Prior art — US Patent 11812091

The most relevant prior art for US patent 11812091, based on an analysis of its claims and the citations provided within the patent document, includes US20050166230A1 and JP2005073022A. While several prior art documents address aspects of dynamic user interfaces, the distinct feature of US11812091 is the use of "time related information" (e.g., an appreciation term) to control the alternative display of linear versus interactive operation panels.

Here's an analysis of the identified prior art:

1. US20050166230A1 (Gaydou Danny R.)

Full Citation: US20050166230A1, "Systems and methods for providing transport control", Gaydou Danny R., published 2005-07-28.
Publication Date: 2005-07-28.
Filing Date: 2003-03-18.
Brief Description: This patent application describes a media system that provides a unified interface configured to present controls in response to content being played back. The controls presented may be based on the type of content. It aims to streamline content management and access by dynamically adapting the user interface (UI) controls to the specific media being consumed.
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
- Claim 1 (Digital content reproducing apparatus): US20050166230A1 potentially anticipates the broad concept of a controller being configured to display different sets of operation buttons based on the "type of content". This aligns with the "alternatively display either of a first operation panel including at least one of linear operation buttons... or a second operation panel including at least one of interactive operation buttons... depending on contents" aspect. However, it does not explicitly disclose the specific limitation of using "time related information" (e.g., an "appreciation term") to govern the display logic, where interactive buttons are shown during this time and other buttons outside this time. Therefore, it anticipates the content-dependent UI switching, but not the detailed time-based control logic.
- Claim 14 (Digital content reproducing apparatus, VOD specific): Similar to Claim 1, this reference broadly anticipates the display of different types of operation buttons (linear or interactive) based on the content type in a VOD context, but lacks the specific "time related information" control for the interactive buttons during a defined period, as elaborated in US11812091.

2. JP2005073022A (Nippon Hoso Kyokai )

Full Citation: JP2005073022A, "Broadcast receiving device, remote control device, remote control method and remote control program", Nippon Hoso Kyokai , published 2005-03-17.
Publication Date: 2005-03-17.
Filing Date: 2003-08-26.
Brief Description: As noted in the background of US11812091B2, this patent describes a broadcast receiving apparatus that provides a user with "illumination of a usable key of a remote controller in accordance with information on digital contents". The US11812091B2 patent critiques this, stating that it "is required to mount all keys so that a remote controller having a large area is used. Similarly, the apparatus using GUI is also required to display all keys so that a wide operation panel rendering area is used."
Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102):
- Claim 1 & 14: This prior art broadly relates to adapting user controls based on digital content. However, it focuses on highlighting keys on a remote controller rather than the alternative and exclusive display of distinct, same-sized operation panels on a primary display, which is a key feature of US11812091B2. More importantly, it does not disclose the critical element of using "time related information" (e.g., an appreciation term) to dictate when interactive operation panels are displayed, nor the specific logic of switching panels based on whether content is within or outside such a term. Therefore, while relevant to content-adaptive UIs, it does not anticipate the specific UI display and control mechanisms of US11812091B2.

The distinguishing feature of US11812091's claims, particularly Claims 1 and 14, over the identified prior art, appears to be the dynamic control and alternative display of operation panels/buttons based on the time-related validity or "appreciation term" of the digital content.