The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 11, 2006
Filed:
Jun. 22, 2001
Adam G. Wolff, San Francisco, CA (US);
David B. Delp, San Francisco, CA (US);
Adam G. Wolff, San Francisco, CA (US);
David B. Delp, San Francisco, CA (US);
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA (US);
Abstract
Systems and methods for providing a dynamically controllable user interface that embraces a variety of media. A menu system, which interfaces between a user and a variety of media and offers contextual and static options to the user, is capable ratcheting upon receipt of one or more input commands. Contextual options allow a user to control various media, such as television programming and/or web pages, on the television screen, while static options allow a user to execute mini applications while viewing television programming and/or surfing the Internet. The ratcheting menu system that organizes the various options, allows a user to control a variety of media through one menu system, and optimizes the display area on a television screen. The menu system allows for access to television programming while providing authentication to maintain security on web pages.