Interactive graphical user interface for television set-top box

A method of generating a user interface, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a television signal;
• displaying video images on a display device;
• detecting a predetermined event;
• in response to detecting the predetermined event, displaying an animated character on the display device as a notification of the event as the video images are being displayed.

A processing system for connection to a television set, the television set having a display device, the processing system comprising:

• a processor;
• a receiver coupled to the processor for receiving a television signal;
• and
• a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having stored therein sequences of instructions for configuring the processor to:
• cause video images on the display device based on the television signal;
• detect a predetermined event;
• and
• display an animated character on the display device in response to detecting the predetermined event as the video images are being displayed.

A method of generating a user interface in a processing system connectable to a display device, the method comprising the steps of:

• displaying an input window on the display device, the input window including a plurality of icons located substantially adjacent to each other along a coordinate axis;
• in response to a user input selecting one of the icons:
• redisplaying the input window, such that at least one of the icons appears to be shifted in position along the coordinate axis;
• and
• displaying information corresponding to the selected icon adjacent to the selected icon along the coordinate axis.

A method of generating a user interface in a client processing system connectable to a television set, the television set having a display device, the display device having a display area, the method comprising the steps of:

• displaying a menu window within only a portion of the display device, the menu window including a plurality of icons located adjacent to each other, each of the icons representing a different function selectable by a user;
• in response to receiving a user input selecting one of the icons:
• redisplaying at least one of the icons in the menu window, such that said at least one of the icons appear to be shifted in position, to provide a space adjacent to the selected icon;
• and
• displaying a description of the function represented by the selected icon in the space, wherein all of the plurality of icons remain visible while the description is displayed.

In a first processing system connected to communicate with a second, remote processing system, a method of displaying information describing a state of communication of data between the first and second processing systems, the method comprising the steps of:

• displaying an object on a display device, the object having a first portion and a second portion;
• causing a visually perceivable change to the first portion of the object to indicate that a communication link has been established between the first and second processing systems;
• and
• causing a visually perceivable change to the second portion of the object to indicate a degree of completeness of a communication between the first and second processing systems.

In a first processing system connected to communicate with a second processing system over a network, a method of displaying information about a download from the second processing system to the first processing system, the method comprising the steps of:

• displaying a substantially circular object on a display device, the object having a substantially circular section, the object further having a substantially ring-shaped periphery section enclosing the substantially circular section;
• displaying a color band which moves about the periphery section to indicate that communication has been established between the first and second processing systems;
• and
• progressively filling in the substantially circular section with a color to indicate a degree of completeness of the download.