Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SELECTING AN OPTION OR OPTIONS ON A
COMPUTER SYSTEM
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for selecting an option or
options on a computer system, including interactive television and \rideo systems.
It has long been recognised that the weakest link in any computer system
is the so called "man-machine interface". Computer systems are necessarily
designed by computer literate people but most end-users will not be computer
literate. The end-users are merely interested in the options the computer systemwill perform. What is obvious to a system designer may be an unFathomable step
to an end-user. Much effort is now being devoted to "user friendliness" of
computer systems.
Users of computer systems will be famiiiar with the use of icons signifying
various options which may be selected and used on the system. Typical icons
include a pictorial representation of a calculator signifying an arithrnetical function,
a page of a document signifying a word-processing function and an artists brush
signifying a drawing function.
An on-screen menu is normally provided with a display of "icons"
representing the available options. In this specification, the term "icon" is used to
ZO refer to the image associated with a selectable option. This "icon" may be agraphic, text or moving image, for example, or some combination. Icons are
usually selected by moving a cursor to the icon and "clicking on" t~ it under mouse
control. It will be appreciated that where there are a large number of options, the
result will be a display where the icons are small and difficult to see.
In other systerns, such as text retrieval systems, inFormation is retrieved
and displayed from incoming television signals to a television by keying in numbers
from a remote control handset. The numbers for the options are displayed on the
screen as a menu or index. This system has been found currlbers~me to use since
the user is normally seated some distance away from the televisicn screen and the
large listings of options displayed results in the numbers being displayed at a size
which is difficult for the user to clearly perceive especially if that person has less
than perfect eyesight.
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In an effort to reduce the clutter of the display multi-page menus have
been used, each page (screen) displaying a few of the available options. Systemshave been devised which attempt to prioritise options by ordering them accordingto frequency of utilisation - i.e. more frequently used options are placed on higher
level menus than those less often accessed. Two such systems which similarly
involve updating the arrangement of menus of application icons whenever an
application has been used, for example, are described in E P427264 and
EP601320. However, such systems suffer from the evident disadvantage that
only a limited number of options can be displayed at one time. A user is still
required to actively search out other options not associated vvith the most
frequently used applications appearing on a top level screen. In order to dispiay ail
the options it is necessary for the user to input an instruction via a cursor,
keyboard or handset to move to the next page or back to the previous page. This
requires the user to remember the required input to change pi3ge or to read
information from a screen-displayed aide-memoir. The screen-displayed aide-
memoir will, in fact, add to the problem of screen-clutter that the multi-page menu
approach seeks to address. Thus, the aide-memoir is made small. It will be
understood that there is an uneasy trade-off between providing thi, information at
a size users can discern and increasing screen clutter.
Chapters 17 and 18 of "Handbook of Human-Computer Interaction" by
Martin Helander, Elsevier Science Publishers 1993, pages 363-369 and 404-407
discuss various issues relating to the design of object-orientated user interfaces
and screens. Chapter 17 discloses that, once a user selects an icon, the icon
selected should be highlighted in some way. As shown in Figure 4 this is achieved
by inverting the selected icon. Clearly an icon only becomes more visually
significant than the others once a user has selected it. Thus, in common with the
previous systems described above, a user is still required to actively search out
options not associated with the icons displayed on the screen.
It will be readily appreciated that the above mentioned problems are
significant for users in systems where the user has a strong dcsire to use the
options that the systern has to offer. These problems are even rnore significantwhere the system is one which provides goods and services for cale to the user.
Lack of user friendliness then becomes a significant inhibitor which can dissuade
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users from persevering to discover all the features of the system and thus full
sales potential of the system is not achieved.
According to the present invention there is provided a metnod of selecting
an option or options on a computer system comprising displa~, ing icons each
5 representative of an option or a set of options offered by the system; varying the
visual significance of at least one of the icons through a range of visual
significance; monitoring for a user input and selecting the option c~r set of options
corresponding to the user input.
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By dynamically varying the visual significance of the icon it is possible to
produce a display which is uncluttered even though'a large number of icons may
be present. The user's attention will be drawn to the icon which is most visually
significant and the user can then make an input to select that option, if desired, or
5 wait for another to be raised to his attention. In contrast with previous menusystems, where options are displayed in lists or as groups of icons, which may be
reordered, but which are essentially static at the time a user is seeking to make a
selection, the present invention provides a method for actively bringing different
options to the attention of a prospective user to aid the selection process. The10 options effectively come to the user rather than the user having to ferret them out
himself .
The change in visual significance may be caused by an icon moving
against a background of stationary icons or moving in a different manner to the
other icons which may also be moving. Another way in ~,vhich the visual
15 significance may be varied is by changing the colour. brightness",ontrast or shape
of the icon or by highli~3hting it in some way by for example creating a frame about
the icon of contrasting colour.
Preferably, as the at least one icon increases in visual significance at least
one other icon decreases in visual significance. This is preferred since it will20 ensure that the display remains uncluttered because an increase in size of the icon
will be compensated for by a decrease in size of another ic:on. Particularly
preferred is a method in which the rate of decrease in visual significance
approximately matches the rate of increase.
Advantageously, the icon is changed in visual significanc:e by a change in
25 size relative to at least some of the other icons.
An advantage of changing the size of the icon is that a larger number of
icons can be displayed on one screen without giving a cluttered appearance, for
example, because the icons can be made smaller initially. The change in visual
significance could then be an increase in size thus making the ican more prominent
30 and also easier for the user to discern what it represents. An apparent increase in
size of one icon may also be achieved by reducing the size of the others.
Another way in which the visual significance could be varied could be for
the icon's position in the display to be varied. For example, an icon could be
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moved to a central location in the display perhaps with this location being
highligh~ed .
The change in visual significance may be achieved by a combination of the
above described methods. Preferably, the change in visual significance is achieved
5 by a rnovement and change in size. This is preferred since it is particularly
effective in gaining the user's attention since it may, preferably, be used to create
the impression of movement in three dimensions on a two-dimensional display.
Whilst present display formats such as television screens or visual display
units (\/'DU) are two-dimensional it is envisaged that the invention could be used on
10 a three dimensional display using holographic techniques. In such techniques it
may be possible to project holographic images of the icons in free space and to
move the icons towards or away from the user to change the visual significance.
In the described embodiment the icons are representations of spheres
containing information appropriate to the option the icon represents. The icons
15 may also contain or comprise numbers, letters or other indicia to enabie the user to
make a corresponding input to the system. For example the icons may be selected
by nurnber the user entering at a handset the number shown by the icon.
Alternatively, the icons may be colour coded and an appropriate colour button
depressed on the handset or other input device. The information could be pictorial
20 information.
Another way in which the visual significance could be varied is to animate
pictorial information held in or associated with the icon or for the information to be
made visually significant by increasing its brightness or bringing it into focus from
a blurred state.
It is envisaged that where there are more options than can be displayed in
an uncluttered way on a display, icons will, preferably, periodically leave the
display or cease to be displayed and new icons will be displayed in their stead.After a period of time the original icon or icons may return to "displace" the new
icons or other icons. The advantage of this is that there is no need for the user to
30 switch between menus and options, the less able user will be able to allow the
systern to expose all options. In this way all users can be exposed to the options
available without there having to be any user input. This feature will be
particulariy important where the system is concerned with selling goods or
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services. The amount of time that any icon appears in the clisplay col~ld be
controlled. Icons may be displayed for equal lengths of time or for a length of time
dependant on commercial circumstances such as a cost levied by the system
operator to the goods or services provider for displaying that organisation's icon.
The visual significance of a newly displayed icon may be enhanced in
some way by for example the icon moving at a relatively rapid rate in comparisonto the other icons, an auditory alarm signifying the event or a c:hange in shape,
colour, brilliance or contrast, or by flashing or a combination of these.
The user inputs to select an option may be via devices sut:h as a mouse, a
keyboard or a keypad either linked to the system by a cable or using wireless
technology including inlfra-red, ultrasound and the like.
Other ways of selecting the option could also be used, for example, by
sound, voice command, touching the display screen or even, where a holographic
display is used, touching or capturing the icon.
The option could be selected by inputting indicia associated with the icon
such as numbers or letters or by controlling a displayed cursor to move it over the
icon.
Where there is a significant number of options available for selection,
conveniently the same indicia may be associated with different options as the
different options are raised in visual significance at different times. This has the
advantage that where there is a greater number of options available than are
immediately selectable ~eg from a conventional 0-9 numeric keypad) the system
still remains easy to use without requiring the use of supplemental keypad buttons
(eg 1 + for 10-19; 2+ for 20-29 etc. as commonly found on TV remote controls).
Thus as the various aptions available are varied in visual significance, the same
indicia ~say 0-9) can t,e associated with the first ten options initially as these are
raised in visual significance, then with the second ten and so on. The dynamic
variation in visual significance allows indicia ~and one set of associated options) to
be removed from view for a period and then re-introduced into view associated
30 with a new set of options.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus
for presenting and enabling user selection of an option or set of options provided
by a computer system comprising:
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rneans for displaying icons representative of the options;
means for monitoring for a user input indicative of a particular option or
options being selected; and
means for varying the visual significance of at least one of the displayed
5 icons through a range of visual significance.
Conveniently, the apparatus comprises a display unit; a user input device
and a processor connected to control images for display on the display unit and to
monitor For a user input, via the user input device, of a selection by the user of a
particular option or options, wherein the processor is programmed to control the10 dynamic variation in visual significance on the display unit of an image
representative of at least one option.
Specific embodiments of the invention wiil now be described, by way of
example only, with reference to the drawings in which:-
Figure 1 shows a computer system in accordance with the invention; and
Figure 2 shows a display of the system shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1 shows a computer system for supplying video films and shoppingservices to subscribers. The system comprises a central computer 1 which is
connected via telephone lines 2 and 3 and a telephony network 4 to a number of
subscriber units one of which, subscriber unit 5, is shown. An input port 7 of the
20 subscriber unit 5 is connected to the telephone line 3 which also serves a
telephone 6 located in the subscriber's premises. An output port 8 of the
subscriber unit 5 is connected via co-axial cable 9 to an aerial socket 10 of a
television set 11. The television set 11 provides a display device for the system
on the screen 12 of which video films and goods and services information may be
25 display0d.
A subscriber 13 is shown watching the screen 12 and controlling the
system by means of a hand-held remote control unit 14 having a keypad 15. The
remote control unit 14 transmits commands entered on the keyboard 15 via a
flashing infra-red diode 16 to the subscriber unit 5 in a well known manner.
The subscriber unit 5 is located in a convenient position close to the
television 1 1. The unit ~ inciudes a microprocessor 17, an input/output device 18,
a memory 19, a receiver 20 and a video generator 21. The memory 19 will include
random access memory (RAM) and read only memory (ROM) in the form of
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semiconductor chips. A bus 22 is provided to interlink these units 3s shown in the
figure and to allow the passage of data and control information.
In operation video and control signals will be transmitted over the
telephony network 2 3 and 4 to the subscriber unit 5 from the central computer 1.
5 This information is transmitted in a frequency band which does not affect normal
operation of the telephone 6 that is to say the telephone 6 and 1:he system may
be used simultaneously without any interference.
The video and control signals are passed via the port 7 input output
device 18 and bus 22 to the microprocessor 17. This interprets the control signals
10 and passes the video ;ignals to the video generator 21. (50me of the control
information or video signals may also be stored in the memory 19 for future use).
At the video generator 21 the video signals are converted to a suitable
frequency for the television 11 that is a frequency comparable to the normal
television signals received by the aerial from television broadcasl: services. The
15 television 1 1 then displays the video images on the screen 12.
As earlier described the subscriber 13 controls the systern by use of the
infra-red remote control unit 14. The infra-red signals from this unit are received
by a sensor in the receiver unit 20 of the subscriber unit 5. The receiver unit 20
decodes the received signal and passes on the control information to the
20 microprocessor 17.
The control information will be used by the microprocessor 17 to control
the video sequence that is displayed by the television 11 or it may be interpreted
as an instruction such as an order for a service or goods which needs to be
transmitted back to the central computer 1. If the information is to be transmitted
back then it is passed back via the input/output device 18 and the telephony
network 2 3 4. Again the information will be transmitted as a signal at a
frequency which does not affect normal operation of the telephony network.
The way in vvhich options are selected on the system will now be
described.
The television screen 12 is more clearly shown in figure 2. The video
sequence displayed on the screen 12 is of five spheres moving about the screen
area and at the same time changing size through a range of sizes. This gives theimpression of a circulatory motion in three dimensions with the spheres each in
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turn apparently moving towards the front of the display (closer to subscriber 13)
and then retreating to the back of the display (away from the subscriber 13). Thus
each sphere in turn assumes a visually significant position where the user can
easily view the sphere whilst other spheres recede. The motion is indicated in the
5 figure by illustrative arrows 23.
Each sphere is an icon for a particular set of options offered by the
system. In figure 2, the most visually significant set of options is one concerned
with travel services labelled with the indicia numeral "4". The "rearmost" icon is
concerned with a set of banking services options labelled with numeral "5". The
10 icons bearing the respective indicia numerals "1", "3" and "2" are concerned with
options for theatre and cinema, video films offered by the system and shopping
options respectively.
The duration of the period for which each icon is displayed as most
visually significant is kept the same for each icon in order that each supplier of the
15 services or goods under the icon has identical exposure to the customer. In other
embodiments it may be desirable to vary the duration, for example, where it is
desired to charge a supplier for display of an option depending on the length oftime the associated icon is most visually significant.
The subscriber 13 is able to select an option in one of two ways with the
20 remote control unit 14 in this embodiment.
The fist way is to depress a key on the keypad 15 that corresponds to the
icon numeral, that is to say, in order to select travel options key number "4" is
depressed, for shops key number "2" and so on.
The second way is to press key "0" when the desired option is most
25 visually prominent.
The receiver 20 detects the key press and passes the number to the
processor 17. The processor 17 transmits this information to the control computer
1 and the next video signals concerning the selected option are transmitted and
then displayed as before.
If the key depressed is "0", then the processor 17 transmits to the control
computer information including the number of the option represented by the icon
that is most visually significant at the time the key is depressed. The central
computer 1 again responds by sending further video signals concerning that option.
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The further video signals could comprise further icons in the form of
spheres as earlier described. For example, the set of travel could include spheres
for particular travel operator or for travel to particular destinations. These sub-
options could include further sub-options. Selection of a sub-option would be the
5 same as earlier described for an option.
When the subst:riber wishes to order goods or a service the processor 17
passes the information to the central computer 1 and the goods are dispatched orservice arranged.
Figure 2 shows a screen with five icons. Where further options are
10 available an icon can leave the screen to be replaced by another icon representing
another set of options. This event would be accompanied by a alarm note being
sounded by the television speaker.
Further spheres may enter the display area representing special events
such as advertisements of special offers. In this embodiment these are smaller
15 colour coded spheres 24 which collide with and bounce off the five option icons.
The subscriber selects these icons by depressing the corresponding coloured
button on the keypad 15.
Whilst in the described embodiment the icons include descriptors such as
travel, shows and the like it would also be possible for the icons to include pictures
20 still or animated of scenes relevant to the option. Thus, the travel sphere could
include picture of trains, boats and planes.
Whilst the embodiment described above involves interaction with a
remote, on-line information system, it will be readily apparent that the invention is
equally applicable to options on computer systems in genera, including, for
25 example, individual, personal computer systems where the options are simply
programs, or options within a program held on such a computer system.
