U.S. patent application number 10/179322 was filed with the patent office on 2003-06-05 for transmission of menus to a receiver.
This patent application is currently assigned to KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.. Invention is credited to Cautley, Hugh, Kretz, Christoph.
Application Number | 20030106059 10/179322 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26139459 |
Filed Date | 2003-06-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030106059 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kretz, Christoph ; et
al. |
June 5, 2003 |
Transmission of menus to a receiver
Abstract
Method and arrangements for transmitting an receiving menus,
e.g. for accessing an electronic television programme guide. Each
menu comprises a plurality of menu items which can be selected by a
user. With each menu item, a subpicture can be associated. Said
subpicture is displayed when the cursor touches said menu item on
screen. Thus, by moving the cursor over the screen, the subpicture
dynamically changes so as to display a brief explanation of the
menu items.
Inventors: |
Kretz, Christoph; (Vienna,
AT) ; Cautley, Hugh; (Vienna, AT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Corporate Patent Counsel
U.S. Philips Corporation
580 White Plains Road
Tarrytown
NY
10591
US
|
Assignee: |
KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS
N.V.
|
Family ID: |
26139459 |
Appl. No.: |
10/179322 |
Filed: |
June 25, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10179322 |
Jun 25, 2002 |
|
|
|
08674518 |
Jul 2, 1996 |
|
|
|
6460179 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
725/51 ;
348/E5.104; 348/E5.105; 348/E5.112; 348/E7.033; 348/E7.034; 725/38;
725/61 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 7/0882 20130101;
H04N 7/0884 20130101; H04N 21/4316 20130101; H04N 5/45 20130101;
H04N 21/482 20130101; H04N 21/42204 20130101; H04N 21/47
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
725/51 ; 725/61;
725/38 |
International
Class: |
G06F 003/00; H04N
005/445; G06F 013/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 3, 1995 |
EP |
95201807.5 |
Aug 25, 1995 |
EP |
95202305.9 |
Claims
1. A method of transmitting a menu to a receiver for display on
said receiver, comprising the step of transmitting menu structure
data defining displayable menu items which are selectable by a
cursor, characterized in that the method comprises the step of
transmitting subpicture data defining displayable subpictures, and
the step of associating with each menu item attribute data for
linking a selected subpicture to said item so as to simultaneously
display the menu and the subpicture which is associated with the
menu item the display position of which corresponds with the
display position of the cursor.
2. A transmitter for transmitting a menu to a receiver for display
on said receiver, comprising means for transmitting menu structure
data defining displayable menu items which are selectable by a
cursor, characterized in that the transmitter comprises means for
transmitting subpicture data defining displayable subpictures, and
means for associating with each menu item attribute data for
linking a selected subpicture to said item so as to simultaneously
display the menu and the subpicture which is associated with the
menu item the display position of which corresponds with the
display position of the cursor.
3. A display signal generator, comprising first memory means for
storing menu structure data defining a menu having user-selectable
menu items, second memory means for storing subpicture data
defining displayable subpictures, and cursor means for generating a
cursor, characterized in that attribute data is associated with
each menu item for linking a selected subpicture to said item, the
generator further being adapted to simultaneously display the menu
and the stored subpicture which is associated with the menu item
the display position of which corresponds with the display position
of the cursor.
4. A television receiver, comprising a display signal generator
according to claim 3, a display device, and further comprising
means for receiving from a transmitter, and for storing in said
memory means, said menu structure data and subpicture data.
5. A video recorder, comprising a display signal generator
according to claim 3, and further comprising means for receiving
from a transmitter, and for storing in said memory means, said menu
structure data and subpicture data.
6. A data signal comprising menu structure data defining
displayable menu items which are selectable by a cursor, subpicture
data defining displayable subpictures, wherein attribute data is
associated with each menu item for linking a selected subpicture to
said item.
7. A storage medium on which a data signal according to claim 6 has
been stored.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a method of transmitting a menu to
a receiver for display on said receiver, comprising the step of
transmitting menu structure data defining displayable menu items
which are selectable by a cursor. The invention also relates to a
transmitter, television receiver and a display device for
transmitting, receiving, and displaying, respectively, said
menu.
[0002] A known method and arrangement for transmitting menus to a
television receiver as defined hereabove is disclosed in U.S. Pat.
No. 4,992,871. The prior art method relates to teletext broadcast
systems. The menus are transmitted as additional teletext pages,
each comprising the menu items and the page numbers of the relevant
teletext pages associated therewith. The user retrieves a
particular page of interest by placing the cursor on the page
number associated with a desired menu item and presses an OK key.
If a plurality of menu pages is transmitted to form a tree
structure, this step is repeated as many times as necessary.
[0003] The transmission of electronic television video guides,
whether or not in the form of teletext pages, is a feature of
growing commercial importance. Some TV stations (e.g. Pro7 in
Germany) transmit TV guide information related to a plurality of TV
stations via teletext. Each teletext page comprises the programs
scheduled for a day or a part thereof. Some TV stations also
transmit a teletext page showing all programs currently being
broadcast by a plurality of TV stations. Needless to say that a
video guide transmission system must offer appropriate menus to
assist the user in finding the desired information. An easy-to-use
and attractive menu based access system is proposed in Applicant's
co-pending patent application PHN 15.374 EPP, filed simultaneously
with this application.
[0004] It is an object of the invention to provide a method and
arrangement for transmitting menus, wherein the menus have an
attractive appearance and which yet better assist the user in
retrieving the information of interest.
[0005] According to the invention, the method is characterized in
that the method comprises the step of transmitting subpicture data
defining displayable subpictures, and the step of associating with
each menu item attribute data for linking a selected subpicture to
said item so as to simultaneously display the menu and the
subpicture which is associated with the menu item the display
position of which corresponds with the display position of the
cursor. Herewith is achieved that, while the cursor is moved over
the various menu items on screen, a subpicture with information
related to each menu item pops up dynamically. An important
application hereof is to provide the user in advance, for each
selectable menu item, a brief explanation of actions which will be
carried out when said item will indeed be selected. It is also
possible to dynamically show commercials, each commercial being
specially related to a menu item.
[0006] According to a further aspect of the invention, a display
device for displaying a menu comprises memory means for storing
menu structure data defining displayable and user-selectable menu
items, display means for displaying said menu, and cursor means for
displaying a cursor in said menu. The device is characterized in
that it comprises further memory means for storing subpicture data
defining displayable subpictures, with each menu item attribute
data being associated for linking a selected subpicture to said
item, the display means further being adapted to simultaneously
display the menu and the stored subpicture which is associated with
the menu item of which the display position corresponds with the
display position of the cursor. In such a display device, the
various kinds of data are stored in advance.
[0007] FIG. 1 shows a system comprising a transmitter and a
receiver according to the invention.
[0008] FIG. 2 shows a flowdiagram of steps of transmitting sections
of the database by the transmitter of FIG. 1.
[0009] FIGS. 3 and 4 show examples of different motion phases of
subpictures for display by the receiver shown in FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 5 shows a plurality of menus to illustrate the
operations of the transmitter and receiver of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 6 shows a flow chart of operations carried out by a
microprocessor shown in FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 1 shows a system comprising a transmitter 1 and a
receiver 2 according to the invention. The transmitter comprises an
editing terminal 11 for creating and updating a database of
information, a processor 12, a memory 13 for storing the database,
and a page composer 14 for packing the stored database into
teletext pages TXT. The transmitter further comprises a teletext
inserter 15 for inserting the teletext pages in the flyback period
of a composite video signal CVBS. The thus obtained television
signal is applied to a modulator 16 for broadcast over a
transmission medium 3.
[0013] The receiver comprises a tuner 21 for receiving the
television signal. The received signal is directly applied to a
television monitor 22 so as to display the television programme.
The signal is also applied to a teletext data decoder 23 which is
adapted to acquire selected teletext pages and to store them in a
memory 24. A microprocessor 25 is connected to decoder 23 so as to
apply the relevant page numbers, and is further connected to the
memory 24 so as to process the information stored therein. The
receiver further comprises a graphic generator 26 adapted to read a
predetermined display segment of memory 24 and to generate an
On-Screen-Display picture OSD defined by data stored in said memory
segment. The OSD picture includes a cursor, the position of which
is applied by the microprocessor in response to positioning signals
from a remote cursor control device 27.
[0014] In practice, the receiver described above may take the form
of a videorecorder. The videorecorder may have an embedded display
device 22 or an output for applying the display signals CVBS and
OSD to a separate display device 22 such as a television set.
Operation of the Transmitter
[0015] The operation of the transmitter will now be described with
reference to the transmission of an electronic TV programme guide.
The invention, however, is not restricted to this application. The
programme guide items as well as data for accessing and presenting
the programme guide at the receiver end are created by editorial
staff using editing terminal 11. The information is processed by
processor 12 and stored in various segments of memory 13. Each
memory segment defines an amount of data which will further be
referred to as a section of the database. The page composer 14
packs each section in one or more teletext pages. As the teletext
pages are not intended for direct display, they have hexadecimal
page numbers. Data which is most sensible data to transmission
errors, such as headers, dates and times, string lengths, teletext
page numbers, etc., are protected by a Hamming code. The first
teletext page has a predetermined page number (e.g. 3A0) and
contains a table of content. This is a list of teletext page
numbers carrying the data stream. If the table of content does not
fit in one teletext page, a reference to subsequent teletext pages
is made.
[0016] FIG. 2 shows a flowdiagram of transmission steps executed by
the transmitter. Each step includes the transmission of a section
of the database, i.e. the transmission of a respective segment
stored in memory 13. Each section relates to a certain
functionality and comprises data items such as parameters, values,
text strings, attributes, etc. In a step 31 a Basic Info section is
transmitted, comprising basic data such as date and time and some
other general data so as to ease the management of memory in a
television receiver. In a step 32 a Layout Info section is
transmitted, defining a variety of design tools for composing the
electronic programme guide. In a step 33 a Graphics section is
transmitted in which a plurality of graphic subpictures is defined
for display on screen. In a step 34 a Table Info section is
transmitted, defining a collection of properties which may be
associated with information items. In a step 35 a Menu Info section
is transmitted, conveying the menu structure data for accessing the
program guide. In a step 36 a Programme Info section is transmitted
for building up the TV programme guide database. The transmission
of the database ends with the transmission, in a step 37, of an
End-of-Protocol code. The database is transmitted regularly, e.g. a
few times per day.
[0017] The sections will now be described in more details. As not
all section are equally essential to the invention, some sections
will only briefly be discussed. In the following description,
sections are shown in double framed boxes. A collection of data
items in a section may constitute a block. Blocks are shown in
single framed boxes. A ++ symbol is placed next to a data item or
block if it is repeatedly transmitted. For example, a section:
1
[0018] comprises three data items of which the block comprising
item_2 and item_3 may be repeated. Each section starts with a
header. This is a code identifying the section and indicating its
beginning. The type of the data items (such as byte, character,
string) is not given here because it is not essential to the
invention.
The Section Basic Info
[0019] This section comprises basic data such as date and time and
some other general data so as to ease the management of memory in a
television receiver. The Basic Info section has the following
format: 2
[0020] Herein, date and time represent the date and time of issue
of the database. No_programmes is the number of programmes
contained in the Programme Info section. No_menuitems is the number
of menu items in the Menu Info section. No_criteria is the number
of criteria in the Table Info section. No_graphics is the total
number of graphics, including the logos defined in the Table Info
section. Poolsize is the total size of all the titles, programme
infos and descriptions and criteria names.
The Section Layout Info
[0021] This section gives a variety of design tools to the supplier
of the electronic programme guide. The format of this section is:
3
[0022] No_of_colours and colour++ define the length and contents,
respectively, of a colour look up table. By default, a standard
teletext colour table is used. The rest of the section specifies
the appearance of the various menus on screen. Screensize gives the
full screen size in pixels, in horizontal and vertical direction.
Because the menus are organized in a tree structure, each menu is
assigned a level of which there are no_of_levels available. As will
be described later, two menus of different levels may be displayed
simultaneously. This is referred to as an "arrangement". The number
of arrangements is specified by no_of_arrgmnts. The item
layout_data is a block of data defining features such as height,
font, colours, position, spacing, etc., of headlines and menu items
of the menu.
The Section Graphics
[0023] In this section, one or more graphic subpictures
(hereinafter also referred to as "graphics" for short) are defined
which can be displayed on screen. The general format of this
section is: 4
[0024] Herein, no_grphcs gives the number of graphics defined in
the section. Grphc_no is an index number for invoking the
subpictures. The data item graphic itself is a block of data
defining a rectangular subpicture. Four types of graphics are being
distinguished in this protocol: bitmaps, symbols, dynacons, and
text strings. A bitmap is the general term for a graphic. It is a
rectangular matrix of pixels forming a subpicture. Symbols and
dynacons are bitmaps as well, but with special conventions. Symbols
are intended for use within text strings. A text including a symbol
comprises an escape character followed by graphic_no to invoke the
symbol. Dynacons ("dynamic icons") consist of a predefined sequence
of 2 or more bitmaps. Each bitmap represents one motion phase of
the dynacon. By cyclically displaying said motion phases, the
viewer sees one bitmap after the other, which becomes manifest as a
simple animation of the subpicture. The period of time during which
each phase is to be displayed can be fixed in the receiver, or may
be transmitted as a data item in the section. A dynacon with one
single phase is a symbol. The phases "overload" the colour table,
per phase there is one complete colour table as common from a
bitmap. Dynacons can be used like symbols. FIGS. 3 and 4 show
examples of dynacons. The two motion phases shown in FIG. 3 give an
impression of blinking eyes, for example, to draw the user's
attention to a special item on screen. The two motion phases shown
in FIG. 4 give an impression of flapping wings, for example, to be
associated with a television programme on birds.
[0025] Bitmaps, symbols and dynacons may be encoded either
pixel-by-pixel or by using a run-length code. Both the type of
graphics and the method of encoding are defined by the section
header which has a plurality of possible values for this
purpose.
[0026] For pixel-by-pixel encoded bitmaps, symbols and dynacons,
the format of the block graphic is: 5
[0027] Herein, bits_per_colour defines the number of colours which
can be used, and colour_table is an array of three values defining
each colour in terms of red, green and blue levels. The parameters
x_tlcorner and y_tlcorner define the position of the bitmap on
screen in terms of a character location. The parameters x_xtns and
y_xtns define the size of the bitmap on the screen in pixels.
Pixel_block defines the colour of each pixel in terms of an index
to the colour look up table in a predetermined scanning order.
Every colour index consists of bits_per_colour bits.
[0028] For run-length-encoded bitmaps, symbols and dynacons, the
format of the block graphic is: 6
[0029] The same definitions as above apply. The parameter pblsize
defines the size ofpixel_block which now accommodates a plurality
of run-length codes. Methods for run-length coding graphic images
are generally known.
The Section Table Info
[0030] The Table Info section defines a collection of properties
(hereafter referred to as criteria), which may be associated with
information items. The criteria are to be defined by the
information provider, but they have to be matched one of the meta
criteria types laid down here. Every section creates one table of
criteria. 7
[0031] Every type defines a list of criteria as defined in the
table below. A programme may have a specific criterion. If so, it
appears in a list of programmes fulfilling said criterion.
No_of_items gives the length of the list. Item_no and item always
appear together. A criterion referenced by item_no is called as
stated by item. In case of ratings, which do not have items, the
item string is an empty one. In case of broadcaster logos, the
items are constructed as defined in the Graphics section.
1 type meta critenon 0 broadcaster 1 broadcaster logos 2 language 3
keyword 4 category 5 rating 10 + i sub category [i]
The Section Menu Info
[0032] The section Menu Info conveys the menus to access the
program guide and can also be used to transport non-programme
information, e.g. news or help. It defines a hierarchically
structured tree of charts, each chart consisting of a headline and
several items. Each item may expand to a new, more detailed sub
chart. An example of the menu structure will be given later. The
transmission format of the section Menu Info is shown in the
following Table: 8
[0033] Item_no is an item number assigned to a menu_item in the
range from 0 up to and inclusive no_of_items-1. Level is an
unsigned number, telling how deep in the tree the menu comprising
this item lays. Menu_item is a string of characters representing an
information item. The first menu_item at a given level of a menu is
the headline of said menu.
[0034] Basically, the text string defined by menu_item is to be
displayed as such as a menu item on screen. However, if its first
character is a special character, menu_item represents a reference
to a string stored elsewhere in a television receiver. In the
current example of a television program guide, menu_item may refer
to a piece of text in a particular teletext page, or to a programme
transmitted in the Programme Info section still to be
described.
[0035] A reference to teletext is indicated by the special first
character "@" and further comprises successively: the number of the
relevant TV station in a broadcaster table; the teletext page
number (which may include a subcode); row and column number of the
position in the teletext page where the text to be displayed
starts; and row and column number of the position in the teletext
page where the text ends.
[0036] A reference to a programme string transmitted in the
Programme Info section is indicated by the special first character
"" and further comprises the number of the program in that
section.
[0037] If menu_item is a criterion (e.g. a category), it will
expand to a list of (pre-)sorted programme information. If
menu_item represents the Fast Finder or any other self-expanding
item, a title is placed in the headline (the first menu_item of the
menu) and a corresponding attribute added.
[0038] Each menu_item in the section may have zero, one or more
attributes assigned to it, the number of attributes being given by
no_of_attributes. An attribute is a block of data comprising a
header defining the attribute as well as the kind and format of the
subsequent data. Some attributes enhance or extend the menu item,
others define a criterion to be applied to the stored information
items so as to obtain a list of information items fulfilling said
criterion. Some examples of attributes will now be described.
[0039] Attributes INS_DATE and INS_TIME specify that the current
date and/or time are to be inserted in the menu item. A
specification of the display format (e.g. "14:22" or "2.22 a.m.")
may be included.
[0040] An attribute GRPHCS specifies the graph_no of a graphic
subpicture to be displayed. If the attribute is connected to a menu
headline (the first menu_item at a given level), the subpicture is
to be displayed during the time that the relevant menu is
displayed. If the attribute is connected to selectable menu items,
the subpicture pops up when the cursor touches that item on
screen.
[0041] An attribute SORT_DATE specifies an offset (0=today,
1=tomorrow, etc.) with respect to the date of issue of the
programme guide as defined in the section Basic Info. The attribute
constitutes an instruction for the television receiver to search
and display all programmes fulfilling the criterion.
[0042] An attribute SORT_TIME specifies a time interval and
instructs the receiver to search and display all programmes
scheduled for broadcast within said interval. A special code
designates the current time to be the start of the interval.
[0043] An attribute CRITERION searches the programmes fulfilling a
criterion other than date and time. The attribute defines the type,
number and index of the corresponding criteria table (the values
are defined in the section Table Info). The attribute may be added
to programme or menu items. If attached to a programme item, it
defines a criterion of that programme. If it is attached to a menu
item, it forces a menu to be made up of programmes which have that
criterion attached to.
[0044] An attribute METACRITERION defines only the type of the
corresponding criteria table. This attribute may be added to menu
items only, thus defining a menu composed of all items of that
table type. If type is criterion, then any item of the constructed
menu expands to the corresponding table of subcategories. If it is
not a criterion, then any item expands to a selection of
programmes.
[0045] An attribute LINKEDITEM establishes a link between a menu
item and other displayable information so as to display both
simultaneously. Some possible links (e.g. to graphic subpictures)
have already been mentioned. The attribute can be added to menu
items as well as programmes (see section Programme Info). The
display area where to put the linked element on screen is
specified. The linked item is displayed whenever the item with the
attribute is the only one on the screen or whenever the cursor
touches it. Links can be established to an element of a different
section or to a (piece of a) teletext page. A link can also by
itself define a text string to be displayed. This is defined by a
code immediately following the attribute header. The code is
followed by further data. A possible data format is shown
below.
2 code further data link including string 0 string link to a
teletext service 1 station_no, page_number, subcode, row_spec,
col_spec link to section Graphics 2 graphic_no link to section
Table Info 3 type, item_no link to section Menu Info 4 item_no link
to section Programme Info 5 programme_no
[0046] An attribute MULTILEVEL instructs the receiver to display
two levels of a menu simultaneously on one screen. The attribute is
added to the headline of a menu at a given level, and specifies
whether the next higher level or the next lower level is to be
displayed.
The Section Promgramme Info
[0047] Whereas the section Menu Info is to construct a menu tree to
navigate through the database, the section Programme Info is to
build up the programme database. The section conveys all
programmes, which become available within the program guide, and
contains all the necessary information needed for pre-sorting. The
programme related functions (as expanding to programme description,
viewing, timer programming etc.) do not imply an explicit option.
The format of the section is: 9
[0048] Herein, programme_no is a program number. If there is one
programme info section, this number goes from 0 to no_programmes-1
inclusive (no_programmes is defined in the section Basic info).
Date_offset is the offset from the day of issue of the programme
guide to the day of transmission of the programme, e.g. 0=today,
1=tomorrow, etc. Station_no is an index of the station in the
broadcaster table defined in the section Table Info. The parameters
start_time, stop_time and vps_time speak for themselves. In order
to extend a day's scope to the early morning, hours may go up to 30
(=24+6).
[0049] The items title, prog_info and prog_descr are strings. They
may also identify a reference to different programme items, using
the mechanism explained hereinbefore with respect to menu items. If
title identifies a reference, a programme is repeated at a
different time or on a different station unless prog_info or
prog_descr are not empty. If any of the items is a string and one
or two of them are references, only the string with reference has
to be copied from the referenced programme. For instance, if a
programme is repeated but the identical programmes are to be
displayed with different advertisements in prog_info, both title
and prog_descr must take the form of the reference. If title is a
reference to a teletext string including start- stop- and VPS-times
according to the VPT-standard, a special code is used. Another
special code is used if there is no VPS available.
[0050] The parameter no_prog_options specifies the number of
subsequent prog_options. Program options in the section Programme
Info have the same function, and are likewise encoded, as
attributes in the section Menu Info.
Example of a Menu Structure
[0051] An example of the transmission of a menu structure will now
be given. FIG. 5A shows a main menu (level 0) to be displayed
initially. This menu comprises a headline 100 (e.g. the string
"MAIN MENU"), a first menu item 101 (e.g. "TV Guide"), a second
menu item 132 ("FastFinder") and a third menu item 150 ("User's
Guide"). The image further includes a subpicture 201 which provides
a brief explanation of the menu item to which the cursor is
currently pointing. The example also illustrates that the invention
can also be used to distribute straightforward text for the mere
purpose of consultation ("User's Guide") or for setting up a
personal database ("FastFinder"). The latter refers to a system for
keeping a personal database of television programmes recorded on
VCR tapes. The relevant data in the section Menu Info for defining
the screen of FIG. 5A is:
3 item no=100, level=0, item="MAIN MENU", no of attributes=0; item
no=101, level=0, item="TV Guide", no of attributes=1,
attribute={LINKEDITEM,2,..}; item no=132, level=0,
item="FastFinder", no of attributes=2,
attribute++={LINKEDITEM,2,..}, {ATTR FF}; item no=150, level=0,
item="User Guide", no of attributes=1, attribute
={LINKEDITEM,2,..};
[0052] Only the items of the relevant menu are mentioned. Note the
peculiar way of assigning item numbers. The items are consecutively
numbered, starting with the headline (100) and first item (101) of
the main menu at level 0, then the headline (102) and first item
(103) of the menu at level 1, etc. The second item of the menu at
level 0 thus obtains a number (132) following the last item of all
the menus connected to the first item. The numbering starts with
item_no=0 but, for reasons of clarity, the items are here given the
same number as the reference numerals shown in FIG. 5.
[0053] To each item of the menu of FIG. 5A, an attribute
{LINKEDITEM, 2, . . . } is attached. As explained before, this
attribute invokes the associated subpicture 201 to be displayed
when the cursor touches (not: selects) the item. The attribute {FF}
in the example defines a special function (FastFinder) to be
executed by the receiver when the corresponding item is
selected.
[0054] FIG. 5B shows a submenu (level 1) to be displayed upon
selecting the first menu item 101 of the main menu. The menu
comprises a headline 102 ("TV Guide"), a menu item 103 ("Now on
TV"), a menu item 110 ("Overview"), and a subpicture 202 showing a
commercial for example. The relevant data in the section Menu Info
for defining the screen of FIG. 5B is:
4 item no=102, level=1, item="TV GUIDE", no of attributes=1,
attribute={GRPHCS,...}; item no=103, level=1, item="Now on TV", no
of attributes=0; item no=110, level=1, item="Overview", no of
attributes=0;
[0055] The attribute {GRPHCS, . . . } attached to the headline
refers to subpicture 202 to be displayed. Because this attribute is
attached to the headline rather than a menu item, the subpicture
remains on screen as long as this menu is displayed, independent of
the cursor position.
[0056] FIG. 5C shows a submenu at level 2, to be displayed upon
selecting menu item 103 in FIG. 5B. It comprises a headline 104
("NOW ON TV - 19:38") and programme items 105-109, each
representing a television programme being broadcast now. The
relevant data in the section Menu Info is:
5 item no=104, level=2, item="NOW ON TV - ", no of attributes=1,
attribute={INSTIME,..}; item no=105, level=2, item="@..", no of
attributes=0; item no=106, level=2, item="@..", no of attributes=0;
item no=107, level=2, item="@..", no of attributes=0; item no=108,
level=2, item="{circumflex over ( )}..", no of attributes=0; item
no=109, level=2, item="{circumflex over ( )}..", no of
attributes=0;
[0057] Herein, the attribute {INSTIME, . . . } adds the current
time (19:38) to the headline. The first character @ of a menu item
indicates a references to a string in a teletext page. This may be
a teletext page transmitted by a different television transmitter.
The first character of a menu item indicates a reference to a
string in the Programme Info section.
[0058] FIG. 5D shows the screen to appear upon selecting menu 110.
Besides the headline 111 ("OVERVIEW"), this screen displays two
submenus simultaneously. A first submenu comprising items 112
("Today") en 122 ("Tomorrow") has the same level (=2) as the menu
of FIG. 5C. A second submenu comprising items 113 ("Morning"), 116
("Afternoon") and 119 ("Evening") is a level 3 menu. The first
submenu is active. The second submenu becomes active if one of the
items 112 or 122 is selected. The relevant data in the section Menu
Info is:
6 item no=111, level=2, item="OVERVIEW", no of attributes=1,
attribute={MULTILEVEL,..}; item no=112, level=2, item="Today", no
of attributes=0; item no=113, level=3, item="Morning", no of
attributes=0; item no=116, level=3, item="Afternoon", no of
attributes=0; item no=119, level=3, item="Evening", no of
attributes=0; item no=122, level=2, item="Tomorrow", no of
attributes=0; item no=123, level=3, item="Morning", no of
attributes=0; item no=126, level=3, item="Afternoon", no of
attributes=0; item no=129, level=3, item="Evening", no of
attributes=0
[0059] The simultaneous display of two menus at different levels is
controlled by the attribute MULTILEVEL (see also the description of
the section Menu Info).
[0060] FIG. 5E shows a level 4 menu to appear upon selecting
today's evening programmes (item 119 in FIG. 5D). The image also
includes a subpicture 203 with a brief preview of the program which
the cursor is currently touching. Like a linked item, it is
automatically replaced by another as the cursor moves over the
programme items. The relevant data in the section Menu Info is:
7 item no=114, level=4, item="EVENING", no of attributes=0; item
no=115, level=4, item="", no of attributes=2, attribute++={SORT
DATE, 0}, {SORT TIME,..};
[0061] Besides the headline, this menu comprises one menu item
only. The attributes {SORT_TIME, . . . } and {SORT_DATE, 0 }
attached to this menu item expand the item to a list of programme
items transmitted in the Programme Info section. The video guide
protocol prescribes that additional information prog_info to a
programme title is to be displayed automatically. A special
mechanism for enabling or disabling the display of subpicture 203
can thus be dispensed with.
[0062] In the example above, the screens comprising television
programme information, such as shown in FIGS. 5C and 5E, constitute
the leafs of the tree. It can be envisaged, however, to include
further screens allowing the user to automatically set the timer of
a videorecorder, to access detailed description of a television
programme he is interested in, or (in the case of electronic
shopping) to automatically dial a predetermined telephone number
and order a selected product.
Operation of the Receiver
[0063] The operation is determined by a control program stored in a
memory of microprocessor 25 (FIG. 1). FIG. 6 shows a flow chart of
operations carried out by the microprocessor. In an initial step
41, the processor determines the sequence of teletext pages
constituting the database. As already mentioned above, a
predetermined page comprises the list of pages to be acquired. In
the step 41, the processor further applies the relevant page
numbers to the data decoder 23 (FIG. 1). As each page arrives, the
data accommodated therein are stored in memory 24 (FIG. 1). The
processor sorts the received data so as to store each section of
the database in a corresponding segment of said memory. More in
particular, the processor sorts all menu items if the Menu Info
section in order of increasing item_no. During this process, the
user may use the television receiver for other purposes, e.g.
watching a television programma. The process may also be carried
out in a standby state of the receiver, e.g. during the night.
[0064] A step 42 is executed when the user desires to consult the
television program guide. In this step, the processor searches, in
the memory segment holding the Menu Info section, all items
relevant to the menu to be displayed. For the initial main menu,
this step is equivalent to searching all items having level=0. For
menus to be displayed after selection of an item having item_no=n,
the step 42 comprises the substeps of: searching the item having
item_no=n+1; reading the level L associated therewith; and
searching all subsequent items having level L until an item having
a level lower than L is found. For example, if item 101 at level 0
(FIG. 5A) is selected, the processor searches all subsequent items
at level 1 (i.e. 102, 103 and 110) until an item at level 0 is
found again (i.e. item 132).
[0065] In a step 43, the menu is composed and displayed using the
display parameters such as text font, height, spacing, colour, etc.
as defined in the Layout Info section stored in a predetermined
segment of memory 24 (FIG. 1). The processor determines for each
menu_item whether it starts with a or @ character. If case of a
character, the text string to be displayed is to be read from the
Programme Info section. In case of a @ character, the text string
to be displayed is to be read from a teletext page. This may be a
teletext page transmitted by a different TV station. The processor
also checks whether an attribute {GRPHCS} is associated with the
headline. If that is the case, the relevant subpicture is read from
the graphics segment of memory 24 (FIG. 1) and written in the
display segment of the memory (c.f. FIG. 5B). The processor further
checks the presence of an attribute {MULTILEVEL} so as to decide
whether two menus have to be displayed simultaneously on screen
(c.f. FIG. 5D).
[0066] In a step 44, the processor controls the position of a
cursor displayed on screen in response to cursor positioning
signals from remote cursor control device 27 (FIG. 1). In a step
45, the processor determines whether or not the cursor position
touches a menu item displayed on screen. If that is not the case,
the processor returns to step 44. If the cursor touches a menu
item, the processor checks in a step 46 whether an attribute
{LINKEDITEM} is associated with said menu item. If such an
attribute is present, a step 47 is carried out in which the
subpicture referred to is read from the graphics segment of memory
24 (FIG. 1), and displayed (c.f. FIG. 5A). If the cursor touches a
programme item rather than a menu item, the processor displays
prog_info associated therewith (c.f. FIG. 5E).
[0067] In a step 48, the pressing of an OK button on the remote
cursor device is detected. As long as OK is not pressed, the loop
of steps 44-48 is cycled through so as to keep track of the cursor
position and, if applicable, to change the subpicture. If OK is
pressed, the processor returns to step 42 so as to collect the menu
items constituting a new menu to be displayed.
[0068] It is noted that the electronic database and associated
linking data is not necessarily to be accommodated in the vertical
flyback period of a broadcast television signal. The data can also
be transmitted via a telephone network or computer network (e.g.
Internet), or distributed on storage media such as CDROM or
computer diskettes. Accordingly, the receiver may take the form of
a data processing and display unit (e.g. a personal computer),
provided with an appropriate interface circuit ("extension card")
for receiving the data signals.
[0069] In summary, a method and arrangements for transmitting an
receiving menus, e.g. for accessing an electronic television
programme guide, are disclosed. Each menu comprises a plurality of
menu items which can be selected by a user. With each menu item, a
subpicture can be associated. Said subpicture is displayed when the
cursor touches said menu item on screen. Thus, by moving the cursor
over the screen, the subpicture dynamically changes so as to
display a brief explanation of the menu items.
* * * * *