U.S. patent application number 12/639808 was filed with the patent office on 2010-06-24 for method and apparatus for transmitting, storing and processing electronic program guide data for on-screen display.
This patent application is currently assigned to Rovi Technologies Corporation. Invention is credited to Daniel S. Kwoh, Elsie Y. Leung, Roy J. Mankovitz, Henry C. Yuen.
Application Number | 20100157156 12/639808 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27540846 |
Filed Date | 2010-06-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100157156 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yuen; Henry C. ; et
al. |
June 24, 2010 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING, STORING AND PROCESSING
ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE DATA FOR ON-SCREEN DISPLAY
Abstract
A television viewer uses a PIP format for display of program
related information such as television program listings from a
program schedule data base in the background and moving, real time
images of a program selected from the displayed listings in the PIP
window. All the text of the background information lies outside the
PIP window. In one embodiment, as the viewer selects a particular
program from the display of current television program listings by
means of a cursor or a code number, the corresponding program
automatically appears in the PIP window.
Inventors: |
Yuen; Henry C.; (Pasadena,
CA) ; Mankovitz; Roy J.; (Montecito, CA) ;
Kwoh; Daniel S.; (La Canada Flintridge, CA) ; Leung;
Elsie Y.; (South Pasadena, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROPES & GRAY LLP
PATENT DOCKETING 39/361, 1211 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK
NY
10036-8704
US
|
Assignee: |
Rovi Technologies
Corporation
Santa Clara
CA
|
Family ID: |
27540846 |
Appl. No.: |
12/639808 |
Filed: |
December 16, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10159704 |
May 28, 2002 |
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12639808 |
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08744399 |
Nov 7, 1996 |
6477705 |
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10159704 |
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PCT/US95/11173 |
Aug 31, 1995 |
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08744399 |
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08475395 |
Jun 7, 1995 |
6239794 |
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PCT/US95/11173 |
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08424863 |
Apr 17, 1995 |
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08475395 |
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08369522 |
Jan 5, 1995 |
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08424863 |
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08312863 |
Sep 27, 1994 |
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08369522 |
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08298997 |
Aug 31, 1994 |
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08312863 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
348/567 ;
348/734; 348/E5.104; 725/43 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/4782 20130101;
H04N 5/782 20130101; H04N 5/44543 20130101; H04N 21/4334 20130101;
H04N 21/4345 20130101; H04N 5/45 20130101; H04N 21/42204 20130101;
H04N 21/84 20130101; H04N 7/0884 20130101; H04N 21/47 20130101;
H04N 7/0887 20130101; H04N 21/8133 20130101; H04N 21/4316 20130101;
H04N 21/47214 20130101; H04N 21/4821 20130101; H04N 5/775 20130101;
H04N 21/482 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
348/567 ; 725/43;
348/734; 348/E05.104 |
International
Class: |
H04N 5/445 20060101
H04N005/445 |
Claims
1-30. (canceled)
31. An electronic program guide comprising: a display; a memory
configured to store electronic program guide data, the electronic
program guide data including a plurality of television program
listings; a tuner configured to receive a television transmission
including a plurality of television programs, the tuner coupled to
the display, the tuner configured to display one of the plurality
of television programs in a PIP window of the display; a
microprocessor coupled to the memory, the microprocessor configured
to access the memory to recover the electronic program guide data,
the microprocessor further coupled to the tuner; a video processor
coupled to the microprocessor, the video processor configured to
display program listings for currently available programs and
program listings for programs available in the future in a listings
area of the display; and an input device coupled to the
microprocessor, the input device configured to highlight a listing
in the listings area, wherein if the PIP window displays a first
program and the highlight is moved from a first listing to a
listing for a currently available program, the tuner tunes to a
program corresponding to the highlighted listing to cause the PIP
window to display the program corresponding to the highlighted
listing, and if the highlight is moved to a listing for a program
available in the future, the program displayed in the PIP window
does not correspond to the highlighted listing.
32. The electronic program guide of claim 31, wherein the video
processor is further configured to display a description in a
description area of the display, wherein when the listing for a
currently available program is highlighted, the description
corresponds to the highlighted listing, and when the listing for a
program available in the future is highlighted, the description
corresponds to the highlighted listing.
33. The electronic program guide of claim 31, wherein when the
listing for a program available in the future is highlighted, the
video processor is further configured to display a title on the
display, the title corresponding to the program displayed in the
PIP window.
34. The electronic program guide of claim 31, wherein the video
processor is further configured to selectively display a plurality
of titles from the recovered electronic program guide data, wherein
when one of the plurality of titles is highlighted, the program
displayed in the PIP window does not correspond to the highlighted
title.
35. The electronic program guide of claim 34, wherein the video
processor is further configured to display a description in a
description area of the display, wherein when one of the plurality
of titles is highlighted, the description corresponds to the
highlighted title.
36. The electronic program guide of claim 34, wherein the plurality
of titles includes titles for television programs available for
viewing at a specified time.
37. The electronic program guide of claim 36, wherein the input
device is further configured to selectively input the specified
time.
38. The electronic program guide of claim 34, wherein the video
processor is further configured to display a title on the display,
the title corresponding to the program displayed in the PIP
window.
39. The electronic program guide of claim 31, wherein the
electronic program guide data further includes category
information, the video processor further configured to selectively
display a list of categories, the input device further configured
to highlight categories in the listings area of the display,
wherein when the highlight is moved to one category of the list of
categories, the program displayed in the PIP window does not
correspond to the highlighted category.
40. The electronic program guide of claim 39, wherein the video
processor is further configured to display category information in
a category area of the display, the category information
corresponding to the highlighted category.
41. The electronic program guide of claim 39, wherein the input
device is further configured to select the highlighted category,
the video processor further configured to display a plurality of
subcategories in the listings area of the display, the plurality of
subcategories corresponding to the selected category.
42. The electronic program guide of claim 34, wherein the
electronic program guide data further includes category
information, the video processor further configured to selectively
display a list of categories, the input device further configured
to highlight categories in the listings area of the display,
wherein when one category of the list of categories is highlighted,
the program displayed in the PIP window does not correspond to the
highlighted category.
43. The electronic program guide of claim 42, wherein the video
processor is further configured to display category information in
a category area of the display, the category information
corresponding to the highlighted category.
44. The electronic program guide of claim 42, wherein the input
device is further configured to select the highlighted category,
the video processor further configured to display a plurality of
subcategories in the listings area of the display, the plurality of
subcategories corresponding to the selected category.
45. A method for processing electronic program guide data
comprising: receiving a transmission comprising a plurality of
television programs; storing electronic program guide data in a
memory, the electronic program guide data including a plurality of
television program listings; retrieving the electronic program
guide data from memory; displaying a first program from among the
plurality of television programs in a PIP window of a display;
displaying program listings for currently available programs and
program listings for programs available in the future in a listings
area of the display; highlighting a first listing in the listings
area, wherein the first listing corresponds to the first program
displayed in the PIP window; wherein, if a listing for a currently
available program is highlighted, the program corresponding to the
highlighted listing is displayed in the PIP window, and wherein,
when a listing for a program available in the future is
highlighted, the program displayed in the PIP window does not
correspond to the highlighted listing; moving the highlighting from
the first listing a second listing; and automatically updating the
PIP window to display a second program, wherein the second program
corresponds to the second listing.
46. The method of claim 45, further comprising: displaying a
description in a description area of the display, wherein the
description corresponds to the highlighted listing in the listings
area of the display.
47. The method of claim 45, further comprising: displaying on the
display, when a listing for a program available in the future is
highlighted, a title corresponding to the displayed one of the
plurality of television programs.
48. The method of claim 45, further comprising: selectively
displaying a plurality of titles in the listings area of the
display, wherein a highlighted title in the plurality of titles
does not correspond to the program displayed in the PIP window.
49. The method of claim 48, further comprising: displaying a
description in a description area of the display, wherein the
description corresponds to the highlighted title in the listings
area of the display.
50. The method of claim 48, wherein displaying a plurality of
titles in the listings area of the display includes displaying
titles of television programs available for viewing at a specified
time.
51. The method of claim 50, further comprising: selecting the
specified time using an input device coupled to the
microprocessor.
52. The method of claim 48, further comprising: displaying on the
display, when the listing for a program available in the future is
highlighted, a title corresponding to the displayed one of the
plurality of television programs.
53. The method of claim 45, further comprising: selectively
displaying a list of categories in the listings area of the
display, wherein a highlighted category in the list of categories
does not correspond to the program displayed in the PIP window.
54. The method of claim 53, further comprising: displaying category
information in a category area of the display, the category
information corresponding to the highlighted category.
55. The method of claim 53, further comprising: selecting the
highlighted category using an input device coupled to the
microprocessor; and displaying a plurality of subcategories in the
listings area of the display, the plurality of subcategories
corresponding to the selected category.
56. The method of claim 48, further comprising: selectively
displaying a list of categories in the listings area of the
display, wherein a highlighted category in the list of categories
does not correspond to the program displayed in the PIP window.
57. The method of claim 56, further comprising: displaying category
information in a category area of the display, the category
information corresponding to the highlighted category.
58. The method of claim 56, further comprising: selecting the
highlighted category using an input device coupled to the
microprocessor; and displaying a plurality of subcategories in the
listings area of the display, the plurality of subcategories
corresponding to the selected category.
59. An electronic program guide comprising: a memory configured to
store electronic program guide data, the electronic program guide
data including a plurality of television program listings; a tuner
configured to receive a television transmission including a
plurality of television programs, the tuner coupled to a display,
the tuner configured to display one of the plurality of television
programs in a PIP window of the display; a microprocessor coupled
to the memory, the microprocessor configured to access the memory
to recover the electronic program guide data, the microprocessor
further coupled to the tuner; a video processor coupled to the
microprocessor, the video processor configured to display program
listings for currently available programs and program listings for
programs available in the future in a listings area of the display;
an input module coupled to the microprocessor, the input module
configured to receive input from a viewer input device including
instructions to highlight a listing in the listings area and to
move the highlight from program listing to program listing; and
wherein if the PIP window displays a first program and if the
highlight is moved from a first program listing to the second
program listing, the PIP window automatically displays a second
program, wherein the second program corresponds to the second
program listing.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.
08/744,399, filed Nov. 7, 1996, which is a continuation-in-part of
PCT international application Publication No. WO96/07270, published
Mar. 7, 1996, which designates and elects the United States and a
continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/475,395, filed Jun.
7, 1995, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,239,794, May 29, 2001, which is
a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/424,863, filed
Apr. 17, 1995 and abandoned Jun. 9, 1995, which is a
continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/369,522, filed Jan.
5, 1995, and abandoned Jul. 13, 1995, which is a
continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/312,863, filed Sep.
27, 1994 and abandoned Feb. 7, 1995, which is a
continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/298,997, filed Aug.
31, 1994 and abandoned on Feb. 7, 1995. The disclosures of these
applications are incorporated fully herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to the field of television and, more
particularly, to a method and apparatus for simultaneously
displaying video programs and related text on a television
screen.
[0003] For a number of years television receivers have been
equipped with picture-in-picture (PIP) capability. In PIP format,
the moving, real time images of one television channel are
displayed on the background of the screen and the moving, real time
images of another television channel are displayed in a PIP window
overlaid on a small area of the background. Because two channels
are simultaneously displayed by the television receiver, two tuners
are required. The viewer enters the PIP mode by pressing a PIP key
of his or her controller. Then, the viewer can change either the
channel of the background or the channel of the PIP by resetting
the appropriate tuner. To reverse the background and PIP images,
the viewer simply presses a SWAP key. To collapse the PIP window,
the viewer again presses the PIP key.
[0004] Television program guides help television viewers select
programs to watch. Such television program guides list the
available television programs by day of the week, time of day,
channel, and program title. For many years television program
guides have been published in hard copy form. More recently, as
illustrated by Levine U.S. Pat. No. 4,908,713, television program
guides have begun to take an electronic form. In other words, the
schedule of program listings is stored in an electronic memory
connected to the television receiver. The program listings are
recalled from memory by the viewer on command for display on the
television screen.
[0005] Despite the prevalence of television program guides, many
viewers still make their program selections by switching the
television tuner from channel to channel and observing on the
screen what program is being received on the respective channels.
This process is sometimes called "grazing."
[0006] Emanuel U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,019 discloses an automated form
of channel grazing. A preselected group of channels are
sequentially scanned by switching the tuner of the television
receiver from channel to channel. A still image of the program
received on each channel is stored in a memory. After all the
channels have been scanned, the still images from all the channels
are simultaneously displayed on the television screen. This process
gives the viewer more information about the program choices in
addition to that obtainable from a television program guide,
namely, the displayed still images of the actual programs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to the invention, the moving images of a
television program are displayed in a PIP window on the screen of a
television monitor and textual information related to the
television program is displayed in the background on the screen.
Preferably, the audio portion of the television program displayed
in the PIP window is also reproduced by the sound system of the
television monitor. The textual information is arranged on the
screen so none of it is covered by the moving images.
[0008] In one embodiment, the textual program related information
is a television program schedule. One of the program listings of
the schedule identifies by title and time and/or channel the
television program in the PIP window, which comprises moving
images.
[0009] To facilitate channel grazing, a television viewer can use a
PIP format for display of current television program listings from
a program schedule data base in the background and moving, real
time images of a program selected from the displayed listings in
the PIP window. Specifically, as the viewer selects a particular
program from the displayed current television program listings by
means of a cursor or a code number, the corresponding program
automatically appears in the PIP window. In this way, the viewer
can channel graze by sequentially selecting the individual program
listings in the background. When the viewer finds a program that
the viewer wishes to watch, the viewer leaves the PIP format and
returns to full screen television viewing, the tuner already being
set to the desired program. To do this the viewer can reverse the
background and PIP window and then collapse the window, leaving the
desired program on the full screen or the apparatus can be
configured to return to full screen viewing in a single step.
[0010] To permit the viewing of programs scheduled for future
broadcast without losing sight of the current program being
watched, a television viewer can use a PIP format for display of
television program listings for a specific channel or a specific
time from a program schedule data base in the background and
moving, real time images of the current program on that channel in
the PIP window. Specifically, as the viewer changes channels, the
current program on that channel automatically appears in the PIP
window. Alternatively, the programs scheduled for future broadcast
can be formatted by category. The viewer can control the background
to display program listings for a period of days, e.g. a week, in
the future. In this way, the viewer can continue to watch a
television program while ascertaining the future programs on the
channel to which the television tuner is set. When the viewer finds
a program that the viewer wishes to watch, the background
disappears, leaving the program on the channel to which the tuner
is set on the full screen.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with regard to the
following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings
where:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a television receiver
that has an electronic television program guide incorporating the
principles of one embodiment of the invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a remote controller for
operating the electronic program guide of FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a television screen displaying a main menu
formatted in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a television screen displaying a SURF guide
formatted in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a television screen displaying a NEXT guide
formatted in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a television screen displaying a SCAN guide
formatted in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a television screen displaying a SORT guide
formatted in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a television screen displaying a second level SORT
guide formatted in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a television screen displaying a third level SORT
guide formatted in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 10 is a television screen displaying a INFO CENTER
screen formatted in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0022] FIG. 11 is a television screen displaying a second level
INFO CENTER screen formatted in accordance with the embodiment of
FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 12 is a television screen displaying a FEATURE screen
formatted in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 13 is a television screen displaying a second level
FEATURE screen formatted in accordance with the embodiment of FIG.
1;
[0025] FIG. 14 is a flow diagram showing how the viewer navigates
through the main menu in accordance with the embodiment of FIG.
1;
[0026] FIG. 15 is a flow diagram showing how the viewer navigates
through the SURF feature in accordance with the embodiment of FIG.
1;
[0027] FIG. 16 is a flow diagram showing how the viewer navigates
through the SURF guide in accordance with the embodiment of FIG.
1;
[0028] FIG. 17 is a flow diagram showing how the viewer navigates
through the NEXT guide in accordance with the embodiment of FIG.
1;
[0029] FIG. 18 is a flow diagram showing how the viewer navigates
through the SCAN guide in accordance with the embodiment of FIG.
1;
[0030] FIG. 19 is a flow diagram showing how the viewer navigates
through the SORT guide in accordance with the embodiment of FIG.
1;
[0031] FIG. 20 is a flow diagram showing how the viewer navigates
through the INFO CENTER screen in accordance with the embodiment of
FIG. 1;
[0032] FIG. 21 is a television screen displaying a SURF guide
formatted to designate by color coding the title of the program in
the PIP window and the title of the program in the program
description area in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0033] FIG. 22 is a television screen displaying a SCAN guide
formatted to designate by color coding the title of the program in
the PIP window and the title of the program in the program
description area in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0034] FIG. 23 is a screen formatted to display a real time
television program with an electronic television program guide with
a television receiver that does not have a PIP chip;
[0035] FIG. 24 is a television screen displaying a NEXT guide with
direct SCAN guide access capability formatted in accordance with
the embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0036] FIG. 25 is a television screen displaying a SCAN guide with
direct NEXT guide access capability formatted in accordance with
the embodiment of FIG. 1; and
[0037] FIG. 26 is a graph illustrating an alternative way for the
viewer to navigate through the television program guide using the
screen formats of FIGS. 24 and 25 in accordance with the embodiment
of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT
[0038] In the following description of the embodiments of the
invention, common reference numerals are used to represent the same
components. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides an
interactive electronic program guide to the viewer. At any time
during the viewing of a television program, the viewer may enter
the electronic program guide. Once entered, the moving images of
the currently broadcast television program are displayed in real
time in a PIP window. The remainder of the screen is dedicated to
displaying information about television program schedules and
content in a tripartite format.
[0039] With reference to FIG. 1, a source of television signals 10
such as a terrestrial antenna, or a cable is connected to a
television tuner 11. The output of tuner 11 is a modulated
intermediate frequency signal containing video and audio television
information. The tuner 11 is connected by an intermediate frequency
amplifier (IF AMP) 12 to a picture detector (PICTURE DET) 13 and a
sound detector (SOUND DET) 14, which produce base band video and
audio signals, respectively. The audio signal is coupled by a sound
amplifier (SOUND AMP) 15 to a loudspeaker 16. The video signal is
coupled by a video amplifier (not shown) to one input of a switch
18. The sound detector 14 and the picture detector 13 are connected
to the audio and video inputs, respectively, of a video cassette
recorder (VCR) 17. (Alternatively, television signal source 10
could be directly connected to the RF input of VCR 17, if its
internal tuner and demodulating circuitry is to be utilized.) The
output of VCR 17 is connected to the other input of the switch 18.
The output of the switch 18 is connected to one input of a
conventional picture-in-picture (PIP) integrated circuit chip 19.
The output of the PIP chip 19 is connected to the video input of a
television receiver or monitor (TV) 20 having a screen (not
shown).
[0040] An updatable data base of the schedule of program listings
of all the available channels for a prescribed period of time, e.g.
a day or a week, is electronically stored in a program schedule
memory 22. These program listings typically include for each
program the title, a program description, the day of the week, the
start time of the day, the program length, and the channel on which
the program is transmitted and thus available for reception at
source 10. In a preferred embodiment, the program information is
updated daily. This allows last minute program guide changes from
broadcasters providing a more accurate system than the traditional
printed program guide that is issued daily or weekly. The data base
can be updated by a continuous data link in the vertical blanking
interval (VBI) of one television channel broadcast to the
television receiver in well known fashion. Alternatively, the data
base can be updated by unplugging memory 22 and replacing it with a
memory having the updated data base. The memory 22 is connected to
a microprocessor 24 that is programmed to control the operation of
the described equipment. An operating program for the
microprocessor 24 is stored in a read only memory (ROM) 26. A
viewer input device 28, preferably in the form of a remote infrared
(IR) controller, is coupled to microprocessor 24 to provide
commands from the viewer. A video processor 30 is coupled to the
microprocessor 24. When the viewer wishes to see television program
listings, the microprocessor 24 recalls a portion of the program
schedule data base from memory 22 and couples it to the video
processor 30, where the program listings are formatted for display.
Preferably, the information stored in video processor 30 is a bit
map of what is displayed on the screen of television receiver 20.
The video processor 30 is connected to the other input of the PIP
chip 19. Preferably, viewer input device 28 controls the
microprocessor 24 by cursor movement on the screen of television
receiver 20. To this end, the microprocessor 24 and the video
processor 30 are coupled to a cursor position register 32.
(Alternatively, the viewer can select items of information
displayed on the screen by keying into the viewer input device 28
code numbers assigned to these items.) The microprocessor 24 is
also coupled to the tuner 11 for channel change, to the VCR 17 for
play/record selection and start/stop, to the switch 18 for
selection of one of its inputs, and to the PIP chip 19 for
selection of the PIP mode of operation.
[0041] The viewer input device 28 preferably takes the form of a
hand-held remote IR transmitter which communicates with an IR
receiver connected to the microprocessor 24. As shown in FIG. 2,
the IR transmitter has a housing 27 on which a number of control
buttons are mounted. A GUIDE/TV button 29, an INFO button 31, and a
VCR PLUS+ button 33 are located above up and down arrow buttons 34
and 35. A row of buttons 36, 37, 38 and 39 which are marked with
the colors blue (B), green (G), yellow (Y), and red (R),
respectively, underlie down arrow button 35. Preferably, the user
interface is fully menu driven. On-screen options are presented in
color prompts on the television monitor which match the color
buttons on the remote transmitter. Viewers can easily identify the
on-screen options and make selections by a single touch on the
corresponding color button on the remote transmitter.
[0042] The format of the electronic program guides are shown in
FIGS. 3 to 7. Each format has a background area 40 and an overlaid
PIP window 42 in the upper left-hand corner of the screen. The real
time, i.e., 6:16 P.M., is displayed in a sub-area 42a of the PIP
window 42. Background area 40 includes an area 43 at the top of the
display for displaying on-screen options, a program description
area 44 in the upper right-hand corner of the screen adjacent to
the PIP window 42, and a program schedule area 46 below areas 42
and 44. Program schedule area 46 has a column for channel name or
call letters, a column for channel number, and a column for program
title; each line of area 46 represents a separate program listing.
Program description area 44 includes the start time and length
(duration) of the program being described. The viewer can move a
cursor 48 vertically to highlight one of the program listings
displayed in area 46. The program description, along with the start
time and length, of the highlighted program listing displayed in
area 46 appears in the program description area 44. The highlighted
background of cursor 48 and the background of program description
area 44 are the same color or shade. In each format, the complete,
moving images of a currently broadcast television program in real
time and the current time are displayed in the PIP window 42 and
the audio portion of the television program displayed in the PIP
window 42 is reproduced by the sound system. The information
displayed in areas 43, 44, and 46 varies depending upon the
format.
[0043] The viewer may enter the electronic program guide from the
normal television screen by selecting the GUIDE/TV button 29 on the
remote transmitter. As a result, a main menu is displayed on the
screen as shown in FIG. 3. The main menu displays program listings
of television programs being broadcast at the current time. The
moving, real time images of the current television program
highlighted by the cursor 48 are displayed in the PIP window 42 and
a brief program description of the highlighted program is displayed
in area 44. As the viewer moves the cursor 48 vertically from
program listing to program listing, the current television program
displayed in the PIP window 42 and the program description
displayed in area 44 automatically change accordingly to match the
highlighted program in area 46. As the cursor moves from one
program listing to another, the tuner 11 is set to the channel for
the highlighted program listing so the program can be displayed in
the PIP window 42, the microprocessor 24 recalls the program
description for the highlighted listing from the program schedule
memory 22, and the video processor 30 formats this program
description so it can be displayed in area 44. Area 43 of the main
menu provides on-screen options, by way of example, a green
"FEATURE" prompt 45 and a red "CHOICE" prompt 47.
[0044] The last channel viewed in the television mode is displayed
at the top of the program listings in area 46 to facilitate the
return to full screen television viewing from the PIP format. Thus,
the viewer need not recall the television program he or she was
viewing before entering the electronic program. The viewer simply
needs to position the cursor on the "last channel" listing at the
top of area 46 before exiting the electronic program guide to
continue viewing the television program previously viewed.
[0045] The "CHOICE" 47 on-screen option allows the viewer to enter
into the individual electronic program guides. In a preferred
embodiment, there are four basic electronic program guides which
can be accessed through the "CHOICE" prompt 47, each allowing a
viewer to access program information based on different sorting
criteria. The four electronic program guides include a "SURF" guide
which displays the programs currently broadcasted for each channel,
a "NEXT" guide which displays the television programs for a
selected channel, a "SCAN" guide which displays the television
programs for each channel at selected times, and a "SORT" guide
which displays the television programs by category.
[0046] By selecting the red "CHOICE" prompt from the main menu, the
"SURF" guide screen is pulled up as shown in FIG. 4. The "SURF"
guide screen is similar to the main menu in that it allows the
viewer to display current television program listing information in
the background and moving, real time images of a program selected
from the displayed listings in the PIP window 42.
[0047] In program schedule memory 22, the program listings are
coded by day of the week, time of day, and channel so that they can
be accessed by the microprocessor 24 when necessary to supply
program schedule information to the video processor 30 to compose
the program listings and the program descriptions. The
microprocessor 24 has a real time clock (not shown), the time of
which is compared with the time of day and day of the week codes to
select the program listings for the SURF guide. The functional
storage areas of the cursor position register 32 are mapped to the
storage areas of the video processor 30 where the program schedule
is formatted for display on background area 40 so the cursor
position register 32 points to the area of the screen, and thus the
particular program, that is highlighted by the cursor 48. By
comparing the cursor position in the register 32 with the channel
corresponding to the highlighted area of the video processor 30,
the channel of the highlighted program is derived and coupled to
the microprocessor 24. The microprocessor 24 then sets the tuner 11
to this channel.
[0048] In the SURF guide, the microprocessor 24 recalls the
appropriate program listings from memory 22 and transmits them to
the video processor 30 where the program listings of area 46 and
the program description of the highlighted program in area 44 are
composed. At the same time, the microprocessor 24 operates the
switch 18 so the output of the tuner 11 is directly connected to
the one input of the PIP chip 19 and switches PIP chip 19 into a
PIP mode, such that the input from the tuner 11 is displayed in the
PIP window and the program schedule from the video processor 30 is
displayed in the background. The microprocessor 24 senses the
channel to which the tuner is set when the SURF guide is entered,
and initially positions the cursor 48 at the program listing
broadcast on this channel. As the viewer moves the up/down arrows
of the cursor control key set, the tuner 11 is reset accordingly
and new program schedule information is fed through the
microprocessor 24 to the video processor 30 to recompose the
program listings so the cursor 48 remains visible and the program
description remains current. The described mode facilitates channel
grazing by the viewer. When the viewer finds the video program he
or she wishes to watch, the viewer leaves the electronic program
guide. As a result, the microprocessor 24 switches the PIP chip 19
out of the PIP mode, such that the video program inputted from the
tuner 11 is displayed full screen.
[0049] The viewer may enter any of the other program guides for the
"SURF" guide screen. The on-screen options are located in area 43
and include a green "NEXT" prompt 49, a yellow "SCAN" prompt 51 and
a red "SORT" prompt 53. In FIG. 5, a version of a screen format for
the "NEXT" guide is shown. All the program listings for a selected
channel, i.e., FOX Channel 11, are displayed in area 46, from the
currently broadcast program into the future for a specified time
period, e.g., 24 hours or until the end of the next day. Area 46
has a column for time and a column for program title; each line of
area 46 represents a separate program listing. The moving, real
time images of the current television program on the channel are
displayed in the PIP window 42. If the cursor also highlights this
program, a brief program description of that program is displayed
in area 44. If the cursor highlights another program listing, as
shown in FIG. 5, a brief program description of the highlighted
program is displayed in area 44 and the current television program
displayed in the PIP window 42 is identified in a banner 49 by time
and title. The viewer may return to the SURF guide by selecting the
blue SURF prompt 55 in area 43.
[0050] In FIG. 6, a version of a screen format for the "SCAN" guide
is shown. From this menu, the viewer can select the future time of
the program listings to be displayed at intervals such as one-half
hour. The selected future time, i.e., 5:00 p.m., for the program
listings displayed in area 46 is shown in area 43. A brief program
description of the program listing highlighted in area 46 by the
cursor 48 is displayed in area 44. The time slot of the SCAN guide
can be incremented by one-half hour to 5:30 p.m. by selecting the
red 5:30 p prompt 59 in area 43. Conversely, the viewer can scan
back one-half hour to 4:30 p.m. by selecting the green 4:30 p
prompt 57 in area 43. By way of example, if the television program
schedule for 5:00 p.m. is currently displayed in area 46 and the
viewer selects the green 4:30 p prompt 57, the television program
schedule for 4:30 p.m. will be displayed in area 46 and 4:30 p will
be displayed in sub-area 61 of area 43. The green on-screen prompt
57 will change to 4:00 p and the red on-screen prompt 59 will
change to 5:00 p so that the viewer has the option of scanning
forward or backward in time by one-half hour with a single touch of
the corresponding colored button on the viewer input device 28.
[0051] The last program selected in the SURF guide always remains
displayed in the PIP window 42 as the viewer navigates through the
SCAN guide. The banner 49, which identifies the program presented
in the PIP window 42 by channel name, channel number, and program
title, is displayed between the PIP window 42 and area 46 on a
background having a different color or shade than the cursor 48.
The viewer may return to the SURF guide by selecting the blue SURF
prompt 55 in area 43.
[0052] In FIG. 7, a version of a screen format for the "SORT" guide
is shown. A list of various categories, i.e., movies, sports,
variety, are displayed in area 46. In a preferred embodiment, an
informational database may also be accessed by selecting the INFO
CENTER listing on the screen. Any of these categories, including
INFO CENTER, can be highlighted by the cursor 48 and selected with
the red ENTER prompt 63 in area 43. The last program selected in
the SURF guide is displayed in the PIP window 42, and the banner 49
which identifies the program presented in the PIP window 42 by
channel name, channel number, and program title is displayed
between the PIP window 42 and area 46 on a background having a
different color or shade than the cursor 48. The viewer may return
to the SURF guide by selecting the blue SURF prompt 55 in area
43.
[0053] Assuming that the viewer does not select INFO CENTER, once
the highlighted category is entered by the viewer, various
sub-categories are listed in area 46 as shown in FIG. 8. In a
preferred embodiment, the cursor 48 is moved vertically through two
columns of sub-category selections with the up and down arrow
buttons of the viewer input device. Once the desired sub-category
is highlighted, it may be entered by selecting the red ENTER prompt
63 in area 43. Alternatively, the microprocessor may be equipped
with a horizontal cursor control responsive to a pair of left and
right arrow buttons on the viewer input device. This approach
allows the viewer to access a sub-category in a different column
quicker and is particularly attractive when a multiple column
format is implemented in area 46.
[0054] In the described embodiment, the sub-category for ALL movies
is highlighted, and the program guide depicted in FIG. 9 is
presented to the screen once the ENTER prompt 63 is selected by the
viewer. The program listings for the selected sub-category, i.e.,
MOVIES-ALL, are displayed in area 46, from the next or current
broadcast program into the future for a specific time period, e.g.,
one week. Area 46 has a heading 46a that identifies the
sub-category, day, and date, i.e., MOVIES--ALL SAT OCT 05, a column
for titles, a column for start times, and a column for channel name
or number; each line of area 46 represents a separate program
listing. The moving, real time images of the last program selected
from the SURF guide are displayed in the PIP window 42 and that
program is identified in the banner 49 by channel name or number
and title. A brief program description of the program highlighted
by the cursor 48 is displayed in area 44.
[0055] From either the sub-category guide of FIG. 8 or the program
listing guide for the selected sub-category of FIG. 9, the viewer
may return to the SURF guide by selecting the blue SURF prompt 55
in area 43. Alternatively, the viewer may return directly to the
sub-category guide directly from the corresponding program listing
guide by selecting the red BACK prompt 65 in area 43.
[0056] Referring back to FIG. 7, the viewer may access an
informational database by moving the cursor 48 downward vertically
to highlight the INFO CENTER listing and selecting the red
on-screen ENTER prompt 63 in area 43. This will cause an
informational screen to be pulled up on the monitor as shown in
FIG. 10. The previously viewed television program remains broadcast
in the PIP window 42, and the banner 49 identifies that program by
channel name, channel number, and program title. The viewer may
return to the SURF guide by selecting the blue SURF prompt 55 in
area 43.
[0057] A list of various informational topics are displayed in area
46. Any of the informational topics may be accessed by highlighting
it with the cursor 48. A brief description of the informational
topic highlighted is presented to the screen in area 44. The viewer
may access the entire informational topic by selecting the INFO
button on the viewer input device. By way of example, if the viewer
selects "New Digital VCR, JVC" as the informational topic, the
entire informational topic is displayed in area 46 as shown in FIG.
11. The viewer may use the cursor button on the viewer input device
to advance to the next page or go back to the previous page if
there is more than one page of data. The digital buttons (not
shown) on the viewer input device may be used to directly access
different pages if the data is organized in indexed pages. The
information may also be printed to a hard copy by selecting the red
on-screen PRINT prompt 61.
[0058] The message pertaining to the selected topic may be stored
in memory or deleted from memory from either of the two INFO CENTER
screens. This is accomplished by a yellow on-screen DELETE prompt
59 and a green on-screen STORE prompt 57.
[0059] Referring back to FIG. 3, if the viewer selects the green
"FEATURE" prompt 45 from the main menu, a subscriber service
selection screen will be displayed as shown in FIG. 12. The real
time images of the last program highlighted by the cursor 48 from
the main menu are displayed in the PIP window 42. A list of
services available is displayed in area 46, along with the program
listing describing the content of the PIP window 42 in the banner
49. Any of these services can be highlighted by the cursor 48.
Instructions for obtaining further information regarding the
subscription service highlighted is provided in area 44. In
addition, information pertaining to whether the viewer subscribes
to the particular service highlighted is also indicated in area 44.
The viewer may return to the main menu at any time by selecting the
blue "SURF" prompt 55.
[0060] Information pertaining to the subscriber service highlighted
by the cursor 48 may be viewed by selecting a red "VIEW" 67 prompt.
Once the "VIEW" on-screen option is selected, the microprocessor
will scan the tuner in search of the information and couple the
information to area 46 of the screen as shown in FIG. 13. The
viewer can then subscribe to the servicer by calling the telephone
number listed on the screen and entering the user and service ID on
the touch pad of a telephone. An example of such an electronic
television program guide providing subscriber service options is
disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/024,965, filed
Aug. 30, 1996, entitled Subscription Television System and Method,
which is expressly incorporated herein by reference as though set
forth in full. The moving, real time images of the program being
viewed from the subscriber selection screen of FIG. 12 remains in
the PIP window 42. The blue SURF prompt 55 takes the viewer back to
the main menu.
[0061] In a preferred embodiment, the background area 40 of the
screen is formatted in the video processor 30. The memory space of
video processor 30 corresponding to the area in which the PIP
window 42 appears on the screen is left blank; i.e., although
overlaid on background area 40, the PIP window 42 does not cover up
any of the information of background area 40. As described above,
the viewer can move the cursor 48 vertically to highlight the
listing of one of the currently playing television programs
displayed in area 46 by means of a pair of up/down arrows on the
viewer input device. Preferably, to reduce delays in displaying the
program schedules, all the program listings for the particular
screen format are stored in the video processor 30, even though
only a fraction of them are displayed at the same time. When the
cursor reaches the top or bottom listing in area 46, the
microprocessor 24 recalls further program listings from the video
processor 30 for display on the screen.
[0062] In all the formats, the moving, real time images of the
current television program previously highlighted by the cursor 48
in the main menu or SURF guide remain displayed in the PIP window
42, the program description of the highlighted program is displayed
in area 44, program listings of one type or another are displayed
in area 46, and one or more prompts are displayed in area 43. The
audio portion of the television program displayed in the PIP window
42 is reproduced by the sound system. The PIP display, the sound
reproduction, and the program description in area 44 enable the
viewer to assess better whether or not to watch the highlighted
program. Preferably, two levels of detail are available for the
program description. Normally, the first level detail of the
program description is displayed in area 44 as described above.
When more detail is desired, the viewer operates the viewer input
device 28 to display a second level of detail of the program
description. There are two options for the display of the second
level detail. As one option, the second level detail can replace
the first level detail in area 44. This has the advantage that the
program listings can continue to be seen by the viewer while more
detail about the program description is displayed. As the other
option, the second level detail can replace the program listings in
area 46. This has the advantage that more space is available to
display the second level of detail than the first level.
[0063] The screen formats and the links between the individual
guides are designed with two objectives in mind--first, to provide
uninterrupted viewing of a television program and second, never to
leave the electronic guide while navigating through it, until the
viewer returns to the TV mode. As described below, the guides are
linked to each other for the most part in a one way hierarchy that
is accessed by the on-screen prompts which are color coded to the
buttons on the viewer input device and simplify the navigation
through the electronic guides. At each level of the hierarchy, with
a few exceptions, the viewer has the choice of returning to the
SURF guide screen, or moving down to a guide at a lower level in
the hierarchy. Generally, once at the lowest level, the only choice
is to return to the SURF guide screen.
[0064] The hierarchy of the electronic program guide is best
understood with reference to FIGS. 14 to 19. Turning to FIG. 14,
the viewer enters the electronic program guide from the TV MODE 70
by selecting the GUIDE/TV 72 button on the viewer input device. As
a result, the MAIN MENU 74 is displayed on the screen. This is the
starting point for entry into each of the other guides.
[0065] The MAIN MENU 74 displays program listings of television
programs being broadcast at the current time. The moving, real time
images of the current television program previously viewed in the
TV mode are displayed in the PIP window 77, a brief program
description of that program is displayed 79, and a program listing
of currently broadcast television programs is presented to the
screen with the listing of the program viewed in the PIP window
highlighted 81. The MAIN MENU is formatted to allow the user to
perform a SURF 75 operation directly from this screen. Referring to
FIG. 13 for the details of the SURF operation, the viewer moves the
cursor vertically 76 to highlight the program listings 78 and the
tuner is set to the channel for the program listing highlighted 80.
The moving, real time images of the program listing highlighted are
coupled through the tuner to the PIP window 82 and a brief
description of the highlighted program is displayed 84.
[0066] Returning to FIG. 12, the viewer may return to the full
screen TV MODE 70 from the MAIN MENU 74 by selecting the GUIDE/TV
84 button on the viewer input device. The INFO 86 button on the
viewer input device is used to display second level detail of the
program information highlighted 87. The second level detail is
removed from the screen 89 by pressing the INFO 88 button a second
time.
[0067] From the MAIN MENU 74, the FEATURE 90 on-screen option or
the CHOICE 92 on-screen option may be selected. The FEATURE option
is designed to allow the viewer to return directly to the main menu
from the FEATURE screen. Conversely, once the CHOICE operation is
commenced, the main menu cannot be accessed without first returning
to the TV mode 70 by selecting the GUIDE/TV 93 button on the viewer
input device.
[0068] Turning to FIG. 16, a flow diagram for the CHOICE operation
is shown. Once the CHOICE on-screen option is selected by the
viewer, a SURF guide 94 is pulled up on the screen. From this
guide, the viewer can "surf" through the currently broadcast
programs as described above for FIG. 13. In addition, the viewer
may access addition program guides from the SURF guide 94 screen.
By selecting the on-screen options presented in color prompts with
the matching color buttons on the viewer input device, the viewer
may select the NEXT guide 96 screen, the SCAN guide 98 screen, or
the SORT guide 100 screen. From each of these electronic program
guides, the viewer has the choice of returning to the SURF guide 94
screen.
[0069] The operation of the NEXT guide is best illustrated with
reference to FIG. 17. The NEXT guide 104 screen lists all the
programs for the channel selected from the SURF guide from the
currently broadcast program into the future for a specified time
period. From the NEXT guide screen, the viewer may return to the
SURF guide screen at any time by selecting the blue SURF 105
prompt.
[0070] The viewer maneuvers through the NEXT guide screen 104 by
moving the cursor vertically 106 to highlight the current of future
program listings on the designated channel 108. A brief description
of the highlighted program is displayed on the screen 109. The
tuner remains set to the designated channel so that the moving real
time images of the television program previously viewed in the SURF
guide screen remains in the PIP window for uninterrupted viewing
and the program listing for that program is identified on the
screen 110.
[0071] The NEXT guide screen provides secondary level detail of the
highlighted program 112 similar to that of the SURF guide screen.
The INFO 111 button on the viewer input device is selected to
obtain the secondary level detail. The second level detail is
removed 115 by selecting the INFO 113 button a second time.
[0072] The NEXT guide screen also operates in conjunction with a
video-cassette recorder (VCR) to provide one touch recording 116
capability of a television program. The viewer may initiate
recording by highlighting the desired program to be recorded and
selecting the VCR Plus+ 114 button on the viewer input device. The
program to be recorded is stored in the microprocessor and is
preferably available for review and modification.
[0073] The operation of the SCAN guide is best illustrated with
reference to FIG. 18. The SCAN guide 116 screen displays the
television programs for each channel at selected times. From the
SCAN guide 116 screen, the viewer may return to the SURF guide at
any time by selecting the blue SURF 118 prompt.
[0074] Initially, when the viewer enters the SCAN guide, the
selected time defaults to the immediate past half-hour. By way of
example, if the viewer selects the SCAN guide screen at 2:15 p.m.,
the selected time will default to 2:00 p.m. and the program
listings on each channel airing at 2:00 p.m. will be displayed on
the screen. The viewer moves the cursor vertically 120 to highlight
selected program listings on different channels 122. A brief
description of the highlighted program is displayed on the screen
124. The tuner remains set to the last channel selected from the
SURF guide so that the moving, real time images of the television
program viewed from the SURF guide screen remains in the PIP window
for uninterrupted viewing and the program listing for that program
is identified on the screen 126.
[0075] The SCAN guide screen provides secondary level detail of the
highlighted program 122 exactly as the SURF and NEXT guides do. The
INFO 128 button on the viewer input device is selected to access
secondary level detail 129. The secondary level detail is removed
133 from the screen by selecting the INFO 131 button a second
time.
[0076] The SCAN guide screen also operates in conjunction with a
video-cassette recorder (VCR) to provide one touch recording 132
capability of a television program. The viewer may initiate
recording by highlighting the program and selecting the VCR Plus+
134 button on the viewer input device. The program to be recorded
is stored in the microprocessor and is preferably available for
review and modification.
[0077] Program scanning may be performed in one-half hour
increments. A red on-screen prompt for advancing the scan time 136
by a one-half hour and a green on-screen prompt for backing up the
scan time 138 by one-half hour are provided as on-screen options.
The current scan time is displayed between the red and green
prompts. Each time the viewer selects the red prompt, the guide
scan time advances one-half hour so the programs broadcast one-half
hour later are displayed. As a result, the scan time displayed on
the screen increases by one-half hour as does the red and green
prompts 140. By way of example, if the scan time displayed is
currently 4:00 PM, then the green prompt will indicate 3:30 PM and
the red prompt will indicate 4:30 PM. In the event the viewer
selects the red prompt thereby advancing the scanning time by
one-half hour, the scan time displayed will be 4:30 PM and the
green and red prompts will be 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM,
respectively.
[0078] Conversely, the scan time may be backed up one-half hour by
selecting the green prompt so that the programs broadcast one-half
hour earlier are displayed. As a result, the displayed time
decreases by one-half hour as does the times displayed in the red
and green prompts 142.
[0079] The red prompt 136, for advancing the scan time, is only
present if the current scan time is not the latest possible scan
time. Similarly, the green prompt 138, for backing up the scan
time, is only present if the current scan time is not the earliest
possible scan time. Thus, when the SCAN guide 116 screen is
initially entered from the SURF guide, the scan time defaults to
the immediate past half hour time slot from the current time. This
is the earliest time available for scanning, and therefore, the
green prompt 138 for backing up the scan time is not presented to
the screen. Referring to the previous example where the viewer
enters the SCAN guide 116 screen from the SURF guide at 2:15 P.M.,
a scan time of 2:00 p is displayed on the screen accompanied by a
red on-screen prompt 136 displaying 2:30 P.M. There is no green
prompt presented to the screen because the scan time cannot be
backed up prior to 2:00 P.M. If the viewer advances the scan time
to 2:30 P.M. by selecting the red on-screen prompt 136, a green
prompt 138 will appear on the screen displaying a time of 2:00
P.
[0080] The operation of the SORT guide is best illustrated with
reference to FIG. 15. The SORT guide screen 144 displays the
television programs for each channel by category or sub-category.
The tuner remains tuned to the channel previously selected in the
SURF guide while navigating through the SORT guide so that the
viewer can continue watching a television program in the PIP window
without interruption. The program listing for the television
program broadcast in the PIP window remains displayed on the screen
146. From the SORT guide screen, the viewer may return to the SURF
guide screen by selecting the blue SURF 148 prompt.
[0081] The initial SORT guide screen comprises a list of
categories. i.e., movies, sports, variety, etc. Alternatively, in a
preferred embodiment, an information database may be accessed from
this guide through an Information Center ("INFO CENTER") selection
discussed in greater detail below. The viewer may select any
category on the list, including the INFO CENTER, by moving the
cursor vertically 150 to highlight the desired category 152 and
selecting the red ENTER prompt on the screen 154. Assuming that the
viewer does not select the INFO CENTER, once the desired category
is selected, sub-categories of the selected category may be viewed
on the screen 156 by selecting the red ENTER prompt 158 again. The
viewer may select any sub-category on the list by moving the cursor
vertically 160 to highlight the desired sub-category 162 and then
selecting the red ENTER prompt 158. By way of example, if the
viewer selects the red ENTER prompt while the cursor is positioned
on the MOVIE category, a listing of sub-categories such as ACTION,
COMEDY, HORROR, WESTERN, etc. will be displayed on the screen. The
viewer may then highlight the desired sub-category with the cursor
and select the red ENTER prompt to retrieve a list of movies in the
selected sub-category. The viewer can scan the list by moving the
cursor vertically 160 to highlight selected movies 168. A program
description of the highlighted movie will be displayed on the
screen 170. From the program listings for any sub-category screen,
the viewer has the option of returning to the SURF guide screen by
selecting the blue SURF prompt 172 or back to the sub-category
screen by selecting the red BACK prompt 174.
[0082] The SORT guide screen also provides secondary level detail
of the highlighted program by depressing the INFO 176 button on the
viewer input device. The second level detail is displayed in the
program listing area, or alternatively, over the entire screen 178.
The second level detail is removed from the screen 182 by selecting
the INFO 172 button a second time.
[0083] The VCR may also be programmed to record a selected program
from the SORT guide. One touch recording capability is provided by
selecting the VCR Plus+button on the viewer input device. This will
cause the information pertaining to the highlighted program to be
stored in the microprocessor for controlling the tuner and the VCR
when the selected program is broadcast 186.
[0084] In the event the viewer selects the INFO CENTER, a selection
of informational topics or messages are displayed in a vertical
column format on the screen 188. The cursor is defaulted to the
informational topic at the top of the column and a brief
description of the topic is displayed 190. The viewer may exit the
INFO CENTER and return to the SURF guide by selecting the blue SURF
prompt 190.
[0085] The viewer may select any informational topic by moving the
cursor vertically 192 to highlight the desired topic 194. A brief
description of the highlighted topic is presented to the screen
196. If the viewer desires to view the entire message, the INFO
button on the viewer input device is selected 198 and the entire
message is presented to the display 200. If the message has
multiple pages, the viewer can page up or down 204 using the cursor
control buttons on the viewer input device 202. If the text is
organized in indexed pages, the viewer may access any page directly
208 by entering the page number on the numerical buttons on the
viewer input device 206. Preferably, a hard copy of the message may
be printed 212 using any conventional printer connected by an
input/output port by selecting the red PRINT prompt 210 on the
screen.
[0086] The entire contents of the message may be stored in or
deleted from either of the two INFO CENTER screens. In a preferred
embodiment, only the on-screen yellow DELETE prompt 220 is
presented to the screen when the message is already stored in
memory 218. Alternatively, only the on-screen green STORE prompt
224 is presented to the display when the message is not stored in
memory 218 and the source of the message is a preloaded database
222. Both the yellow DELETE prompt 228 and the green STORE prompt
226 are presented to the display when the message is not stored in
memory 218 and the message is telecast in a live broadcast 222. The
viewer may delete the message from memory 230 by selecting the
DELETE prompt and may copy the message to memory 232 by selecting
the STORE prompt.
[0087] The viewer cannot access the SURF guide screen from the
second level information screen 234 of the INFO CENTER. Rather, the
viewer must reselect the INFO button 214 on the viewer input
device. As a result, the informational topics reappear on the
screen and the viewer may now exit the INFO CENTER by selecting the
on-screen SURF prompt 55.
[0088] A feature of the invention that facilitates viewer
orientation in the electronic guide is to color code the PIP window
42 and the program description area 44 consistently with the titles
of the programs to which the information in these areas relate.
Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 21, in the SURF guide (FIG. 4)
PIP window 42 has a border 236 that is the same color, e.g., dark
blue, as the background of area 44 and the cursor 48, which forms a
color bar. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 22, in the SCAN guide
(FIG. 6), as well as the NEXT guide (FIG. 5) and the SORT guide
(FIG. 7), where the description in area 44 relates to a different
program than that displayed in the PIP window 42, the background of
area 44 is a different color or shade than the border 236. The
latter guides all have a cursor (color bar) 48 that identifies the
title of the program described in area 44. For example, the
background of area 44 and cursor 48 are light blue to signal to the
viewer that the title highlighted by cursor 48 identifies the
program described in area 44, while the border 236 and the banner
49 remain dark blue to signal that the title in the banner 49
identifies the program in the PIP window 42.
[0089] If the television receiver does not have a PIP chip, the
described screen formats can be simulated by rearranging the
prompts and the guide and program description information and
overlaying such information over the real time moving images of the
current television program. In contrast to the PIP format, this
results in loss of part of the picture of the television program.
But, the remainder of the picture, which is the center part of the
image, together with the sound portion thereof generally convenes
most of the essential information of the television program. In
FIG. 23, such a simulation has a truncated real time picture area
238, instead of the PIP window 42, a message prompting area 240,
instead of area 43, a program description area 242, instead of area
44, and an electronic program guide area 244, instead of area 46.
Area 242 is located across the full width at the top of the screen
area and preferably does not include the program title. The prompt
area is at the bottom of the screen area and is otherwise like the
PIP screen format described above. The guide area 244 is between
areas 238 and 240 and preferably has several fewer lines of program
listings than the PIP screen format. The size of the picture in
area 238 is the same as the picture when the electronic guide is
not operating, but the top and bottom parts of the picture are cut
off by areas 240, 242, and 244. To implement this embodiment of the
invention, the following modifications in the television receiver
of FIG. 1 are required. The microprocessor 24 is configured to
format the screen as shown in FIG. 23, leaving blank area 238, and
the PIP chip 19 is replaced by a video mixer.
[0090] In an alternative embodiment, the SURF, NEXT and SCAN guides
can be combined into one screen in a time-channel grid format. In
the time-channel grid format, the microprocessor 24 also controls
the cursor 48 responsive to the cursor key of the viewer input
device 28, which in this embodiment includes a horizontal cursor
control, such as a pair of right/left arrows. As described above,
the television program information for the highlighted program
listing is retrieved by the microprocessor 24 from program schedule
memory 22 and the corresponding program description is displayed on
the screen. The current television program broadcast on the channel
last selected in the SURF guide is presented to the PIP window.
[0091] The two dimensional time/channel grid format guide, can be
implemented in another embodiment of the present invention using
multiple guide screens. The two dimensions can be isolated by
including a SCAN on-screen option 246 in the NEXT guide, and a NEXT
on-screen option 248 in the SCAN guide, respectively, as shown in
FIGS. 24 and 25.
[0092] The method of navigation through these electronic guides is
best understood with reference to FIG. 26. The abscissa represents
time and the ordinate represents channel. As represented by a line
246, starting in the SURF guide, the viewer moves the cursor from
channel to channel and current programs are displayed in the PIP
window. As represented by a line 248, the viewer selects the NEXT
guide (see FIG. 24) and moves the cursor from time slot to time
slot. The program on the channel to which the tuner was last set in
the SURF guide remains displayed in the PIP window and the
description of the program on said channel at the time slot
highlighted by the cursor is displayed. As represented by a line
250, the viewer selects the SCAN guide, (see FIG. 25), directly
from the NEXT guide and moves the cursor from channel to channel.
The initial time of the programs being scanned is the last time
slot selected in the NEXT guide. The program on the channel to
which the tuner was last set in the SURF guide remains displayed in
the PIP window and the description of the program on the channel
highlighted by the cursor at the time slot last highlighted in the
SCAN guide is displayed. As represented by a line 252, the viewer
again selects the NEXT guide, (see FIG. 24), and moves the cursor
from time slot to time slot on the channel last selected from the
SCAN guide. The program on the channel to which the tuner was last
set in the SURF guide remains displayed in PIP window and the
description of the program highlighted by the cursor is displayed.
As represented by a line 254, the viewer selects again the SCAN
guide, (see FIG. 25), directly from the NEXT guide and moves the
cursor from channel to channel for the time slot last selected from
the NEXT guide. The program on the channel to which the tuner was
last set in the SURF guide remains displayed in the PIP window and
the description of the program highlighted is displayed. As
represented by a line 256, the viewer again selects the NEXT guide,
(see FIG. 24), directly from the SCAN guide and moves the cursor
from time slot to time slot on the channel last selected from the
SCAN guide. The program on the channel to which the tuner was last
set in the SURF guide remains displayed in the PIP window and the
description of the program highlighted by the cursor is displayed.
In this manner the viewer can navigate either into the future or
toward the current time and across channels to determine the
television program schedule.
[0093] It is apparent from the foregoing that the present invention
satisfies an immediate need for a electronic program guide which
facilitates the selection of the television programs to be watched
by a viewer. The features of this electronic program guide may be
embodied in other specific forms and used with a wide variety of
telecommunication services, without departing from the spirit or
essential attributes of the present invention. It is, therefore,
desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects
as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made to the
appended claims rather than the foregoing description to indicate
the scope of the invention.
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