Patent ID: 7583220

Claim:
A method for guiding a user in the use of a remote control (RC) device, wherein the RC device includes a plurality of input mechanisms, comprising: determining a current state of a user's interaction with a list that can be browsed through within an application, to provide a determined state of browsing the list by the user; determining at least one input mechanism of the RC device that is relevant to the determined state of browsing the list, to provide at least one relevant input mechanism capable of performing an operational function specific to the determined state of browsing the list; displaying a representation of said at least one relevant input mechanism on a user interface presentation of a presentation device, wherein the representation resembles a physical layout of said at least one relevant input mechanism on the RC device, and wherein the representation de-emphasizes irrelevant input mechanisms of the RC device, distinguishing irrelevant input mechanisms from relevant input mechanisms, wherein irrelevant input mechanisms are not capable of performing an operational function specific to the determined state of browsing the list by the user, and wherein the displaying comprises: a media program or a display of digital pictures for user consumption, on a first part of the user interface presentation, and the at least one relevant input mechanism on a second part of the user interface presentation; and displaying a representation of an advance forward input mechanism and de-emphasizing a representation of a retreat backward input mechanism when determining a current state comprises determining that the user is at a first element of the list that can be browsed through.