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US 7,607,150 B1Granted
Information providing device and method
AssigneeSony Corporation
InventorsMotoki Kobayashi, Takeshi Hashimoto, Tatsushi Nashida
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to an information providing apparatus and an information providing apparatus. Information for indexes is obtained through a network, and information screens are classified by this information to create a menu screen. In this manner, the present invention can be applied to a set-top box for digital satellite broadcasting, and a desired program and the like can be selected easily and rapidly even in case where a large number of information screens such as programs and the like are provided from a plurality of sources.
Claims14
An information providing apparatus comprising:
- image generation means for generating a plurality of images which are sequential and arranged spirally, based on input image data, and for generating the plurality of images such that an image at a second time point is larger than an image at a first time point;
- image display control means for controlling the display of the plurality of images generated;
- wherein when the input image data is recorded in a recording medium that cannot be randomly accessed, the image display control means displays operation keys of a video tape recorder for a user to choose a program;
- focus setting means for setting a focus on an image positioned at a focus area surrounded by a frame, among the plurality of images displayed,
- wherein when the image set by the focus setting means is a head of the input image data, the image generation means generates a dummy image for a display area that is before the presently focused image;
- and
- wherein a value of maximum number of images that are allowed to be arranged spirally is displayed with the plurality of images,
- wherein the image set by the focus setting means is enlarged until the image becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined value which renders the image gradually transparent in view of said plurality of images displayed,
- wherein the image set by the focus setting means is switched to a display of a child screen when the image becomes equal to or larger than said predetermined value,
- wherein the plurality of images are arranged such that elapsed time is depicted and the plurality of images gradually fade toward the center of the spiral from the outer circumferential side such that background images are visible, and
- wherein the focus area is maintained at a fixed position during the operation of the focus setting means;
- and
- selection means for selecting the image set by the focus setting means;
- wherein the plurality of images are index images which are respectively selected from scenes of one program, and the image display control means displays the program corresponding to the image selected by the selection means.
11 more elements
An information providing method comprising:
- an image generation step of generating a plurality of images which are sequential and arranged spirally, based on input image data, and of generating the plurality of images such that an image at a second time point is larger than an image at a first time point;
- an image display control step of controlling the display of the plurality of images generated, on image display control means;
- when the input image data is recorded in a recording medium that cannot be randomly accessed, displaying operation keys of a video tape recorder for a user to choose a program;
- a focus setting step of setting a focus on an image positioned at a focus area surrounded by a frame, among the plurality of images displayed,
- enlarging the image set by the focus setting step until the image becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined value which renders the image gradually transparent in view of said plurality of images displayed, and
- switching the image set by the focus setting step to a display of a child screen when the image becomes equal to or larger than said predetermined value,
- wherein when the image set by the focus setting step is a head of the input image data, the image generation step generates a dummy image for a display area that is before the presently focused image;
- and
- wherein a value of maximum number of images that are allowed to be arranged spirally is displayed with the plurality of images, and
- wherein the focus area is maintained at a fixed position during the focus setting step;
- and
- a selection step of selecting the image set by the focus setting step;
- wherein the plurality of images are arranged such that elapsed time is depicted and the plurality of images gradually fade toward the center of the spiral from the outer circumferential side such that background images are visible, and
- wherein the plurality of images are index images which are respectively selected from scenes of one program, and the image display control means displays the program corresponding to the image selected by the selection step.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.