Patent EP0849948A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0849948A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Remote control for cable television delivery system
Assignee: Sedna Patent Services LLC
•
Filing: 1993-12-02
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2013-12-02
Abstract
Abstract A method for selecting a program category submenu on a television system using a main menu having a menu cursor and menu options corresponding to program categories and using a remote control with menu select buttons, a cursor movement control, and a go button, the method comprising the steps of generating a main menu with menu options corresponding to program category submenus, the menu options being selectable by using a menu cursor; selecting a program category submenu from the main menu comprising the steps of moving the menu cursor to a menu option corresponding to a desired program category submenu using the cursor movement control on the remote control; and depressing the go button on the remote control when the cursor is located at the desired menu option; and wherein the desired program category submenu is additionally selectable at any time by performing the step of depressing one of the menu select buttons, each menu select button corresponding to one of the program category submenus; and generating the selected program category submenu.
Inventors
- 👤 John Hendricks
- 👤 Alfred Bonner
- 👤 Richard Wunderlich
- 👤 Eric Berkobin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 14:03
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/47; H04N21/478; H04N21/4786; H04H; H04H20/00; H04H20/02; H04H20/06; H04H20/10; H04H20/42; H04H20/65; H04H20/76; H04H20/77; H04H20/78; H04H20/79; H04H20/86; H04H60/00; H04H60/02; H04H60/04; H04H60/09; H04H60/13; H04H60/35; H04H60/38; H04H60/39; H04H60/47; H04H60/68; H04H60/72; H04N21/20; H04N21/21; H04N21/218; H04N21/2181; H04N21/21815; H04N21/2187; H04N21/222; H04N21/2221; H04N21/23; H04N21/235; H04N21/236; H04N21/23608; H04N21/2362; H04N21/238; H04N21/2381; H04N21/2389; H04N21/25; H04N21/251; H04N21/252; H04N21/254; H04N21/2543; H04N21/258; H04N21/25866; H04N21/25891; H04N21/262; H04N21/26208; H04N21/26283; H04N21/266; H04N21/2668; H04N21/41; H04N21/418; H04N21/4181; H04N21/4184; H04N21/422; H04N21/42204; H04N21/42206; H04N21/426; H04N21/42653; H04N21/43; H04N21/431; H04N21/4312; H04N21/4314; H04N21/4316; H04N21/433; H04N21/4331; H04N21/434; H04N21/4344; H04N21/4345; H04N21/435; H04N21/438; H04N21/4385; H04N21/442; H04N21/44204; H04N21/44213; H04N21/44222; H04N21/443; H04N21/45; H04N21/4508; H04N21/4532; H04N21/454; H04N21/462; H04N21/4622; H04N21/466; H04N21/4668; H04N21/472; H04N21/47211; H04N21/47214; H04N21/475; H04N21/4755; H04N21/4788; H04N21/482; H04N21/4821; H04N21/60; H04N21/63; H04N21/643; H04N21/64307; H04N21/65; H04N21/654; H04N21/6543; H04N21/6547; H04N21/80; H04N21/81; H04N21/812; H04N21/8146; H04N21/8166; H04N21/8173; H04N21/85; H04N21/858; H04N21/8586; H04N5/00; H04N5/44; H04N5/445; H04N5/44504; H04N5/60; H04N5/602; H04N7/08; H04N7/087; H04N7/088; H04N7/0882; H04N7/0884; H04N7/0887; H04N7/10; H04N7/102; H04N7/162; H04N7/163; H04N7/165; H04N7/173; H04N7/17309; H04N7/17318; H04N7/17336; H04N7/17345; H04N7/17354; H04H20/95; H04H2201/00; H04H2201/70; H04H60/14; H04H60/21; H04H60/22; H04H60/23; H04H60/61; H04H60/66; H04H60/73; H04H60/74; H04H60/76; H04H60/81; H04H60/93; H04H60/94; H04H60/96; H04H60/97; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/57; H04N5/45
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 53
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
A method for selecting a program category submenu on a television system
using a main menu having a menu cursor and menu options corresponding to
program categories and using a remote control with menu select buttons, a cursor
movement control, and a go button, the method comprising the steps of: generating a main menu with menu options corresponding to program
category submenus the menu options being selectable by using a menu cursor; selecting a program category submenu from the main menu comprising the
steps of: moving the menu cursor to a menu option corresponding to a desired
program category submenu using the cursor movement control on the
remote control; and depressing the go button on the remote control when the cursor is
located at the desired menu option; and wherein the desired program category submenu is additionally
selectable at any time by performing the step of depressing one of the menu
select buttons, each menu select button corresponding to one of the program
category submenus; and generating the selected program category submenu.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the cursor movement control is a joystick
and the step of moving the menu cursor comprises the step of: pivoting the joystick to move the cursor in a direction corresponding
the direction the joystick is pivoted.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the cursor movement control is a ball
and the step of moving the menu cursor comprises the step of: rotating the ball to move the cursor in a direction corresponding the
direction the ball is rotated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the ball is a depressible ball and the step of depressing the go button comprises the step of: depressing the depressible ball.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
66 words
The method of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cursor movement control is
a plurality of cursor movement buttons, each representing a different direction of
cursor travel, and wherein the step of moving the menu cursor comprises the step
of: depressing a cursor movement button to move the cursor in a
direction corresponding to the direction of cursor travel represented by the
depressed button.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the cursor movement buttons are textured
and the step of moving the menu cursor further comprises the step of: identifying a cursor movement button by physically feeling its texture.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
50 words
The method of claims 5 or 6, wherein the cursor movement buttons are
colored differently from the menu select buttons, and the step of selecting a program
category submenu further comprises the step of: distinguishing between the cursor movement buttons and the menu
select buttons by visually observing button color.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
47 words
The method of claims 5, 6, or 7, wherein the cursor movement buttons are
each bevelled and the step of moving the menu cursor further comprises the step of: identifying a cursor movement button by physically feeling the
direction in which the cursor movement button is bevelled.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
66 words
The method of any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the menu select buttons each
have an icon representing a program category disposed thereon, and wherein the
step of depressing one of the menu select buttons comprises the step of: identifying the menu select button to depress by visually observing an
icon on the menu select button which corresponds to the program category
desired to select.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
183 words
An augmented remote control for use with a set top terminal, the set top
terminal generating a plurality of menus that may be sequenced from a main menu
to a first level of menus to a second level of menus, the augmented remote control
comprising: a first section for providing television remote control functions, and
comprising: at least one volume control button; at least one channel select button; and at least one power button; a second section for providing menu access functions and comprising: a plurality of menu select buttons for directly selecting second level
menus, each menu select button corresponding to one of the second level
menus so that depression of one of the menu select buttons directly selects
the corresponding second level menu without accessing the first level
menus; and a cursor movement means for moving a cursor on the plurality of
menus; wherein the first section controls volume, channel and power functions of a
television; and wherein the second section augments the first section to provide an
integrated remote control with volume, channel, power, menu selection, and cursor
movement functions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The augmented remote control of claim 10, wherein the plurality of menu
select buttons are colored differently than the cursor movement means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The augmented remote control of claims 10 or 11, wherein the cursor
movement means is textured.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
The augmented remote control of claims 10, 11, or 12, further comprising a
means for communicating with the set top terminal and wherein selection of any
one of the plurality of menu select buttons initiates generation of one of the
plurality of menus by the set top terminal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The augmented remote control of any of claims 10 to 13, wherein the first and
second sections are physically separable and the cursor movement means comprises
a plurality of cursor movement buttons.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The augmented remote control of any of claims 10 to 14, wherein the cursor
movement means comprises a group of four directional buttons.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The augmented remote control of any of claims 10 to 15, wherein the cursor
movement means are textured.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The augmented remote control of any of claims 10 to 16, wherein the
plurality of menu select buttons are colored differently than the cursor movement
means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The augmented remote control of any of claims 14 to 17, wherein the cursor
movement buttons are bevelled.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
155 words
An interface system for receiving a plurality of television signals and for
generating a plurality of menus including main menus and submenus, each of the
plurality of menus using menu content data, the interface system comprising: a set top terminal for processing the menu content data and generating
menus; a remote control unit for effecting the set top terminal's generating of
menus comprising: menu select buttons for directly selecting one of the submenus
from the plurality of submenus, each menu select button representing
a different submenu available for selection, wherein the selected
submenu is directly selected by depressing the menu select button that
corresponds to that selected submenu without first selecting one of the
main menus; and means, coupled to the menu select buttons, for communicating
with the set top terminal, wherein depressing the menu select button
that corresponds to the selected submenu causes the selected submenu
to be generated by the set top terminal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
The interface system of claim 19, wherein at least one of the received
television signals includes a digital program control information signal, and
wherein a portion of the menu content data is carried on the digital program control
information signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
The interface system of claims 19 or 20, wherein the menu select buttons
further comprise icons representing the different submenus and wherein each
menu select button includes one icon representing one of the different submenus.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The interface system of any of claims 19 to 21, wherein some of the plurality
of menus have menu options, the remote control comprising: means for choosing any of the menu options.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The interface system of any of claims 19 to 22, further comprising a television
for visually displaying the selected submenu.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
51 words
The interface system of any of claims 19 or 23, wherein some of the plurality
of menus and submenus have a cursor and wherein the remote control unit further
comprises: cursor movement buttons, coupled to the communicating means, for
causing a cursor to change position on the selected menu or submenu.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The interface system of claim 24, wherein the menu select buttons are colored
differently than the cursor movement buttons.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The interface system of claims 24 or 25, wherein the cursor movement
buttons are textured.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
87 words
The interface system of any of claims 19 to 26, wherein the set top terminal
uses program instructions and further comprises: a means for receiving a television programming signal; a means for generating menus, including the main menus and
submenus, using the television programming signal; a means for receiving communications from the remote control unit; a means for effecting the execution order of the program instructions
using the received communications; and a means for sequencing through the main menus and submenus,
using the received remote control communications.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
148 words
A remote control unit for use with a set top terminal, each menu displaying a
set of menu options, the plurality of menus divided into at least two levels of
menus, a first level of menus and a second level of menus, the remote control unit
comprising: menu select buttons for selecting one of the second level menus, each
menu select button representing one of the second level menus, wherein
depression of the menu select button that represents the selected second level
menu directly accesses that second level menu and bypasses the first level of
menus; and means, coupled to the menu select buttons, for communicating with
the set top terminal, wherein selection of any one of the menu select buttons
is communicated to the set top terminal effecting the generating of menus in
the set top terminal and causing the selected second level menu to be
generated.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
The remote control of claim 28, wherein some menus use a movable cursor,
the remote control further comprising: cursor movement buttons for causing the cursor to move on the menus.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
43 words
The remote control of claims 28 or 29, wherein the some of the menus are
generated using menu content data, and wherein the set top terminal receives a
digital program control information signal containing at least a portion of the menu
content data.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
65 words
The remote control of any of claims 28 to 30, wherein the second level of
menus includes program category menus which correspond to program categories
in which programs of like kind are grouped together for selection, and using icons
to indicate the program categories, each menu select button further comprising an
icon for visually indicating the program category menu represented by the menu
select button.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
The remote control unit of any of claims 28 to 31, further comprising a
joystick for moving a cursor on the menus.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The remote control unit of any of claims 28 to 32, further comprising a ball for
moving a cursor on the menus.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
23 words
The remote control unit of any of claims 28 to 33, further comprising a
rolling-depressible button for moving a cursor on the menus.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
The remote control unit of any of claims 29 to 34, wherein the menu select
buttons are colored differently than the cursor movement buttons.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
18 words
The remote control unit of any of claims 29 to 35, wherein the cursor
movement buttons are textured.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
141 words
The remote control of any of claims 29 to 36, further comprising a go button,
wherein the cursor movement buttons comprise four directional cursor movement
buttons and wherein a first directional cursor movement button opposes a second
directional cursor movement button along the length of the remote control to form
a lengthwise pair of directional buttons and a third directional cursor movement
button opposes a fourth directional cursor movement button transverse to the
remote control to form a transverse pair of directional buttons, and wherein the
lengthwise and transverse pairs of directional buttons are centered and
perpendicular to each other with the go button positioned in an area between the
lengthwise and transverse pair of directional buttons; and wherein each of the four directional cursor movement buttons comprises a
beveled face wherein the beveled face bevels down towards the go button.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
23 words
The remote control of claim 37, wherein the go button is recessed below the
beveled face of the four directional cursor movement buttons.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
55 words
The remote control of any of claims 28 to 38, wherein the remote control
further comprises standard buttons, a go button and pay television buttons, and
wherein: the standard buttons comprise channel select, volume, and signal source
buttons; and the standard buttons are longitudinally separated from the cursor, go, menu
select, and pay television buttons.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
59 words
The remote control of any of claims 28 to 39, wherein the remote control
further comprises standard buttons, cursor movement buttons, a go button and pay
television buttons, and wherein: the standard buttons comprise channel select, volume, and signal source
buttons; and the standard buttons are transversely separated from the cursor movement,
go, menu select, and pay television buttons.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
21 words
The remote control unit of any of claims 28 to 40, further comprising a go
button to select a menu option.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
23 words
The remote control unit of any of claims 37 to 41, wherein the go button is
colored differently from the menu select buttons.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
33 words
The remote control unit of any of claims 28 to 42, wherein the remote control
unit further comprises standard buttons, and wherein the menu select buttons are
physically distinguishable from the standard buttons.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
80 words
The remote control unit of any of claims 28 to 39 or 41 to 43, wherein the
remote control contains a plurality of buttons, including a standard group
comprising volume control and channel select buttons, and a special group
including cursor movement buttons and the menu select buttons, whereby the two
groups of buttons are physically separated from each other on the remote control
unit by a line at or above the center of mass of the remote control unit.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
33 words
The remote control unit of any of claims 28 to 44, further comprising a
plurality of standard buttons, and wherein at least one menu select button is colored
differently from the standard buttons.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
35 words
The remote control of any of claims 28 to 45, wherein icons are used, each
menu select button further comprising an icon for visually indicating the second
level menu represented by the menu select button.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
120 words
The remote control unit of any of claims 28 to 46, wherein the second level of
menus includes program category menus which correspond to program categories
in which programs of like kind are grouped together for selection, and wherein the
first level of menus contains one or more menu options for selecting a second level
menu, the remote control further comprising: cursor movement buttons to move a cursor on at least the first level of
menus to overlay a menu option; and a go button to select a menu option which is overlayed by the cursor;
and wherein a program category menu may be selected by either using the
menu select buttons or the cursor movement buttons and go button.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
75 words
The remote control unit of any of claims 28 to 47, comprising one or more
additional menu levels, wherein one or more menu select buttons each comprise
an icon representing a program category menu, and wherein four directional cursor
movement buttons and a go button are used to sequence through adjacent menu
levels and each menu select button is used to directly access a program category
menu corresponding to the category represented by its icon.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
135 words
The remote control unit of any of claims 28 to 48, wherein one or more
menus from the second level of menus may be selected from menu options
displayed on the first level of menus, the remote control further comprising: a plurality of standard buttons; cursor movement buttons for moving a cursor through the menu
options presented on the first level of menus; a go button for selecting a menu option corresponding to the cursor
location; and wherein the cursor movement buttons, go button, and menu select
buttons are coupled to the communicating means and are physically
distinguishable by touch from each other and from the standard buttons,
enabling a user to easily access and depress a cursor movement button, the go
button or a menu select button without looking at the remote control unit.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
144 words
The remote control unit of any of claims 28 to 49, wherein one or more
menus from the second level of menus may be selected from menu options
displayed on the first level of menus, the remote control further comprising: a face plate with labeling; four directional cursor movement buttons, protruding from the face plate
and coupled to the means for communicating, for moving a cursor displayed on the
television to overlay a menu option; and a go button, protruding from the face plate and coupled to the means for
communicating, for choosing the menu option currently overlayed by the cursor,
wherein depression of the go button on the remote control unit effects processing of
software at the set top terminal, and wherein the four directional cursor movement
buttons and the go button are used to sequence through any of the second level
menus.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
60 words
The remote control unit of any of claims 29 to 50, further comprising pay
television buttons and a power button, and wherein: the cursor movement buttons are textured; the menu select buttons are the largest buttons on the remote control; and the pay television buttons, power button and go button are colored differently
than other buttons on the remote control.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
175 words
The remote control unit of any of claims 28 to 51, wherein one or more menus
from the second level of menus may be selected from menu options displayed on
the first level of menus, and wherein the second level of menus includes program
category menus which correspond to program categories in which programs of like
kind are grouped together for selection, the remote control further comprising: a face plate with labeling; at least one cursor movement button, protruding from the face plate and
coupled to the means for communicating, for moving a cursor on the menu
options; a go button, protruding from the face plate and coupled to the means for
communicating, for selecting a menu option at the cursor location; a power button protruding from the face plate and coupled to the means for
communicating; and standard buttons including a channel up button, a channel down button, and
numerical buttons numbered zero through nine; wherein a program category may be selected for viewing using the menu
select buttons or the cursor movement buttons.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
139 words
The remote control of any of claims 28 to 52, wherein the menu select buttons
are included on a first section of the remote control unit, the first section further
comprising: a cursor movement means for moving a cursor over menu options on
the menus; and a selection means for selecting the menu option at the cursor location;
and wherein the remote control unit further comprises:
a second section comprising: at least one volume control button; at least one channel select button; and at least one power button; wherein the second section controls volume, channel and power functions
of a television; and wherein the first section augments the second section and is physically
separable from the second section, and wherein the remote control unit provides an
integrated remote control with volume, channel, power, menu selection, and cursor
movement functions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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