Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Generic control system – apparatus or process – Having operator control interface
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-31
2001-09-25
Heckler, Thomas M. (Department: 2182)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Generic control system, apparatus or process
Having operator control interface
Reexamination Certificate
active
06295479
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. Relate 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 facilitating 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.
Focus In/Out User Actions
The present invention defines, in one embodiment, a focus in user action and a focus out user action for panel subunit. When a controller device receives a focus navigation command and shifts its focus to a particular button of the panel subunit, the controller device will send a “focus in” user action together with the button's button identifier to the target device. The controller device may also send the “focus out” user action to the target device to indicate that that none of the buttons of the panel subunit are selected. When the target device receives the focus in/out user actions and the button identifier, the target device will be able to update the GUI appropriately.
Embodiments of the present invention include the above and further include a method for realizing complex graphical user interface (GUI) in a network having a controller device and a target device. In that embodiment, the controller device first receives a panel GUI descriptor which defines an on-screen display to be displayed. The GUI descriptor also defines a button of the on-screen display and a button identifier associated with the button. Then, upon receiving a focus navigation command that moves the button into focus, the controller device sends the button identifier and a focus user action to the target device. The target device then updates the GUI descriptor upon receiving the button identifier and the focus user action. The modified GUI descriptor is then accessed by the controller device such that an updated GUI may be displayed.
User Action Pass-through Mechanism
The present invention also provides, in one embodiment, a user action pass-through element for conditionally passing through user actions to the target device. In one embodiment, focus navigation commands received by the controller are passed through to the target device as an user action. In this way, more advanced graphical user interfaces, such as EPGs (electronic programming guides), may be implemented under the panel subunit model.
Embodiments of the present invention include the above and further include a method for realizing complex graphical user interface (GUI) in a network having a controller device and a target device. In that embodiment, the controller device first receives a panel GUI descriptor which defines an on-screen display to be displayed. The GUI descriptor also defines a user action pass-through element of the on-screen display. When the user action pass-through element is in focus, and when the controller device receives a focus navigation command, the focus navigation command is passed through to the target device.
Panel Subunit
Embodiments of the present invention are implemented within a network of electronic devices, e.g., digital television (DTV), set-top box (STB), video cassette recorder, compact disk device, personal computer systems, etc., that are coupled together using a standard communication protocol layer, e.g., the IEEE 1394 serial communication standard. The present invention utilizes a panel subunit to allow any compliant device (e.g., a target device) to describe the physical appearance of its controls and displays (e.g., elements) to another device (e.g., an intelligent controller) and allows the intelligent controller to trigger actions on the target device as if a user had physically manipulated the controls on the target device directly. An intelligent controller (e.g., a TV or set-top-box or both) monitors the network to discover the units coupled thereto and is programmed to locate panel subunits that are defined for a target device. The target device may be remotely located
Nishimura Takuya
Shima Hisato
Suzuki Atsushi
Heckler Thomas M.
Sony Corporation of Japan
Wagner , Murabito & Hao LLP
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