Television/Internet terminal user interface
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorsDaniel Zigmond, David Anderson, Christopher White, Jeffrey Yaksick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A viewer of television programming is alerted to the availability of content related to the programming (e.g. an associated Internet web page) by an icon momentarily displayed on the screen. Using a remote control, the viewer can select the icon. A control panel then appears, superimposed over the television image, and provides additional detail about the related content. By further operating the remote control, the viewer can select the associated content for viewing, or return to watching the television. Various other features and variations are disclosed.
Claims21
1-24. (canceled)
A method of operating a screen used to display both television programming and auxiliary content, the method comprising:
- displaying television programming;
- receiving link data conveyed in a signal with the television programming, the link data associated with first auxiliary content;
- deciding whether or not to display an alert indication with the displayed television programming, the alert indication indicating the availability of the first auxiliary content, wherein the decision is based at least in part upon the number of times the link data representing the availability of the first auxiliary content has been received;
- and
- if the decision indicates the alert indication is to be displayed, displaying the alert indication and, otherwise, skipping the displaying the alert indication.
A method of operating a screen used to display both television programming and auxiliary content, the method comprising:
- displaying television programming;
- receiving link data conveyed in a signal with the television programming, the link data associated with first auxiliary content;
- receiving user input indicating whether the link data is to be saved in a folder;
- if the user input indicates the link data is to be saved, saving the link data in the folder and, otherwise, skipping the saving the link data in the folder;
- receiving user input indicating a selection from the folder;
- and
- displaying second auxiliary content associated with the selection from the folder.
A method of operating a display device used to display both television programming and auxiliary content, the method comprising:
- displaying television programming;
- receiving link data conveyed in a signal with the television programming, the link data associated with first auxiliary content;
- receiving user input indicating interest in the first auxiliary content;
- in response to receiving the user input, saving the link data in a folder;
- and
- displaying the first auxiliary content.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.