Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-31
2003-04-29
Heckler, Thomas M. (Department: 2185)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
active
06556221
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of consumer electronic devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods and systems for providing user interfaces for networked electronic devices including remote devices.
2. Related Art
The typical home entertainment system today consists of a variety of different consumer electronic devices which present and record audio/visual media in different ways. In the field of media devices, there is a spectrum of features for products of a given class (VCRs, video camera, etc.). Most of the features are represented by physical controls or elements on a control panel on the device which can be manipulated by a human user.
Recently, a class of consumer electronic media devices has been introduced that can be networked together using a standard communication protocol layer (e.g., IEEE 1394 communication standard). The IEEE 1394 standard is an international standard for implementing an inexpensive high-speed serial bus architecture which supports both asynchronous and isochronous format data transfers. The IEEE 1394 standard provides a high-speed serial bus for interconnecting digital devices thereby providing universal input/output connection. The IEEE 1394 standard defines a digital interface for applications thereby eliminating the need for an application to covert digital data to an analog form before it is transmitted across the bus. Correspondingly, a receiving application will receive digital data from the bus, not analog data and will therefore not be required to convert analog data to digital form. The IEEE 1394 is ideal for consumer electronics communication in part because devices can be added to or removed from the serial bus while the bus is active. If a device is so added or removed, the bus automatically reconfigures itself for transmitting data between the then existing devices. Each device on the bus is a “node” and contains its own address space.
The provision of the IEEE 1394 serial communication bus for networking consumer electronic devices has introduced a powerful new platform on which device functionality and inter-operability can be built. For instance, in such a system, complex operations involving media transfers, media recordings and media presentation can be performed that involve two or more devices acting in concert. However, interaction between these devices can be complex, error prone and laborious if it is required that each device be directly touched in order to properly configure the desired operation. The problems associated with properly configuring the media operation can be exacerbated if one or more of the devices are remotely located and/or need constant attention and or adjustment. What is needed is an effective mechanism for interfacing with networked consumer electronic devices to facilitate media operations between two or more devices.
In addition, it is often desired to provide remote control access to the features performed by a consumer electronic device so that these devices can be accessed from a central location within a home or office. However, not all consumer electronic devices are able to provide a sophisticated display system for remote interaction, e.g., some devices offer only a small liquid crystal display (LCD) or a small collection of light emitting diodes (LEDs) as display devices. What is needed is a mechanism for interfacing remotely with devices that provides a sophisticated level of user interaction for many devices. What is needed further is a mechanism for interfacing with electronic devices that is flexible and can adapt to new devices and device types within the consumer electronics market.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
Accordingly, the present invention provides an effective mechanism for interfacing with networked consumer electronic devices to facilitate media operations between two ore more devices. The present invention also provides a mechanism for enabling the realization of complicated graphical user interfaces (GUIs), e.g., electronic programming guide (EPG), in a controller device. In addition, the present invention provides a mechanism whereby the target device can enforce certain “look-and-feel” of the graphical user interface displayed by the controller device. Specifically, the present invention provides a number of extended elements and mechanisms for panel subunit for accomplishing these goals.
Table GUI Element
The present invention also provides, in one embodiment, a table GUI element descriptor that defines a table-like on-screen display to be displayed on the controller device. Significantly, the table GUI element descriptor of the present embodiment enables the target device to enforce a particular arrangement of GUI elements displayed by the controller. In addition, the table GUI element descriptor of the present embodiment allows the target device to indicate particular cells of a large table to be displayed. In this way, controller devices with limited capabilities and memory capacities can be used to display a large amount of information one page at a time. The table GUI element descriptor of the present invention further defines the layout of the table, i.e., the size, the number of columns and rows to be displayed, etc.
Embodiments of the present invention also include a method for realizing complex graphical user interface (GUI) in a network having a controller device and a target device. The method includes the steps of: (1) the controller device receiving a table GUI element descriptor from the target device, wherein the table GUI element descriptor defines a matrix that includes vertically and horizontally aligned information, and wherein the table GUI element descriptor further defines an on-screen display for displaying a portion of the matrix; and (2) the controller device displaying the on-screen display according to the table GUI element descriptor.
Focused Bitmap
The present invention provides, in another embodiment, a button GUI element descriptor that defines the appearance of a button element when displayed by a controller. Significantly, the button GUI element descriptor defines one bitmap to be displayed when the button element is out of focus and another bitmap to be displayed when the button element is in focus. In this way, the target would be able to control the focused design of the button.
Embodiments of the present invention include a method for realizing complex graphical user interface (GUI) in a system having a controller device and a target device. The method includes the steps of: (1) the controller device receiving a button GUI element descriptor from the target device, wherein the button GUI element descriptor defines a button element to be displayed and wherein the button GUI element descriptor further defines a first bitmap image to be displayed when the button element is out of focus and a second bitmap image to be displayed when the button element is in focus; and (2) the controller device displaying said button element as part of an on-screen display, wherein the controller device displays the first bitmap image when the button element is out of focus and wherein the controller device displays the second bitmap image when the button element is in focus.
Default Focus
Another embodiment of the present invention provides a panel GUI element descriptor that includes a focused identifier attribute indicating a pre-determined element of the on-screen display as default focus. In this way, the target device would be able to control the default focus of the controller device when displaying an on-screen display.
Embodiments of the present invention include a method for realizing complex graphical user interface (GUI) in a network having a controller device and a target device. The method includes the steps of: (1) the controller device receiving a panel GUI element descriptor from the target device, wherein the panel GUI element descriptor defines an on-screen display that includes a plurality of elements, and wherein the panel GUI element descriptor
Nishimura Takuya
Shima Hisato
Suzuki Atsushi
Heckler Thomas M.
Wagner , Murabito & Hao LLP
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