Patent · US Expired

Graphical viewer interface for an interactive network system

US5682511A · kind A · utility

224Cited by
7References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 5, 1995
Grant dateOct 28, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 5, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N21/472
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A graphical viewer interface appropriate for children's programming provided through an interactive television system for running programs ordered by the viewer. The inventive system includes a method for displaying on a television screen a plurality of control items including a character window, an episode window, an order button, and a scram button, wherein the viewer may navigate the focus among the various control items by manipulating a remote control. The viewer browses among options, and orders options for viewing using a handheld remote control. The character window displays one among a plurality of cartoon characters. The episode window displays a scene from one among a plurality of cartoon episodes within a category of cartoon episodes featuring the character displayed in the first window. The scene displayed in the second window is a single frame from the cartoon episode depicting a "key defining moment" that differentiates the selected cartoon from all other cartoons featuring the same character. The viewer orders a cartoon episode for viewing by first selecting a desired character using the character window, then selecting a desired episode using the episode window, an…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.