A graphical user interface (GUI) for a television set-top box which
includes a web browser. The set-top box has an Internet data connection
and is controlled from user inputs entered through a remote control
device. The GUI generates menu screens that are superimposed over
conventional television video images, so that the user can view browser
graphics generated by the GUI while viewing television images in the
background. The GUI further provides animated on-screen notifications of
the presence of interactive content, such as hypertext links to World
Wide Web pages, which may be associated with television content currently
being received. The GUI can also provide animated on-screen notifications
of other events, such as previously-specified dates and times or the end
of a television commercial. A main menu screen includes function buttons
which appear to slide back and forth. A two-state progress indicator
indicates that a download is in progress and the degree of completeness
of a download.
