US6460179B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transmission of menus to a receiver
Assignee: Koninklijke Philips NV
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Filing: 1996-07-02
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Granted: 2002-10-01
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Expires: 2016-07-02
Abstract
Abstract Method and arrangements for transmitting and receiving menus, e.g. for accessing an electronic television programme guide. Each menu comprises a plurality of menu items which can be selected by a user. With each menu item, a subpicture can be associated. A subpicture is displayed when the cursor touches an associated menu item on screen. Thus, by moving the cursor over the screen, the subpicture dynamically changes so as to display a brief explanation of the menu items.
Inventors
- 👤 Christoph Kretz
- 👤 Hugh Cautley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 18:49
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/08; H04N7/087; H04N7/088; H04N7/0884; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/47; H04N21/482; H04N5/00; H04N5/44; H04N5/445; H04N5/45; H04N7/0882; H04N21/41; H04N21/422; H04N21/42204; H04N21/43; H04N21/431; H04N21/4312; H04N21/4316
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of transmitting a menu to a receiver for display on a display screen, said method including the step of transmission of menu structure data defining displayable menu items which are user selectable by a cursor, on said screen; wherein said method further comprises the steps of: transmitting subpictures data defining displayable subpictures; associating each menu item with attribute data linking said menu item with a particular subpicture wherein if a plurality of menu items link to the same subpicture, the subpicture is transmitted only once; and selecting a menu item by touching said menu item with said cursor such that the menu item is located at a display position corresponding to the position of said cursor, and simultaneously displaying, by virtue of said touching of said menu item with said cursor, the selected menu item with a subpicture determined by the attribute data which is linked to said menu item.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of transmitting a menu to a receiver for display on a display screen, said method including the step of transmission of menu structure data defining displayable menu items which are user selectable by a cursor, on said screen; wherein said method further comprises the steps of: transmitting subpictures data defining displayable subpictures; associating each menu item with attribute data linking said menu item with a particular subpicture wherein if a plurality of menu items link to the same subpicture, the subpicture is transmitted only once; and selecting a menu item by touching said menu item with said cursor such that the menu item is located at a display position corresponding to the position of said cursor, and simultaneously displaying, by virtue of said touching of said menu item with said cursor, the selected menu item with a subpicture determined by the attribute data which is linked to said menu item.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said attribute data comprises an index number associated with said subpicture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
166 words
A transmitter for transmitting a menu to a receiver for display on a display screen, said transmitter comprising means for transmitting menu structure data defining displayable menu items which are user selectable by a cursor on said screen; wherein said transmitter further comprises: means for transmitting subpicture data defining displayable subpictures; means for determining when a menu item has a display position corresponding to the position of the cursor on the display screen; and means for associating each menu item with attribute data linking said menu item with a particular subpicture, and for simultaneously displaying a menu item located at a display position corresponding to the position of said cursor with a subpicture which is linked thereto by the attribute automatically upon the determining means making a determination that the menu item has a display position corresponding to the position of the cursor on the display screen such that if a plurality of menu items link to the same subpicture, the subpicture is transmitted only once.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
166 words
A transmitter for transmitting a menu to a receiver for display on a display screen, said transmitter comprising means for transmitting menu structure data defining displayable menu items which are user selectable by a cursor on said screen; wherein said transmitter further comprises: means for transmitting subpicture data defining displayable subpictures; means for determining when a menu item has a display position corresponding to the position of the cursor on the display screen; and means for associating each menu item with attribute data linking said menu item with a particular subpicture, and for simultaneously displaying a menu item located at a display position corresponding to the position of said cursor with a subpicture which is linked thereto by the attribute automatically upon the determining means making a determination that the menu item has a display position corresponding to the position of the cursor on the display screen such that if a plurality of menu items link to the same subpicture, the subpicture is transmitted only once.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
160 words
A display signal generator comprising: a first memory means for storing menu structure data defining displayable menu items which are user-selectable by operation of a cursor on a display screen; second memory means for storing subpicture data defining displayable subpictures; means for determining when a menu item has a display position corresponding to the position of the cursor on the display screen; means for associating each menu item with attribute data linking said menu item with a particular subpicture wherein if a plurality of menu items link to the same subpicture, the subpicture is transmitted only once; and means for simultaneously displaying a menu item which is located at a display position which corresponds to the position of said cursor with a subpicture which is linked to said menu item by attribute data automatically upon the determining means making a determination that the menu item has a display position corresponding to the position of the cursor on the display screen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
160 words
A display signal generator comprising: a first memory means for storing menu structure data defining displayable menu items which are user-selectable by operation of a cursor on a display screen; second memory means for storing subpicture data defining displayable subpictures; means for determining when a menu item has a display position corresponding to the position of the cursor on the display screen; means for associating each menu item with attribute data linking said menu item with a particular subpicture wherein if a plurality of menu items link to the same subpicture, the subpicture is transmitted only once; and means for simultaneously displaying a menu item which is located at a display position which corresponds to the position of said cursor with a subpicture which is linked to said menu item by attribute data automatically upon the determining means making a determination that the menu item has a display position corresponding to the position of the cursor on the display screen.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
A television receiver comprising a display signal generator as claimed in claim 4 , further comprising means for receiving said menu structure data and said subpicture data from a transmitter, and storing said menu structure data in said first memory means and said subpicture data in said second memory means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
A video recorder comprising a display signal generator as claimed in claim 4 , further comprising means for receiving said menu structure data and said subpicture data from a transmitter, and storing said menu structure data in said first memory means and said subpicture data in said second memory means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-09-30 | 2006-04-01 | 2006-10-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-09-30 | 2010-04-01 | 2010-10-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-09-30 | 2014-04-01 | 2014-10-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |