Abstract:
An application for a slider bar on a display has a series of ticks, each indicating one or more gradations of a parameter ranging between a minimum value and a maximum value. Two marker icons are on the display screen in relation to the ticks. A user control moves a first marker icon within a predetermined range of ticks. Once the first marker icon reaches an end of travel, if the end of travel is next the second marker icon, the first marker becomes inactive (remaining at its current location) and the second marker icon becomes the active marker icon, moving within a predetermined range for the second marker icon.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to the field of television devices and more particularly to a dual slider bar user interface. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    There are many known ways to utilize various input devices along with on-screen displays to affect changes to parameters (e.g. volume, brightness) within a television or monitor. In the art of televisions, often a remote control device is provided as the input device. The remote control usually has some form of arrow keys and at least one select/enter key that is often used in conjunction with an on-screen slider bar to change parameters such as volume, contrast and brightness. In such, the slider bar includes a series of ticks representing a range of settings, either left to right or top to bottom. Each tick represents one or more granular steps between the minimum setting and the maximum setting of the associated parameter. There is a marking icon on the slider bar indicating the current setting of the associated parameter and, each press of the associated arrow key moves the marking icon one granular step in the direction of the arrow key, thereby changing the associated parameter. For example, if the volume slider bar is oriented horizontally, the each press of the left arrow key moves the marking icon left, thereby reducing the volume one gradation. Likewise, each press of the right arrow key moves the marking icon right, thereby increasing the volume one gradation. 
         [0003]    For parameters that have a center (or preferred) value such as balance, fade (front/back), contrast, brightness; often the slider bar has a special mark, usually central to the slider bar, indicating such. The special mark is often similar to one of the ticks, only larger, and in some examples, the special mark includes two such larger ticks. This is used to show the user the default or central setting. In current user interfaces, the marking icon moves freely across the slider bar (e.g., if the arrow key is held down) without stopping at these special marks. 
         [0004]    What is needed is an improved slider bar that provides a stopping point at one or more central or default positions to improve the user interface. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The present invention includes a slider bar on a display screen having a series of ticks, each indicating one or more gradations of an associated parameter (e.g. balance, contrast, brightness) between a minimum value of the parameter and a maximum value of the parameter. At least two marker icons are on the display screen in relation to the ticks. A user control moves an active marker icon within a predetermined range of ticks. Once the active marker icon reaches an end of travel, if the end of travel is next to another marker icon, the active marker becomes inactive (remaining at its current location) and the next marker icon becomes the active marker icon, moving within a predetermined range for that marker icon. 
         [0006]    In one embodiment, an on-screen slider control is disclosed including a slider bar having a first end and a second end and at least two marker icons in proximity to the slider bar. Each of the marker icons moves independently of the other marker icons responsive to signals from an input device. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment, a method of controlling a parameter of a television is disclosed, the television having an input device and the input device having a first direction signal and a second direction signal. The method includes providing a default value for a parameter of a television and displaying a slider bar on a display panel of the television. The slider bar has a first end, a second end, a first marker icon and a second marker icon. Responsive to the first direction signal from the remote control, one of the first marker icon and the second marker icon moves toward the first end and responsive to the second direction signal, one of the first marker icon and the second marker icon moves toward the second end. The parameter is set based upon a current position of one of the first marker icon and the second marker icon. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, a method of controlling a parameter of a television is disclosed, the television having an input device with a left direction signal and a right direction signal. The method includes providing a default value for the parameter and displaying a slider bar on a display panel of the television. The slider bar has a left end, a right end, a left marker icon and a right marker icon. The left marker icon starts adjacent and left of a slider bar location associated with the default value and the right marker icon starting adjacent and right of the slider bar location associated with the default value. When the right marker icon is positioned adjacent and right of the slider bar location associated with the default value, the left marker icon moves towards the left end responsive to the left direction signal until the left marker icon is at the left end of the slider bar. When the right marker icon is not positioned adjacent and right of the slider bar location associated with the default value, the right marker icon moves towards the left end responsive to the left direction signal until the right marker icon is positioned adjacent and right of the slider bar location associated with the default value. When the left marker icon is positioned adjacent and left of the slider bar location associated with the default value, the right marker icon moves towards the right end responsive to the right direction signal until the right marker icon is at the right end of the slider bar. When the left marker icon is not positioned adjacent and left of the slider bar location associated with the default value, the left marker icon moves towards the right end responsive to the right direction signal until the left marker icon is positioned adjacent and left of the slider bar location associated with the default value. If the left marker icon is positioned adjacent and left of the slider bar location associated with the default value, the parameter is set based upon a current position of the right marker icon. Otherwise, the parameter is set based upon a current position of the left marker icon. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates a plan view of a television shown with an exemplary slider bar of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates a plan view of a television shown with an exemplary slider bar of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  illustrates a plan view of a television shown with an exemplary slider bar of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  illustrates a plan view of a television shown with an exemplary slider bar of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures. 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a plan view of a television  5  shown with an exemplary slider bar of the present invention will be described. The slider bar  22  is shown on a typical television or monitor  5  display panel  12  as known in the industry. For completeness the television  5  is shown with a bezel  10  around the display panel  12  and resting on a stand  14 . 
         [0016]    The slider bar  22  has a plurality of ticks  23 . Each tick represents one or more gradations of an associated parameter, for example balance as shown in  FIG. 1 . The present invention is not limited to any particular parameter and many are anticipated including, but not limited to, volume, balance, brightness, contrast, base, treble, mid-range, horizontal position and vertical position. Associated with the slider bar  22  are two marker icons  24 / 26 , although any number of marker icons  24 / 26  is anticipated. The marker icons  24 / 26  move along the slider bar  22  responsive to activation of a device on a remote control  111  (e.g. arrow key, mouse movement-drag). For example, when a the left arrow key  32  is pressed, the remote  111  emits a left directional signal and one of the marker icons  24 / 26  moves left one gradient and when a right arrow key  30  is pressed, the remote  111  emits a right directional signal and one of the marker icons  24 / 26  moves right one gradient. It is anticipated that each tick  23  represents one or more gradients such that the left/right movement of the marker icons  24 / 26  is either one tick  23  if each tick represents one gradient or partially between ticks  23  if each tick represents more than one gradient. The left  28  (or bottom) location of the slider bar  28  represents the minimum value for the parameter and the right  29  (or top) location of the slider bar  29  represents the maximum value for the parameter. 
         [0017]    In the present example, movement left/right of each marker icon  24 / 26  is restricted. The left marker icon  24  is restricted by the left end  28  of the slider bar  22  and a predetermined position  27  of the slider bar  22 . The right marker icon  24  is restricted by the right end  29  of the slider bar  22  and the predetermined position  27  of the slider bar  22 . From the starting point shown in  FIG. 1 , pressing of the left arrow button  32  (or equivalent) moves the left marker icon  24  left one gradient and pressing of the right arrow button  30  (or equivalent operation) moves the right marker icon  26  one gradient to the right. Operation of the left marker icon  24  is shown in  FIG. 2  and operation of the right marker icon  26  is shown in  FIG. 3 . The predetermined position  27  typically represents a default value for the parameter and/or a median value for the parameter. 
         [0018]    The examples shown in  FIGS. 1-3  have two marker icons  24 / 26  and the slider bar  22  is oriented horizontally. It is fully anticipated that, in some user interfaces, other orientations of slider bars  22  (e.g. vertical slider bars  22 ) are used and, in such, other remote control operations such as the up arrow  34  and down arrow  36  effect movement of the marker icons  24 / 26  (see  FIG. 4 ). It is also anticipated that more than two marker icons  24 / 25 / 26  are present such as that described in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a plan view of a television shown with an exemplary slider bar of the present invention will be described. In this, the left arrow key  32  has been pressed a number of times, therefore moving the left marker icon  24  left between the left end  28  and predetermined position  27  of the slider bar  22 . In such, the parameter (e.g. balance) is set to a value associated with the position of the left marker icon  24 . As the right arrow key  30  is pressed, the left marker icon  24  moves right until it reaches the predetermined position  27  at which time it stops and the right marking icon  26  takes over. In a preferred embodiment, if the right arrow key  30  is held down, continuously sending commands, the left marker icon  24  moves right and stops at the predetermined position  27  until the right arrow key  30  is released, at which time, a subsequent operation of the right arrow key  30  then moves the right marker icon  26 . 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a plan view of a television shown with an exemplary slider bar of the present invention will be described. In this, the right arrow key  30  has been pressed a number of times, therefore moving the right marker icon  26  right between the predetermined position  27  and the right end  28  of the slider bar  22 . In such, the parameter (e.g. balance) is set to a value associated with the position of the right marker icon  26 . As the left arrow key  32  is pressed, the right marker icon  26  moves left until it reaches the predetermined position  27  at which time it stops and the left marking icon  24  takes over. In a preferred embodiment, if the left arrow key  32  is held down, continuously sending commands, the right marker icon  26  moves left and stops at the predetermined position  27  until the left arrow key  32  is released, at which time, a subsequent operation of the left arrow key  32  then moves the left marker icon  24 . 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a plan view of a television shown with an exemplary slider bar with an exemplary slider bar of the present invention will be described. The slider bar  22  is shown on a typical television or monitor  5  display panel  12  as known in the industry. For completeness the television  5  is shown with a bezel  10  around the display panel  12  and resting on a stand  14 . 
         [0022]    In this example, the slider bar  22  is oriented vertically and has a plurality of ticks  23 . Each tick represents one or more gradations of an associated parameter. The present invention is not limited to any particular parameter and many are anticipated including, but not limited to, volume, balance, brightness, contrast, base, treble, mid-range, frequency ranges of a graphics response control, horizontal position and vertical position. Associated with the slider bar  22  are four marker icons  34 / 36 / 44 / 46 , although any number of marker icons  34 / 36 / 44 / 46  is anticipated. The marker icons  34 / 36 / 44 / 46  move along the slider bar  22  responsive to activation of a device on a remote control  111  (e.g. arrow key, mouse movement-drag). For example, when a the up arrow key  34  is pressed, one of the marker icons  34 / 36 / 44 / 46  moves up one gradient and when a down arrow key  36  is pressed, one of the marker icons  24 / 26  moves down one gradient. It is anticipated that each tick  23  represents one or more gradients such that the up/down movement of the marker icons  34 / 36 / 44 / 46  is either one tick  23  if each tick represents one gradient or partially between ticks  23  if each tick represents more than one gradient. 
         [0023]    In the present example, movement up/down of each marker icon  34 / 36 / 44 / 46  is restricted. There are two pairs of marker icons  34 / 36 / 44 / 46 . The first pair  34 / 36  operates around a first predetermined position  37  of the slider bar  22  and the first pair  44 / 46  operates around a first predetermined position  47  of the slider bar  22 . The top marker icon  34  of the first pair  34 / 36  is restricted by the right top end  39  of the slider bar  22  and the first predetermined position  37  of the slider bar  22 . The bottom marker icon  36  of the first pair  34 / 36  is restricted by the first predetermined position  37  of the slider bar  22  and the top marker icon  44  of the second pair  44 / 46 . The top marker icon  44  of the second pair  44 / 46  is restricted by the first predetermined position  37  of the slider bar  22  and the second predetermined position  37  of the slider bar  22 . The bottom marker icon  46  of the second pair  44 / 46  is restricted by the second predetermined position  47  of the slider bar  22  and the top bottom end  41  of the slider bar. The bottom marker icon  46  of the second pair  44 / 46  is shown in a position in which it has already moved downward several ticks  23 . In some embodiments, multiple marker icon pairs  34 / 36 / 44 / 46  setting of provide multiple parameters with one slider bar  22 . For example, the top marker icon pair  34 / 36  of this example adjusts base and the bottom marker icon pair  44 / 46  adjusts treble. 
         [0024]    Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result. 
         [0025]    It is believed that the system and method of the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.