Extended elements and mechanisms for displaying a rich graphical user interface in panel subunit

A controller device configured for coupling to a target device via a digital bus, said controller device comprising:

• means for receiving a button GUI element descriptor from said target device, wherein said button GUI element descriptor defines a button element to be displayed and wherein said button GUI element descriptor further defines a first bitmap image to be displayed when said button element is out of focus and a second bitmap image to be displayed when said button element is in focus;
• and
• means for displaying said button element as part of an on-screen display, wherein said button element comprises said first bitmap image when said button element is out of focus and wherein said button element comprises said second bitmap image when said button element is in focus.

A target device configured for coupling to a controller device via a digital bus, said target device comprising:

• means for storing a button GUI element descriptor, wherein said button GUI element descriptor defines a button element to be displayed and wherein said button GUI element descriptor further defines a first bitmap image to be displayed when said button element is out of focus and a second bitmap image to be displayed when said button element is in focus;
• and
• means for sending said button GUI element descriptor to said controller device such that said controller device displays said first bitmap image when said button element is out of focus and wherein said controller device displays said second bitmap image when said button element is in focus upon receiving said button GUI element descriptor.

In a system having a controller device and a target device, a method for realizing complex graphical user interface (GUI) on said controller device, said method comprising steps of:

• said controller device receiving a table GUI element descriptor from said target device, wherein said table GUI element descriptor defines a matrix that includes vertically and horizontally aligned information, and wherein said table GUI element descriptor further defines an on-screen display for displaying a portion of said matrix;
• and
• said controller device displaying said on-screen display according to said table GUI element descriptor.

A controller device configured for coupling to a target device via a digital bus, said controller device comprising:

• means for receiving a table GUI element descriptor from said target device, wherein said table GUI element descriptor defines a matrix that includes vertically and horizontally aligned information, and wherein said table GUI element descriptor further defines an on-screen display for displaying a portion of said matrix;
• and
• means for displaying said on-screen display according to said table GUI element descriptor.

A target device configured for coupling to a target device via a digital bus, said controller device comprising:

• means for storing a table GUI element descriptor, wherein said table GUI element descriptor defines a matrix that includes vertically and horizontally aligned information, and wherein said table GUI element descriptor further defines an on-screen display for displaying a portion of said matrix;
• and
• means for sending said table GUI element descriptor to said controller device such that said controller device displays said on-screen display according to said table GUI element descriptor.

A target device configured for coupling to a controller device via a digital bus, said target device comprising:

• means for storing a panel GUI element descriptor, wherein said panel GUI element descriptor defines an on-screen display that includes a plurality of elements, and wherein said panel GUI element descriptor further includes a focused identifier attribute that indicates a pre-determined one of said plurality of elements as default focus;
• and
• means for sending said panel GUI element descriptor to said controller device such that said controller device displays said on-screen display according to said panel GUI element descriptor and chooses said pre-determined element as focus.

In a system having a controller device and a target device, a method for realizing complex graphical user interface (GUI) on said controller device, said method comprising steps of:

• said controller device receiving a text GUI element descriptor from said target device, wherein said text GUI element descriptor defines a text element to be displayed and wherein said text GUI element descriptor further includes a font style attribute;
• and
• said controller device displaying said text element according to said font style attribute.

A controller device configured for coupling to a target device via a digital bus, said controller device comprising:

• means for receiving a text GUI element descriptor from said target device, wherein said text GUI element descriptor defines a text element to be displayed and wherein said text GUI element descriptor further includes a font style attribute;
• and
• means for displaying said text element according to said font style attribute.

A target device configured for coupling to a controller device via a digital bus, said target device comprising:

• means for storing a text GUI element descriptor, wherein said text GUI element descriptor defines a text element to be displayed and wherein said text GUI element descriptor further includes a font style attribute;
• and
• means for sending said text GUI element descriptor to said controller device such that said controller device displays said text element according to said font style attribute.