Patent Application
20130318553
Embodiments of the subject matter described herein relate generally to graphical user interfaces, such as an interactive programming interface for a video services system. More particularly, embodiments of the subject matter relate to the use of selective display magnification and/or audio enhancements with a graphical user interface.
Most television viewers now receive their video signals through a content aggregator such as a cable or satellite television provider. Digital video broadcasting (DVB) systems, such as satellite systems, are generally known. A DVB system that delivers video service to a home will usually include a video services receiver system or device, which is commonly known as a set-top box (STB). In the typical instance, encoded television signals are sent via a cable or wireless data link to the viewer's home, where the signals are ultimately decoded in the STB. The decoded signals can then be viewed on a television or other appropriate display as desired by the viewer.
Many conventional STBs are designed to generate and present program search menus and/or electronic programming guides for graphical rendering on a display device, such as a television or a monitor. The user can navigate onscreen guides or menus to identify or select a program, to set system preferences, to control recording and/or playback of video content, etc.
An exemplary embodiment of a method of presenting information associated with graphical user interfaces is provided. The method provides a graphical user interface having a plurality of user-selectable elements. The method detects focus of one of the user-selectable elements and, in response to detecting focus, initiates an audible representation of content associated with the focused element.
Also provided is an exemplary embodiment of a video services receiver system for providing video content to a display for viewing by a customer. The video services receiver system includes a receiver interface configured to receive data associated with video services, and a display interface for the display. The display interface provides a graphical interactive programming interface for the video services, and the programming interface has a plurality of user-selectable elements. The video services receiver system also includes an audio interface configured to generate audio signals associated with operation of the video services receiver system. A processor is coupled to the receiver interface, the display interface, and the audio interface, and the processor is configured to detect selection of one of the user-selectable elements, and to initiate generation of audio with the audio interface, where the audio conveys content associated with the selected element.
Another exemplary method of presenting information associated with graphical user interfaces is also provided. This method begins by providing a graphical user interface having a plurality of user-selectable elements. The method continues by detecting focus of one of the user-selectable elements, and, in response to detecting focus, graphically magnifying the focused element in the graphical user interface.
Another exemplary embodiment of a video services receiver system is also provided. This video services receiver system includes: a receiver interface configured to receive data associated with video services; a display interface for the display, the display interface providing a graphical interactive programming interface for the video services, the programming interface having a plurality of user-selectable elements; and a processor coupled to the receiver interface and to the display interface, the processor being configured to detect selection of one of the user-selectable elements, which results in a selected element, and the processor being configured to initiate zooming in on the focused element in the graphical interactive programming interface.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
A more complete understanding of the subject matter may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in conjunction with the following figures, wherein like reference numbers refer to similar elements throughout the figures.
The following detailed description is merely illustrative in nature and is not intended to limit the embodiments of the subject matter or the application and uses of such embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as exemplary is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following
Techniques and technologies may be described herein in terms of functional and/or logical block components, and with reference to symbolic representations of operations, processing tasks, and functions that may be performed by various computing components or devices. Such operations, tasks, and functions are sometimes referred to as being computer-executed, computerized, software-implemented, or computer-implemented. In practice, one or more processor devices can carry out the described operations, tasks, and functions by manipulating electrical signals representing data bits at memory locations in the system memory, as well as other processing of signals. Moreover, it should be appreciated that the various block components shown in the figures may be realized by any number of hardware, software, and/or firmware components configured to perform the specified functions. For example, an embodiment of a system or a component may employ various integrated circuit components, e.g., memory elements, digital signal processing elements, logic elements, look-up tables, or the like, which may carry out a variety of functions under the control of one or more microprocessors or other control devices.
Although the techniques and technology presented here can be employed in the context of any appropriately designed GUI, menu, or control instrument, the exemplary embodiment described below relates to a video delivery system such as a satellite television system. The disclosed subject matter relates to the generation and rendering of an interactive GUI, namely, an interactive programming guide or interface that can be traversed and manipulated by a user to control the operation of the video delivery system. More specifically, the disclosed subject matter relates to certain enhancements in the interactive programming guide; these enhancements are particularly beneficial for users with poor eyesight and/or in situations where the distance between the user and the system display is relatively far.
In particular, systems and methodologies for providing audio support for navigating a graphical menu and/or a program guide are described herein. Audio support enables the user to browse and navigate the GUI in an effective manner and such that the user need not actually have a clear view of the displayed GUI itself. Text, labels, menu items, and other displayed GUI elements can be annunciated using stored audio files and/or using a suitably configured text-to-speech synthesizer. In some implementations, display magnification may be used in addition to (or in lieu of) the audio support feature. In this regard, when a displayed GUI element is selected, that element is magnified by a certain amount to facilitate easier reading by the user. Accordingly, the techniques and methodologies described here can be used to facilitate menu and program guide navigation for users with poor eyesight, for users who do not have a clear view of the display, and/or for users with poor reading ability.
The data center 102 may be deployed as a headend facility and/or a satellite uplink facility for the system 100. The data center 102 generally functions to control content and data sent over a high-bandwidth link 118 to any number of downlink receive components (only one downlink receive antenna 108, corresponding to one customer, is shown in
The data center 102 includes one or more conventional data processing systems or architectures that are capable of producing signals that are transmitted via the high-bandwidth link 118. In various embodiments, the data center 102 represents a satellite or other content distribution center having: a data control system for controlling content, signaling information, blackout information, programming information, and other data; and an uplink control system for transmitting content, signaling information, blackout information, programming information, and other data using the high-bandwidth link 118. These systems may be geographically, physically and/or logically arranged in any manner, with data control and uplink control being combined or separated as desired.
The uplink control system used by system 100 is any sort of data processing and/or control system that is able to direct the transmission of data on the high-bandwidth link 118 in any manner. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in
Under normal operating conditions, the satellite 106 transmits content, signaling data, blackout information, programming data, and other data to the downlink receive antenna 108, using the high-bandwidth link 118. In practical embodiments, the downlink receive antenna 108 represents the customer's satellite dish, which is coupled to the video services receiver 110. The video services receiver 110 can be realized as any device, system or logic capable of receiving signals via the high-bandwidth link 118 and the downlink receive antenna 108, and capable of providing demodulated content to a customer via the display device 112.
The display device 112 may be, without limitation: a television set; a monitor; a computer display; or any suitable customer appliance with compatible display capabilities. In various embodiments, the video services receiver 110 is a conventional set-top box commonly used with DBS or cable television distribution systems. In other embodiments, however, the functionality of the video services receiver 110 may be commonly housed within the display device 112 itself In still other embodiments, the video services receiver 110 is a portable device that may be transportable with or without the display device 112. The video services receiver 110 may also be suitably configured to support broadcast television reception, video game playing, personal video recording and/or other features as desired.
During typical operation, the video services receiver 110 receives programming (broadcast events), signaling information, and/or other data via the high-bandwidth link 118. The video services receiver 110 then demodulates, decompresses, descrambles, and/or otherwise processes the received digital data, and then converts the received data to suitably formatted video signals 120 that can be rendered for viewing by the customer on the display device 112. Additional features and functions of the video services receiver 110 are described below with reference to
The system 100 includes one or more speakers, transducers, or other sound generating elements or devices that are utilized for playback of sounds during operation of the system 100. These sounds may be, without limitation: the audio portion of a video channel or program; the content associated with an audio-only channel or program; audio related to the navigation of the graphical programming guide; confirmation tones generated during operation of the system; alerts or alarm tones; or the like. Depending upon the embodiment, the system 100 may include a speaker 130 (or a plurality of speakers) attached to, incorporated into, or otherwise associated with the display device. Alternatively or additionally, the system 100 may include a speaker 132 (or a plurality of speakers) attached to, incorporated into, or otherwise associated with the video services receiver 110. Alternatively or additionally, the system 100 may include a speaker 134 (or a plurality of speakers) attached to, incorporated into, or otherwise associated with the remote device 113. Notably, one or more of the speakers 130 and 132 might be deployed as part of a home theater, stereo, or other entertainment system provided separately from the system 100.
The receiver interface 202 is coupled to the customer's satellite antenna, and the receiver interface 202 is suitably configured to receive and perform front end processing on signals transmitted by satellite transponders. In this regard, the receiver interface 202 can receive data associated with any number of services, including data that is used to populate on-screen menus, GUIs, interactive programming interfaces, etc. The receiver interface 202 may leverage conventional design concepts that need not be described in detail here.
The display interface 204 is coupled to one or more display elements (not shown) at the customer site. The display interface 204 represents the hardware, software, firmware, and processing logic that is utilized to render graphics, images, video, and other visual indicia on the customer's display. For example, the display interface 204 is capable of providing graphical interactive programming interfaces for video services, interactive graphical menus, and other GUIs for display to the user. The display interface 204 may leverage conventional design concepts that need not be described in detail here.
The audio interface 206 is coupled to one or more audio system components (not shown) at the customer site. The audio interface 206 represents the hardware, software, firmware, and processing logic that is utilized to generate and provide audio signals associated with the operation of the set-top box 200. Depending upon the particular embodiment, the audio interface 206 may be tangibly or wirelessly connected to the audio portion of a television or monitor device, or it may be tangibly or wirelessly connected to a sound system component that cooperates with the television or monitor device.
The remote control transceiver 208 performs wireless communication with one or more compatible remote devices, such as a remote control device, a portable computer, an appropriately equipped mobile telephone, or the like. The remote control transceiver 208 enables the user to remotely control various functions of the set-top box 200, in accordance with well known techniques and technologies. In certain embodiments, the remote control transceiver 208 is also used to transmit audio files to a remote device (such that the remote device can execute playback of the audio files upon receipt). As explained in more detail below, transmitted audio files may be used to support audio-enhanced GUI navigation features.
The processor 210 may be implemented or performed with a general purpose processor, a content addressable memory, a digital signal processor, an application specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array, any suitable programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination designed to perform the functions described here. In particular, the processor 210 may be realized as a microprocessor, a controller, a microcontroller, or a state machine. Moreover, the processor 210 may be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a digital signal processor and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a digital signal processor core, or any other such configuration.
The memory element 212 may be realized as RAM memory, flash memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, a hard disk, a removable disk, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. In certain embodiments, the memory element 212 includes or is realized as a hard disk, which may also be used to support integrated DVR functions of the set-top box 200. The memory element 212 can be coupled to the processor 210 such that the processor 210 can read information from, and write information to, the memory element 212. In the alternative, the memory element 212 may be integral to the processor 210. As an example, the processor 210 and the memory element 212 may reside in a suitably designed ASIC. As depicted in
The zoom controller 214 may be realized as a module of the processor 210 and/or with appropriate processing logic, hardware, software, firmware, or the like. The zoom controller 214 controls, manages, and executes zooming (in and out) or magnification associated with graphical elements of GUIs, menus, interactive programming guides, and/or other display items provided by the set-top box 200. In this regard, the zoom controller 214 can detect or determine when certain user-selectable elements of a GUI are in focus or have otherwise been selected, detect or determine when certain user-selectable elements of a GUI are out of focus or have otherwise been deselected, and respond in an appropriate manner. For example, if the user focuses on a particular interactive graphical element, the zoom controller 214 can graphically magnify (zoom in on) the focused element to make the focused element easier to read. When a graphical element loses focus, however, the zoom controller 214 can remove the magnification effect and render that element using its default size and display characteristics.
The text-to-speech converter 216 may be realized as a module of the processor 210 and/or with appropriate processing logic, hardware, software, firmware, or the like. The text-to-speech converter 216 is suitably configured to convert text into synthesized speech, so that the synthesized speech can be audibly annunciated to the user. If the text is displayed with a GUI element, the text-to-speech converter 216 can translate the displayed text into synthesized speech. Depending upon the specific embodiment, the text-to-speech converter 216 may support any number of different languages. It should be appreciated that the text-to-speech converter 216 need not be employed if the set-top box 200 uses the audio files 220, and vice versa.
The system 100 (
For the sake of completeness,
During operation of the set-top box, the process 300 can be used to generate and provide an appropriate GUI for display. This example assumes that the process 300 provides a GUI in the form of a graphical interactive programming interface for video services (task 304). In this regard,
The program list window 406 may be used to indicate programming associated with different available video services. In typical implementations, the program list window 406 will include alphanumeric characters that identify certain time slots (which may be scrollable such that the user can view programming for different days/times), along with the different programs offered during those time slots. Accordingly, the program list window 406 may include text associated with time slot identifiers 410, channel identifiers 412, and program identifiers 414. Each of these identifiers might be generated and rendered as a user-selectable or focusable element of the programming interface 400. In this regard,
The GUI enhancements described here need not be limited to an interactive programming guide. In this regard,
The recorded program list window 504 may be used to indicate content that has been recorded. In typical implementations, the recorded program list window 504 will include text to identify the recorded programs (by title, channel number, and/or other identifiers) and their respective recorded/playback times or event durations. A recorded program that has been locked will have a lock status icon 512 displayed with its listing, as shown in
Each of the command buttons 506 is generated and rendered as a user-selectable or focusable element of the interactive menu 500. This example includes six command buttons 506 that can be activated to perform different functions: Sort; Edit; Schedule; Done; Help; and History. Moreover, each of the command buttons 506 is rendered with a text label that indicates its function or feature. In practice, these functions are relevant to program recording, recorded content management, and the like.
It should be appreciated that a set-top box could be suitably designed to render GUIs, interactive menus, programming guides or interfaces, and/or other display screens having any number of user-selectable elements, which may or may not include corresponding text, labels, descriptors, or identifiers rendered therewith. The examples shown in
Referring again to
When the process 300 detects focus or user selection of one or more of the user-selectable elements of the GUI (query task 306), then it may proceed by displaying the focused element(s) in a visually distinguishable manner (task 308). The visually distinguishable characteristics can be specified such that the user can quickly and easily interpret the display to determine which graphical element is in focus. In this regard, the different visually distinguishable characteristics may correspond to any of the following characteristics, individually or in any combination thereof: different colors; different brightness; different transparency levels; different translucency levels; different line patterns; different line thickness; different shapes; different flicker patterns; different focus levels; different sharpness levels; or different clarity levels. For example,
This example assumes that the process 300 renders and displays text or some alphanumeric characters with the focused element (task 310), e.g., the word “Nature” appears with the display of the program identifier 414a. For this exemplary embodiment, the process 300 responds to the detection of focus by initiating zooming in on the focused element in the GUI. More specifically, the process 300 proceeds by graphically magnifying the focused element in the GUI (task 312). In certain implementations, task 312 occurs automatically without any additional user involvement or interaction. In other implementations, the magnification of the focused element only occurs after the set-top box receives some form of user confirmation. For example, magnification may be activated in response to focus of an element combined with user manipulation of a button on the remote control device. Thus, magnification of focused elements can be selectively controlled as needed by the user, or it may be automatically executed when elements gain focus.
The illustrated embodiment of the process 300 also supports audio enhanced GUI navigation. Accordingly, when focus of a graphical element is detected the process 300 initiates an audible representation of content that is associated with or otherwise linked to the focused element (task 314). This results in the generation or playback of sounds corresponding to the focused element. More specifically, the audible representation of content might include an audible annunciation of text that is rendered with the focused element. In this regard, audio signals or sound waves are generated in a manner that conveys the content associated with the selected graphical element.
As mentioned previously, a set-top box could be designed to support audio playback using different techniques and/or audio sources. For this reason,
If the process 300 detects loss of focus of the graphical element (query task 322), then the graphical magnification of the graphical element is removed or otherwise disabled (task 324). In other words, loss of focus initiates zooming out on the focused element. This returns the previously focused element back to its unfocused format. Thus, the process 300 may operate to selectively magnify user-selectable elements of a GUI as the user traverses the GUI. As elements gain focus, they are rendered in a magnified format while other elements are rendered in a nominal manner.
Referring back to task 314, branch B of the process 300 relates to the processing of stored audio files (rather than the generation of synthesized speech). As described above, audio files for different GUIs can be stored and maintained by the set-top box, and these audio files can be used to support the audio enhancement feature. Thus, the audible representation of content can be initiated by accessing one or more stored audio files (task 326) for the focused element. Depending upon the embodiment, stored audio files can be played locally and/or remotely. If the audio file will be remotely played (query task 328), then it will be transmitted to a remote device, such as the remote controller used for the set-top box (task 330). Transmission of audio files in this manner will typically be performed wirelessly, although a wired connection could be employed. Upon receipt, the remote device executes playback of the audio file (task 332) using its native processing capabilities. If the audio file will be locally played, then it can be executed for playback using the set-top box itself, using the attached monitor or television component, using an attached stereo or home theater system, or the like. Thereafter, the process 300 may proceed to task 322, as described above.
While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or embodiments described herein are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the claimed subject matter in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing the described embodiment or embodiments. It should be understood that various changes can be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the scope defined by the claims, which includes known equivalents and foreseeable equivalents at the time of filing this patent application.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/UA2010/000008 | 2/26/2010 | WO | 00 | 8/2/2013 |
