System and methods for interacting with a control environment

Abstract

A system and methods for facilitation of user interactions with an electronic device. A number of user interface methods are described and may be used alone or in combination with one another to present an enhanced interface to a user. A method of providing user interaction using a compact status indicator is described. A method for providing a virtual scroll wheel to a user for interaction with content sets is described. A method for allowing a user to dynamically modify a scalable user interface is described. A method for providing gesture based input to a user via a virtual gesture pad is described. A method of providing an interactive graphic search query interface is described. A method for indicating and selecting available content type is described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-readable media embodied in a non-transient, physical memory device having stored thereon computer-executable instructions, the instructions, when executed by a controlling device having a touch screen display, cause the controlling device to perform steps comprising:
 responding to a first input provided to the touch screen display by causing a first plurality of icons, each corresponding to a one of a plurality of media streaming sources, to be displayed in the touch screen display;   responding to a second input provided to the touch screen display indicating a selection of a one of the first plurality of icons by causing a second plurality of icons, each corresponding to a one of a plurality of media content available from the selected one of the plurality of media streaming sources, to be displayed in the touch screen display; and   responding to a third input provided to the touch screen display indicating a selection of a one of the second plurality of icons by causing a transmission of a one or more commands to a controllable appliance, the one or more commands selected to cause the selected one of the plurality of media content available from the selected one of the plurality of media streaming sources to be displayed in a display associated with the controllable appliance.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-readable media as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the controlling device transmits the one or more commands via use of an infrared communications channel. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-readable media as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the controlling device transmits the one or more commands via a radio-frequency communications channel. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-readable media as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of media content comprises an audio/visual media stream. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-readable media as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of media content comprises an audio media stream. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-readable media as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of media streaming sources comprises a networked content server device. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-readable media as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the display comprises a display of a television. 
     
     
         8 . A method performed by a controlling device having a touch screen display, comprising:
 responding to a first input provided to the touch screen display by causing a first plurality of icons, each corresponding to a one of a plurality of media streaming sources, to be displayed in the touch screen display;   responding to a second input provided to the touch screen display indicating a selection of a one of the first plurality of icons by causing a second plurality of icons, each corresponding to a one of a plurality of media content available from the selected one of the plurality of media streaming sources, to be displayed in the touch screen display; and   responding to a third input provided to the touch screen display indicating a selection of a one of the second plurality of icons by causing a transmission of a one or more commands to a controllable appliance, the one or more commands selected to cause the selected one of the plurality of media content available from the selected one of the plurality of media streaming sources to be displayed in a display associated with the controllable appliance.   
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the controlling device transmits the one or more commands via use of an infrared communications channel. 
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the controlling device transmits the one or more commands via a radio-frequency communications channel. 
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the plurality of media content comprises an audio/visual media stream. 
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the plurality of media content comprises an audio media stream. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the plurality of media streaming sources comprises a networked content server device. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable media as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the display comprises a display of a television. 
     
     
         15 . A computer-readable media embodied in a non-transient, physical memory device having stored thereon computer-executable instructions, the instructions, when executed by a controlling device having a touch screen display, cause the controlling device to perform steps comprising:
 causing a first plurality of icons, each corresponding to a one of a plurality of media streaming sources, to be displayed in the touch screen display;   responding to a first input provided to the touch screen display indicating a selection of a one of the first plurality of icons by causing a second plurality of icons, each corresponding to a one of a plurality of media content available from the selected one of the plurality of media streaming sources, to be displayed in the touch screen display; and   responding to a second input provided to the touch screen display indicating a selection of a one of the second plurality of icons by causing a transmission of a one or more commands to a controllable appliance, the one or more commands selected to cause the selected one of the plurality of media content available from the selected one of the plurality of media streaming sources to be displayed in a display associated with the controllable appliance.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable media as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the controlling device transmits the one or more commands via use of an infrared communications channel. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable media as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the controlling device transmits the one or more commands via a radio-frequency communications channel. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable media as recited in  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the plurality of media content comprises an audio/visual media stream. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable media as recited in  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the plurality of media content comprises an audio media stream. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable media as recited in  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the plurality of media streaming sources comprises a networked content server device.