Abstract:
Techniques for animation of alphanumeric inputs include generating an animated graphical representation of an alphanumeric input and combining the animated graphical representation with content. The combined animated graphical representation and the content are then output on a monitor.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Electronic devices have made significant contributions towards the advancement of modern society. An ever increasingly important aspect of electronic devices is the user experience. An important part of electronic devices that affects the user experience is the user interface. Electronic devices such as televisions, for example, include an input interface such as a remote control and/or a control panel and a display that makeup the user interface. Typically, a user may enter an alphanumeric input via the remote control as part of an input command to change the channel for instance. The alphanumeric input is typically echoed back to the user on the display. Generally, the display of the alphanumeric input is simply presented as small alphanumeric characters in white font on a black background super imposed on the content currently being displayed. However, this conventional technique is not particularly appealing to the user. Accordingly, there is a continued need for an improved user interface for electronic devices such as televisions that improves the user experience. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Embodiments of the present technology are directed toward alphanumeric input animation. In one embodiment, a system includes an input interface, a video processing unit and a display. The input interface generates alphanumeric inputs. The video processing unit generates an animated graphical representation of the alphanumeric inputs and combines the animated graphical representation with content for output on a display. 
         [0003]    In another embodiment, a method includes receiving an alphanumeric input from an input interface. An animated graphical representation of the alphanumeric input is generated and combined with content from a content source. The combined animated graphical representation and the content are then output on a display. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    Embodiments of the present technology are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which: 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of a system that includes an alphanumeric input animated interface, in accordance with one embodiment of the present technology. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  shows a flow diagram of an alphanumeric input animation method in accordance with one embodiment of the present technology. 
           [0007]      FIGS. 3A-3F  show screen shots illustrating a technique for animation of alphanumeric inputs, according to an exemplary implementation of the present technology. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present technology, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the present technology will be described in conjunction with these embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the present technology, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present technology. However, it is understood that the present technology may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present technology. 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  shows a system that includes an alphanumeric input animated interface, in accordance with one embodiment of the present technology. Operation of the system will be further described with reference to  FIG. 2 , which shows an alphanumeric input animation method in accordance with one embodiment of the present technology. The system  100  includes a display  110 , one or more video processing units  120 , one or more content sources  130 , and one or more input interfaces  140 . Each video processing unit  120  may be implemented in hardware, firmware, and/or by software and a microprocessor (e.g., computing device executable commands and data stored in computing device readable media that when executed by a processing unit implement one or more functions that include the alphanumeric input animation technique). 
         [0010]    In an exemplary implementation, the display  110  and a video processing unit  120  may be part of an electronic device such as a television  150  or the like, the content source  130  may be a set top box (STB), digital video disk (DVD) player or the like, and the input interface  140  may be a remote control or the like. However, it is appreciated that the display  110 , video processing unit  120 , content source  130  and input interface  140  may be arranged in numerous other possible implementations. For example, the video processing unit  120  may be part of one or more content sources  130 , or a content source  130  may be part of the television  150 . The input interfaces  140  may be a remote control, and/or a control panel on the television  150  or one or more of the content sources  130 . Furthermore, each input interface  140  may separately control a respective television  150  or content source  130 , and/or at least one of the input interfaces  140  may control a plurality of elements that include the television  150  and/or one or more of the content sources  130 . 
         [0011]    At  210 , an alphanumeric input is received by the video processing unit  120  from an input interface  140 . In one implementation, the input may be an alphanumeric input received in response to user activation of one or more buttons on a ten-key pad of a remote control  140 . As used herein the term “alphanumeric” is intended to include numbers, letters, and symbols in any one or more of a plurality of languages. At  220 , an animated graphical representation of the input is generated by the video processing unit  120 . The animated graphical representation of the alphanumeric input may include a graphic of one or more numbers, letters and/or symbols that change in one or more characteristics, such as size, contrast, color, transparency, shading, texture, position, orientation, location, perspective and/or the like, over a period of time. For example, a graphic of a number may start relatively large and get smaller as the number moves from a first position to a second position. 
         [0012]    At  230 , the animated graphical representation of the input is combined with content from a content source  130  by the video processing unit  120 . The animated graphical representation, in one implementation, may be combined by replacing corresponding pixels in the content to be output on the display with the pixels of the animated graphical representation. In another implementation, the corresponding pixels in the content to be output on the display and the pixels of the animated graphical representation are blended. Blending the corresponding pixels results in a partial transparent effect, wherein the content that underlies the animated graphical representation is partially visible through the animated graphical representation. At  240 , the combined animated graphical representation of the input and the content are output by the video processing unit  120  on the display  110 . In addition, the operation of a device such as the television  150  or content source  130  may be controlled based on the alphanumeric input received from the input interface  140 , at  250 . 
         [0013]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3A-3F , an illustration of a technique for animation of alphanumeric inputs, according to an exemplary implementation of the present technology, is shown. As illustrated in  FIG. 3A , a graphical representation of a numeric input begins with the input “1”  310  being displayed with an initial size in a first position. The “1”  310  then moves from the first position to a second position as indicated by the arrow labeled  320 . As the “1”  310  moves from the first position to a second position the size of the “1”  310  gets smaller, as illustrated in  FIG. 3A ,  3 B and  3 C. As illustrated in  FIG. 3C , the graphical representation of the numeric input ends with the “1”  310  being displayed with a final size in the second position. The movement and resizing of the “1” may appear as a substantially fluid motion to the user. Accordingly, the alphanumeric input is shown as relatively large, transparent and closer to the middle of the screen and then animates down to its final size and final location in the peripheral region of the screen. In the illustrated implementation, the animated graphical representation of the “1” may create the visual perception of the “1” being thrown up on the screen in response to the user activating the “1” button on the remote control.  FIGS. 3D ,  3 E and  3 F then illustrate the display of the graphical representation of an “8”  330  input. Again, the animated graphical representation of the “8”  330  may create the visual perception of the “8”  330  being thrown up on the screen in response to the user activating the “8” button. The input of the “8”  330  may combine with the “1”  310  at the second position to represent the alphanumeric input of “18”  340  on the display confirming the users channel selection command of “18.” 
         [0014]    Accordingly, embodiments of the present technology give the user more of an interactive feeling when they are pressing buttons on a remote or other input interface. The animated visual feedback of alphanumeric inputs adds a special effect to enhance the user experience. 
         [0015]    The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present technology have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present technology and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present technology and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents.