# US 7,107,532 B1 · System and method for focused navigation within a user interface > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,107,532 B1 - Document ID: US7107532B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 10/138,810 - Filed: 2002-05-03 - Granted: 2006-09-12 - Earliest claimed: 2001-08-29 - Assignees: Digeo, Inc. - Inventors: James A. Billmaier; John M. Kellum; Anthony F. Istvan; Dewey M. Reid; Philip A. Rogan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7107532B1 ## CPC - H04N 21/47: End-user applications - G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus - H04N 21/42215: {by measuring the time interval during which a key is pressed, e.g. for inputting sequences of digits when selecting a television channel} - H04N 21/4312: {involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations} - H04N 21/478: Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application - H04N 21/482: End-user interface for programme selection - H04N 21/42222: {Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A sequence of cards is stored that graphically represents available options within an information system. In response to a single user action, the sequence of cards is successively displayed within a focus area of the user interface. In response to a subsequent user action, the successive display is discontinued to display a particular card representing a selected option. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for navigation of a plurality of options within a user interface, the method comprising: scrolling only visual cards from a first sequence of visual cards representing a first type of option through a spatially-fixed focus area of the user interface, wherein the visual cards of the first sequence are both aligned with and scrolled along a first axis; enabling scrolling of a particular visual card of the first sequence of visual cards into the focus area; and scrolling only visual cards from a second sequence of visual cards representing a second type of option through the focus area, wherein the visual cards of the second sequence are both aligned with and scrolled along a second axis, wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the second axis such that the respective visual cards from the first and second sequences are scrolled into the focus area from perpendicular directions, and wherein no visual card of the first sequence is also included in the second sequence. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising replacing the second sequence of visual cards along the second axis with a third sequence of visual cards along the second axis, the third sequence of visual cards representing a third type of option, in response to a different visual card from the first sequence being scrolled into the focus area. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising pausing the scrolling of the first sequence of visual cards in response to a user command. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein transitioning from pausing the scrolling of the first sequence to scrolling the second sequence is in response to a single user action. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the visual cards of the second sequence graphically represent broadcast television channels. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the visual cards of the second sequence graphically represent broadcast television networks. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the visual cards of the second sequence graphically represent television programs. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the visual cards of the first sequence graphically represent different types of media. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the scrolling of visual cards is in response to a single user action. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising enabling selection of the visual card within the focus area in response to an additional user action. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein selection of a particular visual card is in response to a single user action. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the visual cards from the second sequence respectively represent television programming sources in a particular broadcast time slot, the method further comprising replacing the second sequence of visual cards with a third sequence of visual cards in response to a single user command, each visual card of the third sequence of visual cards representing the television programming sources in a later broadcast time slot. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the visual cards of the first sequence represent broadcast television channels, and wherein the visual cards of the second sequence broadcast represent time slots. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the visual cards of the first sequence represent broadcast television networks, and wherein the visual cards of the second sequence broadcast represent time slots. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the visual cards of the first sequence represent television programs, and wherein the visual cards of the second sequence represent broadcast time slots. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first axis is a horizontal axis and the second axis is a vertical axis. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first axis is a vertical axis and the second axis is a horizontal axis. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the second sequence of visual cards based on a user-selected visual card from the first sequence. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second sequences intersect to form quadrants within the user interface, the method further comprising displaying supplemental information related to the visual card within the focus area in at least one of the quadrants formed by the intersecting sequences. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein each visual card includes a picture for graphically representing a television program or television programming source. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein at least one picture comprises a captured video frame. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein at least one picture comprises an animation. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the visual cards from the second set represent broadcast time slots, the method further comprising replacing the second set of visual cards with a third set of visual cards in response to a single user command, each visual card of the third set of visual cards representing an earlier broadcast time slot. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the visual cards of the first sequence represent selectable categories of options and wherein the visual cards of the second sequence represent options from a selected category. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising accelerating the scrolling of the first sequence of visual cards based on how long a remote control button is held down by a user. ### Claim 26 A system for focused navigation of a plurality of options within a user interface, the system comprising: a user input detector configured to detect actions of a user; and a processor configured to scroll only visual cards from a first sequence of visual cards through a spatially-fixed focus area of the user interface in response to a first user command, wherein the visual cards of the first sequence correspond to a first type of option and are both aligned with and scrolled along a first axis, wherein the processor is further configured to enable scrolling by a user of a particular visual card of the first sequence of visual cards into the focus area, wherein the processor is further configured to only scroll visual cards from a second sequence of visual cards through the focus area in response to a second user command, wherein the visual cards of the second sequence of visual cards correspond to a second type of option and are both aligned with and scrolled along a second axis, wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the second axis such that the respective visual cards from the first and second sequences are scrolled in perpendicular directions, and wherein the first and second sequences do not have any visual cards in common. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The system of claim 26, wherein the processor is further configured to replace the second sequence of visual cards along the second axis with a third sequence of visual cards along the second axis, the third sequence of visual cards corresponding to a third type of option, in response to a different visual card from the first sequence being scrolled by the user into the focus area. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The system of claim 26, wherein the processor is further configured to pause the scrolling of the first sequence of visual cards. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The system of claim 28, wherein transitioning from pausing the scrolling of the first sequence to scrolling the second sequence is accomplished in response to a single user action. ### Claim 30 (depends on 26) The system of claim 26, wherein the visual cards of the second sequence graphically represent broadcast television channels. ### Claim 31 (depends on 26) The system of claim 26, wherein the visual cards of the second sequence graphically represent broadcast television networks. ### Claim 32 (depends on 26) The system of claim 26, wherein the visual cards of the second sequence graphically represent television programs. ### Claim 33 (depends on 26) The system of claim 26, wherein the visual cards of the first sequence graphically represent different types of media. ### Claim 34 (depends on 26) The system of claim 26, wherein the processor scrolls the visual cards in response to a single user action. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The system of claim 34, wherein the processor is to enable selection of the visual card in the focus area in response to an additional user action. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The system of claim 35, wherein selection of a particular visual card is in response to a single user action. ### Claim 37 (depends on 26) The system of claim 26, wherein the visual cards from the second sequence respectively represent television programming sources in a particular broadcast time slot, and wherein the processor is further configured to replace the second sequence of visual cards with a third sequence of visual cards in response to a single user command, each visual card of the third sequence of visual cards representing the television programming sources in a later broadcast time slot. ### Claim 38 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, wherein the visual cards of the first sequence represent broadcast television channels, and wherein the visual cards of the second sequence represent time slots. ### Claim 39 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, wherein the visual cards of the first sequence represent broadcast television networks, and wherein the visual cards of the second sequence represent time slots. ### Claim 40 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, wherein the visual cards of the first sequence represent television programs, and wherein the visual cards of the second sequence represent time slots. ### Claim 41 (depends on 26) The system of claim 26, wherein the first axis is a horizontal axis and the second axis is a vertical axis. ### Claim 42 (depends on 26) The system of claim 26, wherein the first axis is a vertical axis and the second axis is a horizontal axis. ### Claim 43 (depends on 26) The system of claim 26, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the second set of visual cards based on a user-selected visual card from the first sequence. ### Claim 44 (depends on 26) The system of claim 26, wherein the first and second sequences intersect to form quadrants within the user interface, and wherein the processor is further configured to display supplemental information related to the visual card within the focus area in at least one of the quadrants formed by the intersecting sequences. ### Claim 45 (depends on 26) The system of claim 26, wherein each visual card includes a picture for graphically representing a television program or television programming source. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) The system of claim 45, wherein at least one picture comprises a captured video frame. ### Claim 47 (depends on 45) The system of claim 45, wherein at least one picture comprises an animation. ### Claim 48 (depends on 26) The system of claim 26, wherein the visual cards from the second set represent broadcast time slots, and wherein the processor is further configured to replace the second set of visual cards with a third set of visual cards in response to a single user command, each visual card of the third set of visual cards representing an earlier broadcast time slot. ### Claim 49 (depends on 26) The system of claim 26, wherein the processor is further configured to accelerate the scrolling of the first sequence of visual cards based on how long a remote control button is held down by a user. ### Claim 50 A method for navigation of a plurality of options within a user interface of an interactive television system, the method comprising: horizontally scrolling a first sequence of visual cards through a spatially-fixed focus area of the user interface, the visual cards of the first sequence of visual cards representing applications within the interactive television system, wherein the visual cards of the first sequence are both aligned with and scrolled along a horizontal axis intersecting the focus area; and in response to a user horizontally scrolling a particular visual card of the first sequence of visual cards corresponding to a television application into the focus area, enabling vertically scrolling of a second sequence of visual cards through the focus area, the visual cards of the second sequence of visual cards representing a television programs, wherein the visual cards of the second sequence are both aligned with and scrolled along vertical axis intersecting the focus area, and wherein vertical scrolling of the second sequence does not affect visual cards of the first sequence outside of the focus area, wherein no visual card of the first sequence is also included in the second sequence. ### Claim 51 (depends on 50) The method of claim 50, further comprising replacing the second sequence of visual cards along the vertical axis with a third sequence of visual cards along the vertical axis, the third sequence of visual cards corresponding to options associated with a different application within the interactive television system in response to a different visual card from the first sequence being scrolled into the focus area. ### Claim 52 A system for focused navigation of a plurality of options within a user interface, the system comprising: means for scrolling only visual cards from a first sequence of visual cards through a horizontally and vertically fixed focus area along a first axis of the user interface to which the first sequence of visual cards is aligned, each visual card of the first sequence corresponding to a first type of option; and means for scrolling only visual cards from a second sequence of visual cards through the focus area along a second axis of the user interface to which the second sequence of visual cards is aligned, each visual card of the second sequence corresponding to a second type of option, wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the second axis such that the respective visual cards from the first and second sequences are scrolled in perpendicular directions, wherein no visual card of the first sequence is also included in the second sequence. ### Claim 53 (depends on 52) The system of claim 52, wherein the visual cards of the first sequence graphically represent at least one of broadcast television channels, broadcast television networks, and television programs.