Patent Application
20140223364
The present invention relates generally to a method for creating content index for digital computers, interactive televisions or any product in the smart display device field. The method may also be used on set-top boxes, televisions or any other smart display device that has Internet access. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method to help users create customized direct content index for smart display devices.
Current digital televisions, set-top boxes or other smart display devices (such as smart phones, desktops, laptops or tablet PCs) all support to display multiple service contents. Generally, when a user wants to choose a specific content, such user needs to open the content list (such as channel list or my favorite list), and browse within the content list to choose the webpage, document, audio/video file, or the application that the user desires to open.
However, the current technology requires such user to open the content list and then operate or browse the content list before such user can choose the specific content, which requires comparatively more steps and this is less straightforward. In addition, the setting method for the traditional content index requires the user to go through a few non-necessary steps. For example, the user may be required to open a directory hierarchy to choose a directory to categorize the selected file in order to setup the content index successfully. In another example, the user-selected service content may be matched with a predetermined channel list. As a result, the user cannot easily customize a direct content index (such as the channel number).
According to the above, what is needed is a method or a smart display device using such method for resolve the issue of the user having to open a content list before appointing a specific service content to ta specific content index. Therefore, the trouble of complex operation steps or the issue of not being able to setup and customize direct content indexes easily may be resolved.
The invention provides a method for creating direct index for contents, such as webpage, local application or specifically formatted document (such as image, audio file or video file), or wired or wireless television channel, and a device using such method. The method includes the steps of displaying on a screen a first interface component, which includes content information and a selecting component. The user may mark and choose the content information via the selecting component. In addition, the user may input customized string information (such as a number, or a combination or numbers and English characters) via a second interface component, which includes the content information and an index-input component, displayed on the screen. Accordingly, direct indexes can be created according to the address information (such as web address, data path or television channel) of the user selected content and the index value. As a result, the user may create a customized content index by only two simple steps. In addition, the user may, by inputting such index value, access the content according to the address of the content and display such content on the screen. The issue of the user not being able to setup and use a customized content index easily may accordingly be resolved. The present method may be applied on devices connectable to a display, such a desktops, laptops, tablet computers, smart phones or personal digital assistants (PDAs). The present method is specifically suitable for smart television, set-top box, or automobile smart system that's connected to a central control of a car.
In one embodiment, the device applying the present method may further be connected to an image capturing device for capturing user gesture or motion sensing information. Such information can be used to generate corresponding index value, and a direct index may be created between the address of the content selected and such information. After the index is created, when a user inputs a substantially equivalent gesture or a body motion, the device may access the content according to the address of the content and display such content on the screen. Similarly, the device may be connected to a voice receiving device, such a microphone, and create a direct index with the user voice information received. After the index is created, when a user inputs a substantially equivalent voice instruction, the device may access the content of the corresponding content address and display such content on the screen. In another embodiment, the device may be connected to a radio frequency receiver for receiving an operation instruction from the user's wireless device (such as a remote control, a smart phone or a tablet computer). A direct index may be created between such operation instruction and the content address. After the index is created, when the user inputs a substantially equivalent instruction on the wireless device, the device may access the content corresponding to the content address and display such content on the screen.
It should be understood, however, that this summary may not contain all aspects and embodiments of the present invention, that this summary is not meant to be limiting or restrictive in any manner, and that the invention as disclosed herein will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to encompass obvious improvements and modifications thereto.
The accompanying drawings illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention and together with the written description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like elements of an embodiment, and wherein:
In accordance with common practice, the various described features are not drawn to scale and are drawn to emphasize features relevant to the present disclosure. Like reference characters denote like elements throughout the figures and text.
The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” or “includes” and/or “including” or “has” and/or “having” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
It will be understood that the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, third etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, parts and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, parts and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, part or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, part or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the present invention.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
The description will be made as to the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in
One embodiment of the present invention provides an electronic device for creating direct content index (hereinafter the “electronic device”). Such electronic device stores the content address of the corresponding content so as to retrieve the content according to the content address and display such content on the display screen of the electronic device. The electronic device of the present invention may create a customized direct index for the content address and retrieve the content according to the corresponding content address and display such content on the screen, when the user inputs the direct index. For example, the present invention includes embodiments that are illustrated in
Referring to
The electronic device 100 of the present invention may be any device having a display module 110 for displaying content, such as a smart television or a laptop computer, a tablet computer, or a personal digital assistant (PDA). The display module 110 may include screen, and the screen may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), a cathode ray tube (CRT) screen, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) or the like.
The control module 120 of the present invention may be a processor or a controller for executing the program instruction in the memory. The control module 120 may further include an embedded system or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) having embedded program instructions.
The content accessing module 130 may include storage device access interface, network communication interface or radio frequency (RF) receiver. The storage device access interface is used to access the application or file in the storage device 410 according to the data path of the application or the file. The network communication interface is used to connect to the Internet 420, so as to access the content of the website corresponding to the network address information, or to further login to the content management website 430 to access content thereof. The RF receiver is used to receive radio broadcast signal 440 corresponding to the channel number.
The storage module 140 of the present invention may be a computer readable recording medium embedded in the electronic device 100. Such storage module 140 may include ROM, RAM, EPROM, EEPROM, hard disk, solid state drive, soft disk, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or other forms of electronic, electromagnetic or optical recording medium. Such storage module 140 may further include interfaces that can access the aforementioned computer readable recording medium to enable the electronic device 100 to connect and access such computer readable recording medium. The storage module 140 may further include network accessing device to enable the electronic device 100 to connect and access the content information and the content address information in an electronic program guide (EPG) server or a content management server.
The input module 150 of the present invention includes an input interface, which may include a radio frequency receiver or a physical interface. The radio frequency receiver may be used to receive the radio signal of a radio device, such the radio signal from a remote control, or the wireless local area network (WLAN) signal from a smart phone, a tablet computer or other wireless devices. Such radio signal or WLAN signal may be transformed into user input information. The physical interface is compatible with wired input devices, such as a keyboard, a touch-sensing device, an image capturing device, a voice receiving device or a brain wave receiving device. The aforementioned input device may receive and retrieve user input control signal, touch sensing signal, image signal, voice signal or brain wave signal, and transform them into control information, touch sensing information, voice information or brain wave information to be inputted into the electronic device 100 through the input module. Accordingly, the control module 120 may generate user input information.
Referring to
The electronic device 200 may be a set-top box. Moreover, the electronic device 200 may be an embedded system connected to the screen device 300. Such embedded system may include, but not limited to, an automobile smart system that's connected to a central control of a car. The display device 300 of the present invention may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), a cathode ray tube (CRT) screen, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) or the like. Still, it should be reasonable to a person having ordinary skill in the art to realize that the display device 300 may also be a projecting device such as a projector or an automobile head-up display.
The control module 220 of the present invention may be a processor or a controller for executing the program instruction in the memory. The control module 220 may further include an embedded system or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) having embedded program instructions.
The content accessing module 230 may include storage device access interface, network communication interface or radio signal receiver. The storage device access interface is used to access the application or file in the storage device 410 according to the data path of the application or the file. The network communication interface is used to connect to the Internet 420, so as to access the content of the website corresponding to the network address information, or to further login to the content management website 430 to access content thereof. The radio signal receiver is used to receive radio signal 440 corresponding to the channel number.
The storage module 240 of the present invention may be a computer readable recording medium or an interface compatible to the aforementioned computer readable recording medium embedded in the electronic device 100 so as to enable the electronic device 200 to connect and access the aforementioned computer readable recording medium. The storage module 240 may further include a network accessing device to enable the electronic device 200 to connect and access the content information and the content address information in the electronic program guide (EPG) server or the content management server.
The input module 250 of the present invention includes an input interface, which may include a radio frequency receiver or a physical interface. The radio frequency receiver may be used to receive the radio signal of a radio device, such the radio signal from a remote control, or the wireless local area network (WLAN) signal from a smart phone, a tablet computer or other wireless devices. Such radio signal or WLAN signal may be transformed into user input information. The physical interface is compatible with wired input devices, such as a keyboard, a touch-sensing device, an image capturing device, an voice receiving device or a brain wave receiving device. The aforementioned input device may receive and retrieve user input control signal, touch sensing signal, image signal, voice signal or brain wave signal, and transform them into control information, touch sensing information, voice information or brain wave information to be inputted into the electronic device 200 through the input module. Accordingly, the control module 220 may generate user input information.
Referring to
Referring to claim 8, the electronic device 100, 200 of the present invention may display a second interface component 600 at the display 110, 310 for the user to create direct content index for the content selected. The second interface component 600 may include the selected content information 620 and an index-input component 630. The content information 620 may be a content information selected by the user via the first interface component 500, and may include a thumbnail 621, a content title 622, a content address information 623 or other content related information. The index-input component 630 may include an index input column 631 for displaying the index value inputted by the user via the input module 150, 250. The index-input component 630 may further include an confirm button 632 and a cancel button 633 for the user to confirm or cancel the index value inputted.
The user may confirm the index value via the input module 150, 250 so the control module 120, 220 may control the storage module 140, 240 to store the confirmed index value. For example, when the user inputs string “555” via the input module 150, 250, the string “555” will be displayed at the index input column 631. After the user selects the confirm button 632 via the input module 150, 250, the storage module 140, 240 may store the index value “555” to the column corresponding to the selected content.
The index value may be any type of string, and may include combinations of Arabic numerals, English characters and specific characters. The electronic device 100, 200 may receive different user input information via the input module 150, 250 according to the input device connected. Thereafter, the control module 120, 220 may transform the user input information into index value. For example, the input module 150 may be connected to an image capturing device, which may capture image and recognize motion sensing information. Thereafter, the control module 120 may transform the motion sensing information into index value. Alternatively, after the image capturing device captures an image, the control module 120 may transform such image into motion sensing information to be further transformed into the index value. In another embodiment, the input module 150 may be connected to an voice receiving device (such as a microphone). After the voice receiving device receives and recognizes voice information and generates the string, the control module 120 may transform such string into an index value. Alternatively, after the voice receiving device receives the voice information, the control module 120 may transform such voice information into a string having the index value so as to retrieve the index value therein. In another embodiment, the input module 150 may be a radio frequency receiver for receiving the radio signal inputted by a wireless device (Such as a smart phone or a tablet computer) or a remote control. Afterwards, the control module 120 may transform the radio signal into the user input information and retrieve the index value therein. it should be reasonable to a person having ordinary skill in the art to realize that in addition to the aforementioned index value, the electronic device 100, 200 of the present invention may, following the aforementioned method, receive other user input information via input device connected and cause the control module 120 to execute operation instructions corresponding to the user input information.
Referring to
In one embodiment, the index value illustrated in
The electronic device 100, 200 illustrated in
The present invention also provides a method having a series of steps to enable the electronic device 100, 200 create direct index for content and store such direct index in the storage module 140, 240. Furthermore, the electronic device 100, 200 may apply the direct index created by the aforementioned method (hereinafter the “method of the present invention”, which includes the method to create direct index and/or the method to apply the direct index). For ease of explanation, the method(s) disclosed herein (such as the flowchart and its series of steps) should be recognized as one or more embodiments of the present invention. In addition, the steps do not necessarily need to be ordered accordingly. That is, the steps may be performed in a different order, and/or the steps may be performed with other steps of the present invention at the same time. Furthermore, the method of the present invention may be programmed as a computer program product by a programming language. The computer program product may include computer source code, executable file of a computer program and so on. The aforementioned computer program may be performed by a computer, or be stored in a computer readable storage medium, such as a ROM, a RAM, an EPROM, an EEPROM, a hard disk, a solid state drive, a soft disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM or other forms of electronic, electromagnetic or optical storage medium. The computer program may be read by a computing device and executed to perform the steps within the method of the present invention.
The method for creating and applying direct content index illustrated in
Referring to
In more detail, the second interface component 600 may further display at least part of the second user input or the index information at the index-input component 630, so as to provide the user to verify that the electronic device has received the user information and index information inputted.
The aforementioned content disclosed in the present invention may come from the embedded or external storage device of the electronic device. Such content may include image, video, audio file or application. The data path of the aforementioned file or application in the storage device may be the content address disclosed in the present invention. In addition, the content may come from the Internet, which includes contents of webpages of websites or other content of the website. Specifically, the web address of the website or webpage may be used as the content address of the present invention. Moreover, the content may come from content management websites, which include application store, streaming video or audio provider, video or audio downloading website, electronic book website, and the like. The electronic device of the present invention may login to the website according to the web address, and download the content or directly access the online streaming service. Furthermore, the content may come from radio broadcast signal, which includes wireless television channels, cable television channels, and so on.
The user input in the present invention, which includes the first user input and the second user input, may come from a radio frequency signal or an input device. The user input may further include a string, which may represent a control command or a data. To be specific, the first user input may include a string, representing the control command for controlling the selecting component to select one of the multiple contents. The second user input may include another string, which represents the index value that the user inputted. That is, the index value includes the string. For example, the second user input may include the string “555”, and therefore the index value is “555”.
By implementing the user interface, the user may select the content to create an index thereof via the first interface component, and input and create the index information corresponding to the content via the first interface component. Accordingly, by inputting the index information, the electronic device may access the corresponding content. As a result, the numbers of operation by the user may be reduced so as to expand the flexibility of the content index, i.e., to create customized direct content index for contents with different types and from different sources.
Previous descriptions are only embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Many variations and modifications according to the claims and specification of the disclosure are still within the scope of the claimed invention. In addition, each of the embodiments and claims does not have to achieve all the advantages or characteristics disclosed. Moreover, the abstract and the title only serve to facilitate searching patent documents and are not intended in any way to limit the scope of the claimed invention.
