System and method for focused navigation within a user interface

Abstract

Graphical images representing television channels are provided to a display interface, which successively displays the graphical images within a focus area of a user interface in response to a single initiating action by a user. The display interface discontinues the successive display of video frames to show a particular video frame corresponding to a selected channel when a terminating action by the user has been detected.

1 . A method for enabling access to a plurality of channels within a user interface, comprising: 
 scrolling a first linear sequence of graphical images representing different channels through a single, non-moving focus area within the user interface in response to a single initiating action by a user, the scrolling of graphical images automatically proceeding until being terminated by the user; and    discontinuing the scrolling of graphical images to show a particular graphical image corresponding to a selected channel in response to a single terminating action by the user.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the graphical images comprise video frames captured from a television broadcast.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the single initiating action comprises holding down a first button on a remote control.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the single terminating action comprises releasing the first button.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 tuning to and displaying the selected channel in response to a selection action by the user that is separate from the initiating and terminating actions.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first linear sequence is scrolled horizontally through the focus area.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first linear sequence is scrolled vertically through the focus area.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 scrolling a second linear sequence of graphical images representing options through the focus area in response to a single initiating action by a user, the scrolling of graphical images automatically proceeding until being terminated by the user, wherein the second linear sequence is scrolled perpendicularly to the first linear sequence such that the first and second linear sequences cross within the focus area; and    discontinuing the scrolling of graphical images to show a particular graphical image corresponding to a selected option in response to a single terminating action by the user.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the particular graphical image from the second linear sequence in the focus area determines the graphical images displayed in the first linear sequence.  
     
     
         10 . A method for enabling access to a plurality of channels within a user interface, comprising: 
 displaying a plurality of icons representing interactive functions along a first axis of the user interface, the icons being scrollable along the first axis to move a selected icon into a single, non-movable focus area within the user interface;    in response to a particular icon representing a television function being scrolled into the focus area, displaying at least a subset of a sequence of graphical images representing television channels along a second, perpendicular axis of the user interface, one graphical image being displayable within the focus area;    scrolling the graphical images along the second axis through the focus area to progressively change the graphical image within the focus area to a next graphical image in the sequence in response to a single initiating action by a user, the scrolling of graphical images automatically proceeding until being terminated by the user; and    discontinuing the scrolling of graphical images to show a particular graphical image within the focus area corresponding to a selected channel in response to a single terminating action by the user.    
     
     
         11 . A system for enabling access to a plurality of channels within a user interface, comprising: 
 a display interface to scroll a first linear sequence of graphical images representing different channels through a single, non-moving focus area within the user interface, the scrolling of graphical images automatically proceeding until being terminated by the user; and    an input interface to initiate the scrolling of graphical images in response to a single initiating action by a user and to terminate the scrolling of graphical images to show a particular graphical image corresponding to a selected channel in response to a single terminating action by the user.    
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the graphical images comprise video frames captured from a television broadcast.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the single initiating action comprises holding down a first button on a remote control.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the single terminating action comprises releasing the first button.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a tuner for tuning to the selected channel in response to a separate selection action by the user.    
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the display interface horizontally scrolls the first linear sequence through the focus area.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the display interface vertically scrolls the first linear sequence through the focus area.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , further wherein the display interface is to scroll a second linear sequence of graphical images representing options through the focus area, the scrolling of graphical images automatically proceeding until being terminated by the user, wherein the second linear sequence is scrolled perpendicularly to the first linear sequence such that the first and second linear sequences cross within the focus area, and wherein the input interface is to terminate the scrolling of graphical images to show a particular graphical image corresponding to a selected option in response to a single terminating action by the user.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the particular graphical image from the second linear sequence in the focus area is to determine the graphical images displayed in the first linear sequence.  
     
     
         20 . A system for enabling access to a plurality of channels within a user interface, comprising: 
 means for displaying a plurality of icons representing interactive functions along a first axis of the user interface, the icons being scrollable along the first axis to move a selected icon into a single, non-movable focus area within the user interface;    means for displaying, in response to a particular icon representing a television function being scrolled into the focus area, at least a subset of a sequence of graphical images representing television channels along a second, perpendicular axis of the user interface, one graphical image being displayable within the focus area;    means for scrolling the graphical images along the second axis through the focus area to progressively change the graphical image within the focus area to a next graphical image in the sequence in response to a single initiating action by a user, the scrolling of graphical images automatically proceeding until being terminated by the user; and    means for discontinuing the scrolling of graphical images to show a particular graphical image within the focus area corresponding to a selected channel in response to a single terminating action by the user.    
     
     
         21 . An article of manufacture comprising a computer-accessible medium including program code for causing a computer to perform a method for enabling access to a plurality of channels within a user interface, the method comprising: 
 displaying a plurality of icons representing interactive functions along a first axis of the user interface, the icons being scrollable along the first axis to move a selected icon into a single, non-movable focus area within the user interface;    in response to a particular icon representing a television function being scrolled into the focus area, displaying at least a subset of a sequence of graphical images representing television channels along a second, perpendicular axis of the user interface, one graphical image being displayable within the focus area;    scrolling the graphical images along the second axis one through the focus area to progressively change the graphical image within the focus area to a next graphical image in the sequence in response to a single initiating action by a user, the scrolling of graphical images automatically proceeding until being terminated by the user; and    discontinuing the scrolling of graphical images to show a particular graphical image within the focus area corresponding to a selected channel in response to a single terminating action by the user.