User interface having a cross arrangement

Abstract

A tangible computer readable storage medium storing instructions which when executed on a programmed processor carry out a process for navigation of menu options available to a user of an audio/visual (AV) system has instructions that enter a graphical user interface (GUI) in a menu system that is displayed on a video display; instructions that generate a signal for displaying a first navigable list of menu options on the video display, the first navigable list of menu options having a plurality of fields arranged in a first linear configuration that overlays the AV content currently playing on the video display with one of the menu options shown at a location of the video display that is highlighted; and instructions responsive to a navigation command from a remote controller, that move the first navigable list of menu options of the GUI to cause another field of the plurality of fields to move to the location that is highlighted, and thus highlight the another field while continuing to display the AV content currently playing on the television video display

1 . A tangible computer readable storage medium storing instructions which when executed on a programmed processor carry out a process for navigation of menu options available to a user of an audio/visual (AV) system, comprising:
 instructions that enter a graphical user interface (GUI) in a menu system that is displayed on a video display;   instructions that generate a signal for displaying a first navigable list of menu options on the video display, the first navigable list of menu options having a plurality of fields arranged in a first linear configuration that overlays the AV content currently playing on the video display with one of the menu options shown at a location of the video display that is highlighted; and   instructions responsive to a navigation command from a remote controller, that move the first navigable list of menu options of the GUI to cause another field of the plurality of fields to move to the location that is highlighted, and thus highlight the another field while continuing to display the AV content currently playing on the television video display.   
   
   
       2 . The storage medium according to claim l, further comprising:
 instructions responsive to a navigation command from the remote controller, that generate a signal for displaying a second navigable list of menu options associated with the highlighted field, the second navigable list of menu options arranged in a second linearly configured set of fields which intersect the first linear configuration of fields of the first navigable list of menu options at the highlighted location and overlaying the AV content currently playing on the video display.   
   
   
       3 . The storage medium according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 instructions that navigate to a menu option of the second navigable list of menu options in response to a navigation command.   
   
   
       4 . The storage medium according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 instructions that select the menu option of the second navigable list in response to a selection command from the remote controller, wherein the AV content currently playing on the television video display continues to play unless the menu option selected is a menu option that begins playing a different selection of AV content.   
   
   
       5 . The storage medium according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 instructions that upon selection of the menu option from the second navigable list, cease the generating of the signals for displaying the first and second navigable list of menu options so that the first and second navigable list of menu options disappear from the television video display and taking an action associated with the menu selection.   
   
   
       6 . The storage medium according to  claim 2 , wherein the first linear configuration of the first menu is oriented substantially horizontally, and the second linear configuration of the second menu is oriented substantially vertically. 
   
   
       7 . The storage medium according to  claim 2 , wherein the first linear configuration ofthe first menu is oriented substantially vertically, and the second linear configuration of the second menu is oriented substantially horizontally. 
   
   
       8 . The storage medium according to  claim 2 , wherein the first linear configuration of the first menu is oriented substantially at a right angle to the second linear configuration of the second menu.