Graphical user interface for interactive television with an animated agent

Claims

We claim:

1. A display system for display of audiovisual programming, comprising:

a receiver including a circuit for receiving said audiovisual programming from an audiovisual program source;

a user interface for the display of said audiovisual programming on a display, said user interface incorporating a metaphor having a plurality of Spaces, wherein at least one of said Spaces presents said user with a plurality of representations of available audiovisual programming for display on said display, and further wherein said Spaces are arranged such that each of said Spaces is disposed relative to one another within said metaphor;

a user interacting with said Spaces using a user input device, said interaction permitting said user to select a desired audiovisual program, such that said selection results in said selected audiovisual program being displayed on said display;

an element enabling said user to navigate between said Spaces in said metaphor;

wherein said user interface further includes an Agent which moves within said metaphor in an animated fashion between said Spaces.

2. The display system as defined by claim 1 wherein said Agent, upon activation by said user using said input device, displays a representation of an additional audiovisual program selectable by said user.

3. The display system as defined by claim 1 or 2 wherein upon said selection of one of said representations by said user using said input device, said user interface displays a video viewing space on said display.

4. The display system as defined by claim 3 wherein said audiovisual program corresponding to said selected representation is displayed for viewing by said user in said video viewing space.

5. The display system as defined by claim 4 wherein said video viewing space includes a plurality of user selectable controls displayed on said display.

6. The display system as defined by claim 5 wherein a preview of said selected audiovisual program of said selected representation is displayed prior to said selected audiovisual program, said selected audiovisual program being displayed upon a further selection of said selected representation by said user.

7. The display system as defined by claim 6 wherein said at least one of said Spaces presenting said user with a plurality of said representations of available programming is in a form of a wall, and each of said plurality of representations is in a form of a Poster disposed on said wall.

8. The display system as defined by claim 7 wherein upon said user selecting one of said Posters disposed on said wall, said Poster is displayed in an animated form in a foreground of said metaphor on said display.

9. The display system as defined by claim 8 wherein said Poster displayed in animated form on said display further displays additional information relating to the audiovisual representation to which said Poster relates.

10. The display system as defined by claim 9 wherein said Agent, upon selection by a user, is displayed on said interface as changing into the form of a Poster in the foreground of said metaphor on said display.

11. The display system as defined by claim 10 wherein said Agent which has changed into the form of said Poster displayed in animated form on said display, further displays additional information relating to the audiovisual representation to which said Poster relates.

12. The display system as defined by claim 11 wherein said controls displayed on said display in said video viewing space includes a volume adjustment control selectable by said user.

13. The display system as defined by claim 11 wherein said controls displayed on said display in said video viewing space includes a mute control adjustment selectable by said user.

14. The display system as defined by claim 11 wherein said controls displayed on said display in said video viewing space includes a Wayback exit control selectable by said user, the selection of said exit control resulting in said user interface automatically navigating said user to the last Space from which said user was located in said metaphor prior to said user entering said video viewing space.

15. The display system as defined by claim 11 wherein said audiovisual source comprises a video on demand server for providing a plurality of user selectable audiovisual programs to said receiver.

16. The display system as defined by claim 15 wherein said audiovisual source further provides television audiovisual programming to said receiver.

17. The display system as defined by claim 16 wherein said controls displayed in said video viewing space includes a video purchase control selectable by said user for purchasing an audiovisual program selected by said user.

18. The display system as defined by claim 17 wherein said video purchase control may be activated by said user during the display of a preview of said selected audiovisual program in said video viewing space.

19. The display system as defined by claim 17 wherein said controls displayed in said video viewing space includes a television channel selector, said user selecting a desired television channel for viewing on in said video viewing space using said input device.

20. The display system as defined by claim 17 wherein said controls displayed in said video viewing space include an intermission control, activation of said intermission control by said user resulting in said video on demand server pausing said selected video purchased by said user using said video purchase control.

21. The display system as defined by claim 20 wherein said video on demand server pauses said selected video purchased by said user for a predetermined time.

22. The display system as defined by claim 21 wherein said input device includes a touch sensitive screen.

23. The display system as defined by claim 21 wherein said input device comprises a remote control device in communication with said receiver.

24. In a display system for display of audiovisual programming, a method for the display and selection of said programming comprising the steps of:

providing an element including a circuit for receiving said audiovisual programming from an audiovisual program source;

providing a user interface for the display of said audiovisual programming on a display, said user interface incorporating a metaphor having a plurality of Spaces, wherein at least one of said Spaces presents said user with a plurality of representations of available audiovisual programming for display on said display, and further wherein said Spaces are arranged such that each of said Spaces is disposed relative to one another within said metaphor;

providing an element for interacting with said Spaces using a user input device, said interaction permitting a user to select a desired audiovisual program, such that said selection results in said selected audiovisual program being displayed on said display;

enabling said user to navigate between said Spaces in said metaphor;

wherein said user interface further includes an Agent which moves within said metaphor in an animated fashion between said Spaces.

25. The method as defined by claim 24 wherein said Agent, upon activation by said user using said input device, displays a representation of an additional audiovisual program selectable by said user.

26. The method as defined by claim 24 or 25 wherein upon said selection of one of said representations by said user using said input device, said user interface displays a video viewing space on said display.

27. The method as defined by claim 26 wherein said audiovisual program corresponding to said selected representation is displayed for viewing by said user in said video viewing space.

28. The method as defined by claim 27 further including the step of displaying in said video viewing space a plurality of user selectable controls displayed on said display.

29. The method as defined by claim 28 further including the step of displaying a preview of said selected audiovisual program of said selected representation prior to said selected audiovisual program, said selected audiovisual program being displayed upon a further selection of said selected representation by said user.

30. The method as defined by claim 29 wherein said at least one of said Spaces presenting said user with a plurality of said representations of available programming is in a form of a wall, and each of said plurality of representations is in a form of a Poster disposed on said wall.

31. The method as defined by claim 30 wherein upon said user selecting one of said Posters disposed on said wall, said poster is displayed in an animated form in a foreground of said metaphor on said display.

32. The method as defined by claim 31 wherein said poster displayed in animated form on said display further displays additional information relating to the audiovisual representation to which said Poster relates.

33. The method as defined by claim 31 wherein said Agent, upon selection by a user, is displayed on said interface as changing into the form of a Poster in the foreground of said metaphor on said display.

34. The method as defined by claim 33 wherein said Agent which has changed into the form of said Poster displayed in animated form on said display, further displays additional information relating to the audiovisual representation to which said Poster relates.

35. The method as defined by claim 28 further including the step of displaying a volume adjustment control selectable by said user as one of said controls displayed on said display in said video viewing space.

36. The method as defined by claim 28 further including the step of displaying a mute control adjustment control selectable by said user as one of said controls displayed on said display in said video viewing space including.

37. The method as defined by claim 28 further including the step of displaying said controls displayed on said display in said video viewing space including a Wayback exit control selectable by said user, the selection of said Wayback exit control resulting in said user interface automatically navigating said user to the last Space from which said user was located in said metaphor prior to said user entering said video viewing space.

38. The method as defined by claim 28 wherein said audiovisual source comprises a video on demand server for providing a plurality of user selectable audiovisual programs to said receiver.

39. The method as defined by claim 38 wherein said audiovisual source further provides television audiovisual programming to said receiver.

40. The method as defined by claim 39 further including the step of displaying a video purchase control selectable by said user for purchasing an audiovisual program selected by said user as one of said controls displayed in said video viewing space.

41. The method as defined by claim 40 wherein said video purchase control may be activated by said user during the display of a preview of said selected audiovisual program in said video viewing space.

42. The method as defined by claim 41 further including the step of displaying a television channel selector, said user selecting a desired television channel for viewing on in said video viewing space using said input device.

43. The method as defined by claim 42 further including the step of displaying an intermission control, the activation of said intermission control by said user resulting in said video on demand server pausing said selected video purchased by said user using said video purchase control.

44. The method as defined by claim 43 wherein said video on demand server pauses said selected video purchased by said user for a predetermined time upon the activation of said intermission control.

45. The method as defined by claim 44 wherein said input device includes a touch sensitive screen.

46. The method as defined by claim 44 wherein said input device comprises a remote control device in communication with said receiver.

47. A video display system for display of video programming comprising:

a settop box including a circuit for receiving said video programming from a video server;

a user interface for the display of said video programming on a display, said user interface incorporating a metaphor having a plurality of Spaces, wherein at least one of said Spaces presents said user with a plurality of representations of available audiovisual programming for display on said display, and further wherein said Spaces are arranged such that each of said Spaces is disposed relative to one another within said metaphor;

a user interacting with said Spaces using a user input device, said interaction permitting said user to select a desired video program, such that said selection results in said selected video program being displayed on said display;

an element enabling said user to navigate between said Spaces in said metaphor;

said user interface further includes an Extra which moves within said metaphor in an animated fashion between said Spaces.

48. The display system as defined by claim 47 wherein said Extra, upon activation by said user using said input device, displays a representation of an additional audiovisual program selectable by said user.

49. The display system as defined by claim 48 wherein upon said selection of one of said representations by said user using said input device, said user interface displays a video viewing space on said display.

50. The display system as defined by claim 49 wherein said audiovisual program corresponding to said selected representation is displayed for viewing by said user in said video viewing space.

51. The display system as defined by claim 50 wherein said video viewing space includes a plurality of user selectable controls displayed on said display.

52. The display system as defined by claim 51 wherein a preview of said selected audiovisual program of said selected representation is displayed prior to said selected audiovisual program, said selected audiovisual program being displayed upon a further selection of said selected representation by said user.

53. The display system as defined by claim 52 wherein said at least one of said Spaces presenting said user with a plurality of said representations of available programming is in a form of a wall, and each of said plurality of representations is in a form of a Poster disposed on said wall.

54. The display system as defined by claim 53 wherein upon said user selecting one of said Posters disposed on said wall, said Poster is displayed in an animated form in a foreground of said metaphor on said display.

55. The display system as defined by claim 54 wherein said Poster displayed in animated form on said display further displays additional information relating to the audiovisual representation to which said Poster relates.

56. The display system as defined by claim 55 wherein said Extra, upon selection by a user, is displayed on said interface as changing into the form of a Poster in the foreground of said metaphor on said display.

57. The display system as defined by claim 56 wherein said Extra which has changed into the form of said Poster displayed in animated form on said display, further displays additional information relating to the audiovisual representation to which said Poster relates.

58. In an interactive video display system for display of video programming, a method for the display and selection of said video programming comprising the steps of:

providing a settop box, including a circuit, for receiving said video programming from a video server;

providing a user interface for the display of said audiovisual programming on a display, said user interface incorporating a metaphor having a plurality of Spaces, wherein at least one of said Spaces presents said user with a plurality of representations of available video programming for display on said display, and further wherein said Spaces are arranged such that each of said Spaces is disposed relative to one another within said metaphor;

interacting with said Spaces using a user input device, said interaction permitting a user to select a desired video program, such that said selection results in said selected video program being displayed on said display;

enabling said user to navigate between said Spaces in said metaphor;

wherein said at least one of said Spaces is in a form of a wall and presents said user with said plurality of said representations of available video programming, said representations in a form of video Posters disposed on said wall;

said user interface further includes an Extra which moves within said metaphor in an animated fashion between said Spaces.

59. The method as defined by claim 58 wherein said Extra, upon activation by said user using said input device, displays a Poster of an additional video program selectable by said user.

60. The method as defined by claim 59 further including the step of displaying a preview of said selected video program of said selected Poster prior to said selected video program, said selected video program being displayed upon a further selection of said selected Poster by said user.

61. The method as defined by claim 60 wherein upon said user selecting one of said Posters disposed on said wall, said Poster is displayed in an animated form in a foreground of said metaphor on said display.

62. The method as defined by claim 61 wherein said Poster displayed in animated form on said display further displays additional information relating to the video program to which said Poster relates.

63. The method as defined by claim 62 wherein said Extra, upon selection by a user, is displayed on said interface as changing into the form of a Poster in the foreground of said metaphor on said display.

64. The method as defined by claim 63 wherein said Extra which has changed into the form of said Poster displayed in animated form on said display, further displays additional information relating to the video program to which said Poster relates.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of graphical user interfaces and multi-media display systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for selecting, viewing, and interacting with, programs and services from a source provider, such as for example, a video on demand server and/or an interactive multi-media system.

2. Art Background

The combination of computer technology with television (TV) and audiovisual (A/V) systems has fostered the development of multimedia interactive entertainment systems. It is known that users desire interactive television and multimedia applications for home use. In particular, users desire to have maximum system flexibility, which permits the user to view any one of a selected number of movies or other audiovisual programs on demand from their home audiovisual television system. Advances in the digitalization and digital compression of data, in conjunction with improved communication transmission media, such as fiber optics, permit high-speed downloading of digitized data from a head end source provider to a plurality of users. The broad bandwidth of fiber optic cables permits interactivity between the user (herein referred to at times as a "subscriber"), and a source provider.

A variety of video on demand (VOD) systems have been proposed to permit a subscriber to select and view a video program at his convenience. The subscriber communicates to a source provider at a head-end, a request for a specified video program, such as a movie, at a specified time. The source provider then transmits the program to the subscriber in a manner such that it may be received during the specified time only, and by the single subscriber requesting and paying for it, without reception by other subscribers. (See for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,206,722; 4,995,078; and 5,247,347).

One of the most significant challenges in providing interactive television service and video on demand (VOD) capability, is the design of an interface which is easy and fun to use by average consumers. Historically, interactive television and pay-per-view ("PPV") systems which have been proposed provide a downloaded television listing of programs, video on demand movies, and other options for the user to choose from and execute. The subscriber, utilizing a remote control device in conjunction with a settop box coupled to a cable television, satellite direct broadcast or other communication system, selects a desired movie or program to be viewed. One such system is that disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,121 (hereinafter the '121 patent), issued Nov. 10, 1987 to Patrick Young. The system disclosed by the '121 patent provides that a downloaded television listing, including available movies for viewing, is displayed on a subscriber's television receiver. The downloaded television listing information may be viewed by title, category, date, as well as start time. Although the downloaded program information is displayed for user selection, the interface provided to the user is a simple listing of available source material for selection.

In the computer industry, a variety of graphic user interfaces have been developed to facilitate human interaction with computer systems. Many display systems utilize metaphors in the design of the interface as a way to maximize human familiarity, and convey information between the user and computer. It is well known that designing around a familiar metaphor helps reduce human learning time. Research in interface design using metaphors and man-machine interfaces, may be applied to multimedia systems, and in particular, to interactive television systems having video on demand capability. The marriage of video and television technology with computer interface technology provides users with maximum flexibility in storing, retrieving, and selecting television and other audiovisual programming.

As will be disclosed, the present invention's user interface provides a user friendly mechanism for subscribers to select and view audiovisual programming, such as movies and the like, using an intuitive user interface, which is fun and interesting to use. As will be described, the user interface of the present invention utilizes a metaphor in the form of a motion picture production studio back lot. Various spaces and objects exist in the metaphor, in both static and animated form, for identifying available programming and for providing a mechanism for the selection and viewing of a desired program by a subscriber.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides apparatus and methods for presenting an improved graphical user interface for displaying and selecting video on demand programs, as well as other audiovisual programs and interactive services. In one embodiment, a video on demand (VOD) server is coupled to a communication medium which is in turn coupled to a plurality of subscribers. A settop box is coupled to the communication medium at each subscriber's location, for receiving digitized programming in the form of movies, television signals and other data from the video on demand server at the head end. The settop box is coupled to a television or audiovisual entertainment system. The settop box includes a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to a memory and other electronic modules such as decoders, decompressors and audiovisual generators. Computer programming and data files are stored within the memory and accessible by the CPU. The CPU generates and displays the present invention's graphical user interface on the subscriber's television, and controls any interactive communication between the user, the video on demand server, as well as any other head-end provider of audiovisual material.

The graphical interface of the present invention is based upon a metaphor in which a world of Spaces is organized as part of a movie studio back lot metaphor through which a user may navigate. The back lot metaphor includes a Poster wall which presents to the user a series of movie Posters representing available selections. The Poster wall may include video selections for movies and/or other programming arranged by category, viewer preference, "Top 10" listings for the week, or any combination thereof.

In the presently preferred embodiment, when a user selects a Poster using a touch sensitive input device, the CPU senses the user's selection and generates an animation which displays the Poster coming off the wall and appearing in the foreground of the television screen. Once the Poster has moved to the foreground, additional information about the movie or other service is provided to the user by reading the Poster itself. By again touching the touch sensitive input device to select the image of the Poster, the CPU generates an opening animation includes the presentation of a video preview. If not selected, the Poster prompts the user to further action by moving in an animated fashion.

The graphical user interface of the present invention includes a video viewing space where a preview of the movie is shown. The video viewing space includes a plurality of control button functions and displays controlling, for example, volume, mute, channel and current channel selection, intermission, intermission status, selection of the feature presentation, and exit. In the present embodiment, an animated cash register icon is displayed to permit a user to ascertain movie price, select, and thereby "purchase" the desired movie. Touching the input device, or otherwise activating the cash register function, results in a "ring-up" sale animation, and the termination of any currently displayed preview, along with the initiation of viewing of the feature presentation. Upon selection of the cash register icon, the video on demand server downloads the selected video to the settop box for display on the user's television.

The interface of the present invention further includes Agents referred to as "Extras" which are manifestations of the Agent described in the Parent of this application, and are metaphors for category or advertisements for specific movies. Extras appear in an animated form on the user interface and move freely between Spaces within the studio back lot metaphor. If the user takes no action towards an Extra, the Extra simply moves out of the field of view of the user on the interface. However, if a user selects an Extra, the CPU senses the selection of the Extra and initiates an animated sequence in which the Extra introduces a Poster to the user. If a user is interested in viewing the Extra's advertised movie, the Poster introduced by the Extra behaves in the same manner as a Poster which has been selected from the Poster wall. In the event a user is not interested in viewing the video advertised by the Extra, the user may touch any area on the background of the interface and the Poster is dismissed in an animated fashion by the CPU.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of one possible interactive television/video on demand system utilizing the teachings of present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a functional information flow diagram for the present invention's video on demand server.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the present invention's settop , box.

FIG. 4 illustrates an overview of the present invention's studio back lot graphic user interface metaphor.

FIG. 5 illustrates the present invention's Poster wall for the display of available video on demand selections.

FIG. 6 illustrates the user panning feature of the interface of the present invention to navigate within the studio back lot metaphor.

FIG. 7 illustrates the Poster wall of the present invention for the display of available video on demand selections.

FIG. 8 illustrates a Poster Agent which is displayed upon a user's selection of one of the movie selections displayed on the Poster wall.

FIG. 9 illustrates the Poster Agent holding an alarm clock in an animated sequence in the event a user does not select or dismiss the Agent within a predetermined time.

FIG. 10 illustrates the video viewing space of the user interface of the present invention for the display of a movie preview upon the selection of the Poster Agent illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 11 illustrates the video viewing space of the present invention in which controls are provided for user operation during the showing of a video on demand movie, including an intermission control function.

FIG. 12 illustrates the video viewing of the present invention in the event a user selects the movie intermission control function illustrated in FIG. 11

FIG. 13 illustrates one example of the present invention's use of "Extras", which upon selection by a user, provide additional information on other selections available by a user.

FIG. 14 is a map to assist the reader in understanding of the organization of the flowcharts of FIGS. 14(a) through 14(i).

FIGS. 14(a) and 14(b) illustrate flow charts of the operation of the present invention for the selection of a movie displayed on the present invention's Poster wall.

FIGS. 14(c), 14(d) and 14(e) are flow charts illustrating the operation of the present invention for controlling user activated functions during the showing of a selected video or other audiovisual program.

FIGS. 14(f), 14(g), 14(h) and 14(i) are continuation of the flow charts illustrated in FIGS. 14(a) through 14(e), further illustrating the operation of the present invention for the selection of intermission and other control functions.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart illustrating the selection and operations of Extras displayed on the interface of the present invention.

NOTATION AND NOMENCLATURE

The detailed descriptions which follow are presented largely in terms of interface display images, methods, algorithms and symbolic representations of operations of data bits within a computer memory. These algorithmic descriptions and representations are the means used by those skilled in the data processing arts to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art.

An algorithm is here, and generally, conceived to be a self consistent sequence of steps leading to a desired result. These steps are those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, displayed and otherwise manipulated. It proves convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, Spaces, objects, elements, symbols, characters, Agents, images, terms, numbers or the like. It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities, and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities.

In the present case, the operations described herein are machine operations performed in conjunction with the human operator. Useful machines for performing the operations of the present invention include general purpose digital computers, digitally controlled displays, or other similar devices such as settop box control systems, video on demand servers and the like. In all cases, there should be borne in mind the distinction between the method operations of operating a computer, multi-media display, vide