Tuning Dial User Interface

Abstract

A controller for use by a user is utilized to select media for playback by an entertainment system. A display displays a hierarchy of levels of options to the user. One level of the hierarchy of levels is displayed at a time. A physical dial is utilized to select an option on the one level of the hierarchy of levels in response to a physical movement of the physical dial. A processing device updates the display of the hierarchy of levels in response to selection of the option by the user. The processing device performs one of the following in response to the user selecting the option on the one level: (a) displaying a higher level of the hierarchy of levels, or (b) generating an instruction to cause media corresponding to the option to be played by the entertainment system.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present embodiments will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates an entertainment system according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a controller to be utilized with an entertainment system according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a first screen displayed on the display according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a second screen displayed on the display according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a third screen displayed on the display according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a fourth screen displayed on the display according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a fifth screen displayed on the display according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a sixth screen displayed on the display according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates a seventh screen displayed on the display according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates a controller according to an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 11 illustrates a method for selecting media for playback by an entertainment system according to an embodiment of the invention.

Claims

1. A display interface to select a command for operating an electronic system, comprising: a display to display a hierarchy of levels of options to the user, wherein one level of the hierarchy of levels is displayed at a time;a physical dial to select an option on the one level of the hierarchy of levels in response to a physical movement of the physical dial;a processing device to update the display of the hierarchy of levels in response to selection of the option by the user; andwherein in response to the user selecting the option on the one level, the processing device is adapted to perform one of: display another level of the hierarchy of levels, and generate the command corresponding to the option to be executed by the electronic system.

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein the physical movement of the physical dial comprises at least one of: a depressing of the physical dial, a tilting of the physical dial, and a rotating of the physical dial.

3. The controller of claim 1, wherein the display is adapted to display all options of the one level around a curved line.

4. The controller of claim 3, wherein in response to the display of another level of the hierarchy of levels, the curved line moves inward toward the physical dial, and a new curved line is displayed with new options for the other level.

5. The controller of claim 1, wherein the display is adapted to show a displayed selection line segment, and wherein the processing device is further adapted to indicate the option selected by the user.

6. The controller of claim 5, wherein the processing device is further adapted to display the option selected by the user with a greater light intensity than other displayed options.

7. A controller for use by a user to select media for playback by an entertainment system, comprising: a display to display a hierarchy of levels of options to the user, wherein one level of the hierarchy of levels is displayed at a time;a physical dial to select an option on the one level of the hierarchy of levels in response to a physical movement of the physical dial;a processing device to update the display of the hierarchy of levels in response to selection of the option by the user; andwherein in response to the user selecting the option on the one level, the processing device is adapted to perform one of: display another level of the hierarchy of levels, and generate an instruction to cause the media corresponding to the option to be played by the entertainment system.

8. The controller of claim 7, wherein the physical movement of the physical dial comprises at least one of: a depressing of the physical dial, a tilting of the physical dial, and a rotating of the physical dial.

9. The controller of claim 7, wherein the display is adapted to display all options of the one level around a curved line.

10. The controller of claim 9, wherein in response to the display of another level of the hierarchy of levels, the curved line moves inward toward the physical dial, and a new curved line is displayed with new options for the other level.

11. The controller of claim 7, wherein the display is adapted to show a displayed selection line segment, and wherein the processing device is further adapted to indicate the option selected by the user.

12. The controller of claim 11, wherein the processing device is further adapted to display the option selected by the user with a greater light intensity than other displayed options.

13. The controller of claim 7, wherein the media is at least one of an FM radio station broadcast, an AM radio station broadcast, photograph files, video files, and music files.

14. The controller of claim 7, wherein a source of the media is at least one of: a radio station tuner, a Compact Disc (“CD”), a Digital Versatile Disc (“DVD”), a hard disc, and a portable memory device.

15. A method for selecting media by a user for playback by an entertainment system, comprising: displaying a hierarchy of levels of options to the user, wherein one level of the hierarchy of levels is displayed at a time;selecting an option on the one level of the hierarchy of levels in response to a physical movement of a physical dial;updating the displaying of the hierarchy of levels in response to the selecting of the option by the user; andin response to the user selecting the option on the one level, performing one of: displaying another level of the hierarchy of levels, and generating an instruction to cause the media corresponding to the option to be played by the entertainment system.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the physical movement of the physical dial comprises at least one of: a depressing of the physical dial, a tilting of the physical dial, and a rotating of the physical dial.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the displaying comprises displaying all options of the one level around a curved line, and wherein the displaying another level of the hierarchy of levels includes moving the curved line inward toward the physical dial and displaying a new curved line with new options for the other level.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the displaying further comprises displaying a selection line segment to indicate the option selected by the physical dial.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising displaying the option selected by the physical dial with a greater light intensity than other displayed options.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the media is at least one of: an FM radio station broadcast, an AM radio station broadcast, photograph files, video files, and music files.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising displaying a movable arc to indicate the progress of the media being played by the entertainment system.

22. An entertainment system for playing media, comprising: a controller for use by a user to select media for playback, comprising: a display to display a hierarchy of levels of options to the user, wherein one level of the hierarchy of levels is displayed at a time;a physical dial to select an option on the one level of the hierarchy of levels in response to a physical movement of the physical dial; anda processing device to update the display of the hierarchy of levels in response to selection of the option by the user;wherein in response to the user selecting the option on the one level, the processing device is adapted to perform one of: display a higher level of the hierarchy of levels, and generate an instruction to cause the media corresponding to the option to be played by the entertainment system; andat least one speaker to play the media corresponding to the instruction.

23. The entertainment system of claim 22, wherein the physical movement of the physical dial comprises at least one of: a depressing of the physical dial, a tilting of the physical dial, and a rotating of the physical dial.

24. The entertainment system of claim 22, wherein the display is adapted to display all options of the one level around a curved line.

25. The entertainment system of claim 24, wherein in response to the display of another level of the hierarchy of levels, the curved line moves inward toward the physical dial, and a new curved line is displayed with new options for the other level.

26. The entertainment system of claim 22, wherein the display is adapted to show a displayed selection line segment, and wherein the processing device is further adapted to indicate the option selected by the user.

27. The entertainment system of claim 22, wherein the media is at least one of an FM radio station broadcast, an AM radio station broadcast, photograph files, video files, and music files.