Patent US4145077A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US2373435A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6978472B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Information providing device and method
Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 1999-11-30
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Granted: 2005-12-20
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Expires: 2019-11-30
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to an information providing apparatus and an information providing apparatus. The display screen is switched to a predetermined display screen and receives processing on this predetermined display screen by operation of another operation key. Thus, in case where the present invention is applied to a set-top box for digital satellite broadcasting or the like to provide a large number of programs by various selection methods, the number of operation keys of a remote control device is prevented from being increased, so the operationality can be improved.
Inventors
- 👤 Tatsushi Nashida
- 👤 Takeshi Hashimoto
- 👤 Motoki Kobayashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:25
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/41; H04N21/422; H04N21/42204; H04N21/47; H04N21/482; H04N21/42206; H04N21/43; H04N21/431; H04N21/4312; H04N21/443; H04N21/4438; H04N21/42212; H04N21/42213; H04N21/4316; H04N21/436; H04N21/43615; H04N21/442; H04N21/44227; H04N21/4826; H04N5/00; H04N5/44; H04N5/445; H04N5/45; H04N5/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
280 words
An information providing apparatus for inputting a remote control signal outputted from a wireless remote control device and switching a display screen in response to the remote control signal to provide various information by selection on a predetermined menu screen, the apparatus comprising: first determination means for determining whether or not a first operation key is operated on the remote control device to designate a state of the first operation key as operated or not operated; screen switching means for switching the display screen from a first display screen to a second display screen if the first determination means determines that the first operation key is operated, the screen switching means operating to display the second display screen while the first operation key is operated; and second determination means for determining whether or not the second operation key is operated substantially simultaneously with the operation of the first operation key, wherein if the second determination means determines that the second operation key is operated substantially simultaneously with the operation of the first operation key, processing based on operation of the second operation key is received and displayed on the second display screen, wherein the screen switching means switches the display screen from the second display screen back to the first display screen, if the first determination means subsequently determines that the state of the first operation key changed from not operated to operated, and wherein said information is a series of video information based on a video signal, and the second display screen is a screen on which index images, for guiding scenes of said series of video information based on a video signal, are an arranged in time series.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
280 words
An information providing apparatus for inputting a remote control signal outputted from a wireless remote control device and switching a display screen in response to the remote control signal to provide various information by selection on a predetermined menu screen, the apparatus comprising: first determination means for determining whether or not a first operation key is operated on the remote control device to designate a state of the first operation key as operated or not operated; screen switching means for switching the display screen from a first display screen to a second display screen if the first determination means determines that the first operation key is operated, the screen switching means operating to display the second display screen while the first operation key is operated; and second determination means for determining whether or not the second operation key is operated substantially simultaneously with the operation of the first operation key, wherein if the second determination means determines that the second operation key is operated substantially simultaneously with the operation of the first operation key, processing based on operation of the second operation key is received and displayed on the second display screen, wherein the screen switching means switches the display screen from the second display screen back to the first display screen, if the first determination means subsequently determines that the state of the first operation key changed from not operated to operated, and wherein said information is a series of video information based on a video signal, and the second display screen is a screen on which index images, for guiding scenes of said series of video information based on a video signal, are an arranged in time series.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
153 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising: layer screen display means for displaying at least a screen in a first layer and a screen in a second layer lower than the first layer; and layer switching means for switching the screen in the first layer and the screen in the second layer each other, based on a control signal from the remote control device, characterized in that the first display screen is the screen in the second layer, and the display screen is switched from the screen in the second layer to the second display screen if the first determination means determines that the first operation key is operated, and when the display screen is the screen in the first layer, the display screen is switched from the screen in the first layer to a third display screen if the first determination means determines that the first operation key is operated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
101 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that the remote control device includes a grip part which can be gripped by one hand, first operation means provided at a position where the first operation means can be operated by a thumb finger when the grip part is gripped by one hand, and second operation means provided at a position where the second operation means can be operated by a forefinger when the grip part is gripped by one hand, and the first operation key is the first operation means and the second operation means is the second operation key.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
289 words
An information providing method for inputting a remote control signal outputted from a wireless remote control device and for switching a display screen in response to the remote control signal to provide various information by selection on a predetermined menu screen, the method comprising: a first determination step of determining whether or not a first operation key is operated on the remote control device to designate a state of the first operation key as operated or not operated; a screen switching step of switching the display screen from a first display screen to a second display screen if it is determined in the first determination step that the first operation key is operated, the screen switching means operating to display the second display screen while the first operation key is operated; and a second determination step of determining whether or not the second operation key is operated substantially simultaneously with the operation of the first operation key, wherein if it is determined in the second determination step that the second operation key is operated substantially simultaneously with the operation of the first operation key, processing based on operation of the second operation key is received and displayed on the second display screen, wherein the screen switching means switches the display screen from the second display screen back to the first display screen, if the first determination means subsequently determines that the state of the first operation key changed from not operated to operated, and wherein said information is a series of video information based on a video signal, and the second display screen is a screen on which index images, for guiding scenes of said series of video information based on a video signal, are arranged in time series.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
289 words
An information providing method for inputting a remote control signal outputted from a wireless remote control device and for switching a display screen in response to the remote control signal to provide various information by selection on a predetermined menu screen, the method comprising: a first determination step of determining whether or not a first operation key is operated on the remote control device to designate a state of the first operation key as operated or not operated; a screen switching step of switching the display screen from a first display screen to a second display screen if it is determined in the first determination step that the first operation key is operated, the screen switching means operating to display the second display screen while the first operation key is operated; and a second determination step of determining whether or not the second operation key is operated substantially simultaneously with the operation of the first operation key, wherein if it is determined in the second determination step that the second operation key is operated substantially simultaneously with the operation of the first operation key, processing based on operation of the second operation key is received and displayed on the second display screen, wherein the screen switching means switches the display screen from the second display screen back to the first display screen, if the first determination means subsequently determines that the state of the first operation key changed from not operated to operated, and wherein said information is a series of video information based on a video signal, and the second display screen is a screen on which index images, for guiding scenes of said series of video information based on a video signal, are arranged in time series.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
161 words
A method according to claim 4 , further comprising: a layer screen display step of displaying at least a screen in a first layer and a screen in a second layer lower than the first layer; and a layer switching step of switching the screen in the first layer and the screen in the second layer each other, based on a control signal from the remote control device, characterized in that the first display screen is the screen in the second layer, and the display screen is switched from the screen in the second layer to the second display screen if it is determined in the first determination step that the first operation key is operated, and when the display screen is the screen in the first layer, the display screen is switched from the screen in the first layer to a third display screen if it is determined in the first determination step that the first operation key is operated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
96 words
A method according to claim 4 , characterized in that the remote control device includes a grip step of gripping a grip part by one hand, a first operation step of operating the first operation key provided at a position where the first operation key can be operated by a thumb finger when the grip part is gripped by one hand, and a second operation step of operating the second operation key provided at a position where the second operation key can be operated by a forefinger when the grip part is gripped by one hand.
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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) | 2008-12-19 | 2009-06-20 | 2009-12-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-12-19 | 2013-06-20 | 2013-12-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-12-19 | 2017-06-20 | 2017-12-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |