Patent ID: 6593941
Filing Date: 2003-07-15
Classification: G06F,H04N

Abstract:
An audio-video control system comprising a controller having connected thereto a plurality of devices including audio-video devices, the controller comprising an image display screen and an input unit enabling the user to perform input manipulations on the image display screen for controlling the operation of the plurality of devices in accordance with the manipulation of the input unit, the audio-video control system being characterized in that the controller comprises:contents select button display means for displaying in a first frame on the image display screen specified contents select buttons selected from among a plurality of contents select buttons, the specified contents select buttons prepared for commanding a specified one or more of the devices to perform a predetermined operation, operation command means for commanding in the first frame the specified one or more of the devices to perform the predetermined operation in accordance with manipulation of one of the specified contents select buttons displayed by the contents select button display means, contents arrangement frame display means for displaying, in a second frame on the image display screen, the specified contents select buttons disposed in a selection contents area and remaining ones of the plurality of contents select buttons disposed in a substitute contents area, the remaining ones of the plurality of contents select buttons being substitute buttons, and contents arrangement change means, operable in the second frame wherein an undesirable one of the specified contents select buttons in the selection contents area is selected and a desirable one of the substitute buttons in the substitute contents area is selected resulting in the desirable one of the substitute buttons being moved into the selection contents area replacing the undesirable one of the specified contents select buttons and the undesirable one of the specified contents select buttons being moved into the substitute contents area replacing the desirable one of the substitute buttons that moved to the selection contents area, the desirable one of the substitute buttons thereafter being displayed in the first frame with remaining ones of the specified contents select buttons and being available for commanding one or more of the devices.