Abstract:
A user graphic interface (GUI) operating apparatus and method using a graphic identification (ID) information, includes a text database for storing therein all text data for display on a screen under corresponding graphic ID information, a pre-processor for selecting data suitable for the displayed graphic from the text data base, and processing the selected data into a language of a country selected by a user, a text buffer for storing therein an output data from the pre-processor, and a post-processor for adjusting location, fonts and physical position of the stored data of the text buffer in accordance with circumstances, and outputting a graphic data for display on the screen. Fabricating the programs becomes simpler, and because text data are stored in accordance with graphic ID information, correcting, adding or deleting data becomes easier. Additionally, because the GUI can be performed for each function, the GUI can be easily adapted to another type of device without requiring separate modification, and as a result, compatibility of the GUI increases.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. §119(a), of Korean Patent Application No. 2003-77369 filed Nov. 3, 2003, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a user GUI operating method and apparatus that uses a graph identification information. More particularly, the present invention relates to a GUI operation method and apparatus for an efficient management of various types of text data that have both directionality and operability in a user graphic interface in audio/video (AV) devices.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Recent developments in digital technology have provided a variety of electronic appliances that can perform multiple functions. These include, for example, a personal video recorder (PVR), TV, digital TV (DTV), video and computer.  
         [0006]     Such integration of various functions into a single electronic appliance has increased the demand for more efficient display functions. Accordingly, the graphic user interface (GUI), which has not been considered very important in the past, is now much more important in terms of ease of use of the multi-function appliances.  
         [0007]     The GUI can be used in a variety of conversational applications (an application that can operate the GUI by voice alone). The conversational GUI can be constructed to select one of several options in such devices as an AV device, computer system, TV, automatic teller machine and game console.  
         [0008]     A rather complicated conversational GUI requires multi-menu structures. Consequently, the conversational GUI needs to be constructed as simple, efficient and active as possible, for fast and efficient operation by the users. This can be achieved by first providing a menu display suitable for the interfacing with an ergonomic input device, and secondly by providing an operation-intuitive menu display.  
         [0009]     Although operation of the GUI in AV devices varies depending on the type of integrated circuit in use, operation of the GUI can be generally classified into four main types: graphic data processing, text data processing, flag processing for internal control, and comprehensive execution of remote controller commands or other commands.  
         [0010]     While all of the above-mentioned processes are equally important, efforts are currently being focused on GUI text processing operations in AV devices, and they will probably remain the focus of attention for at least several decades to come. While Icons are now being used, general basic functions are still operated based on text because resources in AV devices are more limited for graphics than for computers or networks. In consideration of all that has been discussed above, the efforts of designers in the industry are focused on the management of text data and how to comprehensively embody the text data. Unfortunately, GUI for AV devices have been used for relatively simpler functions than other GUI applications, and, as a result, have been regarded as a simple matter that can be embodied without requiring complicated processes. Accordingly, development of this area has been relatively slow. As customers now prefer products with better GUI performance and better display on monitors to the products with attractive designs, however, the GUI is getting more attention, and text data processing based on a more systematic and consistent approach is thus required.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     Accordingly, it is an object of the preferred embodiments of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems. It is another object of the preferred embodiments of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus of a user graphic interface operation, which utilizes GUI text object and pre-processed ID graphic information to provide convenient manufacturing, higher compatibility, and better convertibility into languages as required by the users.  
         [0012]     The above aspects and/or other features of the embodiments of the present invention can be achieved by providing a user graphic interface (GUI) operating apparatus that uses graphic identification (ID) information. The graphic ID information includes a text database for storing therein all text data for display on a screen under the corresponding graphic ID information. The embodiments of the present invention further comprise a pre-processor for selecting data suitable for the displayed graphic from the text data base and processing the selected data into a language of a country selected by a user, a text buffer for storing therein an output data from the pre-processor, and a post-processor for adjusting location, fonts and physical position of the stored data of the text buffer in accordance with circumstances, and outputting a graphic data for display on the screen.  
         [0013]     The graphic ID information includes a graphic type, a graphic page and a graphic position.  
         [0014]     The data stored in the text buffer includes a text space for storing texts of languages of respective countries. The text space is used for storing terms that are fixedly used corresponding to variables at the same location. The data stored in the text buffer further includes a first space for recording therein information on the processing ways of input keys, a second space that contains information regarding direction, where a highlight moves in accordance with the input key, a third space for recording therein information about text length and font type, and a fourth space for indicating X and Y information about the physical position for the actual display of the graphic.  
         [0015]     The pre-processor includes a text set routine for accessing a corresponding text object by using a graphic type gType, a graphic page gPage and a graphic position gPos for display of the text database on the screen, and a language set routine for changing the accessed text object. Therefore, the text data itself can be changed into a language according to a preset country language code.  
         [0016]     According to one aspect of the present invention, a user graphic interface (GUI) operating method using graphic identification (ID) information comprises classifying substantially all the text data for display on a screen under the graphic ID information and storing the data, and selecting, based on the graphic ID information, proper data related to the graphic for display on the screen, and outputting the graphic data for display on the screen.  
         [0017]     The graphic ID information includes a graphic type, a graphic page and a graphic position.  
         [0018]     According to an embodiment of the present invention, outputting the data comprises selecting, based on the graphic ID information, proper data related to the graphic for display on the screen, and converting the data into a language of a country selected by a user. Outputting the data further comprises storing the converted data in a text buffer, and adjusting a location, fonts and physical position of the stored data of the text buffer in accordance with circumstances, and outputting graphic data for display on the screen.  
         [0019]     According to the embodiments of the present invention, the data stored in the text buffer includes a text space for storing texts of languages of respective countries, and wherein the text space storing terms that are fixedly used in accordance with variables at the same location. The data stored in the text buffer further comprises a first space for recording therein information on the processing of the input keys, a second space containing information regarding direction, wherein a highlight moves in accordance with the input key, a third space for recording therein information about text length and font type, and a fourth space for indicating X and Y position information about the physical position for actual display of the graphic. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]     The above aspects and features of the present invention will be more apparent by describing certain embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a GUI text object processor using graphic ID information according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIGS. 2A  to  2 D are views provided for the explanation of a graphic ID generating method according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  shows the general structure of a text object according to an embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating the processing of a GUI text object using graphic ID information according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]     Certain embodiments of the present invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0026]     In the following description, the same drawing reference numerals are used for the same elements even in different drawings. The matters defined in the description such as a detailed construction and elements are nothing but the ones provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the invention. Thus, it is apparent that the present invention can be carried out without those defined matters. Also, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the invention in unnecessary detail.  
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a GUI text object processor using graphic ID information according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the GUI text object processor comprises a text database  100 , a pre-processor  200 , a text buffer  300 , a post processor  400 , and user data  500 .  
         [0028]     The text database  100  stores therein all the text data  110 ,  120 , . . . , N in ID format, and the pre-processor  200  selects data suitable for graphics with reference to the predetermined graphic ID information, and converts the selected data into a language selected by the user. The converted data are stored in the text buffer  300 .  
         [0029]     The post processor  400  adaptively processes according to the current situation. For example, the post processor  400  selects or creates proper terms with reference to internal variables when the stored data of the text buffer  300  is required to change physical position. When the fonts need some changes and when adjustments are required for the display of a certain selected length in the length-limited part, the post-processor  400  adjusts the data and outputs the data for use as the final user data  500 .  
         [0030]     In order to assign the proper text, all the graphic ID information shown in  FIGS. 2A  to  2 D are required. Of course, additional information can be used as circumstances dictate. For the sake of brevity and to aid in the understanding of the embodiments of the present invention, the discussion herein will focus mainly on the three types of categories that are usually used in AV devices.  
         [0031]      FIGS. 2A  to  2 C illustrate the graphic ID generating method. The graphic ID information comprises a graphic type “gType” ( FIG. 2A ), a graphic page “gPage” ( FIG. 2B ), and a graphic position “gPos” ( FIG. 2C ). The graphic ID information gType is used for a substantially complete change of the graphic type, and influences the physical position of the graphic pages or graphic positions described below. As shown in  FIG. 2A , gType is changed when the type of the graphic for display on the screen is substantially completely changed.  
         [0032]     In the setup window of a general AV device, the contents of graphics can change while the graphic type remains the same. The graphic ID information “gPage” groups a set of similar function texts under its category and can be used to divide certain areas of the same graphic, or to use the same graphic for another purpose. Furthermore, gPage can perform a completely different function depending on which set of texts is used for which purpose.  
         [0033]     More specifically,  FIG. 2B  shows the graphic ID information gPage when the graphic  600  at the right-hand side of the intermediate section  500  of its upper group, i.e., gType A, partially changes. If the graphic  600  at the right-hand side of the intermediate section of gType A changes from “A-Language, B-Language and C-Language” to “Video and Audio”  610  to “Photo, Music and Movie”  620 , these can be classed as gPage  1 , gPage  2 , . . . , gPage N. Accordingly, a completely difference performance can result depending on how the gPage changes.  
         [0034]     When the gType and gPage are determined as described above, the graphic ID information gPos is used for the texts that need be numbered. The gPos labels the texts of the gPage consecutively. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the graphic ID information gPos can be formed of text units with the highlight function. As shown in  FIG. 2C , in order to divide the graphic part  600  of the right-hand side of the intermediate section of gPage  2  into video and audio sections, the video can be labeled with gPos  1  and audio can be labeled with gPos  2 . Accordingly, using the classification as described above, all the graphic texts used in the AV devices can be ID-processed. An example of a classification of a video graphic text is shown in  FIG. 2D . This classification uniquely identifies all the critical parameters of the graphic: the type of display (gTYPE A), the page (gPage  2 ) and its position (gPos  1 ). In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the above are determined when the functions, specification and graphic designs of the AV device are finalized.  
         [0035]     Proper text data are searched using the above graphic information IDs, and stored in the text buffer  300  as text objects.  FIG. 3  shows how the information stored in the text buffer  300  is used. The completed text buffer  300  provides storage space for various language texts. Five text storage spaces  710  are provided for the terms that are predetermined to use with the respective variables in the same location. A storage area  730  stores information resulting from operation of the general operation keys of a remote controller, such as UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, ENTER, RETURN. Storage area  740  stores the information that results from the operation of the general operation keys, and stores the information as to which direction the highlight will move according to the detailed action information  730 . Storage area  740  comprises all the “gTYPE”, “gPage” and “gPos” information. Occasionally, a graphics expression can be limited to a predetermined length, or the length of text can vary as the text is translated from one language to another. In order to resolve these situations, an information indicating part  750  for the font adjustment, and a physical X/Y position indication part  720  for the physical position of the actual display of the graphic are provided. A reserved area  760  can also be provided for later use.  
         [0036]     A user GUI operating method using graphic ID information according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described.  
         [0037]     The GUI text object method using graphic ID information according to an embodiment of the present invention classifies a series of similar actions, and processes them into a functional formula. For example, while many movements can be expected by a highlighted area, highlighted areas on the menu graphic of the AV device generally moves in one of two ways when a key of the remote controller is input. The first case is that the highlight moves to its immediate upper location, and the second case is that the highlighted text changes.  
         [0038]     With the above two cases in consideration, conventional approaches may require several tens of, or sometimes, several hundreds of processing steps in accordance with which kind of the graphic is in use or where the graphic is located. For example, in the first case, it would be determined, first, as to whether the current location is in the first row, and according to the type of the graphic, the graphic may be maintained or moved to the lowest row upon receipt of UP key by, for example rolling or visiting the next gPage. When moving to the last row, it should be respectively checked to see whether there is left a next gPage or how many rows the next gPage contains. The processing becomes far more complicated in the second case. Because processing is required for the each of the actions in accordance with the gType, gPage and gPos, it is practically impossible to estimate the number of possibilities.  
         [0039]     In the following description, the above two cases are classified and processed by two methods in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0040]     As an example in an embodiment of the present invention, two keys, Move and Change, are determined and target graphic ID information is set. For the Move key, the types of text objects can be completely processed by removing the highlight from the current location and searching the target GUI to highlight a new corresponding location.  
         [0041]     In addition, the method for classifying and processing according to an embodiment of the present invention considers whether the gPage, or gType is different. This can be checked by comparing current the GUI ID with a preset GUI ID. When the GUI IDs are different, conversion into target graphic may be performed, or contents of the current gPage can be displayed with the highlight on the target area.  
         [0042]     Additionally, each case can be subdivided and defined respectively. For example, Move can be subdivided into Move-normal, Move-gType and Move-page. As functions of each of the sub-items are processed, the sub-items are expressed into a brief and technical function.  
         [0043]     Compared to the Move key, the Change key provides stronger function execution. Especially when there are less than 5 sub-items, processing can be performed within the text buffer of the stored text objects and therefore does not require additional data. In the case of the Change key, when the UP key is input, existing contents are removed, corresponding parameters are adjusted and corresponding texts are selected and expressed.  
         [0044]     When there are more than 5 sub-items, or completely new text needs be made according to the values of the parameters (e.g., numerical information comprising year, month, day and time, or disc-related data such as title or name) this can be processed by using simple additional conditions that use previously known GUI ID information as in the case of the Move operation. Alternatively, the items can be classified and processed.  
         [0045]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating the processing of a GUI text object using graphic ID information according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 4 , the process of finding proper text data using target graphic information ID, selecting data according to the language of a target country, and controlling the data of the text buffer  300  to make desired changes will be described in greater detail.  
         [0046]     In the text database  100  shown in  FIG. 4 , where all the texts are ID-processed and stored, suitable (or proper) text data is retrieved by using a target graphic position  210 . Text mapping routine  220  is then performed to access a corresponding text object by using target gType, gPage and gPos information. Note that the text database  100  of  FIG. 4  is the same as that in  FIG. 1 , and the text mapping routine occurs in the pre-processor  200 , also as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0047]     Next, in accordance with a country language code set in the setup of the AV set, a language mapping routine  230  is performed to convert the accessed text object into a target language.  
         [0048]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the text object is constructed such that it enables individual control of the text data. The text object has an efficient structure in which the text information can be changed into suitable languages using basic text object information. When the complete information is obtained through the above-mentioned processes, the information is stored in the text buffer  300  to use in the actual program.  
         [0049]     The real time GUI parameters  410  of the post-processor  400  record therein parameters for the type or length of texts for display in a corresponding location. Using the above parameters, a compensation control unit  420  performs a physical position compensation routine  421  and a font type control routine  423  so that the texts can be properly displayed in the graphic. A select or make text output routine  422  can select the texts for routine displays, such as “On/Off” or “channel numbers 2˜125”.  
         [0050]     A text width control routine  424  can express characters in a string. For example, the text width control routine  424  expresses 10 characters in a string, and if the data contains more than 30 characters, chops the data appropriately so that only 10 characters can be displayed. The post-processor  400  operates to display characters of the text buffer  300 . After completing the above processes, the text object, which is adjusted to the needs of the user, is displayed in the using data  500  as the actual data.  
         [0051]     The user GUI operating method described above that uses graphic ID information according to the embodiments of the present invention reduces the scope and complexity when dealing with a plurality of cases. Also, because a single functional formula is required for this process, the sources requirement for the actual program is reduced. Furthermore, because classification under functions is enabled, the entire source can be orderly arranged. This provides other advantages such as bug prevention, and easy and simple program fabrication.  
         [0052]     Secondly, because the single functional formula and the text data are operated separately from each other, text data can be managed separately. Furthermore, because text data is stored in accordance with the graphic ID information, locating the target data becomes easier. As a result, debugging of the program, or modification, addition and deletion of the text data is much easier.  
         [0053]     Thirdly, because the GUI is executed in each function, the functional formulas used in one AV device are also usable in other AV set without requiring separate modification. As a result, compatibility increases, and time for research and development of models can be greatly shortened.  
         [0054]     Lastly, because the pre-processor provides conversion of text data into user-desired language using the internal parameters of the AV device during the storage of data in the buffer, language conversion is much easier.  
         [0055]     The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. The present teaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. Also, the description of the embodiments of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims, and many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.