Interactive display interface for information objects

Abstract

A navigation interface display system generates a navigation map that organizes a plurality of information sources in an easy-to-use manner. In practical embodiments, the information sources are cable or satellite television stations, online music or video files, or the like. The navigation map employs a hierarchical display protocol for a plurality of map items that serve as links to the various content sources. The hierarchical display scheme displays a limited number of active map items at a first magnification level and additional active map items at a second magnification level. In addition, the map items are displayed on distinctive areas or features of the map, where such features represent different content genres or categories. Subcategories can also be displayed in a hierarchical manner, thus providing additional information related to the content as the magnification level of the map changes. The navigation interface display system is deployed in a layered architecture with centralized servers, centralized databases related to the map data and the content data, and different presentation layers associated with different presentation or display devices (such as television systems, personal computers, wireless telephones, personal digital assistants, etc.). The layered architecture allows a single deployment of the display system to service multiple users, where each user can utilize any number of different presentation devices.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for displaying active symbols in an interactive navigation interface, said method comprising: 
 displaying a graphic feature on a display element, said graphic feature representing a category;    displaying, on said display element at a first magnification level, a first number of active map items from said category, said first number of active map items being displayed on or proximate to said graphic feature; and    displaying, on said display element at a second magnification level, a second number of active map items from said category, said second number of active map items being displayed on or proximate to said graphic feature.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to    claim 1   , wherein: 
 said second magnification level corresponds to a higher magnification of said graphic feature, relative to said first magnification level; and    said second number of active map items is greater than said first number of active map items.    
     
     
         3 . A method according to    claim 1   , wherein; 
 said second magnification level corresponds to a higher magnification of said graphic feature, relative to said first magnification level; and    said first number of active map items is a subset of said second number of active map items.    
     
     
         4 . A method according to    claim 1   , further comprising displaying on said display element, on or proximate to said graphic feature, indicia representing said category.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to    claim 1   , further comprising: 
 displaying, on said display element, a map upon which said graphic feature is rendered; and    panning across said map in response to a directional control signal.    
     
     
         6 . A method according to    claim 1   , further comprising: 
 displaying, on said display element, a map upon which said graphic feature is rendered; and    magnifying said map in response to a magnification control signal.    
     
     
         7 . A method according to    claim 1   , further comprising: 
 displaying, on said display element, a map upon which said graphic feature is rendered; and    re-centering a visible portion of said map in response to a centering control signal.    
     
     
         8 . A method according to    claim 1   , further comprising: 
 displaying a second graphic feature on said display element, said second graphic feature representing a second category; and    displaying, on said display element, a number of active map items from said second category, said number of active map items from said second category being displayed on or proximate to said second graphic feature.    
     
     
         9 . A method according to    claim 1   , wherein: 
 said category represents a programming genre; and    said first number of active map items identify specific providers of content related to said programming genre.    
     
     
         10 . A method according to    claim 1   , wherein: 
 said category represents a programming genre; and    said first number of active map items identify specific programs related to said programming genre.    
     
     
         11 . An interactive navigation interface for displaying a number of active symbols, comprising: 
 a display element configured to display a plurality of map items;    a first subset of said map items rendered on said display element as active map items at a first hierarchical level; and    a second subset of said map items rendered on said display as active map items at a second hierarchical level; wherein a prioritization metric determines said first and second subsets.    
     
     
         12 . An interactive navigation interface according to    claim 11   , further comprising a subset of said map items rendered on said display element as inactive map items at said first hierarchical level.  
     
     
         13 . An interactive navigation interface according to    claim 12   , wherein said inactive map items are rendered on said display element in a visually distinguishable manner relative to said active map items.  
     
     
         14 . An interactive navigation interface according to    claim 11   , wherein said second subset includes said first subset of map items.  
     
     
         15 . An interactive navigation interface according to    claim 11   , wherein said first subset is a proper subset of said map items.  
     
     
         16 . An interactive navigation interface according to    claim 11   , wherein said first and second hierarchical levels respectively correspond to relatively low and high magnification levels.  
     
     
         17 . An interactive navigation interface according to    claim 11   , wherein said prioritization metric is based on the frequency of selection of said map items by a user.  
     
     
         18 . A method for displaying active symbols in an interactive navigation interface, said method comprising: 
 displaying a graphic feature on a display element, said graphic feature representing a category;    displaying, on said display element, a first number of active map items from said category, said first number of active map items being displayed on or proximate to a first area of said graphic feature, said first area representing a first subcategory; and    displaying, on said display element, a second number of active map items from said category, said second number of active map items being displayed on or proximate to a second area of said graphic feature, said second area representing a second subcategory.    
     
     
         19 . A method according to    claim 18   , further comprising displaying on said display element, on or proximate to said first area of said graphic feature, indicia representing said first subcategory.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to    claim 18   , further comprising: 
 displaying, on said display element, a map upon which said graphic feature is rendered; and    magnifying said map in response to a magnification control signal.    
     
     
         21 . A method according to    claim 18   , further comprising: 
 displaying a second graphic feature on said display element, said second graphic feature representing a second category; and    displaying, on said display element, a number of active map items from said second category, said number of active map items from said second category being displayed on or proximate to said second graphic feature.    
     
     
         22 . A method according to    claim 18   , wherein: 
 said category represents a programming genre;    said first and second subcategories represent first and second programming sub-genres, respectively;    said first number of active map items identify specific providers of content related to said first programming sub-genre; and    said second number of active map items identify specific providers of content related to said second programming sub-genre.    
     
     
         23 . A method according to    claim 18   , wherein: 
 said category represents a programming genre;    said first and second subcategories represent first and second programming sub-genres, respectively;    said first number of active map items identify specific programs related to said first programming sub-genre; and    said second number of active map items identify specific programs related to said second programming sub-genre.    
     
     
         24 . An interactive navigation interface for displaying a number of active symbols, comprising: 
 a display element;    a graphic feature rendered on said display element, said graphic feature representing a category;    a first number of active map items from said category, said first number of active map items being rendered on said display element on or proximate to a first area of said graphic feature, said first area representing a first subcategory; and    a second number of active map items from said category, said second number of active map items being rendered on or proximate to a second area of said graphic feature, said second area representing a second subcategory.    
     
     
         25 . An interactive navigation interface according to    claim 24   , further comprising: 
 a second graphic feature rendered on said display element, said second graphic feature representing a second category; and    a number of active map items from said second category, said number of active map items from said second category being rendered on said display element on or proximate to said second graphic feature.    
     
     
         26 . An interactive navigation interface according to    claim 24   , wherein: 
 said category represents a programming genre;    said first and second subcategories represent first and second programming sub-genres, respectively;    said first number of active map items identify specific providers of content related to said first programming sub-genre; and    said second number of active map items identify specific providers of content related to said second programming sub-genre.    
     
     
         27 . An interactive navigation interface according to    claim 24   , wherein: 
 said category represents a programming genre;    said first and second subcategories represent first and second programming sub-genres, respectively;    said first number of active map items identify specific programs related to said first programming sub-genre; and    said second number of active map items identify specific programs related to said second programming sub-genre.    
     
     
         28 . An interactive navigation interface for displaying a number of active symbols, comprising: 
 a display element;    a graphic feature rendered on said display element, said graphic feature representing a category;    a first number of active map items from said category, said first number of active map items being rendered on said display element at a first magnification level on or proximate to said graphic feature; and    a second number of active map items from said category, said second number of active map items being rendered on said display element at a second magnification level on or proximate to said graphic feature.    
     
     
         29 . An interactive navigation interface according to    claim 28   , wherein: 
 said second magnification level corresponds to a higher magnification of said graphic feature, relative to said first magnification level; and    said first number of active map items is a subset of said second number of active map items.    
     
     
         30 . An interactive navigation interface according to    claim 28   , further comprising indicia representing said category, said indicia being rendered on said display element on or proximate to said graphic feature.  
     
     
         31 . An interactive navigation interface according to    claim 28   , further comprising: 
 a second graphic feature rendered on said display element, said second graphic feature representing a second category; and    a number of active map items from said second category, said number of active map items from said second category being rendered on said display element on or proximate to said second graphic feature.    
     
     
         32 . An interactive navigation interface according to    claim 28   , wherein: 
 said category represents a programming genre; and    said first number of active map items identify specific providers of content related to said programming genre.    
     
     
         33 . An interactive navigation interface according to    claim 28   , wherein: 
 said category represents a programming genre; and    said first number of active map items identify specific programs related to said programming genre.    
     
     
         34 . An interactive navigation interface for displaying a number of active symbols, comprising: 
 a display element;    a graphic feature rendered on said display element, said graphic feature representing a category;    a first subcategory identifier rendered on said display element at a first hierarchical level, said first subcategory identifier being displayed on or proximate to a first area of said graphic feature; and    a second subcategory identifier rendered on said display element at a second hierarchical level, said second subcategory identifier being displayed on or proximate to a second area of said graphic feature; wherein    a prioritization metric determines the hierarchical order of display of said first and second subcategory identifiers.    
     
     
         35 . A method for displaying active symbols in an interactive navigation interface, said method comprising: 
 displaying a graphic feature on a display element, said graphic feature representing a category;    displaying a first subcategory identifier on said display element at a first hierarchical level, said first subcategory identifier being displayed on or proximate to a first area of said graphic feature; and    displaying a second subcategory identifier on said display element at a second hierarchical level, said second subcategory identifier being displayed on or proximate to a second area of said graphic feature; wherein    a prioritization metric determines the hierarchical order of display of said first and second subcategories.    
     
     
         36 . A method for displaying active symbols in an interactive navigation interface, said method comprising: 
 displaying a number of active map items on a display element, each of said active map items having at least one variable characteristic associated therewith, and each of said active map items corresponding to an information source;    highlighting a selected active map item in response to a user activation command; and    altering said at least one variable characteristic of said selected active map item in response to current operating conditions related to the information source corresponding to said selected active map item.    
     
     
         37 . A method according to    claim 36   , wherein said highlighting step comprises changing the appearance of said selected active map item.  
     
     
         38 . A method according to    claim 36   , wherein said altering step comprises altering an appearance characteristic of said selected active map item.  
     
     
         39 . A method according to    claim 38   , wherein said altering step comprises altering at least one of a size characteristic, a shape characteristic, a color characteristic, a design characteristic, and an orientation characteristic.  
     
     
         40 . A method according to    claim 36   , wherein: 
 said information source comprises a content provider that communicates data to a user of said display element; and    said altering step alters said at least one variable characteristic of said selected active map item in response to a current quality of service metric.    
     
     
         41 . A method according to    claim 36   , wherein: 
 said information source comprises a content provider that communicates data to a user of said display element; and    said altering step alters said at least one variable characteristic of said selected active map item in response to a current broadcasting status of said content provider.    
     
     
         42 . A method according to    claim 36   , wherein: 
 said information source comprises a content provider that communicates data to a user of said display element; and    said altering step alters said at least one variable characteristic of said selected active map item in response to a service condition associated with said content provider.    
     
     
         43 . A method according to    claim 36   , wherein: 
 said information source comprises a content provider that communicates data to a user of said display element;    said selected active map item corresponds to a specific program provided by said content provider; and    said altering step alters said at least one variable characteristic of said selected active map item in response to programming information associated with said specific program.    
     
     
         44 . A method for displaying active symbols in an interactive navigation interface, said method comprising: 
 displaying a number of active map items on a display element;    locating, on said display element, a selected active map item; and    displaying, on said display element, a guidance indicator for at least one of said active map items other than said selected active map item.    
     
     
         45 . An interactive navigation interface comprising: 
 a navigation map rendered in a display window, said navigation map comprising a graphic feature representing a category;    a number of active map items rendered on said navigation map, each of said active map items representing content accessible through said interactive navigation interface; and    a number of inactive map items rendered on said navigation map.    
     
     
         46 . An interactive navigation interface according to    claim 45   , further comprising a navigation tool for said navigation map, said navigation tool generating a directional shift request that causes a rendering of said navigation map to shift in accordance with a selected direction.  
     
     
         47 . An interactive navigation interface according to    claim 45   , further comprising a zoom tool for said navigation map, said zoom tool generating a zoom request that causes a rendering of said navigation map to become more or less detailed.  
     
     
         48 . An interactive navigation interface according to    claim 45   , further comprising an activation element that initiates presentment of content represented by a selected one of said active map items.  
     
     
         49 . An interactive navigation interface according to    claim 45   , further comprising a preview element configured to present content represented by a selected one of said active map items.  
     
     
         50 . An interactive navigation interface according to    claim 45   , further comprising a map item information element for said navigation map, said map item information element containing data relating to a currently selected active map item.  
     
     
         51 . An interactive navigation interface according to    claim 45   , further comprising a content description element for said navigation map, said content description element containing data relating to content associated with a currently selected active map item.  
     
     
         52 . An interactive navigation interface according to    claim 45   , further comprising a guidance indicator rendered in conjunction with a currently selected map item, said guidance indicator identifying a neighboring map item, where said neighboring map item can be selected with a directional key corresponding to said guidance indicator.  
     
     
         53 . An interactive navigation interface according to    claim 45   , further comprising a time-shifting element for said navigation map, said time-shifting element generating a time-shifting request that causes a rendering of said navigation map corresponding to a selected time slot.  
     
     
         54 . An interactive navigation interface according to    claim 53   , wherein said time-shifting element comprises a plurality of components representing different time slots.