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.

What it 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.

What it doesn't 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

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.

Why it matters

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.

Real-world examples

• 1.Smart TV dashboard interfaces
• 2.Virtual reality media browsing environments
• 3.3D carousel-style content selectors on set-top boxes