Abstract:
A viewing system includes a display screen; a processor for providing pictorial images and a graphical user interface menu to be displayed on the display screen; a user interface control for enabling a user to select particular items from the graphical user interface menu in order to control the pictorial images displayed on the display screen; and means for automatically determining the proximate distance between the display screen and the user; wherein the graphical user interface menu is modified responsive to the proximate distance.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to television displays having pictorial images and a graphical user interface menu for controlling the pictorial images and, more particularly, to such television displays that automatically modify the text size or icon size of the graphical user interface menu based on the user distance from the display. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In prior art systems, when designing the image processing for a TV display, an assumption is made about the viewing distance (i.e., the distance between the viewer and the display screen). The sharpening and noise reduction processing used for the display is based on the assumed viewing distance (i.e., a viewing distance of 10 feet). The graphical user interface (GUI) menu, which permits selection of various options, is also designed to be viewed at this assumed viewing distance. A remote control permits the user to select the desired menu item from the graphical user interface menu for altering the display based on the selected menu item. For example, the menu item may permit text of the audio to be displayed for viewers who are “deaf.” 
         [0003]    Computer word processing programs, such as Microsoft Word®, have pull-down menus that permit the user to select various “zoom” percentages which alter the size of the displayed document, thereby changing the size of the text and other features of the document being displayed on the display screen of the computer. For example, one hundred percent is the default “normal” text size with options to enlarge up to five hundred percent and shrink down to ten percent. This is a manual user setting, and the user of the computer program must manually change the zoom setting. This is typically done to enlarge the text size in order to be more readable at larger viewing distances. 
         [0004]    This illustrates that it is advantageous for the display system to provide user-friendly viewing options. However, the graphical user interface menu for current television displays is a static interface that does not vary in response to the viewing distance. Consequently, a need exists for a graphical user interface that is more user-friendly, and which enables the user to easily discern the GUI text or icons at different viewing distances 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above. Briefly summarized, according to one aspect of the invention, the invention resides in a viewing system having (a) a display screen; (b) a processor for providing pictorial images and a graphical user interface menu to be displayed on the display screen; (c) a user interface control for enabling a user to select particular items from the graphical user interface menu in order to control the pictorial images displayed on the display screen; and (d) means for automatically determining the proximate distance between the display screen and the user; wherein the graphical user interface menu is modified responsive to the proximate distance. 
         [0006]    It is an object of the present invention to permit variation of the text size of the graphical user interface menu based on the distance between the user and the display screen. 
         [0007]    These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention. 
       ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECT OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]    The present invention has the advantage of adapting the graphical user interface menu to the actual viewing situation. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent when taken in conjunction with the following description and drawings wherein identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical features that are common to the figures, and wherein: 
           [0010]    While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter of the present invention, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of the viewing system of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an exploded front view of a remote control for use with the viewing system of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  illustrate a first example of an adaptable GUI using the various text sizes displayable on the graphical user interface menu; and 
           [0015]      FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  are illustrations of a second example of an adaptable GUI using a variable number of menu items that are automatically displayed based on the viewing distance. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    Turning now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an overview of the viewing system of the present invention. The viewing system  10  includes a display  20  that displays pictorial images and a graphical user interface menu that permits selection of various display parameters for the pictorial images. The display  20  is shown as a television display in the preferred embodiment, but the display may also be a computer display or the like. A processor  30  receives input signals (preferably TV signals in the preferred embodiment) that represent the pictorial images and generates the graphical user interface menu that is displayed on the display  20 . Based on the input signals and the user&#39;s selections from the GUI menu, the processor  30  then controls the displayed pictorial images. A stereo camera  40  is used for determining the proximate distance between the display  20  and a user  50  by identifying the locations of the user  50  in the two stereo images, and determining the disparity between the two images. Consequently, the stereo camera  40  is located at the same or substantially the same location as the display  20 , or at a fixed, known distance in front of (or behind) the display  20 . Although the display  20 , processor  30  and stereo camera  40  are shown as separate units, they may be an integrated unit as illustrated by the dashed lines. It is noted that other mechanisms may also be used for determining the proximate distance between the display  20  and the user as will be described in detail below. 
         [0017]    The user  50  views the display  20  and manipulates a wireless remote control  60  for controlling the graphical user interface menu displayed on the display  20 . The graphical user interface menu permits selection of display parameters for the pictorial images. 
         [0018]    It should be noted that a stereo camera is one example of a multi-view camera, which captures a plurality of images of the same scene from a plurality of perspectives. Instead of using a multi-view camera to determine the proximate distance, other methods can be used. For example, the wireless remote control  60  can include an emitter and detector pair, such as a laser emitter and detector, or an ultrasonic emitter and detector, that can be used to determine the proximate distance between the user  50  and the display  20 , as is done using laser tape measurement devices and ultrasonic distance measurement devices. The wireless remote control  60  then transmits the distance information wirelessly to the processor  30 . 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a flowchart illustrating the steps involved in operating the present invention. First, the user  50  pushes the “menu” button S 70 , and then the means for automatically controlling the proximate distance determines the proximate distance S 80  between the user  50  and the display  20 , which proximate distance is transmitted to the processor  30 . The processor  30  then directs the display  20  to display the particular graphical user interface menu S 90  that is based on the determined proximate distance. The user  50  uses the remote control  60  to select the desired menu function S 100 . Based on the selected menu item, the display  20  displays the pictorial images in the selected format S 110 . The menu item can be such functions as text and/or icons corresponding to TV program selection (e.g. channel guides and channel selection), picture adjustments (e.g. contrast, color saturation), audio (e.g. volume, mute) and the like. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown an exploded front view of the wireless remote control  60 . A “power” button  130  permits the user to turn the remote control “on” and “off.” The “menu” button  140  permits the user to display the graphical user interface menu with its various options. The triangular arrowhead buttons (▴,          , ▾, and          )  150  permit the user to move the highlighted area on the display (in the direction the particular triangular arrowhead button is pointing) so that the desired menu item can be highlighted for selection. In lieu of using the triangular arrowhead buttons  150 , the remote control  60  includes “numbered” buttons  160  that correspond to a menu item “number” for permitting selection of a particular menu item. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b,  there are illustrated different text sizes used for the graphical user interface menu for different proximate distances. In  FIG. 4   a,  there is shown smaller text size  170  when the viewer or user is close to the display  20 , and the proximate distance is relatively small. In  FIG. 4   b,  there is shown a larger text size  180  when the viewer or user  50  is far away from the display  20 , and the proximate distance is relatively large. While not shown in the figures, the menu can include icons instead of, or in addition to, the text. While only two different text sizes are shown in  FIG. 4 , it is understood that a larger number of different text sizes (e.g. four or more different text sizes) would normally be used, for a corresponding number of proximate distances (e.g 2 foot, 4 foot, 8, foot, and 16 foot distances) 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b,  there are shown the two graphical user interface menus  190   a  and  190   b  used for two different proximate distances. The two different menus  190   a  and  190   b  display a different number of menu options on the display  20  at a given time. Referring to  FIG. 5   a,  when the user  50  is “close” to the display  20 , and the proximate distance is relatively small, a relatively large number of menu items (e.g. ten menu items) is displayed at the same time on the display  20 . In  FIG. 5   a,  any one of the ten items is available for immediate selection by highlighting the desired item via the remote control  60 . Alternatively, when the user  50  is “far away” from the display  20 , and the proximate distance is relatively large, then as shown in  FIG. 5   b,  only a partial menu of the available menu items  190   b  (three in the preferred embodiment) is displayed for immediate selection. The triangular arrowhead buttons (▴ and ▾)  150  permit the user  50  to press the particular triangular arrowhead button  150  on the remote control  60  for scrolling a “window” upwardly or downwardly for displaying the next menu item not currently shown along with the last two options. For example, if the upward triangular arrowhead  150  is pressed, options  4 ,  5  and  6  are displayed, and option  3  is removed from the display “window.” It is noted that the text size in  FIG. 5   a  is much smaller than the text size in  FIG. 5   b  since  FIG. 5   a  is configured for when the user is close to the display. 
         [0023]    The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
       PARTS LIST 
       [0000]    
       
           10  viewing system 
           20  display 
           30  processor 
           40  stereo camera 
           50  user 
           60  wireless remote control 
           130  “power” button 
           140  “menu” button 
           150  triangular arrowhead buttons 
           160  “numbered” buttons 
           170  smaller text size 
           180  larger text size 
           190   a  graphical user interface 
           190   b  graphical user interface