# 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. - **Patent:** US 8176439 - **Original title:** Navigating content - **Owner:** JLB Ventures LLC - **Granted:** 2012 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 18 - **Field:** consumer_electronics, software, telecommunications ## What it does 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 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 ## 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. ## Real-world examples 1. Smart TV dashboard interfaces 2. Virtual reality media browsing environments 3. 3D carousel-style content selectors on set-top boxes ## 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. ## 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 **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8176439/windows-8-live-tiles **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US8176439 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How the Apple Watch Uses the Digital Crown to Flip Objects](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10275117/apple-watch-heart-rate-sensor) — A method for rotating virtual objects on a small wearable screen by spinning the physical dial on the side of the device based on how fast you turn it. - [How Cable Networks Manage Virtual Ownership of Digital Movies](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9021535/netflix-user-profiles) — A system for cable providers to let users 'own' digital movies on a server instead of buying physical discs, allowing the provider to update that content remotely. - [How Digital Media Streams Are Automatically Tagged and Organized](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9264471/netflix-download-for-offline) — A method for embedding standardized labels directly into digital video or audio streams so that devices can automatically identify and extract specific segments of content. - [How 3D Icons Rotate to Show More Information](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5303388/macintosh-finder) — A 1994 Apple patent for a 3D computer icon that can be rotated by clicking specific areas to reveal different sides, each containing extra information about a file or folder. - [How Screens Change What They Show Based on Your Hand Distance](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10303266/apple-pencil) — A method for changing the menu options shown on a screen depending on how close or far away your hand is hovering above it.