Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F9/00—Arrangements for program control, e.g. control units
  • G06F9/06—Arrangements for program control, e.g. control units using stored programs, i.e. using an internal store of processing equipment to receive or retain programs
  • G06F9/44—Arrangements for executing specific programs
  • G06F9/451—Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Definitions

• This invention relates to a method and apparatus for selecting an option or options on a computer system, including interactive television and video systems.
• icons signifying various options which may be selected and used on the system.
• Typical icons include a pictorial representation of a calculator signifying an arithmetical function, a page of a document signifying a word-processing function and an artists brush signifying a drawing function.
• An on-screen menu is normally provided with a display of "icons" representing the available options.
• the term “icon” is used to refer to the image associated with a selectable option.
• This "icon” may be a graphic, text or moving image, for example, or some combination. Icons are usually selected by moving a cursor to the icon and "clicking on” to it under mouse control. It will be appreciated that where there are a large number of options, the result will be a display where the icons are small and difficult to see.
• information is retrieved and displayed from incoming television signals to a television by keying in numbers from a remote control handset. The numbers for the options are displayed on the screen as a menu or index.
• a method of selecting an option or options on a computer system comprising displaying icons each representative of an option or a set of options offered by the system; varying the visual significance of at least one of the icons through a range of visual significance; monitoring for a user input and selecting the option or set of options corresponding to the user input.
• the present invention provides a method for actively bringing different options to the attention of a prospective user to aid the selection process.
• the options effectively come to the user rather than the user having to ferret them out himself.
• the change in visual significance may be caused by an icon moving against a background of stationary icons or moving in a different manner to the other icons which may also be moving.
• Another way in which the visual significance may be varied is by changing the colour, brightness, contrast or shape of the icon or by highlighting it in some way by for example creating a frame about the icon of contrasting colour.
• At least one icon increases in visual significance at least one other icon decreases in visual significance.
• This is preferred since it will ensure that the display remains uncluttered because an increase in size of the icon will be compensated for by a decrease in size of another icon.
• Particularly preferred is a method in which the rate of decrease in visual significance approximately matches the rate of increase.
• the icon is changed in visual significance by a change in size relative to at least some of the other icons.
• An advantage of changing the size of the icon is that a larger number of icons can be displayed on one screen without giving a cluttered appearance, for example, because the icons can be made smaller initially. The change in visual significance could then be an increase in size thus making the icon more prominent and also easier for the user to discern what it represents. An apparent increase in size of one icon may also be achieved by reducing the size of the others.
• Another way in which the visual significance could be varied could be for the icon's position in the display to be varied. For example, an icon could be moved to a central location in the display perhaps with this location being highlighted.
• the change in visual significance may be achieved by a combination of the above described methods.
• the change in visual significance is achieved by a movement and change in size. This is preferred since it is particularly effective in gaining the user's attention since it may, preferably, be used to create the impression of movement in three dimensions on a two-dimensional display.
• the icons are representations of spheres containing information appropriate to the option the icon represents.
• the icons may also contain or comprise numbers, letters or other indicia to enable the user to make a corresponding input to the system.
• the icons may be selected by number the user entering at a handset the number shown by the icon.
• the icons may be colour coded and an appropriate colour button depressed on the handset or other input device.
• the information could be pictorial information.
• Another way in which the visual significance could be varied is to animate pictorial information held in or associated with the icon or for the information to be made visually significant by increasing its brightness or bringing it into focus from a blurred state. It is envisaged that where there are more options than can be displayed in an uncluttered way on a display, icons will, preferably, periodically leave the display or cease to be displayed and new icons will be displayed in their stead. After a period of time the original icon or icons may return to "displace" the new icons or other icons.
• the advantage of this is that there is no need for the user to switch between menus and options, the less able user will be able to allow the system to expose all options. In this way all users can be exposed to the options available without there having to be any user input.
• Icons may be displayed for equal lengths of time or for a length of time dependant on commercial circumstances such as a cost levied by the system operator to the goods or services provider for displaying that organisation's icon.
• the visual significance of a newly displayed icon may be enhanced in some way by for example the icon moving at a relatively rapid rate in comparison to the other icons , an auditory alarm signifying the event or a change in shape, colour, brilliance or contrast, or by flashing or a combination of these.
• the user inputs to select an option may be via devices such as a mouse, a keyboard or a keypad either linked to the system by a cable or using wireless technology including infra-red, ultrasound and the like.
• selection the option could also be used, for example, by sound, voice command, touching the display screen or even, where a holographic display is used, touching or capturing the icon.
• the option could be selected by inputting indicia associated with the icon such as numbers or letters or by controlling a displayed cursor to move it over the icon.
• the same indicia may be associated with different options as the different options are raised in visual significance at different times.
• the same indicia (say 0-9) can be associated with the first ten options initially as these are raised in visual significance, then with the second ten and so on.
• the dynamic variation in visual significance allows indicia (and one set of associated options) to be removed from view for a period and then re-introduced into view associated with a new set of options.
• apparatus for presenting and enabling user selection of an option or set of options provided by a computer system comprising: means for displaying icons representative of the options; means for monitoring for a user input indicative of a particular option or options being selected; and means for varying the visual significance of at least one of the displayed icons through a range of visual significance.
• the apparatus comprises a display unit; a user input device and a processor connected to control images for display on the display unit and to monitor for a user input, via the user input device, of a selection by the user of a particular option or options, wherein the processor is programmed to control the dynamic variation in visual significance on the display unit of an image representative of at least one option.
• Figure 1 shows a computer system in accordance with the invention
• Figure 2 shows a display of the system shown in Figure 1 .
• Figure 1 shows a computer system for supplying video films and shopping services to subscribers
• the system comprises a central computer 1 which is connected via telephone lines 2 and 3 and a telephony network 4 to a number of subscriber units one of which, subscriber unit 5, is shown.
• An input port 7 of the subscriber unit 5 is connected to the telephone line 3 which also serves a telephone 6 located in the subscriber's premises
• An output port 8 of the subscriber unit 5 is connected via co-axiai cable 9 to an aerial socket 10 of a television set 1 1 .
• the television set 1 1 provides a display device for the system on the screen 1 2 of which video films and goods and services information may be displayed.
• a subscriber 1 3 is shown watching the screen 1 2 and controlling the system by means of a hand-held remote control unit 14 having a keypad 1 5.
• the remote control unit 14 transmits commands entered on the keyboard 1 5 via a flashing infra-red diode 1 6 to the subscriber unit 5 in a well known manner.
• the subscriber unit 5 is located in a convenient position close to the television 1 1 .
• the unit 5 includes a microprocessor 1 7, an input/output device 1 8, a memory 19, a receiver 20 and a video generator 21 .
• the memory 1 9 will include random access memory (RAM) and read only memory (ROM) in the form of semiconductor chips.
• a bus 22 is provided to interlink these units as shown in the figure and to allow the passage of data and control information.
• video and control signals will be transmitted over the telephony network 2, 3 and 4 to the subscriber unit 5 from the central computer 1 .
• This information is transmitted in a frequency band which does not affect normal operation of the telephone 6, that is to say, the telephone 6 and the system may be used simultaneously without any interference.
• the video and control signals are passed via the port 7, input output device 18 and bus 22 to the microprocessor 17. This interprets the control signals and passes the video signals to the video generator 21 . (Some of the control information or video signals may also be stored in the memory 1 9 for future use).
• the video signals are converted to a suitable frequency for the television 1 1 that is a frequency comparable to the normal television signals received by the aerial from television broadcast services.
• the television 1 1 then displays the video images on the screen 1 2.
• the subscriber 1 3 controls the system by use of the infra-red remote control unit 14
• the infra-red signals from this unit are received by a sensor in the receiver unit 20 of the subscriber unit 5.
• the receiver unit 20 decodes the received signal and passes on the control information to the microprocessor 1 7.
• the control information will be used by the microprocessor 17 to control the video sequence that is displayed by the television 1 1 or it may be interpreted as an instruction such as an order for a service or goods which needs to be transmitted back to the central computer 1 . If the information is to be transmitted back, then it is passed back via the input/output device 18 and the telephony network 2, 3, 4. Again the information will be transmitted as a signal at a frequency which does not affect normal operation of the telephony network.
• the television screen 12 is more clearly shown in figure 2.
• the video sequence displayed on the screen 12 is of five spheres moving about the screen area, and at the same time changing size through a range of sizes. This gives the impression of a circulatory motion in three dimensions with the spheres each in turn apparently moving towards the front of the display (closer to subscriber 13) and then retreating to the back of the display (away from the subscriber 1 3) .
• each sphere in turn assumes a visually significant position where the user can easily view the sphere whilst other spheres recede.
• the motion is indicated in the figure by illustrative arrows 23.
• Each sphere is an icon for a particular set of options offered by the system.
• the most visually significant set of options is one concerned with travel services labelled with the indicia numeral "4" .
• the "rearmost” icon is concerned with a set of banking services options labelled with numeral "5" .
• the icons bearing the respective indicia numerals " 1 ", "3” and “2” are concerned with options for theatre and cinema, video films offered by the system and shopping options respectively.
• the duration of the period for which each icon is displayed as most visually significant is kept the same for each icon in order that each supplier of the services or goods under the icon has identical exposure to the customer. In other embodiments it may be desirable to vary the duration, for example, where it is desired to charge a supplier for display of an option depending on the length of time the associated icon is most visually significant
• the subscriber 1 3 is able to select an option in one of two ways with the remote control unit 14 in this embodiment.
• the fist way is to depress a key on the keypad 1 5 that corresponds to the icon numeral, that is to say, in order to select travel options key number "4" is depressed, for shops key number "2" and so on.
• the second way is to press key "0" when the desired option is most visually prominent.
• the receiver 20 detects the key press and passes the number to the processor 1 7.
• the processor 1 7 transmits this information to the control computer 1 and the next video signals concerning the selected option are transmitted and then displayed as before. If the key depressed is "0" , then the processor 1 7 transmits to the control computer information including the number of the option represented by the icon that is most visually significant at the time the key is depressed.
• the central computer 1 again responds by sending further video signals concerning that option.
• the further video signals could comprise further icons in the form of spheres as earlier described.
• the set of travel could include spheres for particular travel operator or for travel to particular destinations.
• These sub- options could include further sub-options. Selection of a sub-option would be the same as earlier described for an option.
• the processor 17 passes the information to the central computer 1 and the goods are dispatched or service arranged.
• Figure 2 shows a screen with five icons. Where further options are available an icon can leave the screen to be replaced by another icon representing another set of options. This event would be accompanied by a alarm note being sounded by the television speaker.
• Further spheres may enter the display area representing special events such as advertisements of special offers.
• the subscriber selects these icons by depressing the corresponding coloured button on the keypad 15.
• the icons include descriptors such as travel, shows and the like it would also be possible for the icons to include pictures still or animated of scenes relevant to the option.
• the travel sphere could include picture of trains, boats and planes.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Software Systems (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• User Interface Of Digital Computer (AREA)
• Digital Computer Display Output (AREA)
• Hardware Redundancy (AREA)
• Input From Keyboards Or The Like (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8217951

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (9)

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• 1995
  • 1995-12-15 EP EP95941171A patent/EP0797797A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1995-12-15 JP JP8518481A patent/JPH10510643A/ja active Pending
  • 1995-12-15 CN CN95196827A patent/CN1170465A/zh active Pending
  • 1995-12-15 NZ NZ297492A patent/NZ297492A/xx unknown
  • 1995-12-15 CA CA002207198A patent/CA2207198A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1995-12-15 WO PCT/GB1995/002944 patent/WO1996018946A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1995-12-15 AU AU42658/96A patent/AU695367B2/en not_active Ceased
• 1997
  • 1997-06-13 FI FI972506A patent/FI972506A0/fi unknown
  • 1997-06-13 NO NO972751A patent/NO972751L/no unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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