US5956025A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Remote with 3D organized GUI for a home entertainment system
Assignee: US Philips Corp
•
Filing: 1997-06-09
•
Granted: 1999-09-21
•
Expires: 2017-06-09
Abstract
Abstract A remote control device for a home entertainment system has a GUI with touch screen functionality. The visible part of the GUI is hierarchically organized in several control levels. All levels have consistent lay-outs with a first area for selectable items in a first location, a second area with controls for the selected one of the items in a second location and a third area for content data relating to the selected item in a third location. The spatial relationship between locations and areas is maintained throughout the levels. Such a GUI contributes significantly to the user-friendliness of the home entertainment system.
Inventors
- 👤 Lorna Goulden
- 👤 Jeffrey Alan Herman
- 👤 Paul S. Moore
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 16:34
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G06F3/0482; G06F3/02; G06F3/023; G06F3/03; G06F3/033; H; H04; H04Q; H04Q9/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S715/00; Y10S715/961; Y10S715/965; Y10S715/97; Y10S715/976
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
For use in a consumer electronics system with a plurality of user-selectable and user-controllable functionalities distributed over multiple levels in a control hierarchy, a hand held remote control device comprising: a display for displaying a graphical user interface (GUI); a controller coupled to the display for enabling a user to control the system through the GUI; wherein: the GUI provides a respective lay-out for each respective one of the multiple control levels; each respective one of the lay-outs provides: in a respective first area of the display, first graphical representations of functionalities selectable at the respective level; and the respective first areas occupy a first portion of the display at substantially the same first location throughout the levels, and wherein: each respective one of the lay-outs comprises, in a respective second area of the display, second graphical representations of basic controls for controlling a selected one of the selectable functionalities at the respective level; and the respective second areas occupy a second portion of the display at substantially the same second location, different from the first location, throughout the levels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
For use in a consumer electronics system with a plurality of user-selectable and user-controllable functionalities distributed over multiple levels in a control hierarchy, a hand held remote control device comprising: a display for displaying a graphical user interface (GUI); a controller coupled to the display for enabling a user to control the system through the GUI; wherein: the GUI provides a respective lay-out for each respective one of the multiple control levels; each respective one of the lay-outs provides: in a respective first area of the display, first graphical representations of functionalities selectable at the respective level; and the respective first areas occupy a first portion of the display at substantially the same first location throughout the levels, and wherein: each respective one of the lay-outs comprises, in a respective second area of the display, second graphical representations of basic controls for controlling a selected one of the selectable functionalities at the respective level; and the respective second areas occupy a second portion of the display at substantially the same second location, different from the first location, throughout the levels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
The remote control device of claim 1, wherein: each respective one of the lay-outs provides, in a respective third area of the display, a third graphical representation of content data relevant to the selected functionality at the respected level; and the respective third areas occupy a third portion of the display at substantially the same third location, different from the first location, throughout the levels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the respective first area comprises a band substantially across the display.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the respective first area comprises a band substantially across the display; and the respective second area is located between a side of the display and the band.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
81 words
The remote control device of claim 4, wherein: each respective one of the lay-outs comprises, in a respective third area of the display, third graphical representations of content data relevant to the selected functionality at the respected level; the respective third areas occupy a third portion of the display at substantially the same third location, different from the first and second locations, throughout the levels; and the respective third area is located between another side of the display and the band.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The remote control device of claim 1, providing hard controls for control of a sound volume produced by an audio functionality in the system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The remote control device claim 1, wherein each respective next one of the lay-outs has a further graphical representation of a return button for return to the preceding higher level, the further graphical representation being uniform throughout the levels with regard to location and appearance.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The remote control device of claim 1, wherein each respective lay-out has a further graphical representation of a selectable record button that enables recording upon selection of a recording functionality in the system and that is uniform throughout the levels with regard to location and appearance.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
184 words
A consumer electronics system with a plurality of user-selectable and user-controllable functionalities distributed over multiple levels in a control hierarchy, the system comprising a control device for user-control of the system, the system comprising: a display for displaying a graphical user interface (GUI); a controller coupled to the display for enabling a user to control the system through the GUI; wherein: the GUI provides a respective lay-out for each respective one of the multiple control levels; each respective one of the lay-outs provides: in a respective first area of the display, first graphical representations of functionalities selectable at the respective level; and the respective first areas occupy a first portion of the display at substantially the same first location throughout the levels and wherein: each respective one of the lay-outs comprises, in a respective second area of the display, second graphical representations of basic controls for controlling a selected one of the selectable functionalities at the respective level; and the respective second areas occupy a second portion of the display at substantially the same second location, different from the first location, throughout the levels.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
184 words
A consumer electronics system with a plurality of user-selectable and user-controllable functionalities distributed over multiple levels in a control hierarchy, the system comprising a control device for user-control of the system, the system comprising: a display for displaying a graphical user interface (GUI); a controller coupled to the display for enabling a user to control the system through the GUI; wherein: the GUI provides a respective lay-out for each respective one of the multiple control levels; each respective one of the lay-outs provides: in a respective first area of the display, first graphical representations of functionalities selectable at the respective level; and the respective first areas occupy a first portion of the display at substantially the same first location throughout the levels and wherein: each respective one of the lay-outs comprises, in a respective second area of the display, second graphical representations of basic controls for controlling a selected one of the selectable functionalities at the respective level; and the respective second areas occupy a second portion of the display at substantially the same second location, different from the first location, throughout the levels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
63 words
The system of claim 9, wherein: each respective one of the lay-outs provides, in a respective third area of the display, a third graphical representation of content data relevant to the selected functionality at the respected level; and the respective third areas occupy a third portion of the display at substantially the same third location, different from the first location, throughout the levels.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 9, wherein the respective first area comprises a band substantially across the display.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 9, wherein the respective first area comprises a band substantially across the display; and the respective second area is located between a side of the display and the band.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
79 words
The system of claim 12, wherein: each respective one of the lay-outs comprises, in a respective third area of the display, third graphical representations of content data relevant to the selected functionality at the respected level; the respective third areas occupy a third portion of the display at substantially the same third location, different from the first and second locations, throughout the levels; and the respective third area is located between another side of the display and the band.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 9, wherein the control device is provided with hard controls for control of a sound volume produced by an audio functionality in the system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 9, wherein each respective next one of the lay-outs has a further graphical representation of a return button for return to the preceding higher level, the further graphical representation being uniform throughout the levels with regard to location and appearance.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 9, wherein each respective lay-out has a further graphical representation of a selectable record button that enables recording through a recording functionality available in the system and that is uniform throughout the levels with regard to location and appearance.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4712191A
Cited
US4763356A
Cited
US5038401A
Cited
US5367316A
Cited
US5327160A
Cited
US5689663A
Cited
US5383044A
Cited
US5383044B1
Cited
US5410326A
Cited
US5524195A
Cited
US5704051A
Cited
US5646608A
Cited
US5500794A
Cited
US5598523A
Cited
US5545857A
Cited
US5764179A
Cited
US5793366A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-09-20 | 2003-03-22 | 2003-09-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-09-20 | 2007-03-22 | 2007-09-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-09-20 | 2011-03-22 | 2011-09-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |