Method and apparatus for indicating functional areas of a graphical user interface
US5973682A · kind A · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 17, 1997 |
| Grant date | Oct 26, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 17, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N21/426
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for indicating functional areas of a graphical user interface are provided. A graphical interface in the form of an electronic program guide is generated. A non-textured portion of the electronic program guide is generated wherein the user can interact with functions of the electronic program guide. A textured background for the electronic program guide is generated wherein the user cannot interact with functions of the electronic program guide. The textured background of the electronic program guide is generated using a noise-pattern generator. The noise-pattern generator provides a tiled color pattern on the textured background. The tiled color pattern is randomly generated from a selectable number of colors using a selectable tile size and selectable colors.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.