초록 ▼

A viewer interface is disclosed for use in an interactive television network operative for providing an animated focus item in association with a control item to indicate that the control item is in a state responsive to commands from a user input device. An “animation”is any form of highlighting th

A viewer interface is disclosed for use in an interactive television network operative for providing an animated focus item in association with a control item to indicate that the control item is in a state responsive to commands from a user input device. An “animation”is any form of highlighting that is non-static, including but not limited to flashing, varying illumination, varying size, varying shape, varying position, varying color, varying display components, a moving and/or changing cartoon type image, a video image, a sound track, or a combination of these elements. Selection of the control item to receive focus and selection of options presented by control items having focus are accomplished by viewer interaction with the remote control unit, and such selections do not require a keyboard or mouse to indicate the viewer\s desire to change the focus from one control item to another or to select an option. The user interface is also suitable for use in a general computing environment as well as in an interactive television environment.

대표청구항 ▼

In a computer system including a memory, a display screen, and a user input device, a method for communicating to a user that a control item displayed on the display screen is in a state responsive to signals from said user input device, comprising the steps of: displaying a first control item on th

In a computer system including a memory, a display screen, and a user input device, a method for communicating to a user that a control item displayed on the display screen is in a state responsive to signals from said user input device, comprising the steps of: displaying a first control item on the display screen; determining that the first control item is to have the focus; displaying a first focus item on the display screen in association with the first control item; displaying a second control item on the display screen: receiving a command to change the focus to the second control item; determining a path on the display screen from the first control item to the second control item; discontinuing the display of the first focus item in association with the first control item; generating a transitory focus item for display along the path; displaying the transitory focus item on the display screen moving along the path from the first control item to the second control item; discontinuing the display of the transitory focus item; and displaying a second focus item on the display screen in association with the second control item.