Methods and apparatus for rendering user interfaces and display information on remote client devices

Abstract

A user interface is implemented on a client device remote from a host device. The host device operates an application program that implements a user interface, such as an electronic programming guide or a guide for a personal video recorder, that permits a user to control at least one target device. The host device transfers to the client device an identification of at least one scene. In general, a scene defines an abstract layout for at least one screen display of the user interface. The client device generates at least one screen display for the scene based on its interpretation of the scene. The client device then displays the screen as an implementation of the user interface. Thereafter, a user initiates, using the client device, an operation to control the target device. In response, the target device performs the operation. The host device may also display information at a client device For example, the host device may transmit information about a media currently playing at the client device.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for implementing a user interface for a target device, the target device having a first screen capable of displaying video information, the method being implemented through the use of a portable wireless device having a second screen, the second screen being substantially smaller than the first screen and being a touch sensitive display and the portable wireless device having a processor responsive to the touch sensitive display and being capable of establishing a wireless link with the target device through at least one wireless network and also capable of generating a display on the second screen, wherein the target device is capable of displaying, on the first screen, a plurality of multiple scenes provided from a computing source remote from the portable wireless device, wherein the plurality of multiple scenes are adapted for performing functions with the target device including selection of different video information sources to be displayed on the target device, the method comprising:
 in response to a first software condition detected by software logic stored on a computer readable medium within the portable wireless device, causing at least data regarding duration and timing of the video information and character based data describing at least one attribute of the video information to be stored on the computer readable medium within the portable device;   in response to a second software condition detected by the software logic stored on the computer readable medium within the portable wireless device, wherein the second software condition occurs at least in part in response to a first user input sensed on the touch sensitive display, causing, using the software logic stored on the computer readable medium, a selection of one of a plurality of second scenes based at least partially on instructions in software of the portable wireless device;   generating, through the software logic stored on the computer readable medium, information for the one of the plurality of second scenes to be displayed with the data regarding duration and timing of the video information and the character based data describing the at least one attribute of the video information on the second screen, wherein the one of the plurality of second scenes displayed on the second screen is a facsimile for at least a portion of a corresponding scene displayed on the first screen, the corresponding scene also including corresponding character based data describing at least one attribute of the video information on the first screen, and wherein the corresponding scene also has corresponding data regarding duration and timing of the video information; and   in response to a second user input touching the second screen at least when the one of the plurality of second scenes is displayed, generating, through the software logic stored in the computer readable medium, a scroll of the one of the plurality of second scenes in a first direction and a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and wherein the scroll causes the software logic to generate on the second screen information to permit a user to be able to select information associated with another video that is available at another time in the second direction, and wherein the scroll causes to be generated on the second screen, second video information for a second video that is available on a different communication link, and wherein the second user input causes the portable wireless device to send wireless information, wherein the wireless information causes a different real time signal to be displayed on the first screen and causes a response to be provided by the portable wireless device through the software logic stored on the computer readable medium.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the selection of the one of the plurality of second scenes based at least partially on instructions in software of the portable wireless device, further comprises receiving scene descriptors, wherein the scene descriptors affect positions for logical entities in the second screen display. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the software logic stored on the computer readable medium interprets the scene descriptors based on display capabilities of the second screen to render the one of the plurality of second scenes. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein interpreting the scene descriptors based on the display capabilities of the second screen to render the one of the plurality of second scenes, further comprises converting the logical entities for display on the second screen into a format compatible with display capabilities of the second screen. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the second user input touching the second screen at least when the one of the plurality of second scenes is displayed, further comprising receiving, through the software logic stored on the computer readable medium, a user interface event, wherein the user interface event indicates to the software logic stored on the computer readable medium the selection of at least one of the logical entities. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one of the logical entities is associated with a procedural code for calling a remote application, wherein the procedural code initiates a remote procedure call to propagate reception of a new scene descriptor. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the new scene descriptor includes new logical entities associated with the information for the one of the plurality of second scenes to be displayed with the data regarding duration and timing of the video information and the character based data describing the at least one attribute of the video information on the second screen. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising, in response to receiving, through the software logic stored on the computer readable medium, the user interface event, generating a query, via the wireless link, to a data store residing on a remote network for the information for the one of the plurality of second scenes to be displayed with the data regarding duration and timing of the video information and the character based data describing the at least one attribute of the video information on the second screen from a data store residing on a remote network. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein generating the scroll of the one of the plurality of second scenes in the first direction and the second direction in response to the second user input touching the second screen at least when the one of the plurality of second scenes is displayed, further comprises initiation of at least one widget, wherein the at least one widget includes functionality for dividing operations between the software logic stored on the computer readable medium and the remote application. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising associating a slot, associated with the at least one widget, with a location in the one of a plurality of second scenes as displayed on the second screen, wherein the location in the one of a plurality of second scenes corresponds with an area of the second screen at which the second user input touched the second screen. 
     
     
         31 . A controller, associated with a user interface system, for communicating with a target device, the target device providing video information to a first screen capable of displaying the provided video information, the controller being implemented in a portable wireless device having a second screen, the second screen being substantially smaller than the first screen and being a touch sensitive display and the portable wireless device having a processor responsive to the touch sensitive display and being capable of establishing a wireless link with the target device through at least one wireless network and also capable of generating a display on the second screen, wherein the target device is capable of displaying, on the first screen, a plurality of multiple scenes provided from a computing source remote from the portable wireless device, wherein the plurality of multiple scenes are adapted for performing functions with the target device including selection of different video information sources to be displayed on the target device, the controller in the portable wireless device configured for:
 in response to a first software condition detected by software logic stored on a computer readable medium within the portable wireless device, causing at least data regarding duration and timing of the video information and character based data describing at least one attribute of the video information to be stored on the computer readable medium within the portable device;   in response to a second software condition detected by the software logic stored on the computer readable medium within the portable wireless device, wherein the second software condition occurs at least in part in response to a first user input sensed on the touch sensitive display, causing, using the software logic stored on the computer readable medium, a selection of one of a plurality of second scenes based at least partially on instructions in software of the portable wireless device;   generating, through the software logic stored on the computer readable medium, information for the one of the plurality of second scenes to be displayed with the data regarding duration and timing of the video information and the character based data describing the at least one attribute of the video information on the second screen, wherein the one of the plurality of second scenes displayed on the second screen is a facsimile for at least a portion of a corresponding scene displayed on the first screen, the corresponding scene also including corresponding character based data describing at least one attribute of the video information on the first screen, and wherein the corresponding scene also has corresponding data regarding duration and timing of the video information; and   in response to a second user input touching the second screen at least when the one of the plurality of second scenes is displayed, generating, through the software logic stored in the computer readable medium, a scroll of the one of the plurality of second scenes in a first direction and a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and wherein the scroll causes the software logic to generate on the second screen information to permit a user to be able to select information associated with another video that is available at another time in the second direction, and wherein the scroll causes to be generated on the second screen, second video information for a second video that is available on a different communication link, and wherein the second user input causes the portable wireless device to send wireless information, wherein the wireless information causes a different real time signal to be displayed on the first screen and causes a response to be provided by the portable wireless device through the software logic stored on the computer readable medium.   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the selection of the one of the plurality of second scenes based at least partially on instructions in software of the portable wireless device, further comprises receiving scene descriptors, wherein the scene descriptors affect positions for logical entities in the second screen display. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the software logic stored on the computer readable medium interprets the scene descriptors based on display capabilities of the second screen to render the one of the plurality of second scenes. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein interpreting the scene descriptors based on the display capabilities of the second screen to render the one of the plurality of second scenes, further comprises converting the logical entities for display on the second screen into a format compatible with display capabilities of the second screen. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the second user input touching the second screen at least when the one of the plurality of second scenes is displayed, and wherein the controller is further configured for receiving, through the software logic stored on the computer readable medium, a user interface event, wherein the user interface event indicates to the software logic stored on the computer readable medium the selection of at least one of the logical entities. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the at least one of the logical entities is associated with a procedural code for calling a remote application, wherein the procedural code initiates a remote procedure call to propagate reception of a new scene descriptor. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the new scene descriptor includes new logical entities associated with the information for the one of the plurality of second scenes to be displayed with the data regarding duration and timing of the video information and the character based data describing the at least one attribute of the video information on the second screen. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the controller is further configured for, in response to receiving, through the software logic stored on the computer readable medium, the user interface event, generating a query, via the wireless link, to a data store residing on a remote network for the information for the one of the plurality of second scenes to be displayed with the data regarding duration and timing of the video information and the character based data describing the at least one attribute of the video information on the second screen from a data store residing on a remote network. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein generating the scroll of the one of the plurality of second scenes in the first direction and the second direction in response to the second user input touching the second screen at least when the one of the plurality of second scenes is displayed, further comprises initiation of at least one widget, wherein the at least one widget includes functionality for dividing operations between the software logic stored on the computer readable medium and the remote application. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the controller is further configured for associating a slot, associated with the at least one widget, with a location in the one of a plurality of second scenes as displayed on the second screen, wherein the location in the one of a plurality of second scenes corresponds with an area of the second screen at which the second user input touched the second screen.