Tuning dial user interface

A controller for use by a user to select media for playback by an entertainment system, comprising:

• a display to display a hierarchy of levels to a user, wherein a plurality of options for one level of the hierarchy of levels is displayed at a time, and wherein for each selection of a lower level all higher level hierarchies of the hierarchy of levels are displayed with the plurality of options;
• a physical dial to select the one of a plurality of options on the one level of the hierarchy of levels in response to a physical movement of the physical dial;
• a processing device to update the display of the hierarchy of levels in response to selection of the option by the user;
• and
• wherein in response to the user selecting the option on the one level, the processing device is adapted to perform one of:
• display another level of the hierarchy of levels, and generate an instruction to cause the media corresponding to the option to be played by the entertainment system;
• wherein the display is adapted to display all options of the one level around a curved line;
• and
• wherein in response to the display of another level of the hierarchy of levels, the curved line moves inward toward the physical dial, and a new curved line is displayed with new options for the other level.

A method for selecting media by a user for playback by an entertainment system, comprising:

• displaying a hierarchy of levels to a user, wherein a plurality of options for one level of the hierarchy of levels is displayed at a time, and wherein for each selection of a lower level all higher level hierarchies of the hierarchy of levels are displayed with the plurality of options;
• selecting an option on the one level of the hierarchy of levels in response to a physical movement of a physical dial;
• updating the displaying of the hierarchy of levels in response to the selecting of the option by the user;
• and
• in response to the user selecting the option on the one level, performing one of:
• displaying another level of the hierarchy of levels, and generating an instruction to cause the media corresponding to the option to be played by the entertainment system;
• wherein the displaying comprises displaying all options of the one level around a curved line, and wherein the displaying another level of the hierarchy of levels includes moving the curved line inward toward the physical dial and displaying a new curved line with new options for the other level.

An entertainment system for playing media, comprising:

• a controller for use by a user to select media for playback, comprising:
• a display to display a hierarchy of levels to a user, wherein a plurality of options for one level of the hierarchy of levels is displayed at a time, and wherein for each selection of a lower level all higher level hierarchies of the hierarchy of levels are displayed with the plurality of options;
• a physical dial to select the one of a plurality of options on the one level of the hierarchy of levels in response to a physical movement of the physical dial;
• and
• a processing device to update the display of the hierarchy of levels in response to selection of the option by the user;
• wherein in response to the user selecting the option on the one level, the processing device is adapted to perform one of:
• display a higher level of the hierarchy of levels, and generate an instruction to cause the media corresponding to the option to be played by the entertainment system;
• and at least one speaker to play the media corresponding to the instruction;
• wherein the display is adapted to display all options of the one level around a curved line;
• and
• wherein in response to the display of another level of the hierarchy of levels, the curved line moves inward toward the physical dial, and a new curved line is displayed with new options for the other level.