Systems and Methods for Node Tracking and Notification in a Control Framework Including a Zoomable Graphical User Interface

Abstract

Systems and methods according to the present invention provide a control framework for organizing, selecting and launching media items including graphical user interfaces coupled with an optional free space control device for collection of the basic control primitives of point, click, scroll, hover and zoom which permit for easy and rapid selection of media items, e.g., movies, songs etc., from large or small collections. The remote control maps natural hand movements and gestures into relevant commands while the graphical display uses images, zooming for increased/decreased levels of detail and continuity of GUI objects to provide easy organization, selection and navigation among the media items by a user.

1 . In control framework having a plurality of nodes, a subset of said plurality of nodes associated with a displayed portion of a graphical user interface (GUI), a method for tracking said plurality of nodes comprising the steps of:
 maintaining a data structure which contains boundary information associated with each of said subset of nodes;   changing said displayed portion of said GUI from a first portion to a second portion; and   evaluating said data structure based upon said changing step to determine whether a node has moved into or out of said displayed portion of said GUI.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said each of said plurality of nodes is a user interface object. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein at least some of said user interface objects are associated with software applications. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of maintaining a data structure further comprises the step of:
 maintaining a linked list of transition blocks, each of said transition blocks being associated with a boundary of one of said nodes in said subset of nodes.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of maintaining a data structure further comprises the step of:
 maintaining a plurality of linked lists, each associated with one of a plurality of different dimensions.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said plurality of different dimensions include at least one of horizontal, vertical and depth dimensions. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said plurality of different dimensions include time. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said plurality of different dimensions include at least one of content type and content rating. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said boundary information includes locations of boundary shape edges. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said boundary shapes are rectangles. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of changing said displayed portion of said GUI further comprises the step of:
 zooming into or out of said GUI.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of changing said displayed portion of said GUI further comprises the step of:
 panning from said first portion to said second portion of said GUI.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of changing said displayed portion of said GUI further comprises the step of:
 operating a filter to move from said first portion of said GUI to said second portion of said GUI.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of evaluating said data structure further comprises the step of:
 changing a pointer to point at a portion of said data structure which is outside of said second portion of said GUI.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of evaluating said data structure further comprises the step of:
 determining whether to notify one of said plurality of nodes based on at least one of: a node side, a view side and a view move direction.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said step of evaluating said data structure further comprises the step of:
 determining, for each block in said data structure passed by said pointer, whether to notify a corresponding one of said plurality of nodes based on at least one of: a node side, a view side and a view move direction.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 selectively notifying said node based on a result of said evaluating step.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said step of selectively notifying further comprises the step of:
 notifying said node if it partially intersects with said second portion of said GUI.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said step of selectively notifying further comprises the step of:
 notifying said node only if it fully intersects with said second portion of said GUI.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said step of selectively notifying further comprises the step of:
 notifying said node if it intersects with said second portion of said GUI after evaluating a plurality of data structures associated with a plurality of dimensions.   
     
     
         21 .- 43 . (canceled)