Interactive graphical user interface for television set-top box
US6335736B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 4, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jan 1, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 4, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N21/485
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A graphical user interface (GUI) for a television set-top box which includes a web browser. The set-top box has an Internet data connection and is controlled from user inputs entered through a remote control device. The GUI generates menu screens that are superimposed over conventional television video images, so that the user can view browser graphics generated by the GUI while viewing television images in the background. The GUI further provides animated on-screen notifications of the presence of interactive content, such as hypertext links to World Wide Web pages, which may be associated with television content currently being received. The GUI can also provide animated on-screen notifications of other events, such as previously-specified dates and times or the end of a television commercial. A main menu screen includes function buttons which appear to slide back and forth. A two-state progress indicator indicates that a download is in progress and the degree of completeness of a download.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.