live TV application
and the application panel input received; retrieving, from at least
one source, the live TV application panel content; and presenting,
via the display, the live TV application panel content to a second
portion of the display, wherein the second portion of the display
is associated with a live TV application panel, and wherein the
live TV application panel overlaps at least a portion of the
presented live TV broadcast content.
10. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim
9, wherein determining the live TV application panel content of the
method further comprises: referring to rules stored in a memory,
wherein the rules include one or more application panel content
fields mapped to at least one live TV application panel content
type; comparing a live TV application panel content type associated
with the presented live TV broadcast content with the one or more
mapped application panel content fields; determining select
application panel content fields from the one or more mapped
application panel content fields; and including the select
application panel content fields in the live TV application panel
content for retrieval.
11. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim
9, wherein the live TV application panel content is retrieved from
two or more signal sources.
12. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim
9, wherein the at least one source is at least one of a local
memory, a remote memory, a broadcast signal, and a memory located
across a network.
13. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim
9, wherein at least one of the live TV application panel content
and the live TV application panel is at least partially
transparent, and wherein the presented live TV broadcast content is
visible beneath the presented live TV application panel
content.
14. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim
9, wherein a size of the first portion is maintained upon
presenting the live TV application panel content via the second
portion of the display.
15. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim
9, wherein the application panel input is provided via an input
device associated with the intelligent TV.
16. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim
9, wherein the presented live TV broadcast content includes at
least one of a movie, a TV program, a sport event, a TV special,
and a radio program.
17. The tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium of claim
16, wherein the presented live TV application panel content
includes at least one of a program description, a channel
identifier, a thumbnail graphic, an electronic program guide (EPG),
and preference information.
18. A system, comprising: an intelligent television (TV) having a
display and a tuner, wherein the tuner is configured to receive and
convert broadcast content signals to be displayed by the display;
an input device associated with the intelligent TV; a memory; and a
microprocessor operable to: present, via a display of an
intelligent television (TV), live TV broadcast content, wherein the
live TV broadcast content is presented to a first portion of the
display; receive an application panel input at the intelligent TV,
wherein the application panel input corresponds to at least one of
a categories input, a favorites input, and a search input;
determine, by a processor associated with the intelligent TV and in
response to receiving the application panel input, live TV
application panel content that corresponds to a live TV application
and the application panel input received; retrieve, from at least
one source, the live TV application panel content; and present, via
the display, the live TV application panel content to a second
portion of the display, wherein the second portion of the display
is associated with a live TV application panel, and wherein the
live TV application panel overlaps at least a portion of the
presented live TV broadcast content.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the microprocessor is further
operable to: refer to rules stored in a memory, wherein the rules
include one or more application panel content fields mapped to at
least one live TV application panel content type; compare a live TV
application panel content type associated with the presented live
TV broadcast content with the one or more mapped application panel
content fields; determine select application panel content fields
from the one or more mapped application panel content fields; and
include the select application panel content fields in the live TV
application panel content for retrieval.
20. The system of claim 18, wherein at least one of the live TV
application panel content and the live TV application panel is at
least partially transparent, and wherein the presented live TV
broadcast content is visible beneath the presented live TV
application panel content.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims the benefits of and priority,
under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119(e), to U.S. Provisional Application Ser.
Nos. 61/684,672 filed Aug. 17, 2012, "Smart TV"; 61/702,650 filed
Sep. 18, 2012, "Smart TV"; 61/697,710 filed Sep. 6, 2012, "Social
TV"; 61/700,182 filed Sep. 12, 2012, "Social TV Roadmap";
61/736,692 filed Dec. 13, 2012, "SmartTV"; 61/798,821 filed Mar.
15, 2013, "SmartTV"; 61/804,942 filed Mar. 25, 2013, "SmartTV";
61/804,998 filed Mar. 25, 2013, "SmartTV"; 61/804,971 filed Mar.
25, 2013, "SmartTV"; 61/804,990 filed Mar. 25, 2013, "SmartTV";
61/805,003 filed Mar. 25, 2013, "SmartTV"; 61/805,053 filed Mar.
25, 2013, "SmartTV"; 61/805,030 filed Mar. 25, 2013, "SmartTV";
61/805,027 filed Mar. 25, 2013, "SmartTV"; 61/805,042 filed Mar.
25, 2013, "SmartTV"; and 61/805,038 filed Mar. 25, 2013, "SmartTV."
Each of the aforementioned documents is incorporated herein by
reference in their entirety for all that they teach and for all
purposes.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Consolidation of device features or technological
convergence is in an increasing trend. Technological convergence
describes the tendency for different technological systems to
evolve toward performing similar tasks. As people use more devices,
the need to carry those devices, charge those devices, update
software on those devices, etc. becomes more cumbersome. To
compensate for these problems, technology companies have been
integrating features from different devices into one or two
multi-functional devices. For example, cellular phones are now
capable of accessing the Internet, taking photographs, providing
calendar functions, etc.
[0003] The consolidation trend is now affecting the design and
functionality of devices generally used in the home. For example,
audio receivers can access the Internet, digital video recorders
can store or provide access to digital photographs, etc. The
television in home audio/video systems remains a cornerstone device
because the display function cannot be integrated into other
devices. As such, consolidating home devices leads to integrating
features and functionality into the television. The emergence of
the Smart Television (Smart TV) is evidence of the trend to
consolidate functionality into the television.
[0004] A Smart TV is generally conceived as a device that
integrates access to the Internet and Web 2.0 features into
television sets. The Smart TV represents the trend of technological
convergence between computers and television sets. The Smart TV
generally focuses on online interactive media, Internet TV,
on-demand streaming media, and generally does not focus on
traditional broadcast media. Unfortunately, most Smart TVs have yet
to provide seamless and intuitive user interfaces for navigating
and/or executing the various features of the Smart TV. As such,
there are still issues with the consolidation of features and the
presentation of these features in Smart TVs.
SUMMARY
[0005] There is a need for an Intelligent TV with intuitive user
interfaces and with seamless user interaction capability. These and
other needs are addressed by the various aspects, embodiments,
and/or configurations of the present disclosure. Also, while the
disclosure is presented in terms of exemplary embodiments, it
should be appreciated that individual aspects of the disclosure can
be separately claimed.
[0006] In some embodiments, a method is provided, comprising:
presenting, via a display of an intelligent television (TV), live
TV broadcast content, wherein the live TV broadcast content is
presented to a first portion of the display; receiving an
application panel input at the intelligent TV, wherein the
application panel input corresponds to at least one of a categories
input, a favorites input, and a search input; determining, by a
processor associated with the intelligent TV and in response to
receiving the application panel input, live TV application panel
content that corresponds to a live TV application and the
application panel input received; retrieving, from at least one
source, the live TV application panel content; and presenting, via
the display, the live TV application panel content to a second
portion of the display, wherein the second portion of the display
is associated with a live TV application panel, and wherein the
live TV application panel overlaps at least a portion of the
presented live TV broadcast content. In one embodiment, determining
the live TV application panel content further comprises: referring
to rules stored in a memory, wherein the rules include one or more
application panel content fields mapped to at least one live TV
application panel content type; comparing a live TV application
panel content type associated with the presented live TV broadcast
content with the one or more mapped application panel content
fields; determining select application panel content fields from
the one or more mapped application panel content fields; and
including the select application panel content fields in the live
TV application panel content for retrieval. In another embodiment,
the live TV application panel content is retrieved from two or more
signal sources and the at least one source is at least one of a
local memory, a remote memory, a broadcast signal, and a memory
located across a network. In a further embodiment, at least one of
the live TV application panel content and the live TV application
panel is at least partially transparent, and wherein the presented
live TV broadcast content is visible beneath the presented live TV
application panel content. Thus, a size of the first portion is
maintained upon presenting the live TV application panel content
via the second portion of the display. In additional embodiments,
the presented live TV broadcast content includes at least one of a
movie, a TV program, a sport event, a TV special, and a radio
program, and wherein the presented live TV application panel
content includes at least one of a category, a channel identifier,
a thumbnail graphic, an electronic program guide (EPG), a favorite,
and a search term.
[0007] In another embodiment, a tangible, non-transitory computer
readable medium is provided having instructions stored thereon
that, when executed by a processor, perform the method comprising:
presenting, via a display of an intelligent television (TV), live
TV broadcast content, wherein the live TV broadcast content is
presented to a first portion of the display; receiving an
application panel input at the intelligent TV, wherein the
application panel input corresponds to at least one of a categories
input, a favorites input, and a search input; determining, by a
processor associated with the intelligent TV and in response to
receiving the application panel input, live TV application panel
content that corresponds to a live TV application and the
application panel input received; retrieving, from at least one
source, the live TV application panel content; and presenting, via
the display, the live TV application panel content to a second
portion of the display, wherein the second portion of the display
is associated with a live TV application panel, and wherein the
live TV application panel overlaps at least a portion of the
presented live TV broadcast content. In another embodiment,
determining the live TV application panel content of the method
further comprises: referring to rules stored in a memory, wherein
the rules include one or more application panel content fields
mapped to at least one live TV application panel content type;
comparing a live TV application panel content type associated with
the presented live TV broadcast content with the one or more mapped
application panel content fields; determining select application
panel content fields from the one or more mapped application panel
content fields; and including the select application panel content
fields in the live TV application panel content for retrieval.
[0008] In yet another embodiment, a system is provided, comprising:
an intelligent television (TV) having a display and a tuner,
wherein the tuner is configured to receive and convert broadcast
content signals to be displayed by the display; an input device
associated with the intelligent TV; a memory; and a microprocessor
operable to: present, via a display of an intelligent television
(TV), live TV broadcast content, wherein the live TV broadcast
content is presented to a first portion of the display; receive an
application panel input at the intelligent TV, wherein the
application panel input corresponds to at least one of a categories
input, a favorites input, and a search input; determine, by a
processor associated with the intelligent TV and in response to
receiving the application panel input, live TV application panel
content that corresponds to a live TV application and the
application panel input received; retrieve, from at least one
source, the live TV application panel content; and present, via the
display, the live TV application panel content to a second portion
of the display, wherein the second portion of the display is
associated with a live TV application panel, and wherein the live
TV application panel overlaps at least a portion of the presented
live TV broadcast content. In some embodiments, the system may
further comprise a microprocessor operable to: refer to rules
stored in a memory, wherein the rules include one or more
application panel content fields mapped to at least one live TV
application panel content type; compare a live TV application panel
content type associated with the presented live TV broadcast
content with the one or more mapped application panel content
fields; determine select application panel content fields from the
one or more mapped application panel content fields; and include
the select application panel content fields in the live TV
application panel content for retrieval. In yet another embodiment,
at least one of the live TV application panel content and the live
TV application panel is at least partially transparent, and wherein
the presented live TV broadcast content is visible beneath the
presented live TV application panel content.
[0009] The present disclosure can provide a number of advantages
depending on the particular aspect, embodiment, and/or
configuration. Among other things, embodiments of the present
disclosure allow a user to interface with live television content
via a live TV application panel of an intelligent TV. More
specifically, a user may be provided with categories, favorites,
search, navigation, and/or notification options that are associated
with or enable functions of the intelligent TV.
[0010] The current disclosure provides a panel system that aides in
the navigation of an intelligent television. For example, a panel
system is provided that satisfies the following: allows a user to
watch a primary program while also using the features of the panel
system. Moreover, information may be displayed in one content area
that specifically depends on or contextually dependent on the
primary program or active content area. The panel system allows for
a same pattern of navigation across different live TV content--all
resulting in a unified experience for a user. An application panel
is provided that allows quick access to core functionality,
provides an unobtrusive design, which allows for the active media
to always be in view, provides a consistent user experience across
all applications, and provides focused contextual content.
[0011] These and other advantages will be apparent from the
disclosure.
[0012] The phrases "at least one", "one or more", and "and/or" are
open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in
operation. For example, each of the expressions "at least one of A,
B and C", "at least one of A, B, or C", "one or more of A, B, and
C", "one or more of A, B, or C" and "A, B, and/or C" means A alone,
B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C
together, or A, B and C together.
[0013] The term "a" or "an" entity refers to one or more of that
entity. As such, the terms "a" (or "an"), "one or more" and "at
least one" can be used interchangeably herein. It is also to be
noted that the terms "comprising", "including", and "having" can be
used interchangeably.
[0014] The term "automatic" and variations thereof, as used herein,
refers to any process or operation done without material human
input when the process or operation is performed. However, a
process or operation can be automatic, even though performance of
the process or operation uses material or immaterial human input,
if the input is received before performance of the process or
operation. Human input is deemed to be material if such input
influences how the process or operation will be performed. Human
input that consents to the performance of the process or operation
is not deemed to be "material."
[0015] A "blog" (a blend of the term web log) is a type of website
or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from
time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with
regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other
material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed
in reverse-chronological order.
[0016] A "blogging service" is a blog-publishing service that
allows private or multi-user blogs with time-stamped entries.
[0017] The term "cable TV" refers to a system of distributing
television programs to subscribers via radio frequency (RF) signals
transmitted through coaxial cables or light pulses through
fiber-optic cables. This contrasts with traditional broadcast
television (terrestrial television) in which the television signal
is transmitted over the air by radio waves and received by a
television antenna attached to the television.
[0018] The term "channel" or "television channel," as used herein,
can be a physical or virtual channel over which a television
station or television network is distributed. A physical cannel in
analog television can be an amount of bandwidth, typically 6, 7, or
8 MHz, that occupies a predetermine channel frequency. A virtual
channel is a representation, in cable or satellite television, of a
data stream for a particular television media provider (e.g., CDS,
TNT, HBO, etc.).
[0019] The term "computer-readable medium," as used herein, refers
to any tangible storage and/or transmission medium that participate
in providing instructions to a processor for execution. Such a
medium may take many forms, including but not limited to,
non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media.
Non-volatile media includes, for example, NVRAM, or magnetic or
optical disks. Volatile media includes dynamic memory, such as main
memory. Common forms of computer-readable media include, for
example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape,
or any other magnetic medium, magneto-optical medium, a CD-ROM, any
other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical
medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, and EPROM, a
FLASH-EPROM, a solid state medium like a memory card, any other
memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave as described hereinafter,
or any other medium from which a computer can read. A digital file
attachment to e-mail or other self-contained information archive or
set of archives is considered a distribution medium equivalent to a
tangible storage medium. When the computer-readable media is
configured as a database, it is to be understood that the database
may be any type of database, such as relational, hierarchical,
object-oriented, and/or the like. Accordingly, the disclosure is
considered to include a tangible storage medium or distribution
medium and prior art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in
which the software implementations of the present disclosure are
stored.
[0020] The term "enhanced television" (ETV) refers to a collection
of specifications developed under the OpenCable project of
CableLabs (Cable Television Laboratories, Inc.) that define an ETV
Application consisting of resources (files) adhering to the
Enhanced TV Binary Interchange Format (EBIF) content format as well
as PNG images, JPEG images, and PFR downloadable fonts. An ETV
application is normally delivered through an MPEG transport stream
and accompanies an MPEG program containing video and audio
elementary streams. An "ETV Application" is a collection of
resources (files) that include one or more EBIF resources that
represent viewable information in the form of pages. Two forms of a
given ETV Application may be distinguished: (1) an interchange form
and (2) an execution form. The interchange form of an ETV
Application consists of the resources (files) that represent the
compiled application prior to its actual execution by an ETV User
Agent. The execution form of an ETV Application consists of the
stored, and possibly mutated forms of these resources while being
decoded, presented, and executed by an ETV User Agent. An "ETV User
Agent" is a software component that operates on a set-top box, a
television, or any other computing environment capable of
receiving, decoding, presenting, and processing an ETV Application.
This component usually provides, along with its host hardware
environment, one or more mechanisms for an end-user to navigate and
interact with the multimedia content represented by ETV
Applications.
[0021] The term "high-definition television" (HDTV) provides a
resolution that is substantially higher than that of
standard-definition television. HDTV may be transmitted in various
formats, namely 1080 p-1920.times.1080 p: 2,073,600 pixels
(approximately 2.1 megapixels) per frame, 1080 i (which is
typically either 1920.times.1080 i: 1,036,800 pixels (approximately
1 megapixel) per field or 2,073,600 pixels (approximately 2.1
megapixels) per frame or 1440.times.1080 i:[1] 777,600 pixels
(approximately 0.8 megapixels) per field or 1,555,200 pixels
(approximately 1.6 megapixels) per frame), or 720 p-1280.times.720
p: 921,600 pixels (approximately 0.9 megapixels) per frame. As will
be appreciated, "frame size" in pixels is defined as number of
horizontal pixels.times.number of vertical pixels, for example
1280.times.720 or 1920.times.1080. Often the number of horizontal
pixels is implied from context and is omitted, as in the case of
720 p and 1080 p, "scanning system" is identified with the letter
"p" for progressive scanning or "i" for interlaced scanning, and
"frame rate" is identified as number of video frames per second.
For interlaced systems an alternative form of specifying number of
fields per second is often used. For purposes of this disclosure,
"high-definition television" is deemed to include other
high-definition analog or digital video formats, including ultra
high definition television.
[0022] The term "internet television" (otherwise known as Internet
TV, Online Television, or Online TV) is the digital distribution of
television content via the Internet. It should not be confused with
Web television--short programs or videos created by a wide variety
of companies and individuals, or Internet protocol television
(IPTV)--an emerging internet technology standard for use by
television broadcasters. Internet Television is a general term that
covers the delivery of television shows and other video content
over the internet by video streaming technology, typically by major
traditional television broadcasters. It does not describe a
technology used to deliver content (see Internet protocol
television). Internet television has become very popular through
services such as RTE Player in Ireland; BBC iPlayer, 4oD, ITV
Player (also STV Player and UTV Player) and Demand Five in the
United Kingdom; Hulu in the United States; Nederland 24 in the
Netherlands; ABC iview and Australia Live TV in Australia; Tivibu
in Turkey; and iWanTV! in the Philippines.
[0023] The term "internet protocol television" (IPTV) refers to a
system through which television services are delivered using the
Internet protocol suite over a packet-switched network such as the
Internet, instead of being delivered through traditional
terrestrial, satellite signal, and cable television formats. IPTV
services may be classified into three main groups, namely live
television, with or without interactivity related to the current TV
show; time-shifted television: catch-up TV (replays a TV show that
was broadcast hours or days ago), start-over TV (replays the
current TV show from its beginning); and video on demand (VOD):
browse a catalog of videos, not related to TV programming. IPTV is
distinguished from Internet television by its on-going
standardization process (e.g., European Telecommunications
Standards Institute) and preferential deployment scenarios in
subscriber-based telecommunications networks with high-speed access
channels into end-user premises via set-top boxes or other
customer-premises equipment.
[0024] The term "silo," as used herein, can be a logical
representation of an input, source, or application. An input can be
a device or devices (e.g., DVD, VCR, etc.) electrically connected
to the television through a port (e.g., HDMI, video/audio inputs,
etc.) or through a network (e.g., LAN WAN, etc.). Rather than a
device or devices, the input could be configured as an electrical
or physical connection to one or more devices. A source,
particularly a content source, can be a data service that provides
content (e.g., a media center, a file system, etc.). An application
can be a software service that provides a particular type of
function (e.g., Live TV, Video on Demand, User Applications,
photograph display, etc.). The silo, as a logical representation,
can have an associated definition or property, such as a setting,
feature, or other characteristic.
[0025] The term "panel," as used herein, can mean a user interface
displayed in at least a portion of the display. The panel may be
interactive (e.g., accepts user input) or informational (e.g., does
not accept user input). A panel may be translucent whereby the
panel obscures but does not mask the underlying content being
displayed in the display. Panels may be provided in response to a
user input from a button or remote control interface.
[0026] The term "screen," as used herein, refers to a physical
structure that includes one or more hardware components that
provide the device with the ability to render a user interface
and/or receive user input. A screen can encompass any combination
of gesture capture region, a touch sensitive display, and/or a
configurable area. The device can have one or more physical screens
embedded in the hardware. However a screen may also include an
external peripheral device that may be attached and detached from
the device. In embodiments, multiple external devices may be
attached to the device. For example, another screen may be included
with a remote control unit that interfaces with the Intelligent
TV.
[0027] The term "media" of "multimedia," as used herein, refers to
content that may assume one of a combination of different content
forms. Multimedia can include one or more of, but is not limited
to, text, audio, still images, animation, video, or interactivity
content forms.
[0028] The term "Intelligent TV," as used herein, refers to a
television configured to provide one or more intuitive user
interfaces and interactions based on a unique application platform
and architecture. The Intelligent TV utilizes processing resources
associated with the television to integrate Internet connectivity
with parallel application functionality. This integration allows a
user the ability to intuitively access various sources of media and
content (e.g., Internet, over-the-top content, on-demand streaming
media, over-the-air broadcast media, and/or other forms of
information) via the Intelligent TV in a quick and efficient
manner. Although the Intelligent TV disclosed herein may comprise
one or more components of a "smart TV," it is an aspect of the
Intelligent TV to provide expanded intuitive user interaction
capability for navigating and executing the various features of the
television. A "smart TV," sometimes referred to as a connected TV,
or hybrid TV (not to be confused with IPTV, Internet TV, or with
Web TV), describes a trend of integration of the Internet and Web
2.0 features into television sets and set-top boxes, as well as the
technological convergence between computers and these television
sets/set-top boxes. The smart TV devices have a higher focus on
online interactive media, Internet TV, over-the-top content, as
well as on-demand streaming media, and less focus on traditional
broadcast media than traditional television sets and set-top boxes.
As can be appreciated, the Intelligent TV encompasses a broader
range of technology than that of the smart TV defined above.
[0029] The term "television" is a telecommunication medium, device
(or set) or set of associated devices, programming, and/or
transmission for transmitting and receiving moving images that can
be monochrome (black-and-white) or colored, with or without
accompanying sound. Different countries use one of the three main
video standards for TVs, namely PAL, NTSC or SECAM. Television is
most commonly used for displaying broadcast television signals. The
broadcast television system is typically disseminated via radio
transmissions on designated channels in the 54-890 MHz frequency
band. A common television set comprises multiple internal
electronic circuits, including those for receiving and decoding
broadcast signals. A visual display device which lacks a tuner is
properly called a video monitor, rather than a television. A
television may be different from other monitors or displays based
on the distance maintained between the user and the television when
the user watches the media and based on the inclusion of a tuner or
other electronic circuit to receive the broadcast television
signal.
[0030] The term "Live TV," as used herein, refers to a television
production broadcast in real-time, as events happen, in the
present.
[0031] The term "standard-definition television" (SDTV) is a
television system that uses a resolution that is not considered to
be either high-definition television (HDTV 720 p and 1080 p) or
enhanced-definition television (EDTV 480 p). The two common SDTV
signal types are 576 i, with 576 interlaced lines of resolution,
derived from the European-developed PAL and SECAM systems; and 480
i based on the American National Television System Committee NTSC
system. In the US, digital SDTV is broadcast in the same 4:3 aspect
ratio as NTSC signals. However, in other parts of the world that
used the PAL or SECAM analog standards, standard-definition
television is now usually shown with a 16:9 aspect ratio. Standards
that support digital SDTV broadcast include DVB, ATSC, and ISDB.
Television signals are transmitted in digital form, and their
pixels have a rectangular shape, as opposed to square pixels that
are used in modern computer monitors and modern implementations of
HDTV. The table below summarizes pixel aspect ratios for various
kinds of SDTV video signal. Note that the actual image (be it 4:3
or 16:9) is always contained in the center 704 horizontal pixels of
the digital frame, regardless of how many horizontal pixels (704 or
720) are used. In case of digital video signal having 720
horizontal pixels, only the center 704 pixels contain actual 4:3 or
16:9 image, and the 8 pixel wide stripes from either side are
called nominal analogue blanking and should be discarded before
displaying the image. Nominal analogue blanking should not be
confused with overscan, as overscan areas are part of the actual
4:3 or 16:9 image.
[0032] The term "video on demand (VOD)," as used herein, refers to
systems and processes which allow users to select and watch/listen
to video or audio content on demand. VOD systems may stream
content, to view the content in real time, or download the content
to a storage medium for viewing at a later time.
[0033] The term "satellite positioning system receiver" refers to a
wireless receiver or transceiver to receive and/or send location
signals from and/or to a satellite positioning system, such as the
Global Positioning System ("GPS") (US), GLONASS (Russia), Galileo
positioning system (EU), Compass navigation system (China), and
Regional Navigational Satellite System (India).
[0034] The term "display," as used herein, refers to at least a
portion of a screen used to display the output of the television to
a user. A display may be a single-screen display or a multi-screen
display, referred to as a composite display. A composite display
can encompass the touch sensitive display of one or more screens. A
single physical screen can include multiple displays that are
managed as separate logical displays. Thus, different content can
be displayed on the separate displays although part of the same
physical screen.
[0035] The term "displayed image," as used herein, refers to an
image produced on the display. A typical displayed image is a
television broadcast or menu. The displayed image may occupy all or
a portion of the display.
[0036] The term "display orientation," as used herein, refers to
the way in which a rectangular display is oriented by a user for
viewing. The two most common types of display orientation are
portrait and landscape. In landscape mode, the display is oriented
such that the width of the display is greater than the height of
the display (such as a 4:3 ratio, which is 4 units wide and 3 units
tall, or a 16:9 ratio, which is 16 units wide and 9 units tall).
Stated differently, the longer dimension of the display is oriented
substantially horizontal in landscape mode while the shorter
dimension of the display is oriented substantially vertical. In the
portrait mode, by contrast, the display is oriented such that the
width of the display is less than the height of the display. Stated
differently, the shorter dimension of the display is oriented
substantially horizontal in the portrait mode while the longer
dimension of the display is oriented substantially vertical.
[0037] The term "module," as used herein, refers to any known or
later developed hardware, software, firmware, artificial
intelligence, fuzzy logic, or combination of hardware and software
that is capable of performing the functionality associated with
that element.
[0038] The terms "determine," "calculate," and "compute," and
variations thereof, as used herein, are used interchangeably and
include any type of methodology, process, mathematical operation,
or technique.
[0039] The term "touch screen" or "touchscreen" refer to screen
that can receive user contact or other tactile input, such as a
stylus. The touch screen may sense user contact in a number of
different ways, such as by a change in an electrical parameter
(e.g., resistance or capacitance), acoustic wave variations,
infrared radiation proximity detection, light variation detection,
and the like. In a resistive touch screen, for example, normally
separated conductive and resistive metallic layers in the screen
pass an electrical current. When a user touches the screen, the two
layers make contact in the contacted location, whereby a change in
electrical field is noted and the coordinates of the contacted
location calculated. In a capacitive touch screen, a capacitive
layer stores electrical charge, which is discharged to the user
upon contact with the touch screen, causing a decrease in the
charge of the capacitive layer. The decrease is measured, and the
contacted location coordinates determined. In a surface acoustic
wave touch screen, an acoustic wave is transmitted through the
screen, and the acoustic wave is disturbed by user contact. A
receiving transducer detects the user contact instance and
determines the contacted location coordinates.
[0040] The term "web television" is original television content
produced for broadcast via the World Wide Web. Some major
distributors of web television are YouTube, Myspace, Newgrounds,
Blip.tv, and Crackle.
[0041] The terms "instant message" and "instant messaging" refer to
a form of real-time text communication between two or more people,
typically based on typed text.
[0042] The term "internet search engine" refers to a web search
engine designed to search for information on the World Wide Web and
FTP servers. The search results are generally presented in a list
of results often referred to as SERPS, or "search engine results
pages". The information may consist of web pages, images,
information, and other types of files. Some search engines also
mine data available in databases or open directories. Web search
engines work by storing information about many web pages, which
they retrieve from the html itself. These pages are retrieved by a
Web crawler (sometimes also known as a spider)--an automated Web
browser which follows every link on the site. The contents of each
page are then analyzed to determine how it should be indexed (for
example, words are extracted from the titles, headings, or special
fields called meta tags). Data about web pages are stored in an
index database for use in later queries. Some search engines, such
as Google.TM., store all or part of the source page (referred to as
a cache) as well as information about the web pages, whereas
others, such as AltaVista.TM., store every word of every page they
find.
[0043] The terms "online community," "e-community," and "virtual
community" mean a group of people that primarily interact via a
computer network, rather than face to face, for social,
professional, educational, or other purposes. The interaction can
use a variety of media formats, including wikis, blogs, chat rooms,
Internet forums, instant messaging, email, and other forms of
electronic media. Many media formats are used in social software
separately or in combination, including text-based chatrooms and
forums that use voice, video text, or avatars.
[0044] The term "remote control" refers to a component of an
electronics device, most commonly a television set, DVD player
and/or home theater system for operating the device wirelessly,
typically from a short line-of-sight distance. Remote control
normally uses infrared and/or radio frequency (RF) signaling and
can include WiFi, wireless USB, Bluetooth.TM. connectivity, motion
sensor enabled capabilities and/or voice control. A touchscreen
remote control is a handheld remote control device which uses a
touchscreen user interface to replace most of the hard, built-in
physical buttons used in normal remote control devices.
[0045] The term "satellite TV" refers to television programming
delivered by the means of communication satellites and received by
an outdoor antenna, usually a parabolic reflector generally
referred to as a satellite dish, and as far as household usage is
concerned, a satellite receiver either in the form of an external
set-top box or a satellite tuner module built into a TV set.
[0046] The term "social network service" is a service provider that
builds online communities of people, who share interests and/or
activities, or who are interested in exploring the interests and
activities of others. Most social network services are web-based
and provide a variety of ways for users to interact, such as e-mail
and instant messaging services.
[0047] The term "social network" refers to a web-based social
network.
[0048] The term "gesture" refers to a user action that expresses an
intended idea, action, meaning, result, and/or outcome. The user
action can include manipulating a device (e.g., opening or closing
a device, changing a device orientation, moving a trackball or
wheel, etc.), movement of a body part in relation to the device,
movement of an implement or tool in relation to the device, audio
inputs, etc. A gesture may be made on a device (such as on the
screen) or with the device to interact with the device.
[0049] The term "gesture capture" refers to a sense or otherwise a
detection of an instance and/or type of user gesture. The gesture
capture can occur in one or more areas of the screen. A gesture
region can be on the display, where it may be referred to as a
touch sensitive display or off the display where it may be referred
to as a gesture capture area.
[0050] The term "electronic address" refers to any contactable
address, including a telephone number, instant message handle,
e-mail address, Universal Resource Locator (URL), Universal
Resource Identifier (URI), Address of Record (AOR), electronic
alias in a database, like addresses, and combinations thereof.
[0051] It shall be understood that the term "means," as used
herein, shall be given its broadest possible interpretation in
accordance with 35 U.S.C., Section 112(f). Accordingly, a claim
incorporating the term "means" shall cover all structures,
materials, or acts set forth herein, and all of the equivalents
thereof. Further, the structures, materials or acts and the
equivalents thereof shall include all those described in the
summary of the invention, brief description of the drawings,
detailed description, abstract, and claims themselves.
[0052] The preceding is a simplified summary of the disclosure to
provide an understanding of some aspects of the disclosure. This
summary is neither an extensive nor exhaustive overview of the
disclosure and its various aspects, embodiments, and/or
configurations. It is intended neither to identify key or critical
elements of the disclosure nor to delineate the scope of the
disclosure but to present selected concepts of the disclosure in a
simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description
presented below. As will be appreciated, other aspects,
embodiments, and/or configurations of the disclosure are possible
utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set
forth above or described in detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0053] FIG. 1A includes a first view of an embodiment of an
environment of an intelligent television;
[0054] FIG. 1B includes a second view of an embodiment of an
environment of an intelligent television;
[0055] FIG. 2A includes a first view of an embodiment of an
intelligent television;
[0056] FIG. 2B includes a second view of an embodiment of an
intelligent television;
[0057] FIG. 2C includes a third view of an embodiment of an
intelligent television;
[0058] FIG. 2D includes a fourth view of an embodiment of an
intelligent television;
[0059] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the hardware
of an intelligent television;
[0060] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the
intelligent television software and/or firmware;
[0061] FIG. 5 is a second block diagram of an embodiment of the
intelligent television software and/or firmware;
[0062] FIG. 6 is a third block diagram of an embodiment of the
intelligent television software and/or firmware;
[0063] FIG. 7 is a plan view of an embodiment of a handheld remote
control;
[0064] FIG. 8 is a side view of an embodiment of a remote
control;
[0065] FIG. 9A is a bottom view of an embodiment of a remote
control with a joystick in a neutral position;
[0066] FIG. 9B is a bottom view of an embodiment of a remote
control with the joystick in a lower position;
[0067] FIG. 9C is a bottom view of an embodiment of a remote
control with the joystick in an upper position;
[0068] FIG. 10 is a plan view of another embodiment of a handheld
remote control;
[0069] FIG. 11A is a front view of an embodiment of an Intelligent
TV screen;
[0070] FIG. 11B is a front view of an embodiment of an Intelligent
TV screen;
[0071] FIG. 11C is a front view of an embodiment of an Intelligent
TV screen;
[0072] FIG. 12 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a handheld
remote control of either FIG. 7 or 10;
[0073] FIG. 13 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a content
data service;
[0074] FIG. 14 is a first panel view of an embodiment of an
Intelligent TV;
[0075] FIG. 15 illustrates a layout consistent with at least one
embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0076] FIG. 16 is a block diagram of a second panel view of an
Intelligent TV in accordance with embodiments of the
disclosure;
[0077] FIG. 17A is a block diagram of a first application panel
view of an Intelligent TV in accordance with embodiments of the
present disclosure;
[0078] FIG. 17B an intelligent TV display layout consistent with at
least one embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0079] FIG. 18A depicts an embodiment of a compact electronic
programming guide presented via an application panel of an
Intelligent TV;
[0080] FIG. 18B depicts a second embodiment of a compact electronic
programming guide presented via an application panel of an
Intelligent TV;
[0081] FIG. 19A illustrates a second application panel view in
accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0082] FIG. 19B illustrates a third embodiment of a compact
electronic programming guide presented via an application panel of
an Intelligent TV;
[0083] FIG. 19C illustrates a third application panel view in
accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0084] FIG. 20A depicts a first embodiment of a reminder dialog
presentation in accordance with embodiments of the present
disclosure;
[0085] FIG. 20B depicts a second embodiment of a reminder dialog
presentation in accordance with embodiments of the present
disclosure;
[0086] FIG. 21A depicts a first embodiment of a reminder dialog
notification in accordance with embodiments of the present
disclosure;
[0087] FIG. 21B depicts a second embodiment of a reminder dialog
notification in accordance with embodiments of the present
disclosure;
[0088] FIG. 21C depicts a third embodiment of a reminder dialog
notification in accordance with embodiments of the present
disclosure;
[0089] FIG. 21D depicts a fourth embodiment of a reminder dialog
notification in accordance with embodiments of the present
disclosure;
[0090] FIG. 22A illustrates a third live TV application panel view
in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0091] FIG. 22B illustrates a fourth live TV application panel view
in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0092] FIG. 23A illustrates a fifth live TV application panel view
in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0093] FIG. 23B illustrates a sixth live TV application panel view
in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0094] FIG. 24 is a flow diagram depicting a categories panel
presentation method in accordance with embodiments of the present
disclosure;
[0095] FIG. 25 is a flow diagram depicting a favorites panel
presentation method in accordance with embodiments of the present
disclosure;
[0096] FIG. 26 is a flow diagram depicting a search panel
presentation method in accordance with embodiments of the present
disclosure; and
[0097] FIG. 27 is a flow diagram depicting a live TV presentation
method in accordance with embodiments of the present
disclosure.
[0098] In the appended figures, similar components and/or features
may have the same reference label. Further, various components of
the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label
by a letter that distinguishes among the similar components. If
only the first reference label is used in the specification, the
description is applicable to any one of the similar components
having the same first reference label irrespective of the second
reference label.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0099] Presented herein are embodiments of a device. The device can
be a network-enabled telecommunications device, such as a
television, an electronic visual display device, or other smart
device. The device can include one or more screens, or sections of
a screen, that are configured to receive and present information
from a number of sources. Further, the device can receive user
input in unique ways. The overall design and functionality of the
device provides for an enhanced user experience making the device
more useful and more efficient.
[0100] Intelligent Television (TV) Environment:
[0101] Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, an Intelligent TV, or device,
100 is shown. It is anticipated that the Intelligent TV 100 may be
used for entertainment, business applications, social interaction,
content creation and/or consumption, and to organize and control
one or more other devices that are in communication with the
Intelligent TV 100. As can be appreciated, the Intelligent TV 100
can be used to enhance the user interactive experience whether at
home or at work.
[0102] In some embodiments, the Intelligent TV 100 may be
configured to receive and understand a variety of user and/or
device inputs. For example, a user may interface with the
Intelligent TV 100 via one or more physical or electrical controls,
such as buttons, switches, touch sensitive screens/regions (e.g.,
capacitive touch, resistive touch, etc.), and/or other controls
associated with the Intelligent TV 100. In some cases, the
Intelligent TV 100 may include the one or more interactive
controls. Additionally or alternatively, the one or more controls
may be associated with a remote control. The remote control may
communicate with the Intelligent TV 100 via wired and/or wireless
signals. As can be appreciated, the remote control may operate via
radio frequency (RF), infrared (IR), and/or a specific wireless
communications protocol (e.g., Bluetooth.TM., Wi-Fi, etc.). In some
cases, the controls, whether physical or electrical, may be
configured (e.g., programmed) to suit a user's preferences.
[0103] Additionally or alternatively, smart phones, tablets,
computers, laptops, netbooks, and other smart devices may be used
to control the Intelligent TV 100. For example, control of the
Intelligent TV 100 may be achieved via an application running on a
smart device. The application may be configured to present a user
with various Intelligent TV 100 controls in an intuitive user
interface (UI) on a screen associated with the device 100. The
screen may be a touch sensitive, or touch screen, display.
Selections input by a user via the UI may be configured to control
the Intelligent TV 100 by the application accessing one or more
communication features associated with the smart device.
[0104] It is anticipated that the Intelligent TV 100 can receive
input via various input devices including, but in no way limited
to, video, audio, radio, light, tactile, and combinations thereof.
Among other things, these input devices may be configured to allow
the Intelligent TV 100 to see, recognize, and react to user
gestures. For instance, a user may talk to the Intelligent TV 100
in a conversational manner. The Intelligent TV 100 may hear and
understand voice commands in a manner similar to a smart device's
intelligent personal assistant and voice-controlled navigator
application (e.g., Apple's Siri, Android's Skyvi, Robin, Iris, and
other applications).
[0105] The Intelligent TV 100 may also be a communications device
which can establish network connections 104 through many alternate
means, including wired 108 or wireless 112 means, over cellular
networks 116 to connect via cellular base antenna 142 to telephone
networks operated by a telephone company 146, and by using a
telephone line 120 to connect to telephone networks operated by
telephone company 146. These connections 104 enable the Intelligent
TV 100 to access one or more communication networks 132. The
communication networks may comprise any type of known communication
medium or collection of communication media and may use any type of
protocols to transport messages or signals between endpoints. The
communication networks may include wired and/or wireless
communication technologies. The Internet is an example of a
communication network 132 that constitutes an Internet Protocol
(IP) network consisting of many computers, computing networks, and
other communication devices located all over the world, which are
connected through many telephone systems and other means.
[0106] Other examples of the communication network 132 include,
without limitation, a standard Plain Old Telephone System (POTS),
an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), the Public Switched
Telephone Network (PSTN), a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area
Network (WAN), a cellular network, and any other type of
packet-switched or circuit-switched network known in the art. In
addition, it can be appreciated that the communication network 132
need not be limited to any one network type, and instead may be
comprised of a number of different networks and/or network
types.
[0107] In some embodiments, the Intelligent TV 100 may be equipped
with multiple communication means. The multiple communication means
may allow the Intelligent TV 100 to communicate across Local Area
Networks (LANs) 124, wireless local area networks (WLANs) 128, and
other networks 132. The networks 132 may be connected in a
redundant manner to ensure network access. In other words, if one
connection is interrupted, the intelligent TV 100 can use an
alternate communications path to reestablish and/or maintain the
network connection 104. Among other things, the Intelligent TV 100
may use these network connections 104 to send and receive
information, interact with an electronic program guide (EPG) 136,
receive software updates 140, contact customer service 144 (e.g.,
to receive help or service, etc.), and/or access remotely stored
digital media libraries 148. In addition, these connections can
allow the Intelligent TV 100 to make phone calls, send and/or
receive email messages, send and/or receive text messages (such as
email and instant messages), surf the Internet using an internet
search engine, post blogs by a blogging service, and
connect/interact with social media sites and/or an online community
(e.g., Facebook.TM., Twitter.TM., LinkedIn.TM., Pinterest.TM.,
Google+.TM., MySpace.TM., and the like) maintained by a social
network service. In combination with other components of the
Intelligent TV 100 described in more detail below, these network
connections 104 also enable the Intelligent TV 100 to conduct video
teleconferences, electronic meetings, and other communications. The
Intelligent TV 100 may capture and store images and sound, using
associated cameras, microphones, and other sensors. Additionally or
alternatively, the Intelligent TV 100 may create and save screen
shots of media, images, and data displayed on a screen associated
with the Intelligent TV 100.
[0108] Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, the Intelligent TV 100 can
interact with other electronic devices 168 by either by the wired
108 and/or wireless 112 connections. As described herein,
components of the Intelligent TV 100 allow the device 100 to be
connected to devices 168 including, but not limited to, DVD players
168a, BluRay players 168b, portable digital media devices 168c,
smart phones 168d, tablet devices 168e, personal computers 168f,
external cable boxes 168g, keyboards 168h, pointing devices 168i,
printers 168j, game controllers and/or game pads 168k, satellite
dishes 1681, external display devices 168m, and other universal
serial bus (USB), local area network (LAN), Bluetooth.TM., or
high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) compliant devices,
and/or wireless devices. When connected to an external cable box
168g or satellite dish 1681, the Intelligent TV 100 can access
additional media content. Also, as further described below, the
Intelligent TV 100 is capable of receiving digital and/or analog
signals broadcast by TV stations. The Intelligent TV 100 can be
configured as one or more of a standard-definition television,
enhanced television, and high-definition television. It may operate
as one or more of cable, Internet, Internet Protocol, satellite,
web, and/or smart television. The Intelligent TV 100 may also be
used to control the operation of, and may interface with, other
smart components such as security systems 172, door/gate
controllers 176, remote video cameras 180, lighting systems 184,
thermostats 188, refrigerators 192, and other appliances.
[0109] Intelligent TV:
[0110] FIGS. 2A-2D illustrate components of the Intelligent TV 100.
In general, as shown by FIG. 2A, the Intelligent TV 100 can be
supported by a removable base or stand 204 that is attached to a
frame 208. The frame 208 surrounds edges of a display screen 212,
leaving a front surface of the display screen 212 uncovered. The
display screen 212 may comprise a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
screen, a plasma screen, Light Emitting Diode (LED) screen, or
other screen types. In embodiments, the entire front surface of the
screen 212 may be touch sensitive and capable of receiving input by
the user touching the front surface of the screen 212.
[0111] The Intelligent TV 100 may include integrated speakers 216
and at least one microphone 220. A first area of the frame 208 may
comprise a horizontal gesture capture region 224 and second areas
comprise vertical gesture capture regions 228. The gesture capture
regions 224, 228 may comprise areas or regions that are capable of
receiving input by recognizing gestures made by the user, and in
some examples, without the need for the user to actually touch the
screen 212 surface of the Intelligent TV 100. However, the gesture
capture regions 224, 228 may not include pixels that can perform a
display function or capability.
[0112] One or more image capture devices 232, such as a camera, can
be included for capturing still and/or video images. The image
capture device 232 can include or be associated with additional
elements, such as a flash or other light source 236 and a range
finding device 240 to assist focusing of the image capture device.
In addition, the microphone 220, gesture capture regions 224, 228,
image capture device 232, and range finding device 240 may be used
by the Intelligent TV 100 to recognize individual users.
Additionally or alternatively, the Intelligent TV 100 may learn and
remember preferences associated with the individual users. In some
embodiments, the learning and remembering (i.e., identifying and
recalling stored information) may be associated with the
recognition of a user.
[0113] An IR transmitter and receiver 244 may also be provided to
connect the Intelligent TV 100 with a remote control device (not
shown) or other IR devices. Additionally or alternatively, the
remote control device may transmit wireless signals via RF, light,
and/or a means other than IR. Also shown in FIG. 2A is an audio
jack 248, which may be hidden behind a panel that is hinged or
removable. The audio jack 248 accommodates a tip, ring, sleeve
(TRS) connector, for example, to allow the user to utilize
headphones, a headset, or other external audio equipment.
[0114] The Intelligent TV 100 can also include a number of buttons
252. For example, FIG. 2A illustrates the buttons 252 on the top of
the Intelligent TV 100, although the buttons could be placed at
other locations. As shown, the Intelligent TV 100 includes six
buttons 252a-f, which can be configured for specific inputs. For
example, the first button 252a may be configured as an on/off
button used to control overall system power to the Intelligent TV
100. The buttons 252 may be configured, in combination or alone, to
control a number of aspects of the Intelligent TV 100. Some
non-limiting examples include, but are not limited to, overall
system volume, brightness, the image capture device, the
microphone, and initiation/termination of a video conference.
Instead of separate buttons, two of the buttons may be combined
into a rocker button. This rocker button arrangement may be useful
in situations where the buttons are configured to control features
such as volume or brightness. In some embodiments, one or more of
the buttons 252 are capable of supporting different user commands.
By way of example, a normal press has a duration commonly of less
than about 1 second and resembles a quick input. A medium press has
a duration commonly of 1 second or more but less than about 12
seconds. A long press has a duration commonly of about 12 seconds
or more. The function of the buttons is normally specific to the
application that is active on the Intelligent TV 100. In the video
conference application for instance and depending on the particular
button, a normal, medium, or long press can mean end the video
conference, increase or decrease the volume, increase a rate speed
associated with a response to an input, and toggle microphone mute.
Depending on the particular button, a normal, medium, or long press
can also control the image capture device 232 to increase zoom,
decrease zoom, take a photograph, or record video.
[0115] In support of communications functions or capabilities, the
Intelligent TV 100 can include one or more shared or dedicated
antennae 256 and wired broadband connections 260 as shown in FIG.
2B. The antennae 256 also enable the Intelligent TV 100 to receive
digital and/or analog broadcast TV channels. The wired broadband
connections 260 are, for example, a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL),
an optical line, an Ethernet port, an IEEE 1394 interface, or other
interfaces. The Intelligent TV 100 also has a telephone line jack
262 to further provide communications capability.
[0116] In addition to the removable base 204, the Intelligent TV
100 may include hardware and mounting points 264 on a rear surface
to facilitate mounting the Intelligent TV 100 to a surface, such as
a wall. In one example, the Intelligent TV 100 may incorporate at
least one Video Equipment Standards Association (VESA) mounting
interface for attaching the device 100 to the surface.
[0117] As shown in FIG. 2C, the Intelligent TV 100 may include
docking interfaces or ports 268. The docking ports 268 may include
proprietary or universal ports to support the interconnection of
the Intelligent TV 100 to other devices or components, which may or
may not include additional or different capabilities from those
integral to the Intelligent TV 100. In addition to supporting an
exchange of communication signals between the Intelligent TV 100
and a connected device or component, the docking ports 268 can
support the supply of power to the connected device or component.
The docking ports 268 can also comprise an intelligent element that
comprises a docking module for controlling communications or other
interactions between the Intelligent TV 100 and the connected
device or component.
[0118] The Intelligent TV 100 also includes a number of card slots
272 and network or peripheral interface ports 276. The card slots
272 may accommodate different types of cards including subscriber
identity modules (SIM), secure digital (SD) cards, MiniSD cards,
flash memory cards, and other cards. Ports 276 in embodiments may
include input/output (I/O) ports, such as universal serial bus
(USB) ports, parallel ports, game ports, and high-definition
multimedia interface (HDMI) connectors.
[0119] An audio/video (A/V) I/O module 280 can be included to
provide audio to an interconnected speaker or other device, and to
receive audio input from a connected microphone or other device. As
an example, the audio input/output interface 280 may comprise an
associated amplifier and analog-to-digital converter.
[0120] Hardware Features:
[0121] FIG. 3 illustrates components of a Intelligent TV 100 in
accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. In general,
the Intelligent TV 100 includes a primary screen 304. Screen 304
can be a touch sensitive screen and can include different operative
areas.
[0122] For example, a first operative area, within the screen 304,
may comprise a display 310. In some embodiments, the display 310
may be touch sensitive. In general, the display 310 may comprise a
full color, display.
[0123] A second area within the screen 304 may comprise a gesture
capture region 320. The gesture capture region 320 may comprise an
area or region that is outside of the display 310 area, and that is
capable of receiving input, for example in the form of gestures
provided by a user. However, the gesture capture region 320 does
not include pixels that can perform a display function or
capability.
[0124] A third region of the screen 304 may comprise a configurable
area 312. The configurable area 312 is capable of receiving input
and has display or limited display capabilities. In embodiments,
the configurable area 312 may present different input options to
the user. For example, the configurable area 312 may display
buttons or other relatable items. Moreover, the identity of
displayed buttons, or whether any buttons are displayed at all
within the configurable area 312 of a screen 304, may be determined
from the context in which the Intelligent TV 100 is used and/or
operated.
[0125] In an exemplary touch sensitive screen 304 embodiment, the
touch sensitive screen 304 comprises a liquid crystal display
extending across at least those regions of the touch sensitive
screen 304 that are capable of providing visual output to a user,
and a capacitive input matrix over those regions of the touch
sensitive screen 304 that are capable of receiving input from the
user.
[0126] One or more display controllers 316 may be provided for
controlling the operation of the screen 304. The display controller
316 may control the operation of the touch sensitive screen 304,
including input (touch sensing) and output (display) functions. The
display controller 316 may also control the operation of the screen
304 and may interface with other inputs, such as infrared and/or
radio input signals (e.g., door/gate controllers, alarm system
components, etc.). In accordance with still other embodiments, the
functions of a display controller 316 may be incorporated into
other components, such as a processor 364.
[0127] The processor 364 may comprise a general purpose
programmable processor or controller for executing application
programming or instructions. In accordance with at least some
embodiments, the processor 364 may include multiple processor
cores, and/or implement multiple virtual processors. In accordance
with still other embodiments, the processor 364 may include
multiple physical processors. As a particular example, the
processor 364 may comprise a specially configured application
specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or other integrated circuit, a
digital signal processor, a controller, a hardwired electronic or
logic circuit, a programmable logic device or gate array, a special
purpose computer, or the like. The processor 364 generally
functions to run programming code or instructions implementing
various functions of the Intelligent TV 100.
[0128] In support of connectivity functions or capabilities, the
Intelligent TV 100 can include a module for encoding/decoding
and/or compression/decompression 366 for receiving and managing
digital television information. Encoding/decoding
compression/decompression module 366 enables decompression and/or
decoding of analog and/or digital information dispatched by a
public television chain or in a private television network and
received across antenna 324, I/O module 348, wireless connectivity
module 328, and/or other wireless communications module 332. The
television information may be sent to screen 304 and/or attached
speakers receiving analog or digital reception signals. Any
encoding/decoding and compression/decompression is performable on
the basis of various formats (e.g., audio, video, and data).
Encrypting module 368 is in communication with encoding/decoding
compression/decompression module 366 and enables the
confidentiality of all the data received or transmitted by the user
or supplier.
[0129] In support of communications functions or capabilities, the
Intelligent TV 100 can include a wireless connectivity module 328.
As examples, the wireless connectivity module 328 can comprise a
GSM, CDMA, FDMA, and/or analog cellular telephony transceiver
capable of supporting voice, multimedia, and/or data transfers over
a cellular network. Alternatively or additionally, the Intelligent
TV 100 can include an additional or other wireless communications
module 332. As examples, the other wireless communications module
332 can comprise a Wi-Fi, Blutooth.TM., WiMax, infrared, or other
wireless communications link. The wireless connectivity module 328
and the other wireless communications module 332 can each be
associated with a shared or a dedicated antenna 324 and a shared or
dedicated I/O module 348.
[0130] An input/output module 348 and associated ports may be
included to support communications over wired networks or links,
for example with other communication devices, server devices,
and/or peripheral devices. Examples of an input/output module 348
include an Ethernet port, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port,
Thunderbolt.TM. or Light Peak interface, Institute of Electrical
and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394 port, or other interface.
[0131] An audio input/output interface/device(s) 344 can be
included to provide analog audio to an interconnected speaker or
other device, and to receive analog audio input from a connected
microphone or other device. As an example, the audio input/output
interface/device(s) 344 may comprise an associated amplifier and
analog-to-digital converter. Alternatively or in addition, the
Intelligent TV 100 can include an integrated audio input/output
device 356 and/or an audio jack for interconnecting an external
speaker or microphone. For example, an integrated speaker and an
integrated microphone can be provided, to support near talk or
speaker phone operations.
[0132] A port interface 352 may be included. The port interface 352
may include proprietary or universal ports to support the
interconnection of the device 100 to other devices or components,
such as a dock, which may or may not include additional or
different capabilities from those integral to the device 100. In
addition to supporting an exchange of communication signals between
the device 100 and another device or component, the docking port
136 and/or port interface 352 can support the supply of power to or
from the device 100. The port interface 352 also comprises an
intelligent element that comprises a docking module for controlling
communications or other interactions between the Intelligent TV 100
and a connected device or component. The docking module may
interface with software applications that allow for the remote
control of other devices or components (e.g., media centers, media
players, and computer systems).
[0133] An Intelligent TV 100 may also include memory 308 for use in
connection with the execution of application programming or
instructions by the processor 364, and for the temporary or long
term storage of program instructions and/or data. As examples, the
memory 308 may comprise RAM, DRAM, SDRAM, or other solid state
memory. Alternatively or in addition, data storage 314 may be
provided. Like the memory 308, the data storage 314 may comprise a
solid state memory device or devices. Alternatively or in addition,
the data storage 314 may comprise a hard disk drive or other random
access memory.
[0134] Hardware buttons 358 can be included for example for use in
connection with certain control operations. One or more image
capture interfaces/devices 340, such as a camera, can be included
for capturing still and/or video images. Alternatively or in
addition, an image capture interface/device 340 can include a
scanner, code reader, or motion sensor. An image capture
interface/device 340 can include or be associated with additional
elements, such as a flash or other light source. The image capture
interfaces/devices 340 may interface with a user ID module 350 that
assists in identifying users of the Intelligent TV 100.
[0135] The Intelligent TV 100 can also include a global positioning
system (GPS) receiver 336. In accordance with embodiments of the
present invention, the GPS receiver 336 may further comprise a GPS
module that is capable of providing absolute location information
to other components of the Intelligent TV 100. As will be
appreciated, other satellite-positioning system receivers can be
used in lieu of or in addition to GPS.
[0136] Power can be supplied to the components of the Intelligent
TV 100 from a power source and/or power control module 360. The
power control module 360 can, for example, include a battery, an
AC-to-DC converter, power control logic, and/or ports for
interconnecting the Intelligent TV 100 to an external source of
power.
[0137] Communication between components of the Intelligent TV 100
is provided by bus 322. Bus 322 may comprise one or more physical
buses for control, addressing, and/or data transmission. Bus 322
may be parallel, serial, a hybrid thereof, or other technology.
[0138] Firmware and Software:
[0139] An embodiment of the software system components and modules
400 is shown in FIG. 4. The software system 400 may comprise one or
more layers including, but not limited to, an operating system
kernel 404, one or more libraries 408, an application framework
412, and one or more applications 416. The one or more layers
404-416 can communicate with each other to perform functions for
the Intelligent TV 100.
[0140] An operating system (OS) kernel 404 contains the primary
functions that allow the software to interact with hardware
associated with the Intelligent TV 100. Kernel 404 can include a
collection of software that manages the computer hardware resources
and provides services for other computer programs or software code.
The operating system kernel 404 is the main component of the
operating system and acts as an intermediary between the
applications and data processing done with the hardware components.
Part of the operating system kernel 404 can include one or more
device drivers 420. A device driver 420 can be any code within the
operating system that helps operate or control a device or hardware
attached to or associated with the Intelligent TV. The driver 420
can include code for operating video, audio, and/or other
multimedia components of the Intelligent TV 100. Examples of
drivers include display, camera, flash, binder (IPC), keypad, WiFi,
and audio drivers.
[0141] Library 408 can contain code or other components that may be
accessed and implemented during the operation of the software
system 400. The library 408 may contain one or more of, but is not
limited to, an operating system runtime library 424, a TV services
hypertext application language (HAL) library 428, and/or a data
service library 432. The OS runtime library 424 may contain the
code required by the operating system kernel 404 or other operating
system functions to be executed during the runtime of the software
system 400. The library can include the code that is initiated
during the running of the software system 400.
[0142] The TV services hypertext application language library 428
can include code required by TV services either executed in the
application framework 412 or an application 416. The TV services
HAL library 428 is specific to the Intelligent TV 100 operations
that control different functions of the Intelligent TV. The TV
service HAL library 428 can also be formed from other types of
application languages or embodiments of different types of code or
formats for code beyond the hypertext application language.
[0143] The data services library 432 can include the one or more
components or codes to implement components for the data services
function. The data services function can be implemented in the
application framework 412 and/or applications layer 416. An
embodiment of a function of the data services and the type of
components that may be included is shown in FIG. 6.
[0144] The application framework 412 can include a general
abstraction for providing functionality that can be selected by one
or more applications 416 to provide specific application functions
or software for those applications. Thus, the framework 412 can
include one or more different services, or other applications, that
can be accessed by the applications 416 to provide general
functions across two or more applications. Such functions include,
for example, management of one or more of windows or panels,
surfaces, activities, content, and resources, The application
framework 412 can include one or more, but is not limited to, TV
services 434, TV services framework 440, TV resources 444, and user
interface components 448.
[0145] The TV services framework 440 can provide an additional
abstraction for different TV services. TV services framework 440
allows for the general access and function of services that are
associated with the TV functionality. The TV services 436 are
general services provided within the TV services framework 440 that
can be accessed by applications in the applications layer 416. The
TV resources 444 provide code for accessing TV resources 444
including any type of storage, video, audio, or other functionality
provided with the Intelligent TV 100. The TV resources 444, TV
services 436, and TV services framework 440 provide for the
different implementations of TV functionality that may occur with
the Intelligent TV 100.
[0146] One or more user interface components 448 can provide
general components for display of the Intelligent TV 100. The user
interface components 448 might be general components that may be
accessed by different applications provided in the application
framework 412. The user interface components 448 may be accessed to
provide for panels and silos as described in conjunction with FIG.
5.
[0147] The applications layer 416 can both contain and execute
applications associated with the Intelligent TV 100. Applications
layer 416 may include one or more of, but is not limited to, a live
TV application 452, a video on demand application 456, a media
center application 460, an application center application 464, and
a user interface application 468. The Live TV application 452 can
provide Live TV over different signal sources. For example, the
Live TV application 452 can provide TV from input from cable
television, over air broadcasts, from satellite services, or other
types of Live TV services. Live TV application 452 may then present
the multimedia presentation or video and audio presentation of the
live television signal over the display of the Intelligent TV
100.
[0148] The video on demand application 456 can provide for video
from different storage sources. Unlike Live TV application 452,
video on demand 456 provides for display of videos that are
accessed from some memory source. The sources of the video on
demand can be associated with users or with the Intelligent TV or
some other type of service. For example, the video on demand 456
may be provided from an iTunes library stored in a cloud, from a
local disc storage that contains stored video programs, or from
some other source.
[0149] The media center application 460 can provide applications
for different types of media presentation. For example, the media
center 460 can provide for displaying pictures or audio that is
different from, but still accessible by the user, Live TV or video
on demand. The media center 460 allows for the access of different
sources to obtain the media in the display of such media on the
Intelligent TV 100.
[0150] The application center 464 allows for the provision,
storage, and use of applications. An application can be a game, a
productivity application, or some other application generally
associated with computer systems or other devices, but may be
operated within the Intelligent TV. An application center 464 may
obtain these applications from different sources, store them
locally, and then execute those types of applications for the user
on the Intelligent TV 100.
[0151] User interface application 468 provides for the specific
user interfaces associated with the Intelligent TV 100. These user
interfaces can include the silos and panels that are described in
FIG. 5. An embodiment of the user interface software 500 is shown
in FIG. 5. Here the application framework 412 contains one or more
code components which help control the user interface events while
one or more applications in the applications layer 416 affects the
user interface use for the Intelligent TV 100. The application
framework 412 can include a silo transition controller 504 and/or
an input event dispatcher 508. There may be more or fewer code
components in the application framework 412 than those shown in
FIG. 5. The silo transition controller 504 contains the code and
language that manages the transitions between one or more silos. A
silo can be a vertical user interface feature on the Intelligent TV
that contains information for user. The transition controller 504
can manage the changes between two silos when an event occurs in
the user interface. The input event dispatcher 508 can receive user
interface events that may be received from the operating system and
provided to the input event dispatcher 508. These events can
include selections of buttons on a remote control or on the TV or
other types of user interface inputs. The input event dispatcher
508 may then send these events to a silo manager 532 or panel
manager 536 depending on the type of the event. The silo transition
controller 504 can interface with the silo manager 532 to affect
changes in the silos.
[0152] The applications layer 416 can include a user interface
application 468 and/or a silo application 512. The applications
layer 416 can include more or fewer user interface applications as
necessary to control the user interface of the Intelligent TV 100
than those shown in FIG. 5. The user interface application 468 can
include a silo manager 532, a panel manager 536, and one or more
types of panels 516-528. The silo manager 532 manages the display
and/or features of silos. The silo manager 532 can receive or send
information from the silo transition controller 504 or the input
event dispatcher 508 to change the silos displayed and/or to
determine types of input received in the silos.
[0153] A panel manager 536 is operable to display panels in the
user interface to manage transitions between those panels or to
affect user interface inputs received in the panel. The panel
manager 536 may thus be in communication with different user
interface panels such as a global panel 516, a volume panel 520, a
settings panel 524, and/or a notification panel 528. The panel
manager 536 can display these types of panels depending on the
inputs received from the input event dispatcher 508. The global
panel 516 may include information that is associated with the home
screen or top level hierarchal information for the user. A volume
panel 520 may display information about an audio volume control or
other settings for volume. A settings panel 524 can include
information displayed about the settings of the audio or video, or
other settable characteristics of the Intelligent TV 100. A
notification panel 528 can provide information about notifications
to a user. These notifications can be associated with information,
such as, video on demand displays, favorites, currently provided
programs, or other information. Notifications can be associated
with the media or with some type of setting, or operation or the
Intelligent TV 100. The panel manager 536 may be in communication
with the panel controller 552 of the silo application 512.
[0154] The panel controller 552 may operate to control portions of
the panels of the types described previously. Thus, the panel
controller 552 may be in communication with a top panel application
540, an application panel 544, and/or bottom panel 548. These types
of panels may be differently displayed in the user interface of the
Intelligent TV 100. The panel control thus may be based on the
configuration of the system or the type of display being used
currently, put the types of panels 516-528 into a certain display
orientation governed by the top panel application 540, application
panel 544, or bottom panel application 548.
[0155] An embodiment of the data service 432 and the operation of
the data management is shown in FIG. 6. The data management 600 can
include one or more code components that are associated with
different types of data. For example, there may be code components
within the data service 432 that execute and are associated with
video on demand, the electronic program guide, or media data. There
may be more or fewer types of data service 432 components than
those shown in FIG. 6. Each of the different types of data may
include a data model 604-612. The data models govern what
information is to be stored and how that information will be stored
by the data service. Thus, the data model can govern regardless of
where the data comes from, how the data will be received or managed
within the Intelligent TV system. Thus, the data model 604, 608,
and/or 612, can provide a translation ability or affect the ability
to translate data from one form to another to be used by the
Intelligent TV 100.
[0156] The different types of data services (video on demand,
electronic programming guide, media) each have a data subservice
620, 624, and/or 628 that is in communication with one or more
internal and/or external content providers 616. The data
subservices 620, 624, and 628 that communicate with the content
providers 616 to obtain data that may then be stored in databases
632, 636, and 640. The subservices 620, 624, and 628 may
communicate with and initiate or enable one or more source plug-ins
644, 648, and 652 to communicate with the content provider. For
each content provider 616, there may be a different source plug-in
644, 648, and 652. Thus, if there is more than one source of
content for the data, each of the data subservices 620, 624, and
628 may determine and then enable or initiate a different source
plug-in 644, 648, and/or 652. The content providers 616 may also
provide information to a resource arbitrator 656 and/or thumbnail
cache manager 660. The resource arbitrator 656 may operate to
communicate with resources 664 that are external to the data
service 432. Thus, the resource arbitrator 656 may communicate with
cloud based storage, network based storage, or other types of
external storage in the resources 664. This information may then be
provided through the content provider module 616 to the data
subservices 620, 624, 628. Likewise, a thumbnail cache manager 660
may obtain thumbnail information from one of the data subservices
620, 624, 628 and store that information in the thumbnails database
668. Further, the thumbnail cache manager 660 may extract or
retrieve that information from the thumbnails database 668 to
provide to one of the data subservices 620, 624, 628.
[0157] An exemplary content aggregation architecture 1300 is shown
in FIG. 13. The architecture can include a user interface layer
1304 and a content aggregation layer 1308. The user interface layer
1304 may include a TV application 1312, media player 1316, and
application(s) 1320. The TV application 1312 enables the viewer to
view channels received via an appropriate transmission medium, such
as cable, satellite, and/or the Internet. The media player 1316
views other types of media received via an appropriate transmission
medium, such as the Internet. The application(s) 1320 include other
TV-related (pre-installed) applications, such as content viewing,
content searching, device viewing, and setup algorithms, and
coordinates with the media player 1316 to provide information to
the viewer.
[0158] The content source layer 1308 includes, as data services, a
content source service 1328, a content aggregation service 1332,
and a content presentation service 1336. The content source service
1328 can manage content source investigators, including local
and/or network file system(s), digital network device manager
(which discovers handheld and non-handheld devices (e.g., digital
media servers, players, renderers, controllers, printers,
uploaders, downloaders, network connectivity functions, and
interoperability units) by known techniques, such as a multicast
universal plug and play or UPnP discovery techniques, and, for each
discovered device, retrieves, parses, and encodes device
descriptors, notifies the content source service of the newly
discovered device, and provides information, such as an index, on
previously discovered devices), Internet Protocol Television
(IPTV), digital television (DTV) (including high definition and
enhanced TV), third party services (such as those referenced
above), and applications (such as Android applications).
[0159] Content source investigators can track content sources and
are typically configured as binaries. The content source service
1328 starts content source investigators and maintains open and
persistent channels for communications. The communications include
query or command and response pairs. The content aggregation
service 1332 can manage content metadata fetchers, such as for
video, audio, and/or picture metadata. The content presentation
service 1336 may provide interfaces to the content index 1340, such
as an Android application interface and digital device
interfaces.
[0160] The content source service 1328 can send and receive
communications 1344 to and from the content aggregation service
1332. The communications can include notifications regarding new
and removed digital devices and/or content and search queries and
results. The content aggregation service 1332 can send and receive
communications 1348 to and from the content presentation service
1336 including device and/or content lookup notifications,
content-of-interest advisories and notifications, and search
queries and results.
[0161] When a search is performed, particularly when the user is
searching or browsing content, a user request may be received from
the user interface layer 1300, by the content presentation service
1336, which responsively opens a socket and sends the request to
the content aggregation service 1332. The content aggregation
service 1332 first returns results from the local database 1340.
The local database 1340 includes an index or data model and indexed
metadata. The content source service 1328 further issues search and
browse requests for all content source investigators and other data
management systems. The results are forwarded to the content
aggregation service 1332, which updates the database 1340 to
reflect the further search results and provides the original
content aggregation database search results and the data updates,
reflecting the additional content source service search results,
over the previously opened socket to the content presentation
service 1336. The content presentation service 1336 then provides
the results to one or more components in the user interface layer
1300 for presentation to the viewer. When the search session is
over (e.g., the search session is terminated by the user or by an
action associated with user), the user interface layer 1300
disconnects the socket. As shown, media can be provided directly by
the content aggregation service 1332 to the media player 1316 for
presentation to the user.
[0162] Remote Control:
[0163] A handheld remote control can be provided to enable user
interaction with the Intelligent TV 100. An exemplary handheld
remote control is shown in FIGS. 7-9. The remote control 700 can
include one or more of, but is not limited to, top, side, and
bottom housings 704, 708, and 712, an (on/off) power button 716, an
input source button 720 (to select input source such as Live TV,
video on demand, media center, application center, high definition
multimedia interface (HDMI), component (COMP), audio/video (A/V),
digital or analog television (DTV/ATV), and video graphics array
(VGA)), a (volume) mute button 724, a Live TV button 728 (to
activate or select the Live TV silo), a video on demand (VOD)
button 732 (to activate or select the video on demand silo), a
media center button 736 (to activate or select the media center
application or silo, which access various types of media such as
music, TV programming, videos, and the like), an application center
button 740 (to activate or select the application center
application or silo), a global panel button 744, an application
panel button 748, a back button 752 (to select a prior user
operation or Intelligent TV state and/or navigate up a hierarchy of
any displayed image or object(s) (in which case the back button 752
does not navigate within application panels or across application
silos), a play button 756 (to play or pause media), a D-pad 760
(which includes north, east, west, and south directional arrows to
navigate among displayed images and/or move between levels of an
application's or object's hierarchy such as application view
navigation, panel navigation, and collection navigation), an OK (or
select) button 764 (to select a highlighted displayed image (such
as displayed speed control, rewind, forward, play, and pause
objects and/or objects on menu bar or in a menu box) and/or
navigate down a hierarchy of any displayed image or object(s)), a
rocker-type volume-up and volume-down button 768 (to adjust the
volume), a menu/guide button 772 (to select for display a menu or
guide of programming), a 0-9 (number) button 776 (to display a
number pad on the TV screen), a settings button 780 (which launches
an application to access current and change TV settings (such as
channel settings and settings used to adjust picture and sound
effects (e.g., image mode (e.g., standard, playground, game,
cinema, concert, and studio), brightness, contrast, saturation,
color temperature, energy savings, 3D noise reduction, hue,
sharpness, zoom mode (e.g., full screen, standard, smart zoom, and
dot-to-dot), picture position, 3D mode, for picture, and sound
retrieval system or SRS TruSurround, sound mode (e.g., standard,
live 1, live 2, theatre, music, speech, user equalizer mode,
Left/Right speaker balance, auto volume control, Sony/Philips
Interconnect Format or S/PDIF (off, auto, pulse code modulation or
PCM) for sound) and system settings (such as system (e.g., selected
language for graphical user interface, user geographical and/or
geopolitical location information, input method, area settings, and
sleep time), network (e.g., WiFi, WiFi hotspot, WiFi direct,
Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet or PPPoE (asymmetric digital
subscriber line or ADSL), Ethernet) settings (e.g., enabled and
disabled and selected and non-selected) and information (e.g.,
network information (e.g., electronic address such as Internet
Protocol or IP address, subnet mask, gateway, domain name server
information, domain name, Media Access Control or MAC address,
service set identification or SSID, security information, and
password information) and inline status), manage applications
(e.g., currently installed applications, currently executing
applications, and internal and external computer readable medium
usage), and view user information regarding the Intelligent TV
100)), a rocker-type channel-up and channel-down button 784 (to
increment or decrement the selected channel), and first, second,
third, and fourth hotkeys 788, 792, 794, and 796, and/or a moveable
joystick 900 on a bottom of the remote control 700. The first,
second, third, and fourth hotkeys 788, 792, 794, and 796 are
generally assigned different colors, which color indexing is
depicted as visual indicia on a selected panel to show the
currently assigned function, if any, for each hotkey. As can be
seen, the actuator layout can provide a highly efficient,
satisfactory, and easily usable experience to the end user.
[0164] Unlike the functional associations and functions of many of
the actuators, those of some of the actuators are not readily
apparent. A number of examples will now be discussed by way of
illustration.
[0165] The media center button 736, when selected, can provide
information regarding music, videos, photographs, collections or
groupings of music, videos, and/or photographs, and internal and
external computational devices (such as personal computers,
laptops, tablet computers, wireless phones, removable computer
readable media, and the like), which can be grouped in a selected
manner (such as favorites, most recently viewed, most watched or
viewed, and most recently added). The information can includes
previews (which can include selected portions of the media content,
duration, file size, date created, date last watched, times watched
or viewed, and audio and/or video format information).
[0166] The application center button 740, when selected, may
provide information regarding pre-installed and downloaded
applications. Unlike downloaded applications, pre-installed
applications cannot be removed by the user or manually updated.
Exemplary pre-installed applications include web browser, settings
control, and content search algorithms. By way of illustration, the
application center button 740 can provide a scrollable graphical
grid of icons (each icon being associated with an application)
currently available in the application center.
[0167] The global panel button 744, when selected, can provide the
user, via one or more panels or windows, with access to one or more
of, but not limited to, silos, notifications, a web browser, system
settings, and information associated therewith. For example, the
global panel button 744 can enable the user to determine what
external devices are currently connected to and/or disconnected
from the Intelligent TV 100, determine what inputs (e.g., HDMI
ports) are currently available for connecting to external devices,
determine a connection and/or operational status of a selected
external device and/or network (e.g., WiFi connected, Ethernet
connected, and offline), assign a custom (or user selected) name to
each input source, determine what content is currently being
offered on Live TV, on demand, the media center, and/or the
application center, access vendor messages and notifications to the
user (e.g., system and/or application updates are available),
activate the Internet browser, and/or access shortcuts on a
displayed shortcut bar to more frequently used and desired
applications. Common shortcuts are Internet browser (e.g., Internet
search engine), system settings, and notifications. The common
types of panels are for information (which is typically information
related to a currently displayed image and/or content (e.g., title,
date/time, audio/visual indicator, rating, and genre), browse
requests, and/or search requests (such as search term field)). Each
of the panel types may include a panel navigation bar, detailed
information or relevant content to the panel function, operation
and/or purpose, and a hotkey bar (defining currently enabled
functional associations of hotkeys).
[0168] The application panel button 748, when selected, can display
an application window or panel. One application panel may be an
information panel regarding a selected (pre-installed or previously
downloaded) application icon. The information panel can one or more
of identify the selected application, provide a description of the
functionality (including application developer and/or vendor,
version, release, and/or last update date and a category or type of
application based on the application's functionality) and user
ratings and/or degree of other user downloading of the application
(e.g., a star rating assigned based on one or more of the foregoing
inputs), provide the option to launch, remove, update, and add to
favorites the identified application, and provide a listing of
selectable links of other (not yet downloaded) recommended
applications that provide similar functionality to the identified
application. The latter listing can, in turn, provide a description
of the functionality (including application developer and/or
vendor, version, release, and/or last update date and a category or
type of application based on the application's functionality) and
user ratings and/or degree of other user downloading of the
application (e.g., a star rating assigned based on one or more of
the foregoing inputs).
[0169] The functions of the first, second, third, and fourth
hotkeys 788, 792, 794, and 796 can change depending on system
state, context, and/or, within a selected screen and/or panel,
based on a content or currently selected portion of (or relative
cursor position on) the screen. Commonly, a currently assigned
function of any of the first, second, third, and fourth hotkeys
788, 792, 794, and 796 depends on a currently accessed silo and/or
panel (with which the user is currently interacting within the
silo). In other words, a first function of one of the first,
second, third, and fourth hotkeys 788, 792, 794, and 796 is
activated by the respective hotkey in a first system state while a
different second function is activated by the respective hotkey in
a different second system state. In another example, a third
function of one of the first, second, third, and fourth hotkeys
788, 792, 794, and 796 is activated by the respective hotkey when a
user focus (or currently selected cursor position or screen
portion) is at a first screen position while a different fourth
function is activated by the respective hotkey when a user focus
(or currently selected cursor position or screen portion) is at a
different second screen position. The first screen position can,
for instance, be within an icon while the second screen position is
outside of the icon. Hotkey functionality that could be enabled
when in the first screen position may be "configure" and "remove"
and disabled is "add", and, when in the second position hotkey
functionality enabled can be "add" and disabled is "configure" and
"remove". Generally, the states of hotkeys can include normal (for
enabled actions or functions), disabled (when an action or function
is temporarily disabled), pressed (when selected by a user to
command an action or function to be performed), and unavailable
(when no association between the hotkey and an action or function
is currently available). While examples of hotkey functions are
discussed below, it is to be understood that these are not intended
to be exhaustive or limiting examples.
[0170] The first hotkey 788, when selected in a first system state,
can enable the user to assign, change, or edit a name of an input
source. It is typically enabled only when the input source of HDMI,
Comp/YPbPr (e.g., component video cables), video output, and VGA is
in focus. When selected in a second system state, the first hotkey
788 can return the user to a top of a scrollable collection of
objects, such as application icons.
[0171] The second hotkey 792 may show all or less. In other words,
the hotkey 792 can allow the user to show all inputs, including the
unconnected/undetected ones and to hide the unconnected/undetected
inputs, e.g., to expand and collapse the silo/input list. Each
input source can have one of two states, namely connected/detected
and unconnected/undetected. Some input sources, including Live TV,
video on demand, media center, and application center, are always
connected/detected.
[0172] The moveable joystick 900 on the bottom of the remote
control 700, when manipulated, can cause a displayed image on the
Intelligent TV 100 screen to be displaced a proportional amount. In
other words, the displayed image is displaced substantially
simultaneously with displacement of the joystick 900 within the
joystick aperture 904 in the bottom housing 712 of the remote
control. As shown in FIGS. 9B-C, the joystick 900 moves or slides
between forward and reverse positions. Releasing the joystick 900
causes the joystick 900 to return to the center position of FIG.
9A, and the window to move or slide upwardly (when the joystick is
released from the joystick position of FIG. 9B) or downwardly (when
the joystick is released from the joystick position of FIG. 9C)
until it disappears from view as shown in FIG. 11A. The effect on
the screen of the Intelligent TV 100 is shown in FIGS. 11A-C. In
FIG. 11A, video content, such as TV programming, a video, movie,
and the like, is being displayed by front surface of the screen
212. In FIG. 11B, the joystick 900 is moved or slid to the upper
position of FIG. 9B, and a drop down window or panel 1100 moves or
slides down (at the substantially the same rate of joystick 900
movement) at the top of the screen 212. In FIG. 11C, the joystick
900 is moved or slid to the lower position of FIG. 9C, and a drop
up window or panel 1100 moves or slides up (at the substantially
the same rate of joystick 900 movement) at the bottom of the screen
212. The window 1100 partially covers the video content appearing
on the remainder of the screen 212 and/or causes a portion of the
screen 212 displaying video content to move and/or compress up or
down the height of the window 1100.
[0173] The window 1100 can include one or more of information
(which is typically information related to a currently displayed
image and/or content (e.g., panel navigation bar, detailed
information (e.g., title, date/time, audio/visual indicator,
rating, and genre), and hotkey bar (defining current functional
associations of hotkeys)), browse requests, and/or search requests.
Commonly, the window 1100 includes suitable information about the
content (such as name, duration, and/or remaining viewing duration
of content), settings information, TV or system control
information, application (activation) icons (such as for
pre-installed and/or downloaded applications such as application
center, media center and Web browser), and/or information about
input source(s), When the joystick 900 is in either the forward or
reverse position, the user can select an actuator on the front of
the remote control, such as the OK button 764, and be taken, by
displayed images on the screen 212, to another location in the user
interface, such as a desktop. This process can be done in an
nonintrusive manner and without affecting the flow of content that
is pushed up or down. The joystick 900 could be moved, additionally
or differently, from side-to-side to cause the window to appear at
the left or right edge of the screen 212.
[0174] An alternative actuator configuration is shown in FIG. 10.
The actuators are substantially the same as those of FIGS. 7-9
except that the social network button 1000, when selected, can
automatically select content and publish, via a social network
service or other social media, the content to a social network or
online community. User or viewer comments and/or other messages can
be included in the outbound message. For example, all or one or
frames or portions of media content (such as a video, music, a
photograph, a picture, or text) can be provided automatically to a
predetermined or selected group of people via Linked-In.TM.,
Myspace.TM., Twitter.TM., YouTube.TM., DailyMotion.TM.,
Facebook.TM., Google+.TM., or Second Life.TM. The user, upon
activating the button 1000 could, in response, select a social
forum or media upon which the selected content (which is the
content displayed to the user when the social network button 1000
is activated) is to be posted and/or a predetermined group within
that social media to which the content is to be posted.
Alternatively, these selections could be preconfigured or
preselected by the user.
[0175] The social network button can also be used to "turn up" or
"turn down" a social volume visualization. The Intelligent TV 100
can create dynamically a visualization of aggregated connections
(and inbound and/or outbound messages) from a variety of social
networks. The aggregation (and inbound and outbound messages) can
be depicted graphically on the screen as a volume of connections to
influence the viewer user. With a social volume visualization,
selected contents of each linked social network profile of a social
contact (and inbound and/or outbound messages from or to the linked
social network contact and/or current activity of the social
contact (such as watching the same programming or content the
viewer is currently watching) can be presented in a separate tile
(or visually displayed object). The size of the tile can be related
to any number of criteria, including a relationship of the linked
social contact (e.g., a relative degree of importance or type of
relationship can determine the relative size of the tile, a degree
of influence of the linked social contact to the current viewer, a
geographic proximity of the linked social contact to the current
viewer, a degree to which the currently provided media content is
of interest to both the viewer and linked social contact (e.g.,
both parties enjoy war movies, murder mysteries, musicals,
comedies, and the like), an assigned ranking of the linked viewer
by the viewer, a type of social network type linking the viewer
with the linked social contact, a current activity of the social
network contact (e.g., currently watching the same content that the
viewer is currently watching), a current online or offline status
of the linked social contact, and a social network grouping type or
category to which both the viewer and linked social contact belong
(e.g., work contact, best friend, family member, etc.).
[0176] The viewer can designate a portion of the screen to depict
the social network aggregation. By turning the social volume up (+)
or down (-), the viewer can increase the size and/or numbers of
linked contact tiles provided to the viewer. In other words, by
increasing the social volume the viewer can view, access, and/or
push more social content from those of his or her social networks
associated with him or her in a memory of the Intelligent TV. By
decreasing the social volume, the viewer can view, access, and/or
push less social content from his or her associated social
networks. By selecting the mute button 724, the viewer can stop or
pause any interactivity with his or her associated social networks
(e.g., inbound or outbound messages). Social volume and/or mute can
be separated into two (or more) volume settings for outbound and
inbound social network activity. By way of illustration, a first
volume setting, control, and/or button can control the volume for
outbound social network activity (e.g., outbound social messages)
while a second (different) volume setting, control, and/or button
can control the volume for inbound social network activity (e.g.,
inbound social messages). By way of further illustration, a first
mute setting, control, and/or button can stop or pause outbound
social network activity (e.g., outbound social messages) while a
second (different) mute setting, control, and/or button can stop or
pause inbound social network activity (e.g., inbound social
messages).
[0177] A functional block diagram of the remote control is shown in
FIG. 12. The remote control 700 includes a controller 1208 to
control and supervise remote control operations, optional wireless
(RF) transceiver 1224 and antenna 1244 to send and receive wireless
signals to and from the Intelligent TV 100 and other external
components, optional infrared emitter 1228 to emit infrared signals
to the Intelligent TV 100, optional light emitting diode or LED
driver 1232 to control LED operation to provide video-enabled
feedback to the user, actuators 1220 (including the various buttons
and other actuators discussed above in connection with FIGS. 7 and
10), and joystick 900, all interconnected via a bus 1248. An on
board power source 1200 and power management module 1204 provide
power to each of these components via power circuitry 1240. The
infrared emitter 1228 and receiver (not shown) on the Intelligent
TV system 100 can be used to determine a displayed object
illuminated by the infrared signal and therefore adjust the
displayed image, for example to indicate a focus of the user (e.g.,
illuminate a displayed object or show cursor position relative to
displayed objects on the screen) and to determine and activate a
desired command of the user. This can be done by tracking a
position of the remote control in relation to infrared tracking
reference points (e.g., a sensor bar or infrared LED's) positioned
on or adjacent to the screen of the Intelligent TV 100. Motion
tracking can further be augmented using position information
received from a multi-axis gyroscope and/or accelerometer on board
the remote control (not shown).
[0178] Referring now to FIG. 14, a panel configuration in
accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure is
illustrated. As previously discussed, the panel manager 536 is
operable to display panels in the user interface, to manage
transitions between those panels, or to affect user interface
inputs received in the panel. The panel manager 536 may thus be in
communication with different user interface panels such as a global
panel 516, a volume panel 520, a settings panel 524, an application
panel 544, and/or a notification panel 528. The panel manager 536
can display these types of panels depending on the inputs received
from the input event dispatcher 508. The panel system is designed
to provide a quick access to extended functionality while still
maintaining visibility into the main content view.
[0179] As illustrated in FIG. 14, an Intelligent TV 100 may display
a global panel 1404, an active content view 1408, and an
application panel 1412. The global panel 1404 may be the same or
similar to global panel 516. The global panel 1404 may include
information that is associated with the home screen or top level
hierarchal information for the user. For instance, global panel
1404 may be used to contain and access functionality that exists at
a system level; this functionality may be completely independent of
the currently viewed content. The global panel 1404 may be
displayed in such a manner as to not disrupt the content view area
1404; that is, the global panel 1404 may be displayed in such a
manner as to provide a user the ability to view content displayed
in the content view area 1408. For example, the global panel 1404
may be translucent in nature such that the content displayed in the
content view area 1408 is displayed (i.e., still viewable to a
user), behind the global panel 1404. The global panel 1404 may
provide a consistent access to high level actions across all
applications, an anchor for all views, a unified experience, and
further may follow the same pattern as the application panel 1412.
Moreover, and as previously discussed, global panel 1404 may be
displayed by the Intelligent TV 100 such that the active content in
the content view area 1408 is always in view. In some embodiments,
the global panel 1404 and the contents of the global panel 1404 may
depend on the user; that is, the global panel 1404 may be specific
to one or more users. Therefore, the global panel 1404 may also be
thought of as a home panel.
[0180] As further illustrated in FIG. 14, an Intelligent TV 100 may
display an application panel 1412. The application panel 1412 may
be the same or similar to application panel 544. The application
panel 1412 may provide access to contextually relevant
functionality based on the currently viewing/recently viewed
material. Similar to the global panel 1404, the application panel
1412 may provide such access without disrupting the content view
area 1408. That is, the application panel 1412 may be displayed in
such a manner as to provide a user the ability to view content
displayed in convent view area 1408. For example, the application
panel 1412 may be translucent in nature such that the content
displayed in the content view area 1408 is displayed (i.e., still
viewable to a user), behind the application panel 1412. The
application panel 1412 may provide quick access to core
functionality of the Intelligent TV 100 such that the active
content in the content view area 1408 is always in view. Moreover,
the application panel 1412 may provide a consistent user experience
across all applications and may include focused contextual
content.
[0181] Referring now to FIG. 15, a detailed global panel 1404
configuration is illustrated in accordance with embodiments of the
present disclosure. The global panel 1404 may include one or more
sources represented by icons and text, or shortcuts, 1504A-E. Of
course, more or less icons and text 1504A-E may be displayed. As
previously discussed, each icon and text 1504A-E may be associated
with one or more sources of content. For example, icon and text
1504A may be associated with the Live TV application 452; icon and
text 1504B may be associated with the video on demand application
456; icon and text 1504C may be associated with the media center
application 460; icon and text 1504D may be associated with the
application center application 464; and icon and text 1504E may be
associated with one or more sources of content, either internal or
external. Moreover, icon and text 1504F may provide the ability for
all sources of content to be displayed within global panel 1404.
Global panel 1404 may additionally indicate a source that is
selected or highlight using indicator 1512; for example, indicator
1512 may comprise a box positioned around Live TV--801 CNXN.
Although illustrated as a box, other methods or configurations
which provide for icon selection and/or identification may be used.
For example, instead of a box, indicator 1512 may be a line or
circle or may comprise adjusting the background of an icon and text
1504 such that the color, shade, highlight, spotlight, or hue is
different. Alternatively or additionally, indicator 1512 may
comprise enlarging or magnifying the icon and text 1504.
[0182] The text portion of icon and text 1504A-1504F may
additionally include the current application, source, or channel
that is currently maintained, on hold, active, and/or associated
with another content that is not currently displayed in content
display area 1408. For example, active content area 1408, in
reference to FIG. 15, is currently displaying a Live TV view
(specifically 801 CNXN). The other icons and text, 1504B-1504E, may
display the previously active content, or content that was
previously displayed in active area 1408, at one time, but is now
currently in a hold, an inactive, or a paused state. For example,
icon and text 1504B displays "On Demand--Skyfalls"; that is the
video on demand application 456 may have previously been displaying
some form of content--video, image, TV show, etc. The text of icon
and text 1504B includes a title of the content that was previously
displayed: "Skyfalls." Similarly, the text portion of icon and text
1504D displays a previously displayed, or active, application--for
example, "Bubble Bird." The application "Bubble Bird" may still
reside in some form of application memory associated with
application center application 464. As another example, the text
portion of icon and text 1504E includes HDMI 1--YBOX 720; source
content on the HDMI 1 port from a YBOX 720 was previously displayed
in content area 1408.
[0183] Additionally, global panel 1404 may include a shortcut area
1516. The shortcut area 1516 may provide access to frequently used
applications, sources, or areas of intelligent TV 100. Moreover,
shortcut area 1516 may be user configurable; that is a user may be
able to decide what applications or sources are displayed. As
illustrated in FIG. 15, the shortcut area 1516 displays an icon for
a browser 1520A, an icon for a settings menu 1520B, and an icon for
alerts 1520C. The settings 1520B may provide a user access to one
or more intelligent TV 100 configurations. Additionally, the alerts
icon 1520C, may indicate a number of alerts, or messages, a user
has. The alert messages may be messages involving the operation and
configuration of Intelligent TV 100, messages received from one or
more users, indications that new content has arrived, or the
like.
[0184] In addition, the global panel 1404 may be displayed such
that the actively displayed content is displayed in active content
area 1408 and is further visible behind global panel 1404. For
example, the content currently displayed on the Intelligent TV 100
is of a desk; the global panel 1404 may be translucent such that
the content is displayed below or behind the global panel 1404, as
represented by the dotted lines in FIG. 15.
[0185] The Intelligent TV 100 may include an application panel 1412
as shown in FIG. 16. The content displayed in the application panel
1412 depends on the content displayed in the content view area
1408. Stated another way, the application panel 1412 is
contextually dependent upon the source of content and the content
itself in the content view area 1408. The application panel 1412
also provides customized information for each application. The
application panel 1412 may comprise application panel elements
including an application panel navigation bar 1604, a panel content
area 1608, and a hotkey legend 1612. The application panel
navigation bar 1604 is presented such that the navigation pattern
and content remain consistent across all applications. That is, the
navigation bar 1604 may include the same or similar elements such
that an easy navigation is maintained no matter which application
and/or sources are selected and displayed. For example, the panel
navigation bar 1604 may include fixed tab regions (also called
tabs, panel tabs, or panel views herein) 1620A-1620E corresponding
to Live TV navigable menus and further comprising Info 1620A, EPG
1620B, Categories 1620C, Favorites 1620D, and Search 1620E.
Although, Info 1620A, EPG 1620B, Categories 1620C, Favorites 1620D,
and Search 1620E are illustrated in FIG. 16, additional or fewer
tab regions 1620 may be displayed.
[0186] The panel content area in 1608 is panel view specific. For
example, depending on the panel view focus, the panel content area
1608 may update, as further described below. Moreover, the
application panel 1412 may include a hotkey legend 1612
corresponding to one or more hotkeys. The hotkey legend 1612 is
positioned at the bottom of the panel 1412 across all applications.
The function of the hotkeys is context sensitive and may vary
depending on the application selected and/or displayed in the
active content view area 1408. However, generally speaking, some
hotkeys are generally navigation based while others may be action
based. For example, the hotkeys may correspond to shortcuts such as
marking a series, program, show, or channel as a favorite. In
another example, at least one of the hotkeys may correspond to a
reminder such that a series, program, or show can be marked for a
reminder. However, in some embodiments, the red and yellow keys are
navigation based shortcuts, and the green and blue keys are action
based shortcuts, such as marking a series as favorite. These colors
and actions may vary in different embodiments and across different
applications.
[0187] The Intelligent TV 100 may include a categories panel 1412C
displayed in the application panel 1412, as shown in FIGS. 17A and
17B. The categories panel 1412C may comprise a panel navigation bar
1604, a panel content area 1608, and a hotkey legend 1612.
[0188] The categories panel 1412C is displayed when the user
launches the application panel 1412 and navigates to the categories
tab 1620C in the panel navigation bar 1604. A list of categories
1708 with available content is shown in the panel content area
1608. If any category contains no content, then it is not shown in
the list. In alternate embodiments, a category with no content is
shown but is not selectable. The categories list 1708 is defined by
the content provider and may be dynamically updated. Unlike genres,
content can only belong to one category.
[0189] The list of categories 1708 is vertically scrollable and
arranged in a specific order. That order may be alphabetical,
decreasing number of items in the category, most watched
categories, etc. The category list 1708 may show the name of the
category and the number of matches (i.e., number of items in the
category). Thus, each available category 1708 is presented with the
number of matched programs that are currently on Live TV.
[0190] The list of categories 1708 may include Action, Animation,
Children, Comedy, Cooking, Documentary, History, News, Reality,
Romance, Science Fiction, Sports, Thriller, and/or Variety. In one
embodiment, the initial list of categories 1708--before a user
alters the categories--may include Movies, Sports, Reality TV,
Comedy, Talk Shows, Documentary, History, Children, and/or Other.
Movies are not sorted by categories and are grouped into their own
category.
[0191] A user may select a category 1708A by scrolling down to the
category 1708A (using the up/down arrows on the remote or on the
D-Pad) and press select or another select-type button on the remote
to select the category 1708A. The hotkeys 1612 may be associated
with navigation or other functions. For example, in some
embodiments, the red hotkey may navigate the user to the top of the
panel. The default focus of the categories panel 1412C is the first
category 1708A listed, as shown in FIG. 17A. Alternatively the
default focus may be the first recommended series. The user may
scroll down to a different category 1708B, e.g., sports, and select
that category 1708B. Selecting a category refreshes the view of the
categories panel 1412C with a focused mini electronic programming
guide (EPG) of those programs (see FIGS. 18A-B). If the user is at
the categories panel 1412C shown in FIG. 17B, then the user may
select a specific category. If the user scrolls to the left or
right at this view (FIG. 17B), then the panel will change to a
different application panel 1412, e.g., the EPG panel, info panel,
favorites panel, or search panel.
[0192] FIG. 18A depicts an embodiment of a compact EPG 1820
presented via an application panel 1412 of an Intelligent TV 100
showing Live TV. As shown, the select-focus associated with the
application panel navigation bar 1604 is set to the categories tab
1620C. In some cases the selection of the categories tab 1620C may
be indicated via a select-focus in the form of a highlight, an
underline, a specific font style, an action (e.g., movement of the
categories tab 1620C indicator 1740, brightness adjustment,
highlight, spotlight, etc.), combinations thereof, and the like.
This select-focus indication may be associated with the categories
tab 1620C. Programs that match the selected category may be
visually highlighted within the mini EPG 1820. The application
panel 1412 may also include a hotkey legend 1612 similar to other
application panels 1412 displayed via the Intelligent TV 100. As
previously discussed, the hotkeys provided in the hotkey legend
1612 may be customized to facilitate shortcut navigation and/or
special features associated with the Intelligent TV 100 and/or the
application panel 1412. For instance, the hotkeys may be context
sensitive to a particular application panel 1412 displayed. As
shown in FIGS. 18A-B, the hotkey legend 1612 may include Remind,
Favorite, and other actions associated with one or more hotkeys.
The Remind hotkey may be green and may toggle a reminder on or off
for the selected program, i.e., the program highlighted or in focus
in the compact EPG 1820. In one embodiment, the Favorite hotkey may
correspond to a shortcut marking a series, program, show, or
channel as a favorite. The hotkey legend 1612 may also include a
Page Up hotkey and/or a Page Down hotkey to allow the user to
navigate the compact EPG 1820. The hotkeys may be associated, or
mapped, to one or more inputs of a remote control or other input
device.
[0193] The application panel 1412 includes an EPG layout header
1804 and shows the selected category 1708B. The EPG layout header
1804 may be used to alter the format of a displayed compact EPG
1820. For instance, the EPG layout header 1804 shows "Category
List" in FIG. 18B and is a button the user can select to return to
the categories list 1708, while the compact EPG 1820 is presenting
the compact, or "mini," EPG in a chosen category format. A user may
select the EPG layout header 1804 to change, remove, create, or
select categories that the compact EPG 1820 will display.
Categories available via the "Category List" may include, but are
not limited to, time-based, genre, title, program type (e.g.,
movie, TV special, sport, radio, undefined, etc.), channel-based,
reminders, combinations thereof, and even user-created categories.
In this example, the chosen category 1708B EPG list is shown by
channel number on the left-hand side of the compact EPG 1820. In
some embodiments, a user may select the EPG layout header 1804 to
modify the presentation of the compact EPG 1820 in the application
panel 1412. Upon selecting the EPG layout header 1804, the user may
be presented with a number of compact EPG 1820 layout options. One
example of such a presentation layout option may include displaying
the compact EPG 1820 as any one of the categories disclosed above
that can be chosen via a selection from within the categories tab
1620C of the application panel 1412. In a "Time-Based" category
presentation, the compact EPG 1820 may be arranged by time (as
opposed to channel number, as previously discussed above). In
another embodiment, a user may select a "Movie" category from the
"Category List," in which case the compact EPG 1820 displays a list
of movies that are available for viewing via the Intelligent TV
100. Other variations and presentation layouts regarding
categories, as disclosed above, may be made to the compact EPG
1820.
[0194] Additionally or alternatively, the application panel 1412
may include a program preview pane 1828 that may include a program
thumbnail graphic, an identifier, description, times, and other
information that is associated with the channel and/or the program.
The program preview pane 1828 may change to display new information
as time passes or as a user navigates through selected channels,
programs, or rows in the compact EPG 1820. In some embodiments, the
Intelligent TV 100 may select EPG content information to display
via the program preview pane 1828. This selection may be based on
stored rules. In some cases, the program preview pane 1828 may be
configured to display information associated with the first channel
on the compact EPG 1820 list, as a default.
[0195] The compact EPG 1820 may be configured to present one or
more programs for each channel in a list format that is accompanied
by an EPG time scale. A program in the compact EPG 1820 may include
a text, graphic, and/or combination thereof identifier. In some
embodiments, the compact EPG 1820 may be configured to display a
specific number of lines, rows, programs, and/or information. The
identifier may be used to identify the program to a user of the
Intelligent TV 100. Although shown with a finite number of rows
displayed via the list of the compact EPG 1820, it is anticipated
that other channels may be caused to display to the compact EPG
1820 list given a user provided input. For instance, a user may
scroll to another line, or page, on the list, by using a remote
control or other input device. As another example, a user may
navigate through channels in the compact EPG 1820 by providing a
directional input (e.g., via arrow keys, channel up/down buttons,
etc.) from a remote control or other input device. The mini EPG
1820 may be vertically scrollable and horizontally scrollable. In
some embodiments, programs that match the selected category 1708B
are visually highlighted within the mini EPG 1820. If a program is
currently on the air, then the user may select that program and the
categories panel 1412C will be dismissed and the Intelligent TV 100
will switch the channel to the selected channel.
[0196] In some embodiments, the EPG time scale may include a
current time indicator 1822. The current time indicator 1822 may be
represented by a graphic that is associated with the EPG time scale
and that is capable of moving relative to the EPG time scale. FIG.
18B shows a line 1822 positioned between the 7:30 PM and 8:00 PM on
the mini EPG 1820. Alternatively, a small arrow, or caret symbol,
may be used instead of a line 1822. The position of the caret
symbol along the time indicates the current time. Although shown as
a line, it is anticipated that any graphic may be used to provide
an indication to a user. Moreover, while a moveable time indicator
is disclosed above, it is anticipated that some embodiments may
employ a fixed current time indicator while the EPG time scale
itself moves relative to the fixed current time indicator.
[0197] In some embodiments the compact EPG 1820 may include symbols
or stars indicating that a particular program or channel is marked
as a favorite.
[0198] FIG. 19A depicts an embodiment of a compact favorites EPG
1920 with favorites presented via an application panel 1412 of an
Intelligent TV 100 showing Live TV. Note that the favorites EPG
list 1920 may be called a compact EPG displayed in the favorites
tab 1620D, a favorite based EPG, or a compact favorites EPG herein.
As shown, the select-focus associated with the application panel
navigation bar 1604 is set to the favorites tab 1620D. In some
cases the selection of the favorites tab 1620D may be indicated via
a select-focus in the form of a highlight, an underline, a specific
font style, an action (e.g., movement of the favorites tab 1620D
indicator 1740, brightness adjustment, highlight, spotlight, etc.),
combinations thereof, and the like. This select-focus indication
may be associated with the favorites tab 1620D.
[0199] The application panel 1412 may also include a hotkey legend
1612 similar to other application panels 1412 displayed via the
Intelligent TV 100. As previously discussed, the hotkeys provided
in the hotkey legend 1612 may be customized to facilitate shortcut
navigation and/or special features associated with the Intelligent
TV 100 and/or the application panel 1412. For instance, the hotkeys
may be context sensitive to a particular application panel 1412
displayed. As shown in FIG. 19A, the hotkey legend 1612 may include
Remind, Favorite, Page Up, and Page Down or other actions
associated with one or more hotkeys. As shown in FIG. 19B, the
hotkey legend 1612 may include Guide, Remind, Favorite, and other
actions associated with one or more hotkeys. The Remind hotkey may
be green and may toggle a reminder on or off for the selected
program, i.e., the program highlighted or in focus in the compact
favorites EPG 1920. The Remind hotkey may be green and may toggle a
reminder on or off for the selected program, i.e., the program
highlighted or in focus in the compact EPG 1820. One hotkey, such
as the yellow hotkey, may toggle between a view of the complete EPG
(i.e., show all) and a filtered EPG (i.e., show favorites) only
displaying favorite channels and/or channels with content marked as
favorite. In one embodiment, the Favorite hotkey may correspond to
a shortcut marking or unmarking a series, program, show, or channel
as a favorite. The Favorite hotkey may provide a modal with two
choices: (1) "Add [Show Name] to Favorites"; or (2) "Add [Channel
#] to Favorite Channels." If the item is already a favorite then
the message would be "Remove from" instead of "Add ______ to." The
hotkey legend 1612 may also include a Page Up hotkey and/or a Page
Down hotkey to allow the user to navigate the compact favorites EPG
1920. The hotkeys may be associated, or mapped, to one or more
inputs of a remote control or other input device.
[0200] The default focus of the compact favorites EPG 1920 is the
currently watching listing, if available, in the compact favorites
EPG 1920. Otherwise, the default focus of the compact favorites EPG
1920 is the first item listed in the compact favorites EPG 1920. In
some embodiments, the compact favorites EPG 1920 follows the
patterns, functionality, and rules as compact EPGs in other tabs
1620. The content of the compact favorites EPG 1920 is limited to
favorite channels and favorite programs currently playing or that
are about to start within the next 15 minutes on Live TV. The
compact favorites EPG 1920 is dynamic and once a favorite program
ends for a channel that is not favorite channel, that row is
removed from the compact favorites EPG 1920.
[0201] In this example, the favorites EPG list 1920 is shown by
channel number on the left-hand side of the compact EPG 1920. One
example of such a presentation layout option may include displaying
the compact favorites EPG 1920 with stars indicating favorites,
e.g., favorite channels and favorite programs or series, and
displayed from within the favorites tab 1620D of the application
panel 1412. Icons or symbols other than stars may also be used to
indicate a favorite program or channel. In a "Time-Based" category
presentation, the compact favorites EPG 1920 may be arranged by
time (as opposed to channel number, as previously discussed above).
In one embodiment, the compact favorites EPG 1920 displays a list
of movies that are available for viewing via the Intelligent TV
100. Other variations and presentation layouts regarding
categories, as disclosed above, may be made to the compact
favorites EPG 1920.
[0202] The compact favorites EPG 1920 may be configured to present
one or more programs or channels marked as a favorite for each
channel in a list format. The compact favorites EPG 1920 may only
show those channels marked as a favorite or containing programs
marked as a favorite. The compact favorites EPG 1920 may be
accompanied by an EPG time scale. A program in the compact
favorites EPG 1920 may include a text, graphic, and/or combination
thereof identifier. In some embodiments, the compact favorites EPG
1920 may be configured to display a specific number of lines, rows,
programs, and/or information. An identifier, such as highlighting,
a box, a line, or other indicator may be used to identify the
program to a user of the Intelligent TV 100. Although shown with a
finite number of rows displayed via the list of the compact
favorites EPG 1920, it is anticipated that other channels may be
caused to display to the compact favorites EPG 1920 list given a
user provided input. For instance, a user may scroll vertically or
horizontally to another line, or page, on the list, by using a
remote control or other input device. As another example, a user
may navigate through channels in the compact favorites EPG 1920 by
providing a directional input (e.g., via arrow keys, channel
up/down buttons, etc.) from a remote control or other input device.
The compact favorites EPG 1920 may be vertically scrollable and
horizontally scrollable. In some embodiments, programs marked as a
favorite are visually highlighted within the mini EPG. If a program
displayed in the compact favorites EPG 1920 is currently on the
air, then the user may select that program and the favorites panel
1412D will be dismissed and the Intelligent TV 100 will switch the
channel to the selected channel.
[0203] In some embodiments, the EPG time scale may include a
current time indicator 1922 to indicate the current time. The
current time indicator 1922 may be represented by a graphic that is
associated with the EPG time scale and that is capable of moving
relative to the EPG time scale. FIG. 19B shows a line current time
indicator 1922 positioned between the 7:30 PM and 8:00 PM on the
compact favorites EPG 1920. Alternatively and as shown in FIG. 19A,
a small arrow, or caret symbol, may be used instead of a line. The
position of the current time indicator 1922 along the time scale
indicates the current time. Although shown as a line or a caret, it
is anticipated that any graphic may be used to provide an
indication to a user. Moreover, while a moveable time indicator is
disclosed above, it is anticipated that some embodiments may employ
a fixed current time indicator 1922 while the EPG time scale and/or
the programs themselves move relative to the fixed current time
indicator 1922. Furthermore, programs that are currently on air may
be highlighted or shaded to indicate that they are currently on
air.
[0204] Additionally or alternatively, the application panel 1412
may include a program preview pane 1908 that may include a program
thumbnail graphic 1930, an identifier, description, times, episode
number, episode name, and other information associated with the
channel and/or the program. The program preview pane 1908 may
change to display new information as time passes or as a user
navigates through selected channels, programs, or rows in the
compact favorites EPG 1920. In some embodiments, the Intelligent TV
100 may select EPG content information to display via the program
preview pane 1908. This selection may be based on stored rules. In
some cases, the program preview pane 1908 may be configured to
display information associated with the first channel on the
favorites EPG list 1920, as a default.
[0205] FIG. 19C depicts a grouped content panel presented via an
application panel 1412 of the Intelligent TV 100. In particular,
FIG. 19C shows content that has been marked as a favorite by a user
or Intelligent TV 100. In other words, the content grouped in the
favorites tab 1620D is preferred over ungrouped content by at least
one user. As shown, the select-focus associated with the
application panel navigation bar 1604 is set to the favorites tab
1620D. In some cases the selection of the favorites tab 1620D may
be indicated via a select-focus in the form of a highlight, an
underline, a specific font style, an action (e.g., movement of the
favorites tab 1620D indicator, brightness adjustment, etc.),
combinations thereof, and the like. This select-focus indication
may be associated with the favorites tab 1620D. The application
panel 1412 may also include a hotkey legend 1612 similar to other
application panels 1412 displayed via the Intelligent TV 100. As
previously discussed, the hotkeys provided in the hotkey legend
1612 may be customized to facilitate shortcut navigation and/or
special features associated with the Intelligent TV 100 and/or the
application panel 1412. For instance, the hotkeys may be context
sensitive to a particular application panel 1412 displayed. As
shown in FIG. 19C, the hotkey legend 1912 may include Remind,
Favorite, and other actions associated with one or more hotkeys.
The hotkeys may be associated, or mapped, to one or more inputs of
a remote control or other input device.
[0206] In some embodiments, the content in favorites may be
displayed as an EPG list. For example, an EPG list may display
programs that are currently airing on channels marked as favorite
(see FIGS. 19A-19B). As such each row of the list may correspond to
a favorite channel, and show current program that is airing on that
channel at the moment the EPG list is displayed. In the event that
the EPG list is too large to display to the application panel 1412,
a scroll bar 1940 may be included to allow a user to adjust the
visibly displayed content.
[0207] In other embodiments, the content in favorites may comprise
an EPG list that identifies programs currently airing that have
been identified as preferred, or favorite. The view of the EPG list
can be configured as dynamic and based on time. As time progresses,
programs currently listed in the application panel 1412 that end
may be removed from the EPG list automatically. Additionally or
alternatively, favorite programs that begin can be added to the EPG
list automatically. In the event that the EPG list is too large to
display to the application panel 1412, a scroll bar 1940 may be
included to allow a user to adjust the visibly displayed content.
In any case a user may select one of the items in the EPG list to
close the Live TV application and tune the Intelligent TV 100 to
the signal source associated with the selected item.
[0208] When the favorites tab 1620D is selected, the application
panel 1412 may include content that has been determined as a
favorite. This determination of whether content is a favorite may
be made by a user. For example, a user may be watching content on
the Intelligent TV 100 and provide an input via the remote control
or other input device to identify the content as a favorite. In
some cases, this input may include marking a show as a favorite by
toggling a favorite button or identifier. In some embodiments, the
determination of favorite content may be made via the Intelligent
TV 100. Among other things, the Intelligent TV 100 may store
viewing habits and behavior and mark content as favorites based on
the stored habits and behavior. Additionally or alternatively, the
presentation of favorite content shown in the application panel
1412 may be ordered via the Intelligent TV 100. The order may be
associated with a rank that is determined from stored viewing
habits and behavior. For example, if a user watches a specific show
more often than others, the specific show may be ordered higher in
rank than the others. In the application panel 1412 a high rank may
correspond to a high position in the list. Accordingly, the highest
ranked show may be placed at the top position on the list displayed
to the application panel 1412.
[0209] Among other things, the application panel 1412 shown in FIG.
19C may include a program preview pane 1908A-N, and a favorite
identifier 1934, or toggle button for one or more Live TV program,
show, or content. The favorite identifier 1934 may indicate that a
particular program is included in the favorites list. Additionally
or alternatively, the favorite identifier 1934 may be configured as
a user-interactive feature. For example, the favorite identifier
1934 may be used to remove a program from the favorites list.
Continuing the example, a user may select the favorite identifier
1934 via an input from a remote control or other input device. Once
selected, the user may be presented with an option to remove the
content from the favorite list. The user may then select the
appropriate option to remove or keep the content on the favorite
list. The favorites list may be stored in a memory as disclosed
herein, and may be accessed at least via the favorites tab 1620D of
the application panel navigation bar 1604. In some embodiments,
content identified as favorites may be displayed in the application
panel 1412 without at least one of a thumbnail graphic,
description, time, and other features.
[0210] FIG. 20A depicts a first embodiment of a reminder dialog
presentation 2000 in accordance with embodiments of the present
disclosure. A reminder may be set for a program, show, channel,
time, and combinations thereof. The reminder may be associated with
an initiation condition, including but not limited to, a timer, an
input from an EPG, in response to another condition, some other
input, or combinations thereof. Continuing the example, when the
initiation condition is satisfied for the reminder, the reminder
may display to the Intelligent TV 100. In some cases, the reminder
may be displayed within a specific timeframe of a scheduled program
or show. The reminder dialog presentation may utilize one or more
of the dialog presentations disclosed above.
[0211] The reminder dialog presentation 2000 includes a reminder
header 2004 and a reminder body comprising one or more reminder
prompts 2008A-C. The reminder header 2004 may include an identifier
associated with a show, channel, series, content, reminder,
program, time, etc. For example, the reminder header 2004 may
display the title of a program that is available via the Live TV
application 452. The reminder body can include prompts 2008A,
2008B, 2008C, along with one or more selectable inputs 2028, such
that a user may select an input that is associated with the prompts
2008A, 2008B, 2008C. As can be appreciated, a user may navigate
among these prompts 2008A, 2008B, 2008C, to select a corresponding
action that may be performed by the Live TV application 452. In the
present example, the reminder setting prompt 2008A is highlighted
by default. A user may move the position of the highlight via a
remote control or other input device.
[0212] In some embodiments, the reminder dialog presentation 2000
may be initiated in response to a user input. A user may desire to
add a reminder for a specific program, show, channel, etc. As such,
a user may utilize a "remind" input associated with a remote
control or other input device. In one example, a "remind" input may
be provided via a hotkey associated with the remote control or
other input device. For instance, a user may be viewing an EPG via
the application panel 1412 of an Intelligent TV 100 and notice that
an interesting program is scheduled to start in an hour. Desiring
to be reminded of the program, the user may select the program,
activate the reminder input (e.g., via the "remind" hotkey, or
other input) to initiate the reminder dialog presentation 2000.
Then, the user may select the first prompt 2008A to set a reminder
for the program.
[0213] The second prompt 2008B allows a user to add the Live TV
content (e.g., show, series, program, etc.) to a "Favorites"
compilation, or group. In a similar fashion, the third prompt 2008C
listed on the reminder dialog presentation 2000 may be configured
to provide an option for a user to add a selected channel to the
"Favorites" compilation, or group. As can be appreciated, the
"Favorites" group may be arranged at least by channel and
content.
[0214] Referring to FIG. 20B a second embodiment of a reminder
dialog presentation 2000' is depicted in accordance with
embodiments of the present disclosure. In the event that a reminder
is previously set for Live TV content, a user may initiate the
second reminder dialog presentation 2000' shown in FIG. 20B. Among
other things, the user may modify settings associated with the
previously set reminder via the second reminder dialog presentation
2000'. The second reminder dialog presentation 2000' can be
initiated in a similar manner as the reminder dialog presentation
2000. Additionally or alternatively, the second reminder dialog
presentation 2000' may be initiated by a user selecting a
previously set reminder, or a program that is associated with a
previously set reminder. Upon providing the selection input, the
user may view the second reminder dialog presentation 2000'.
[0215] The second reminder dialog presentation 2000' includes a
reminder header 2004 and a reminder body comprising one or more
reminder prompts 2008A'-C'. As shown in FIG. 20B, the reminder
prompts 2008A'-C' have changed from setting a reminder and adding a
channel or content as a favorite to removing a reminder and channel
or content from a "Favorites" group. In the event that a user
wishes to remove the reminder from particular content, the user may
initiate the second reminder dialog presentation 2000' (as
disclosed above) and select the "remove reminder" prompt from the
appropriate reminder prompt 2008A'. Although FIGS. 20A-B show
exemplary reminder dialog presentations 2000, 2000', it should be
appreciated that the presentation of user prompts 2008A-C,
2008A'-C' can vary in the number of prompts presented as well as
the order in which they are presented.
[0216] FIGS. 21A-D depict embodiments of reminder dialog
notifications in accordance with embodiments of the present
disclosure. In particular, FIGS. 21A-D show various reminder
dialogs that are presented to the display of the Intelligent TV 100
upon receiving a reminder initiation input. The reminder initiation
input may be provided by one or more of, a user, the Live TV
application 452, other applications associated with the Intelligent
TV 100, and/or one or more components of the Intelligent TV 100.
For instance, a reminder may have been set, or programmed, for a
specific program or show that is scheduled to play on Live TV.
[0217] In some embodiments, a reminder may be set for a specific
program. The reminder may notify a user when the specific program
is about to start, regardless of where the user is in the
Intelligent TV 100 system (e.g., on another channel, silo, etc.).
In one embodiment, a reminder may be set and created for a specific
instance of a complete series. For example, if a program is on
every Friday night at 8:00 PM on channel 3, then setting a reminder
for the program may create a reminder that is provided every Friday
at 7:58 PM. Additionally or alternatively, if a program is a single
airing event (such as a movie or TV special), then a reminder may
only be provided for that singular instance. In some embodiments,
if a user changes a channel from a reminder the
[0218] Reminders may be created for one or more parameters
including, but not limited to, program names at program times on a
program channel. The reminder may be stored in a memory and
whenever a program is on that matches the one or more parameters
the reminder may be set. The program logic used to create and/or
set reminders does not require consideration of the day of the week
associated with the one or more parameters. As such, all of the
logical configurations may be covered. For example, reminders may
be set for weekdays only (e.g., a soap opera, talk show, etc.),
every day (e.g., news), twice a week (e.g., variety shows,
competition shows having a competition day and a voting results
day, etc.), once a week (e.g., a situation comedy (sitcom), drama
show, etc.), and even once only (e.g., movie, TV special, etc.).
This configuration may cover scenarios where shows go off the air
for some time period between seasons.
[0219] In any event, a reminder may be associated with an
initiation condition, including but not limited to, a timer, an
input from an EPG, in response to another condition, some other
input, or combinations thereof. Continuing the example, when the
initiation condition is satisfied for the reminder, the reminder
may display to the Intelligent TV 100 in the form of at least one
of the reminder dialog presentations shown in FIGS. 21A-D. In some
cases, the reminder may be displayed within a specific timeframe of
a scheduled program or show. The notifications may be displayed to
the active content area 1408 of the Intelligent TV 100.
Additionally or alternatively, the notifications may be
translucent, or semi-transparent, to allow content from the active
content area 1408 to show through the notifications.
[0220] Among other things, the reminder time bar 2112 may be
configured to display an amount of time that is associated with the
visual presentation of the reminder dialog notification. In other
words, the reminder time bar 2112, may indicate how long a reminder
is expected to be displayed before the reminder notification
disappears. By way of example, the reminder time bar 2112 may be
configured as a progress bar that increases in dimension (e.g.,
length, width, height, combinations thereof, etc.) until the
dimension reaches a specific size, at which point the reminder
notification disappears. In another embodiment, the reminder time
bar 2112 may be arranged as a timed progress bar that decreases in
dimension (e.g., length, width, height, combinations thereof, etc.)
until the progress bar disappears with the notification. The
reminder time bar 2112 that decreases in size may be called a
reverse progress bar. In any event, at the end of a specific period
of time set, or upon reaching a time goal, for a reminder
notification, the notification may be configured to disappear.
[0221] A user may interact with a reminder dialog notification. For
instance, a reminder dialog notification 2104A-D may be configured
with a user interface button 2116. In some cases, the user
interface button 2116 may include a text or graphic that indicates
an associated function with the button 2116. Additionally or
alternatively, it is anticipated that a user may interact with a
content identification bar 2108 and even a preview pane 1908. In
one example, a user may select the content identification bar 2108
associated with a notification. In some cases, this selection may
tune the Intelligent TV 100 to the signal source associated with
the bar 2108. Depending on one or more of the style of reminder
dialog notification 2104A-D, the content associated with the
reminder, user preferences, and Intelligent TV 100 settings, any of
the various reminder dialog notifications may be presented to a
user via the display of the Intelligent TV 100.
[0222] The Live TV application 452 may be configured to receive
multiple reminder notifications at the same time. When multiple
reminder notifications are received at the same time, the reminders
may be queued. In some embodiments, requests to the user interface
of the Intelligent TV 100 are sent one at a time to display the
notification to the user. If the user chooses not to change the
channel associated with the notification, the Live TV application
452 may proceed to process the next reminder notification in
queue.
[0223] FIG. 21A depicts a first reminder dialog notification 2104A
configured with a program preview pane 1908, a content
identification bar 2108, a reminder time bar 2112, and a user
interface button 2116. The reminder dialog notification may be
accompanied by one or more of a time and reminder title in the
header of the notification 2104A. The content identification bar
2108 may include a channel number, identifier, graphic,
description, and the like associated with Live TV content. This
configuration of reminder dialog notification allows for a great
amount of information to be included in the reminder. As can be
appreciated, the size of the first reminder dialog notification
2104A may occupy a substantial portion of the viewing area of the
active content area 1408. It should be appreciated, however, that
the dialog notification may be justified (bottom, left, right, top,
middle, combinations thereof, etc.) to occupy a specific portion of
the Intelligent TV 100 active content area 1408. In some
embodiments, the first reminder dialog notification 2104A may be
presented only at a first time to a user, while subsequent
reminders for the same content may utilize another dialog
notification as disclosed herein.
[0224] FIG. 21B depicts a compact reminder dialog notification
2104B configured with a content identification bar 2108, a reminder
time bar 2112, and a user interface button 2116. Although shown
with a combination of features, the compact reminder dialog
notification 2104B may include more or less features than shown.
For example, an unobtrusive compact reminder dialog notification
may only include the content identification bar 2108 and possibly a
reminder time bar 2112 to use a limited amount of space on the
Intelligent TV 100 display, especially when compared to the first
reminder dialog notification 2104A. As such, the compact
notification 2104B may be displayed to the active content area 1408
of the Intelligent TV 100 to appear smaller than the first reminder
dialog notification 2104A. This compact reminder dialog
notification 2104B may be useful in subsequent reminders or in
reminders for content already observed/acknowledged by a user.
[0225] FIG. 21C depicts a multiple reminder dialog notification
2104C configured with a first content identification bar 2108A, a
second content identification bar 2108B, a reminder time bar 2112,
and a user interface button 2116. Among other things, the multiple
reminder dialog notification 2104C can alert a user of multiple
reminders that were previously set. From the multiple reminder
dialog notification 2104C, a user may navigate between the various
interactive features. For example, a user may at least navigate
between the first content identification bar 2108A and the second
content identification bar 2108B. Continuing this example, a user
may select the first content identification bar 2108A associated
with the multiple reminder dialog notification 2104C. In some
cases, this selection may tune the Intelligent TV 100 to the signal
source associated with the bar 2108. Conversely, the user may
select the second content identification bar 2108B associated with
the multiple reminder dialog notification 2104C. In this case, this
selection may tune the Intelligent TV 100 to the signal source
associated with the second bar 2108B.
[0226] It is anticipated that the multiple reminder dialog
notification 2104C may be used in instances where two or more
reminders are set for Live TV content. In one embodiment, the
maximum number of displayed reminders, or content identification
bars, may be limited to a specific number. For instance, even if
thirty reminders are set for Live TV content on the Intelligent TV
100, and all are about to initiate a reminder dialog, only two
would be presented via the embodiment above. In another embodiment,
however, the number of displayed reminders, or content
identification bars may not be so limited. As such, the
notification 2104C may increase in size to fit the number of
reminders set and configured to alert at the same time.
[0227] FIG. 21D depicts a scrollable multiple reminder dialog
notification 2104D configured with a first content identification
bar 2108A, a second content identification bar 2108B, a third
content notification bar 2108C, a dialog scroll bar 2120, a
reminder time bar 2112, and a user interface button 2116. Among
other things, the scrollable multiple reminder dialog notification
2104C can alert a user of multiple reminders that have been
previously set. From the multiple reminder dialog notification
2104C, a user may navigate between the various interactive
features. For example, a user may at least navigate between the
first content identification bar 2108A, the second content
identification bar 2108B, the third content identification bar
2108C, and more via the dialog scroll bar 2120. Similar to the
previous dialog notifications 2104A-C, a user may select any one of
the content identification bars 2108A-C, even those not presently
visible without movement of the dialog scroll bar 2120, that are
associated with the scrollable multiple reminder dialog
notification 2104D.
[0228] In accordance with some embodiments of the present
disclosure, the application panel 1412 may display content
resulting from a user search when the tab 1620E has the focus, as
illustrated in FIGS. 22A-B. FIGS. 22A-B are the view the user sees
prior to filling in the search terms. Alternatively, or in
addition, a user may enter one or more search terms into the term
box 2204. The results of the search (see FIGS. 23A-23B), either
based on the search terms, or based on the previous search, may
then be displayed to a user using a search panel 1412E, for
example. In some cases, the selection of the search tab 1620E may
be indicated via a select-focus in the form of a highlight, an
underline, a specific font style, an action (e.g., movement of the
search tab 1620E indicator 2240, brightness adjustment, highlight,
spotlight, etc.), combinations thereof, and the like. This
select-focus indication may be associated with the search tab
1620E.
[0229] The search panel 1412E allows the user to search for media
within the EPG for content currently playing on Live TV or content
that will be available within the next 7 days. For example, based
on a search term or terms entered into a search box 2204, content
matching the search term or terms may be returned to a user.
Moreover, as the search panel 1412E is used to navigate through a
search on the Intelligent television 100, the search panel 1412E
itself does not obstruct the user from viewing content displayed on
the screen of the Intelligent TV 100. Prior to searching however, a
search panel, such as search panel 1412E, may first be displayed.
Search panel 1412E may contain a one or more previous search terms
2208 and display each specific search term 2212A-2212N for a user
to navigate to and select. Therefore, if a user decides to select a
previously searched term 2212B based on the previous searches 2208,
search results matching the previously searched term 2212B may be
displayed. The select button on a remote may be used to select a
previous search term. The previous search terms 2212A-N are listed
with most recent searched terms appearing on the top of the list.
The default focus of the search panel 1412E prior to searching is
the first item on the previous search term list 2208. In some
embodiments, the maximum number of previous search terms displayed
is 10.
[0230] The search panel 1412E is vertically scrollable. The
navigation panel bar 1604 is horizontally scrollable and the panel
content area 1608 may be vertically scrollable. The hotkey legend
1612 for the search panel 1412E prior to searching may include a
"Remove" hotkey 1612B, which may be green in some embodiments, to
remove a selected term 2212B from the search history. The hotkey
legend 1612 for the search panel 1412E prior to searching may
include a "Clear All" hotkey 1612A, which may be blue in some
embodiments, to clear all search history. The up and down arrows on
the remote allow the user to scroll vertically through the search
term list 2208. If a previous search term is in focus, pressing the
select key on the remote initiates the search process with the
selected search term and takes the user to the search results.
[0231] The results of the search, either based on the new search
terms or based on a previous search, may then be displayed to a
user using the search panel 1412E, for example, as illustrated in
FIGS. 23A-23B. FIG. 23A may include one or more content areas
embodying the results of the search. The content area may include
associated content, such as an image thumbnail, a series name, a
description of the content, an episode number and the like. The
search results update in real time while the user fills in the
search terms. The search results provide a collection of programs
that are related to the search term. The default focus of the
search panel 1412E showing the search results list 2308 is the
first item on the search result list. Once focus is placed on the a
search result header 2204 that shows a selected search term 2204,
any text input will clear the existing search results and begin
repopulating the search result list 2308 with new results
dynamically. In some embodiments, a maximum of 10 results are
displayed at a time.
[0232] FIG. 23A depicts an embodiment of a search results list 2308
presented via an application panel 1412 of an Intelligent TV 100
showing Live TV. As shown, the select-focus associated with the
application panel navigation bar 1604 is set to the search tab
1620E. In some cases the selection of the search tab 1620E may be
indicated via a select-focus in the form of a highlight, an
underline, a specific font style, an action (e.g., movement of the
search tab 1620E indicator 1740, brightness adjustment, highlight,
spotlight, etc.), combinations thereof, and the like. This
select-focus indication may be associated with the search tab
1620E. Programs or movies that are marked as favorites may be
visually highlighted or comprise a symbol, star, or other icon
within the search results list 2308. Programs or movies that are
currently being recorded or that are already recorded may be
visually highlighted or comprise a circle icon or other icon within
the search results list 2308.
[0233] In some embodiments, the search results list 2308 is a time
based mini EPG, such as the compact EPGs described above. Thus, if
the search results list 2308 is a time based mini EPG, then the
compact EPG will follow all patterns and functionality as the
compact EPG's described above. The content of the compact EPG may
be limited to all airing of one program ordered by time and
covering the next 2 hours. The compact EPG will support normal
vertical scrolling if space requires it.
[0234] The search panel 1412E may also include a hotkey legend 1612
similar to other application panels 1412 displayed via the
Intelligent TV 100. As previously discussed, the hotkeys provided
in the hotkey legend 1612 may be customized to facilitate shortcut
navigation and/or special features associated with the Intelligent
TV 100 and/or the application panel 1412. For instance, the hotkeys
may be context sensitive to a particular application panel 1412
displayed. As shown in FIGS. 23A-B, the hotkey legend 1612 may
include Remind, Remove, Favorite, and other actions associated with
one or more hotkeys. The Remind hotkey may be green and may toggle
a reminder on or off for the selected program, i.e., the program
highlighted or in focus in the search results list 2308. In one
embodiment, the Favorite hotkey may correspond to a shortcut
marking or unmarking a series, program, show, or channel as a
favorite. The Favorite hotkey may provide a modal with two choices:
(1) "Add [Show Name] to Favorites"; or (2) "Add [Channel #] to
Favorite Channels." If the item is already a favorite then the
message would be "Remove from" instead of "Add ______ to." The
hotkey legend 1612 may also include a Page Up hotkey and/or a Page
Down hotkey to allow the user to navigate the search results list
2308. The hotkeys may be associated, or mapped, to one or more
inputs of a remote control or other input device.
[0235] The application panel 1412 includes a search result header
2204 and shows the selected search term 2204. The search result
header 2204 may be used to alter the format of a displayed search
results list 2308. For instance, the search result header 2204
shows "Chris North" in FIG. 23B and is a button the user can select
to return to the search results list 2308. A user may select the
search result header 2204 to change, remove, create, or select
results that the search results list 2308 will display. In this
example, the chosen search results list 2308 is shown by channel
number on the left-hand side of the search results list 2308. In
some embodiments, a user may select the search result header 2204
to modify the presentation of the search results list 2308 in the
application panel 1412. Upon selecting the search result header
1804, the user may be presented with a number of search results
list 2308 layout options. One example of such a presentation layout
option may include displaying the search results list 2308 in a
"Time-Based" result presentation, the search results list 2308 may
be arranged by time (as opposed to channel number, as previously
discussed above). Thus, results that are currently on air may be
arranged at the top of the list and have text or an icon indicating
that the content with the search result is "On Now." Other
variations and presentation layouts regarding categories, as
disclosed above, may be made to the search results list 2308.
[0236] The search results list 2308 may be configured to present
one or more programs for each channel in a list format. A program
in the search results list 2308 may include a text, graphic, and/or
combination thereof identifier. In some embodiments, the search
results list 2308 may be configured to display a specific number of
lines, rows, programs, and/or information. The identifier may be
used to identify the program to a user of the Intelligent TV 100.
Although shown with a finite number of rows displayed via the list
of the search results list 2308, it is anticipated that other
channels may be caused to display to the search results list 2308
given a user provided input. For instance, a user may scroll to
another line, or page, on the list, by using a remote control or
other input device. Thus, the search results list 2308 may be
vertically scrollable. As another example, a user may navigate
through channels in the search results list 2308 by providing a
directional input (e.g., via arrow keys, channel up/down buttons,
etc.) from a remote control or other input device. If a program is
currently on the air, then the user may select that program and the
categories panel 1412C will be dismissed and the Intelligent TV 100
will switch the channel to the selected channel.
[0237] The search results are reset to the prior search terms
screen when one of the following happens: (1) the user exits the
Live TV silo; (2) the user turns off the Intelligent TV 100; or (3)
a certain amount of time (e.g., 5 minutes) passes from the time of
the search.
[0238] In embodiments where the search results list 2308 is
displayed as a search result EPG (i.e., a compact EPG), the
application panel 1412 may also include a program preview pane 1908
that may include a program thumbnail graphic 1930, an identifier,
description, times, episode number, episode name, and other
information associated with the channel and/or the program. The
program preview pane 1908 may change to display new information as
time passes or as a user navigates through selected channels,
programs, or rows in the search results list or EPG 2308. In some
embodiments, the Intelligent TV 100 may select EPG content
information to display via the program preview pane 1908. This
selection may be based on stored rules. In some cases, the program
preview pane 1908 may be configured to display information
associated with the first result on the search results EPG 2308, as
a default. The program preview pane 1908 may be visible at all
times while the search results EPG 2308 is in view. The program
preview pane 1908 cannot receive focus.
[0239] FIG. 24 shows a flow diagram depicting a categories panel
presentation method 2400 in accordance with embodiments of the
present disclosure. The method 2400 begins at step 2404 and
proceeds by recognizing a select-focus and/or selected content via
the application panel 1412 (step 2408). In some embodiments, the
select-focus may correspond to a position of a user's cursor, or
indicator 1740, on the application panel 1412. A select-focus may
include a default focus associated with one or more of the fixed
tab regions 1604. The select-focus may be moved via a user input
from a remote control or other input device. One example of moving
or shifting the select-focus may include providing a directional
input via a remote control. Selected content may be recognized via
an input provided in association with a selection-focus.
Additionally or alternatively, selected content may be recognized
by detecting an input that is independent of a selection-focus. For
example, although an indicator 1740 may be associated with a
portion of the application panel 1412, a user may provide an input
corresponding to a different portion of the application panel 1412.
In this example, a user may select a program hotkey, provide a
directional input (e.g., up, down, left, right, angles, and
combinations thereof), a swipe input, and/or a hold input to select
content.
[0240] If the select-focus is associated with a categories tab
region 1620C, the method 2400 continues by receiving an input to
initiate the categories presentation via the application panel 1412
(step 2412). The input may be provided by a user via a remote
control or other input device. In some embodiments, the
user-provided input may be a selection input based on a
corresponding position of a select-focus associated with the
navigation bar 1604. In other embodiments, a categories input may
be provided via a categories button associated with a remote
control or other input device. In this case, a select-focus may not
be required to display category content via the Live TV application
panel 1412. Additionally or alternatively, the input may be
provided via the Intelligent TV 100 in response to a condition. For
example, a timer may be configured to change Live TV channels on
the Intelligent TV 100 at a given time. Once the channel is
changed, the categories tab 1620C may be automatically selected and
categories may be shown via the application panel 1412. This
automatic selection and presentation may be provided by one or more
of the components associated with the Intelligent TV 100. As can be
appreciated, rules and/or preferences may be used to determine the
automatic selection and/or presentation of categories via the
categories tab 1620C and the application panel 1412.
[0241] Upon receiving an input to initiate the categories
presentation via the application panel 1412, the method 2400
continues by determining the presentation of categories based at
least partially on the selection (step 2416). The presentation of
categories may include, but is not limited to, a list of
categories, the number of results/matches for each category,
layout, a graphical representation, selected fields, descriptions,
a mini EPG, program times, favorites, and the like. As such,
certain presentations of categories may be governed by the content
related to the selection input. In one example, a selection input
may be provided to show categories relating to broadcast content
playing via Live TV in the active content area 1408. Continuing
this example, if a movie is playing in the active content area
1408, the categories presentation selected for the application
panel 1412 may include a list of movie categories, the number of
movie matches for each movie category, layout, a graphical
representation, selected fields, descriptions, movie times,
favorite icons, and more. On the other hand, if a radio station
program is playing in the active content area 1408, the categories
presentation selected for display in the application panel 1412 may
include the a list of radio categories, the number of station
matches for each radio category, layout, a graphical
representation, selected fields, descriptions, favorite icons,
radio station program channel number, a default image, etc. In some
embodiments, a size of the active content area 1408 may include the
total viewable area of the Intelligent TV 100 display.
[0242] The method 2400 continues by retrieving the categories
presentation content from at least one source (step 2420). For
instance, if the categories presentation content includes a list of
categories with content currently playing on Live TV, the
Intelligent TV 100 may retrieve this categories list from at least
one broadcast signal. Typically, such programming categories may be
included in the data accompanying a broadcast signal. Additionally
or alternatively, if the categories presentation content includes
"recommended" or "favorite" content, the Intelligent TV 100 may
refer to a memory where such content may be stored. In one
embodiment, the memory may be associated with the hardware of the
Intelligent TV 100. In some cases, this content may be stored in a
memory remote from the Intelligent TV 100, in which case, the
Intelligent TV 100 and its various components may be caused to
communicate across a network to retrieve the content. Among other
things, the content retrieved across the network may include, but
is in no way limited to, programming information, thumbnail
graphics, EPGs, categories, etc. One example of the network may
include, but is not limited to, the Internet.
[0243] Next, the Intelligent TV 100 may present the categories
presentation content via the Live TV application 452 and
application panel 1412 (step 2424). As disclosed herein, the
presentation may include a visual, audible, and/or combination
presentation via the Live TV application 452. In some embodiments,
the presentation of categories may be associated within the
application panel 1412 alone. The presentation of categories may
include, but is not limited to, a layout, a graphical
representation, selected fields, descriptions, and the like. In any
event, the presentation layout is displayed to the Intelligent TV
100 as determined in step 2416. This presentation of categories may
include any of the layouts shown in the application panels 1412 of
the appended figures. Additionally or alternatively, the
presentation of categories, and even the application panel 1412,
may be at least partially transparent. In some embodiments, the
content presented to the active content area may be at least
partially visible beneath, or through, the Live TV application
panel 1412 and even the categories presentation content that is
presented via the application panel 1412. In one embodiment, the
size of the active content area is maintained upon presenting the
categories presentation content via the application panel 1412. For
example, the application panel 1412 in some instances does not
affect the size of the displayed active content. The method 2400
ends at step 2428.
[0244] FIG. 25 shows a flow diagram depicting a favorites panel
presentation method 2500 in accordance with embodiments of the
present disclosure. The method 2500 begins at step 2604 and
proceeds by recognizing a select-focus and/or selected content via
the application panel 1412 (step 2508). In some embodiments, the
select-focus may correspond to a position of a user's cursor, or
indicator 1740, on the application panel 1412. A select-focus may
include a default focus associated with one or more of the fixed
tab regions 1604. The select-focus may be moved via a user input
from a remote control or other input device. One example of moving
or shifting the select-focus may include providing a directional
input via a remote control. Selected content may be recognized via
an input provided in association with a selection-focus.
Additionally or alternatively, selected content may be recognized
by detecting an input that is independent of a selection-focus. For
example, although an indicator 1740 may be associated with a
portion of the application panel 1412, a user may provide an input
corresponding to a different portion of the application panel 1412.
In this example, a user may select a program hotkey, provide a
directional input (e.g., up, down, left, right, angles, and
combinations thereof), a swipe input, and/or a hold input to select
content.
[0245] If the select-focus is associated with a favorites tab
region 1620D, the method 2500 continues by receiving an input to
initiate the favorites presentation via the application panel 1412
(step 2512). The input may be provided by a user via a remote
control or other input device. In some embodiments, the
user-provided input may be a selection input based on a
corresponding position of a select-focus associated with the
navigation bar 1604. In other embodiments, a favorites input may be
provided via a favorites button associated with a remote control or
other input device. In this case, a select-focus may not be
required to display category content via the Live TV application
panel 1412. Additionally or alternatively, the input may be
provided via the Intelligent TV 100 in response to a condition. For
example, a timer may be configured to change Live TV channels on
the Intelligent TV 100 at a given time. Once the channel is
changed, the favorites tab 1620D may be automatically selected and
favorites may be shown via the application panel 1412. This
automatic selection and presentation may be provided by one or more
of the components associated with the Intelligent TV 100. As can be
appreciated, rules and/or preferences may be used to determine the
automatic selection and/or presentation of favorites via the
favorites tab 1620D and the application panel 1412.
[0246] Upon receiving an input to initiate the favorites
presentation via the application panel 1412, the method 2500
continues by determining the presentation of favorites based at
least partially on the selection (step 2516). The presentation of
favorites may include, but is not limited to, a list of favorite
programs and channels, layout, a graphical representation, selected
fields, thumbnails, images, descriptions, a mini EPG, program
times, favorite icons, and the like. As such, certain presentations
of favorites may be governed by the content related to the
selection input. In one example, a selection input may be provided
to show favorites relating to broadcast content playing via Live TV
in the active content area 1408. Continuing this example, if a
movie is playing in the active content area 1408, the favorites
presentation selected for the application panel 1412 may include a
list of movies marked as favorites, the time each movie favorite is
playing, layout, a graphical representation, selected fields,
descriptions, movie times, favorite icons, and more. On the other
hand, if a radio station program is playing in the active content
area 1408, the favorites presentation selected for display in the
application panel 1412 may include the a list of radio favorites,
layout, a graphical representation, selected fields, descriptions,
favorite icons, radio station program channel number, a default
image, etc. In some embodiments, a size of the active content area
1408 may include the total viewable area of the Intelligent TV 100
display.
[0247] The method 2500 continues by retrieving the favorites
presentation content from at least one source (step 2520). For
instance, if the favorites presentation content includes a list of
favorite programs and/or favorite channels currently playing on
Live TV, the Intelligent TV 100 may retrieve this list of favorites
currently playing from at least one broadcast signal. Additionally,
because the favorites presentation content includes "favorite"
content, the Intelligent TV 100 may refer to a memory where such
content may be stored. In one embodiment, the memory may be
associated with the hardware of the Intelligent TV 100. In some
cases, this content may be stored in a memory remote from the
Intelligent TV 100, in which case, the Intelligent TV 100 and its
various components may be caused to communicate across a network to
retrieve the content. Among other things, the content retrieved
across the network may include, but is in no way limited to,
programming information, thumbnail graphics, EPGs, categories, etc.
One example of the network may include, but is not limited to, the
Internet.
[0248] Next, the Intelligent TV 100 may present the favorites
presentation content via the Live TV application 452 and
application panel 1412 (step 2524). As disclosed herein, the
presentation may include a visual, audible, and/or combination
presentation via the Live TV application 452. In some embodiments,
the presentation of favorites may be associated within the
application panel 1412 alone. The presentation of favorites may
include, but is not limited to, a layout, a graphical
representation, selected fields, descriptions, favorite icons
(e.g., stars) and the like. In any event, the presentation layout
is displayed to the Intelligent TV 100 as determined in step 2516.
This presentation of favorites may include any of the layouts shown
in the application panels 1412 of the appended figures.
Additionally or alternatively, the presentation of favorites, and
even the application panel 1412, may be at least partially
transparent. In some embodiments, the content presented to the
active content area may be at least partially visible beneath, or
through, the Live TV application panel 1412 and even the favorites
presentation content that is presented via the application panel
1412. In one embodiment, the size of the active content area is
maintained upon presenting the favorites presentation content via
the application panel 1412. For example, the application panel 1412
in some instances does not affect the size of the displayed active
content. The method 2500 ends at step 2528.
[0249] FIG. 26 shows a flow diagram depicting a search panel
presentation method 2600 in accordance with embodiments of the
present disclosure. The method 2600 begins at step 2604 and
proceeds by recognizing a select-focus and/or selected content via
the application panel 1412 (step 2608). In some embodiments, the
select-focus may correspond to a position of a user's cursor, or
indicator 1740, on the application panel 1412. A select-focus may
include a default focus associated with one or more of the fixed
tab regions 1604. The select-focus may be moved via a user input
from a remote control or other input device. One example of moving
or shifting the select-focus may include providing a directional
input via a remote control. Selected content may be recognized via
an input provided in association with a selection-focus.
Additionally or alternatively, selected content may be recognized
by detecting an input that is independent of a selection-focus. For
example, although an indicator 1740 may be associated with a
portion of the application panel 1412, a user may provide an input
corresponding to a different portion of the application panel 1412.
In this example, a user may select a program hotkey, provide a
directional input (e.g., up, down, left, right, angles, and
combinations thereof), a swipe input, and/or a hold input to select
content.
[0250] If the select-focus is associated with a search tab region
1620E, the method 2600 continues by receiving an input to initiate
the search presentation via the application panel 1412 (step 2612).
The input may be provided by a user via a remote control or other
input device. In some embodiments, the user-provided input may be a
selection input based on a corresponding position of a select-focus
associated with the navigation bar 1604. In other embodiments, a
search input may be provided via a search button associated with a
remote control or other input device. In this case, a select-focus
may not be required to display category content via the Live TV
application panel 1412. Additionally or alternatively, the input
may be provided via the Intelligent TV 100 in response to a
condition. For example, a timer may be configured to change Live TV
channels on the Intelligent TV 100 at a given time. Once the
channel is changed, the search tab 1620E may be automatically
selected and the search panel 1620E may be shown via the
application panel 1412. This automatic selection and presentation
may be provided by one or more of the components associated with
the Intelligent TV 100. As can be appreciated, rules and/or
preferences may be used to determine the automatic selection and/or
presentation of search terms and results via the search tab 1620D
and the application panel 1412.
[0251] Upon receiving an input to initiate the search presentation
via the application panel 1412, the method 2600 continues by
determining the presentation of search information prior to the
user initiating the search based at least partially on the
selection (step 2616). The presentation of pre-search information
may include, but is not limited to, a list of previous search
terms, the time or date of the previous searches, a new search
term, space for a user to input a search term, layout, a graphical
representation, selected fields, thumbnails, images, and the like.
As such, certain presentations of search terms may be governed by
the content related to the selection input. In one example, a
selection input may be provided to show previous search terms
relating to broadcast content playing via Live TV in the active
content area 1408. In some embodiments, a size of the active
content area 1408 may include the total viewable area of the
Intelligent TV 100 display.
[0252] The method 2600 continues by retrieving the pre-search
presentation content from at least one source (step 2620). For
instance, if the search presentation content prior to the search
includes a list of previously searched terms, the Intelligent TV
100 may retrieve this list of search terms with content currently
playing on Live TV from at least one broadcast signal.
Additionally, because the search presentation content includes
previous search term content, the Intelligent TV 100 may refer to a
memory where such content may be stored. In one embodiment, the
memory may be associated with the hardware of the Intelligent TV
100. In some cases, this content may be stored in a memory remote
from the Intelligent TV 100, in which case, the Intelligent TV 100
and its various components may be caused to communicate across a
network to retrieve the content. One example of the network may
include, but is not limited to, the Internet.
[0253] Next, the Intelligent TV 100 may present the pre-search
presentation content via the Live TV application 452 and
application panel 1412 (step 2624). As disclosed herein, the
presentation may include a visual, audible, and/or combination
presentation via the Live TV application 452. In some embodiments,
the presentation of previous and current search terms may be
associated within the application panel 1412 alone. The
presentation of previous and current search terms may include, but
is not limited to, a layout, a graphical representation, selected
fields, and the like. In any event, the presentation layout is
displayed to the Intelligent TV 100 as determined in step 2616.
This presentation of the search content prior to the search may
include any of the layouts shown in the application panels 1412 of
the appended figures. Additionally or alternatively, the
presentation of the search content prior to the search, and even
the application panel 1412, may be at least partially transparent.
In some embodiments, the content presented to the active content
area may be at least partially visible beneath, or through, the
Live TV application panel 1412 and even the pre-search presentation
content that is presented via the application panel 1412. In one
embodiment, the size of the active content area is maintained upon
presenting the search presentation content via the application
panel 1412. For example, the application panel 1412 in some
instances does not affect the size of the displayed active
content.
[0254] The method 2600 continues by receiving an input to initiate
a search for a specific search term via the application panel 1412
(step 2628). The input may be provided by a user via a remote
control or other input device. In some embodiments, the
user-provided input may be a selection input based on a
corresponding position of a select-focus associated with the search
panel 1620E.
[0255] Upon receiving an input to initiate the search, the method
2600 continues by initiating the search by searching for content
with the search terms (2632). Next, the method 2600 returns a list
of content with search terms in the search results presentation via
the Live TV application panel 1412 (step 2636).
[0256] Next, the method continues by presenting the search result
content and search result presentation via the Live TV application
panel 1412 (step 2640). The presentation of search result
information may include, but is not limited to, a list of programs
and channels, layout, a graphical representation, selected fields,
thumbnails, images, descriptions, a mini EPG, program times,
favorite icons, and the like. As such, certain presentations of
search results may be governed by the content related to the
selection input. In one example, a selection input may be provided
to show search results relating to broadcast content playing via
Live TV in the active content area 1408. Continuing this example,
if a movie is playing in the active content area 1408, the search
presentation selected for the application panel 1412 may include a
list of movies matching the search terms, the time each movie
result is playing, layout, a graphical representation, selected
fields, descriptions, movie length times, favorite icons, and more.
In some embodiments, a size of the active content area 1408 may
include the total viewable area of the Intelligent TV 100
display.
[0257] The method 2600 continues by retrieving the search results
presentation content from at least one source (step 2640). For
instance, if the search results presentation content includes a
list of programs currently playing on Live TV, the Intelligent TV
100 may retrieve this list of programs currently playing from at
least one broadcast signal. Additionally, because the search
presentation content may include "favorite" content, the
Intelligent TV 100 may refer to a memory where such content may be
stored. In one embodiment, the memory may be associated with the
hardware of the Intelligent TV 100. In some cases, this content may
be stored in a memory remote from the Intelligent TV 100, in which
case, the Intelligent TV 100 and its various components may be
caused to communicate across a network to retrieve the content.
Among other things, the content retrieved across the network may
include, but is in no way limited to, programming information,
thumbnail graphics, EPGs, categories, etc. One example of the
network may include, but is not limited to, the Internet.
[0258] Next, the Intelligent TV 100 may present the search result
presentation content via the Live TV application 452 and
application panel 1412 (step 2644). As disclosed herein, the
presentation may include a visual, audible, and/or combination
presentation via the Live TV application 452. In some embodiments,
the presentation of search results may be associated within the
application panel 1412 alone. The presentation of search results
may include, but is not limited to, a layout, a graphical
representation, selected fields, descriptions, favorite icons
(e.g., stars) and the like. In any event, the presentation layout
is displayed to the Intelligent TV 100 as determined in step 2616.
This presentation of search results may include any of the layouts
shown in the application panels 1412 of the appended figures.
Additionally or alternatively, the presentation of search results,
and even the application panel 1412, may be at least partially
transparent. In some embodiments, the content presented to the
active content area may be at least partially visible beneath, or
through, the Live TV application panel 1412 and even the search
presentation content that is presented via the application panel
1412. In one embodiment, the size of the active content area is
maintained upon presenting the search presentation content via the
application panel 1412. For example, the application panel 1412 in
some instances does not affect the size of the displayed active
content. The method 2600 ends at step 2648.
[0259] FIG. 27 shows a flow diagram of a Live TV presentation
method 2700 in accordance with embodiments of the present
disclosure. The method 2700 begins at step 2704 and proceeds by
running a Live TV application 452 via the Intelligent TV 100 (step
2708). While the Live TV application 452 is running (e.g., via a
processor associated with the Intelligent TV 100), the Intelligent
TV 100 may simultaneously present Live TV broadcast content (step
2712). In one embodiment, the Live TV application 452 may be
configured to run on top of Live TV content. For instance, the
Intelligent TV 100 may be displaying Live TV content via a display
of the Intelligent TV 100. The Live TV content may be displayed, or
presented, to a first portion of the Intelligent TV 100. In some
embodiments, the first portion of the Intelligent TV 100 may be
equivalent to an area of the display of the Intelligent TV 100 that
is greater than 50% of the total area of the display.
[0260] Next, the method 2700 continues by receiving an input that
initiates a feature of the Live TV application 452 (step 2716).
This Live TV application input may be provided by at least one of,
a user, an input device, automatically in response to a condition,
combinations thereof and the like. In some cases, the input may be
provided via a user operating the input device associated with the
Intelligent TV 100. A typical input device associated with the
Intelligent TV 100 may include a remote control. The remote control
may be a dedicated device, a tablet, a smart phone, or other device
configured to run a remote control application that is capable of
communicating with the Intelligent TV 100.
[0261] A Live TV application feature may then be determined based
at least partially on the received input (step 2720). In some
embodiments, the Live TV application feature may be determined
based on the input and rules stored in a memory associated with the
Intelligent TV 100. Once the Live TV application feature is
determined, the feature may be presented to the display of the
Intelligent TV 100 (step 2724). In one embodiment, the presentation
of the Live TV application feature may include displaying, or
presenting, the feature to a second portion of the display of the
Intelligent TV 100. The second portion of the display may be
configured to overlap at least a portion of the first portion of
the display. Additionally or alternatively, the second portion may
include at least a partial transparency or translucency. This
partial transparency may allow content from the first portion to be
visible through the second portion. For example, while Live TV
content continues to display to the Intelligent TV, the Live TV
application may run simultaneously with the displayed Live TV
content. Among other things, the simultaneous playing of Live TV
content and Live TV application functionality can allow a user
access to interactive Live TV application functions without
interrupting Live TV content displayed by the Intelligent TV 100.
In some cases the Live TV application feature and any associated
content may include, but is not limited to, a presentation that is
at least partially transparent, at least partially opaque, and
combinations thereof. The method 2700 ends at step 2728.
[0262] The exemplary systems and methods of this disclosure have
been described in relation to televisions and associated devices.
However, to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present disclosure,
the preceding description omits a number of known structures and
devices. This omission is not to be construed as a limitation of
the scopes of the claims. Specific details are set forth to provide
an understanding of the present disclosure. It should however be
appreciated that the present disclosure may be practiced in a
variety of ways beyond the specific detail set forth herein.
[0263] Furthermore, while the exemplary aspects, embodiments,
and/or configurations illustrated herein show the various
components of the system collocated, certain components of the
system can be located remotely, at distant portions of a
distributed network, such as a LAN and/or the Internet, or within a
dedicated system. Thus, it should be appreciated, that the
components of the system can be combined into one or more devices,
such as a television, or collocated on a particular node of a
distributed network, such as an analog and/or digital
telecommunications network, a packet-switch network, or a
circuit-switched network. It will be appreciated from the preceding
description, and for reasons of computational efficiency, that the
components of the system can be arranged at any location within a
distributed network of components without affecting the operation
of the system. For example, the various components can be located
in a switch such as a PBX and media server, gateway, in one or more
communications devices, at one or more users' premises, or some
combination thereof. Similarly, one or more functional portions of
the system could be distributed between a telecommunications
device(s) and an associated computing device.
[0264] Furthermore, it should be appreciated that the various links
connecting the elements can be wired or wireless links, or any
combination thereof, or any other known or later developed
element(s) that is capable of supplying and/or communicating data
to and from the connected elements. These wired or wireless links
can also be secure links and may be capable of communicating
encrypted information. Transmission media used as links, for
example, can be any suitable carrier for electrical signals,
including coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, and may
take the form of acoustic or light waves, such as those generated
during radio-wave and infra-red data communications.
[0265] Also, while the flowcharts have been discussed and
illustrated in relation to a particular sequence of events, it
should be appreciated that changes, additions, and omissions to
this sequence can occur without materially affecting the operation
of the disclosed embodiments, configuration, and aspects.
[0266] A number of variations and modifications of the disclosure
can be used. It would be possible to provide for some features of
the disclosure without providing others.
[0267] In yet another embodiment, the systems and methods of this
disclosure can be implemented in conjunction with a special purpose
computer, a programmed microprocessor or microcontroller and
peripheral integrated circuit element(s), an ASIC or other
integrated circuit, a digital signal processor, a hard-wired
electronic or logic circuit such as discrete element circuit, a
programmable logic device or gate array such as PLD, PLA, FPGA,
PAL, special purpose computer, any comparable means, or the like.
In general, any device(s) or means capable of implementing the
methodology illustrated herein can be used to implement the various
aspects of this disclosure. Exemplary hardware that can be used for
the disclosed embodiments, configurations and aspects includes
computers, handheld devices, telephones (e.g., cellular, Internet
enabled, digital, analog, hybrids, and others), and other hardware
known in the art. Some of these devices include processors (e.g., a
single or multiple microprocessors), memory, nonvolatile storage,
input devices, and output devices. Furthermore, alternative
software implementations including, but not limited to, distributed
processing or component/object distributed processing, parallel
processing, or virtual machine processing can also be constructed
to implement the methods described herein.
[0268] In yet another embodiment, the disclosed methods may be
readily implemented in conjunction with software using object or
object-oriented software development environments that provide
portable source code that can be used on a variety of computer or
workstation platforms. Alternatively, the disclosed system may be
implemented partially or fully in hardware using standard logic
circuits or VLSI design. Whether software or hardware is used to
implement the systems in accordance with this disclosure is
dependent on the speed and/or efficiency requirements of the
system, the particular function, and the particular software or
hardware systems or microprocessor or microcomputer systems being
utilized.
[0269] In yet another embodiment, the disclosed methods may be
partially implemented in software that can be stored on a storage
medium, executed on programmed general-purpose computer with the
cooperation of a controller and memory, a special purpose computer,
a microprocessor, or the like. In these instances, the systems and
methods of this disclosure can be implemented as program embedded
on personal computer such as an applet, JAVA.RTM., or CGI script,
as a resource residing on a server or computer workstation, as a
routine embedded in a dedicated measurement system, system
component, or the like. The system can also be implemented by
physically incorporating the system and/or method into a software
and/or hardware system.
[0270] Although the present disclosure describes components and
functions implemented in the aspects, embodiments, and/or
configurations with reference to particular standards and
protocols, the aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations are not
limited to such standards and protocols. Other similar standards
and protocols not mentioned herein are in existence and are
considered to be included in the present disclosure. Moreover, the
standards and protocols mentioned herein and other similar
standards and protocols not mentioned herein are periodically
superseded by faster or more effective equivalents having
essentially the same functions. Such replacement standards and
protocols having the same functions are considered equivalents
included in the present disclosure.
[0271] The present disclosure, in various aspects, embodiments,
and/or configurations, includes components, methods, processes,
systems and/or apparatus substantially as depicted and described
herein, including various aspects, embodiments, configurations
embodiments, subcombinations, and/or subsets thereof. Those of
skill in the art will understand how to make and use the disclosed
aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations after understanding the
present disclosure. The present disclosure, in various aspects,
embodiments, and/or configurations, includes providing devices and
processes in the absence of items not depicted and/or described
herein or in various aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations
hereof, including in the absence of such items as may have been
used in previous devices or processes, e.g., for improving
performance, achieving ease and\or reducing cost of
implementation.
[0272] The foregoing discussion has been presented for purposes of
illustration and description. The foregoing is not intended to
limit the disclosure to the form or forms disclosed herein. In the
foregoing Detailed Description for example, various features of the
disclosure are grouped together in one or more aspects,
embodiments, and/or configurations for the purpose of streamlining
the disclosure. The features of the aspects, embodiments, and/or
configurations of the disclosure may be combined in alternate
aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations other than those
discussed above. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted
as reflecting an intention that the claims require more features
than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following
claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of
a single foregoing disclosed aspect, embodiment, and/or
configuration. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated
into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own
as a separate preferred embodiment of the disclosure.
[0273] Moreover, though the description has included description of
one or more aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations and certain
variations and modifications, other variations, combinations, and
modifications are within the scope of the disclosure, e.g., as may
be within the skill and knowledge of those in the art, after
understanding the present disclosure. It is intended to obtain
rights which include alternative aspects, embodiments, and/or
configurations to the extent permitted, including alternate,
interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or
steps to those claimed, whether or not such alternate,
interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or
steps are disclosed herein, and without intending to publicly
dedicate any patentable subject matter.
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