User control interface for interactive digital television

Abstract

A method of controlling a television increasing a control function when a user-movable object is on one side of a line displayed on a layout, and decreasing the control function when the user-movable object is on the other side of the line. The method may involve movements in one, two, or three dimensions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of controlling a television, the method comprising:
 providing a line and a user-movable object (cursor) on a layout displayed on the television, wherein the line divides the layout into two regions on opposite respective sides of the line;   increasing a control function when the user-movable object is in one of the regions, on one of the sides of the line, and decreasing the control function when the user-movable object is in the other of the regions, on the other of the sides of the line; and   displaying an indicator of the control function.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a rate of increasing and/or decreasing the control function is a function of a distance between the user-movable object and the line. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising displaying a rate indicator on the layout that provides a visual indicator of the rate of increasing and/or decreasing of the control function. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the user moving the user-movable object using a handheld controller. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indicator is a numerical indicator. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indicator is a graphical indicator. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indicator is a graphical indicator. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a second line on the layout, for altering an additional control function, with the second line dividing the layout into a third region and a fourth region on opposite respective first and second sides of the second line; and
 increasing the additional control function when the user-movable object is in the third region, on the first side of the second line, and decreasing the additional control function when the user-movable object is in the fourth region, on the second side of the second line.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the line and the second line are substantially perpendicular to one another. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the control function and the additional control function are simultaneously varied by movement of the user-movable object. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the control function and the additional control function are interdependent functions that generally vary together in a predetermined way, such that increase of one of the control functions generally calls for either an increase or a decrease in the other of the control functions. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the line is a substantially horizontal line. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the line is a substantially vertical line. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the control function includes one or more of channel, volume, contrast, brightness, backlight level, hue, and saturation. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the providing the line includes providing a visible line from one edge of the layout to an opposite edge of the layout. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the providing the line includes making the line visible upon the occurrence of a predetermined event. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the providing the line includes making the line visible upon the user-movable object crossing over the line. 
     
     
         18 . A method of controlling a television, the method comprising:
 providing a first line and a user-movable object (cursor) on a layout displayed on the television, wherein the first line divides the layout into a first region and a second region on opposite respective first and second sides of the first line; and   increasing a control function when the user-movable object is in the first region, on the first side of the first line, and decreasing the control function when the user-movable object is in the second region, on the second side of the first line;   providing a second line on the layout, for varying an additional control function, with the second line dividing the layout into a third region and a fourth region on opposite respective first and second sides of the second line;   wherein the first and second lines and the user-moveable object are parts of a three-dimensional control matrix for simultaneously controlling up to three control functions.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the three-dimensional control matrix has an illusion of depth into and/or out of the television, further comprising a depth cue associated with the three-dimensional control matrix 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the depth cue comprises a plurality of planes of different sizes, arranged in linear perspective with the line having an illusion of depth.