User interfaces for content access devices

Abstract

A content access device is operable to present a user interface that includes content type menu elements arranged on a first axis, content category menu elements arranged on a second axis, and content selection elements arranged in an area between the first axis and the second axis. The content selection elements arranged in the area between the first and second axes may correspond to a selected content type menu element and a selected content category menu element. The content access device may change the content selection elements arranged in the area upon selection of a different content type menu element and/or a different content category menu element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A content access device, comprising:
 a non-transitory storage medium storing instructions; and   a processing unit that executes the instructions to present a user interface comprising:
 content type menu elements arranged on a first axis; 
 content category menu elements arranged on a second axis; and 
 content selection elements corresponding to a selected content type menu element and a selected content category menu element arranged in an area between the first axis and the second axis; wherein 
   the processing unit changes the content selection elements arranged in the area upon selection of a different content type menu element or a different content category menu element.   
     
     
         2 . The content access device of  claim 1 , wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the second axis. 
     
     
         3 . The content access device of  claim 1 , wherein the processing unit changes all of the content selection elements arranged in the area upon selection of the different content type menu element or the different content category menu element. 
     
     
         4 . The content access device of  claim 1 , wherein the processing unit presents content associated with a content selection element in response to selection of the content selection element. 
     
     
         5 . The content access device of  claim 1 , wherein a content selection element indicates that it is unavailable. 
     
     
         6 . The content access device of  claim 1 , wherein the content selection elements comprise thumbnail images associated with corresponding content. 
     
     
         7 . The content access device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the content type menu elements include a television shows menu element and a movies menu element; and   the content category menu elements include a comedy menu element and a drama menu element.   
     
     
         8 . A method for facilitating content navigation using a content access device, comprising:
 presenting, using the content access device, a user interface including a first group of menu elements, a second group of menu elements positioned perpendicular to the first group of menu elements, and a content selection area positioned between the first and second groups of menu elements;   including content selection elements in the content selection area using the content access device based on a selected first menu element of the first group of menu elements and a selected second menu element of the second group of menu elements; and   changing all of the content selection elements in response to receiving a selection change of the selected first menu element or the selected second menu element.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising presenting an additional user interface comprising a grid of selectable content elements organized by source and time. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising presenting an additional user interface comprising:
 a first menu element area that presents content determined to be most likely to be accessed by a user;   a secondary menu element area including a number of still images corresponding to a first group of content determined to be secondarily most likely to be accessed by the user; and   a third menu element area including text descriptions of a second group of content determined to be tertiarily most likely to be accessed by the user.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising presenting instructions on how to make unavailable content available in response to receiving a selection of a content selection element that is associated with the unavailable content. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein including the content selection elements in the content selection area comprises arranging the content selection elements in rows and columns in the content selection area. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising presenting information about an indicated one of the content selection elements. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the content selection area is positioned between the information about the indicated one of the content selection elements and the second group of menu elements. 
     
     
         15 . A content access device, comprising:
 a non-transitory storage medium storing instructions; and   a processing unit that executes the instructions to present an on demand user interface by:   positioning content type menu elements along a first axis, content category menu elements along a second axis, and a content selection area between the first and second axes;   presenting selection elements in the content selection area based on a received content type menu element selection and a received content category menu element selection; and   changing all of the selection elements in the content selection area based on a change to the received content type menu element selection or the received content category menu element selection.   
     
     
         16 . The content access device of  claim 15 , wherein the processing unit moves an indicator between the content type menu elements, the content category menu elements, and the selection elements based on user input. 
     
     
         17 . The content access device of  claim 15 , wherein the processing unit allows selection between multiple versions of content associated with a selection element in response to selection of the selection element. 
     
     
         18 . The content access device of  claim 17 , wherein the multiple versions include at least one of rental and purchase versions, different quality versions, or different rated versions. 
     
     
         19 . The content access device of  claim 15 , wherein the content type menu elements include a first element associated with video content and a second element associated with music content. 
     
     
         20 . The content access device of  claim 15 , wherein the content category menu elements include an element associated with content categorized as determined to be most likely to be accessed by a current user.