Prior art

An analysis of the prior art cited in US patent 11,573,939 reveals several relevant references. The following have been identified as the most significant for potentially challenging the novelty of the patent's single independent claim under 35 U.S.C. § 102. These references describe user interfaces and selection methods in environments similar to that claimed in the '939 patent, namely television and set-top box systems controlled by remotes.

Key Prior Art and Potential Anticipation of Claim 1

1. US Patent Application Publication No. US 2002/0113825 A1 ("Perlman")

• Full Citation: US 2002/0113825 A1, "Apparatus and method for selecting data," filed by Stephen G. Perlman on February 22, 2001, and published on August 22, 2002.

• Brief Description: Perlman describes a system, particularly for a set-top box or similar media device, that allows a user to select data items from a large list displayed on a screen. The interface presents a "selection wheel" or list of characters. As the user selects characters with a remote control, the list of data items is filtered in real-time to show only those matching the entered character string. This is designed to simplify searching through extensive media libraries or program guides on a television.

• Potential Anticipation of Claim 1: Perlman appears to teach many elements of claim 1.

  • It discloses a system with a display (television), a remote control for input, and a processor (within a set-top box, which is analogous to being "contained within the television" for functional purposes).
  • Perlman's method involves generating a display of selectable characters (which are "parts of an item identifier") to filter a list of items (e.g., movie titles). Selecting a character ('J') filters the list to items starting with 'J'.
  • This is followed by generating a further display where the user can select another character ('A') to further filter the list to a subset (items starting with "JA").
  • The system inherently combines the selections ("J" and "A" become "JA") and displays this larger part of the identifier as the user's current search string.
  • The selectable characters are shorter than the complete item identifier (e.g., 'J' is shorter than "Jaws").
  • The "selection wheel" or circular arrangement of characters described in Perlman's figures (e.g., FIG. 5) is a direct parallel to the "circular menu" limitation, which can be navigated with the remote's directional keys.

  Given that Perlman describes a sequential, part-by-part method of building a search query on a television using a remote to select from character options arranged in a wheel, it presents a strong case for anticipating all the core functional elements of claim 1.

2. US Patent No. 7,152,213 B2 ("Infogation")

• Full Citation: US 7,152,213 B2, "System and method for dynamic key assignment in enhanced user interface," assigned to Infogation Corporation, filed on October 4, 2001, and issued on December 19, 2006.
• Brief Description: This patent details a user interface for devices with limited input keys, such as a remote control for a navigation or media system. It describes dynamically assigning functions, characters, or menu options to directional keys (up, down, left, right). A key feature is the display of options in an "annular" or circular arrangement around a central point on the screen, corresponding to the remote's directional pad.
• Potential Anticipation of Claim 1: The Infogation patent is highly relevant to the specific user interface limitations of claim 1.
  • It explicitly teaches the use of an "up, down, left, right, select" functionality of a remote to interact with an on-screen display.
  • Crucially, it discloses the arrangement of selectable items in a circular menu ("annular arrangement") where each position corresponds to a directional press on the remote. This directly maps to limitation (n) of claim 1.
  • While the patent focuses more on the dynamic assignment of the keys rather than the step-by-step building of an entire search string, its teachings on the control mechanic and UI layout are directly applicable. When combined with the common knowledge of predictive text or filtering search at the time, an argument could be made that it anticipates the claimed system. It strongly teaches the specific implementation of the remote control and circular menu for selecting on-screen items, which could be parts of an identifier.

3. US Patent No. 5,223,924 A ("Philips")

• Full Citation: US 5,223,924 A, "System and method for automatically correlating user preferences with a T.V. program information database," assigned to North American Philips Corporation, filed on May 27, 1992, and issued on June 29, 1993.
• Brief Description: This patent from the early 1990s describes a system for managing a television program database. It allows a user to input preferences, such as genres or actor names, to filter a large electronic program guide and find desirable content.
• Potential Anticipation of Claim 1: While much older, the Philips patent establishes key environmental elements of claim 1.
  • It clearly discloses a system using a television display and a processor to search and filter a database of items (TV programs) identified by text (program titles, actor names).
  • The user interacts with the system via a remote control.
  • The process of entering an actor's name to narrow down a list of programs is a form of selecting an item based on its identifier. However, Philips does not appear to describe the specific iterative UI of selecting parts of an identifier from a dynamically generated circular menu. It more likely assumes a traditional character-by-character input method, such as through an on-screen keyboard.
  • Therefore, Philips is excellent prior art for the general system concept (TV, remote, processor, database search) but likely fails to anticipate the more specific UI and selection process limitations (iterative selection of parts from a circular menu) found in claim 1.