Patent Application
20060064723
The present invention relates to the field of digital recording. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method for providing a selection interface for a set-top box.
A digital set-top box is a device that enables a television to become a user interface to the Internet and also enables a television to receive and decode digital television (DTV) broadcasts. A digital set-top box may also be used by television viewers who wish to use their current analog television sets to receive digital broadcasts. Digital set-top boxes are often referred to as digital video recorders (DVRs) and personal video recorders (PVRs). DVRs are devices that can record media content (e.g., television programming) using digital media (e.g., a hard disk or memory) rather than video tape.
A PVR performs the same functions as a DVR but has more features that allow the PVR to function as a multimedia center. Additional features commonly provided by PVRs include the ability to play games, watch picture slide shows, listen to music as well as being able to program the PVR to record media content based upon user defined parameters. For example, a user can provide the name of a television series and the PVR will record and store episodes of that series that are available. Other user defined parameters include the name of an actor, a director, or even a keyword.
A typical digital set-top box contains one or more digital processors for running its operating system and for parsing the MPEG transport stream of a digital broadcast. A digital set-top box may also include RAM, an MPEG decoder chip, and additional chips for audio decoding and processing. More sophisticated digital set-top boxes may also contain a hard drive for storing recorded television broadcasts, for downloaded software, and for other applications provided by a DTV service provider. Some digital set-top boxes may also include a writeable digital versatile disk drive (e.g., a DVD R/W drive) to facilitate creating copies of broadcast content.
In a standard PVR/DVR set-top box implementation, a user accesses recorded media content through a full screen user interface screen. Typically, while the user is using the user interface screen, playback of audio and/or video media content is suspended or otherwise interrupted. The user then navigates a plurality of user interface screens. After the user has made a selection, playback of the media content can resume. Additionally, some users find navigating the plurality of user interface screens to be cumbersome and time consuming.
It would be advantageous to provide a user interface which does not interfere with the playback of currently accessed media content. While meeting the above stated need, it would be desirable to provide a user interface which is more easily navigated than conventional implementations.
Embodiments of the present invention recite a method for an instant pop-up interface for a set-top box. In one embodiment, a first instance of media content is accessed via a set-top box. An indication is received to display a user interface of the set-top box. In response, the user interface is displayed without interrupting the accessing or playback of the first instance of media content. In embodiments of the present invention, the user interface can list possible content that is viewable. The interface also facilitates selection of one or more media content instances.
For example, a user is allowed to watch a television program which is accessed via a set-top box coupled with a television. The user decides to watch a movie which was previously recorded and stored on the set-top box. However, the user does not want to interrupt the television program to access the set-top box interface in order to select a movie. Using the present invention, the user can indicate, for example with a wireless remote controller for the set-top box, that they want the user interface to be displayed. In response, the set-top box creates a list of media content which is accessible to the user and causes a pop-up window to be displayed in a sub-region of the television screen. In embodiments of the present invention, the pop-up window comprises a user interface which displays the list of media content accessible via the set-top box.
In the present invention, while the user interface is being displayed, the television program being watched by the user continues to be displayed while the user interface is displayed in conjunction with the program. In embodiments of the present invention, the user interface comprises a selection mechanism or pop-up window which allows a user to scroll through the list of titles and to identify a particular title which the user would like to view. In embodiments of the present invention, the pop-up window may be displayed in one corner of the screen. The user can make a selection indication and the television program currently being watched is terminated and the selected media content is accessed. In embodiments of the present invention, display of the user interface is then automatically terminated.
In one embodiment, a controller device having a rocker or spinner knob can be used to invoke display of the pop-up window and also effectuate scrolling through the program listing. Only a few programs of the list are displayable at any given time in the window. The knob can also function as a push button for selecting a highlighted program.
Embodiments of the present invention are advantageous over prior implementations because the user can continue watching programming while the user interface is displayed. Additionally, embodiments of the present invention provide a simpler user interface which facilitates faster selection of the media content.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. Unless specifically noted, the drawings referred to in this description should be understood as not being drawn to scale.
Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the present invention will be described in conjunction with the following embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the present invention to these embodiments alone. On the contrary, the present invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents which may be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present invention.
There are a variety of configurations which may be used by end users to couple a digital set-top box with content provider 110 in embodiments of the present invention. For example, end user 130 has coupled television 132 with network 120 via digital set-top box 131. Other users may couple a personal computer or home gateway device with network 120 and use that as the connection point for other devices. For example, user 140 has coupled a computer 143 between digital set-top box 141 and network 120. Alternatively, end user 150 has coupled a plurality of digital set-top boxes (e.g., digital set-top boxes 151 and 153 with network 120 and coupled each of the digital set-top boxes with a television (e.g., televisions 152 and 154 respectively). In another embodiment, a single digital set-top box may be coupled with a plurality of televisions. For example, digital set-top box 161 is coupled with televisions 162 and 163. It is appreciated that embodiments of the present invention are well suited to be utilized in configurations other than those shown in
Embodiments of the present invention use hard drive 203 as temporary storage during real-time viewing to support digital video recorder features such as pause, cue, rewind, etc. For example, to pause the recorder, hard drive 203 continuously spools the data until playback of the media content is resumed. Additionally, storing a digital copy of media content 102 on hard disk drive 203 allows a user to view media content 102 at a later time that is more convenient to the user.
In embodiments of the present invention, when a user wants to access media content 102, hard disk drive 203 is accessed by MPEG decoder 202 wherein the digitally encoded content is decoded and sent via coupling 254 to a display device (e.g., a television). Again, this may be performed in a real-time operation which is substantially concurrent with the receiving of media content 102, or may occur at a later time.
In embodiments of the present invention, media content 102 may also be sent from MPEG decoder 202 to formatter 205 via coupling 256 wherein the broadcast content is converted into a format compatible with a second storage medium. For example, in one embodiment, the broadcast content is converted into a data stream format which facilitates storing media content 102 on a recordable DVD R/W disk. Again, while the present embodiment recites a recordable DVD R/W disk, embodiments of the present invention are well suited for converting media content 102 into a variety of formats. Additionally, formatter 205 may convert media content 102 into more than one format to be compatible with a variety of storage media. In embodiments of the present invention, media content 102 is converted by formatter 205 concurrent with its being displayed by a display device. In embodiments of the present invention, this may occur in real-time as media content 102 is received by system 200 (e.g., via coupling 251). Alternatively, media content 102 may be stored on hard disk drive 203 as the first digital copy and undergo the format conversion by formatter 205 at a later time. In embodiments of the present invention, this is controlled by the user of system 200. For example, a user may first wish to review media content 102 before deciding whether to create the second digital copy, and thus use more storage space of hard disk drive 203.
Additionally, system 200 can also receive a digital broadcast comprising media content 102 via coupling 255 and MPEG decoder 202. In embodiments of the present invention, the digital broadcast may comprise a standard definition (SD) digital broadcast or a high definition (HD) digital broadcast. Typically, digital broadcast content is received as a packetized data stream. The packetized data is passed through MPEG decoder 202 to hard disk drive 203 via coupling 253 wherein a digital copy of media content 102 is stored to support features of the digital video recorder as described above. The broadcast digital data is stored in an encoded MPEG format. When a user wants to access media content 102, hard disk drive 203 is accessed by MPEG decoder 202 via coupling 253 wherein it is decoded and sent to the display device via coupling 254.
As described above, in embodiments of the present invention, media content 102 may also sent to MPEG decoder 202 for decoding and then to formatter 205 via coupling 256 wherein the broadcast content is converted into a format compatible with a second storage medium (e.g., a data stream format). In embodiments of the present invention, the broadcast content is converted by formatter 205 in real-time (e.g., concurrent with its being displayed), or may be stored on hard disk drive 203 and undergo the format conversion by formatter 205 at a later time. The broadcast content undergoes format conversion and is sent through MPEG decoder 202 via coupling 256 and then to hard disk drive 203 wherein a second digital copy of the broadcast content is stored.
In one embodiment, when the media content 102 is accessed for playback, hard disk drive 203 is accessed by MPEG decoder 202 via IDE interface 227 and media content 102 is sent to memory 228 via memory controller 221 and then sent to MPEG decoder 222. In embodiments of the present invention, DVR/PVR controller software processed by processor 224 typically comprises logic for controlling the presentation of the media content 102 by controlling demux 220. For example, a DVR/PVR software controller comprises logic for controlling functions such as playback, pause, cue, rewind, slow-motion play, etc. A PVR/DVR software controller comprises logic for performing the functions of a DVR controller and additional features such as tracking program preferences, recommending programs, etc. In the embodiment of
In embodiments of the present invention, demux 220 sends the broadcast content to MPEG decoder 223 wherein the broadcast content may be formatted into an interim signal. For example, if the digital broadcast content comprises a high definition digital broadcast, it cannot be stored by a DVD R/W. Therefore, MPEG decoder 223 would first “down decode” the HD broadcast content into a standard definition digital format. In one embodiment, the interim signal from MPEG decoder 223 comprises an analog signal. The interim signal is sent from MPEG decoder 223 to formatter 205 via coupling 256.
In step 420 of
In step 430 of
Screen 520 shows a user interface 521 displayed in the lower left corner of a display 500 in response to an indication to display a user interface. It is appreciated that the location of user interface 521 shown in
In embodiments of the present invention, user interface 521 is a scrollable list. In other words, in response to a user input, the titles displayed in user interface 521 can scroll up or down to display additional titles. In the embodiment of
Screen 530 shows user interface 521 after a user has scrolled down to highlight a new title (e.g., “Movie 3”). At this point, the user has the option to continue to scroll through the list of titles displayed on user interface 521, or to select the highlighted title. For the purposes of the present discussion, it is assumed that the use selects the title displayed in screen 530.
Screen 540 shows that, in response to selecting “Movie 3,” the instance of media content associated with that title is now automatically accessed and displayed. Thus, display of the first instance of media content is paused until that title is selected again, or “Movie 3” finishes playing. In one embodiment, when an instance of media content is selected via user interface 521, playback of the first instance of media content is stopped. If the instance of media content accessed in step 410 is a recorded program, the current location of the media content is recorded to facilitate future access at the point where the media content was stopped. As shown in screen 540, when the new instance of media content is accessed, user interface 521 is automatically removed from the screen.
Screen 535 shows an exemplary screen displayed in accordance with an another embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment of exemplary screen 535, user interface 521 is displayed on screen 535 while a picture-in-picture (PIP) 536 continues to display the first instance of media content accessed in step 410 of
Also shown in
While the present embodiment shows a jog-dial, embodiments of the present invention may utilize a variety of user input devices such as a joystick, a trackball, cursor control buttons, etc. In embodiments of the present invention, controller 600 is wirelessly coupled with set-top box 200 via an infrared or radio component (not shown). Furthermore, in embodiments of the present invention, jog-dial 640 may be disposed on the side of controller 600 (e.g., on side 650) rather than on top.
In step 720 of
In step 730 of
In step 820 of
In step 830 of
In step 840 of
The preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method for an instant pop-up interface for a set-top box, is thus described. While the present invention has been described in particular embodiments, it should be appreciated that the present invention should not be construed as limited by such embodiments, but rather construed according to the following claims.
