How to Browse TV Shows Using 3D Virtual Objects
A method for organizing television content by mapping category labels onto 3D surfaces that transform into video players when selected.
Original patent title: “Navigating content”
A method for organizing television content by mapping category labels onto 3D surfaces that transform into video players when selected. Granted to JLB Ventures LLC in 2012 with 23 claims and 18 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent describes a way to navigate digital content by placing it in a virtual 3D environment. The system displays multiple 3D surfaces, like panels or cubes, each labeled with a television content category (e.g., sports, news, or movies). When a user selects a specific surface, the system replaces the label with actual video content associated with that category. Crucially, the video only plays on the selected surface, leaving the other surfaces in the 3D space unchanged or visible.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover 2D grid-based menu systems for television content
- Does not cover video playback that occupies the entire display screen
- Does not cover non-interactive static 3D models of content
- Does not cover content navigation that relies solely on text-based lists
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The system maps dynamic video content onto a 3D coordinate system, allowing the interface to maintain the context of the 'room' while simultaneously playing a video on one specific object within that room.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Smart TV dashboard interfaces
Virtual reality media browsing environments
3D carousel-style content selectors on set-top boxes
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent reflects the industry's push in the early 2010s to move away from flat, boring channel guides toward immersive, graphical user interfaces for smart TVs and set-top boxes. It attempts to solve the problem of 'content discovery' by making the act of browsing feel like moving through a physical space rather than scrolling through a spreadsheet.
Filed
February 4, 2010
Granted
May 8, 2012
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
The technology is largely associated with the era of interactive television development. Companies like LG, Samsung, and various set-top box manufacturers have explored similar 3D-spatial navigation metaphors to differentiate their smart TV platforms from standard cable guides.
Market impact
This patent represents a specific design philosophy that sought to make digital content navigation more tactile. While it did not become the universal standard for all TV interfaces, it contributed to the broader trend of using graphical, object-oriented navigation in media streaming devices and gaming consoles.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent describes a way to navigate digital content by placing it in a virtual 3D environment. The system displays multiple 3D surfaces, like panels or cubes, each labeled with a television content category (e.g., sports, news, or movies). When a user selects a specific surface, the system replaces the label with actual video content associated with that category. Crucially, the video only plays on the selected surface, leaving the other surfaces in the 3D space unchanged or visible.
The clever bit
The system maps dynamic video content onto a 3D coordinate system, allowing the interface to maintain the context of the 'room' while simultaneously playing a video on one specific object within that room.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover 2D grid-based menu systems for television content
- Does not cover video playback that occupies the entire display screen
- Does not cover non-interactive static 3D models of content
- Does not cover content navigation that relies solely on text-based lists
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
26/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
15/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$164K – $524K
Midpoint $328K · 3.6 yr remaining · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
23 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Kamen, Y., & Shirman, L. (2012). How to Browse TV Shows Using 3D Virtual Objects (U.S. Patent No. 8,176,439). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8176439/windows-8-live-tiles
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How to Browse TV Shows Using 3D Virtual Objects cover?
A method for organizing television content by mapping category labels onto 3D surfaces that transform into video players when selected.
Who owns patent US 8176439?
JLB Ventures LLC owns this patent, granted in 2012.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on May 8, 2032, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 8176439 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 18 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent reflects the industry's push in the early 2010s to move away from flat, boring channel guides toward immersive, graphical user interfaces for smart TVs and set-top boxes. It attempts to solve the problem of 'content discovery' by making the act of browsing feel like moving through a physical space rather than scrolling through a spreadsheet.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover 2D grid-based menu systems for television content
Patent monitoring