U.S. patent application number 12/551502 was filed with the patent office on 2010-07-29 for computer readable storage media providing a program guide viewed with a perceived transparency over a television program.
This patent application is currently assigned to United Video Properties, Inc.. Invention is credited to Donald W. Allison, Thomas R. Lemmons, Connie T. Marshall.
Application Number | 20100188420 12/551502 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22879725 |
Filed Date | 2010-07-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100188420 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Marshall; Connie T. ; et
al. |
July 29, 2010 |
COMPUTER READABLE STORAGE MEDIA PROVIDING A PROGRAM GUIDE VIEWED
WITH A PERCEIVED TRANSPARENCY OVER A TELEVISION PROGRAM
Abstract
A system interactively controlled by a TV viewer remote
superimposes portions of a scroll program guide over a basic
programming signal for display on the viewer's display screen. A
tuner has an input for receiving TV signals in a plurality of cable
channels and an output for passing a signal of any selected one of
said channels. A computer has an input for receiving any of a
plurality of control signals from the TV viewer remote and an
output for controlling the tuner to pass the signal of the selected
one of the channels in response to one of the plurality of control
signals from the TV viewer remote. The computer receives and stores
a scroll input picture image signal containing local program guide
data and generates a scroll output picture image signal consisting
of at least a portion of the scroll input picture image signal. A
combiner superimposes output picture image signal over the passed
signal to provide a display signal for input to the viewer's
display screen. The computer is responsive to control signals from
the remote to cause the combiner to change the weight of the output
picture image signal in relation to the passed signal.
Inventors: |
Marshall; Connie T.;
(Muskogee, OK) ; Lemmons; Thomas R.; (Coweta,
OK) ; Allison; Donald W.; (Tulsa, OK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROPES & GRAY LLP
PATENT DOCKETING 39/361, 1211 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK
NY
10036-8704
US
|
Assignee: |
United Video Properties,
Inc.
Tulsa
OK
|
Family ID: |
22879725 |
Appl. No.: |
12/551502 |
Filed: |
August 31, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10759371 |
Jan 15, 2004 |
|
|
|
12551502 |
|
|
|
|
09887897 |
Jun 22, 2001 |
|
|
|
10759371 |
|
|
|
|
09421953 |
Oct 20, 1999 |
6305016 |
|
|
09887897 |
|
|
|
|
08974944 |
Nov 20, 1997 |
6020929 |
|
|
09421953 |
|
|
|
|
08599143 |
Feb 9, 1996 |
5828420 |
|
|
08974944 |
|
|
|
|
08234060 |
Apr 28, 1994 |
5502504 |
|
|
08599143 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
345/629 ;
725/39 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/47 20130101;
H04N 21/42653 20130101; H04N 7/0884 20130101; H04N 21/4312
20130101; H04N 21/4821 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/629 ;
725/39 |
International
Class: |
G09G 5/00 20060101
G09G005/00; H04N 5/445 20060101 H04N005/445 |
Claims
1. Computer readable storage media comprising: instructions for
superimposing an interactive program guide with a perceived partial
transparency over a television program such that the television
program can be at least partially perceived by a television viewer
through the interactive program guide.
2. The computer readable storage media of claim 1, wherein the
instructions allow variability of a weight of the transparency
relative to a display image.
3. The computer readable storage media of claim 2, wherein the
instructions allow a display of the percentage of the weight of the
transparency.
4. The computer readable storage media of claim 2, wherein the
instructions allow a user to vary the weight of the
transparency.
5. The computer readable storage media of claim 2, wherein the
instructions allow automatic setting of the weight of the
transparency upon program guide activation to the weight set at the
time of most recent program guide deactivation.
6. The computer readable storage media of claim 2, wherein the
instructions present the program guide so that portions of the
program guide are opaque relative to the display image.
7. The computer readable storage media of claim 1, wherein the
instructions present the program guide in a grid.
8. The computer readable storage media of claim 7, wherein the
instructions present one dimension of the grid corresponding to
television channels.
9. The computer readable storage media of claim 7, wherein the
instructions present one dimension of the grid corresponding to
broadcast times.
10. The computer readable storage media of claim 1, wherein the
instructions present the program guide as a scrolling program
guide.
11. Computer readable storage media comprising: instructions for
superimposing an interactive program guide with a perceived partial
transparency over a television program, wherein the instructions
allow: variability of a weight of the perceived partial
transparency of the interactive program guide relative to the
television program; and a display of the percentage of the weight
of the transparency.
12. Computer readable storage media comprising: instructions for
superimposing an interactive program guide with a perceived partial
transparency over a television program such that the television
program can be at least partially perceived by a television viewer
through the interactive program guide while the user interacts with
the interactive program guide.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/887,897, filed Jun. 22, 2001, which is a
continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/421,953, filed
Oct. 20, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,305,016, which is a continuation
of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/974,944, filed Nov. 20,
1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,020,929, which is a continuation of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 08/599,143, filed Feb. 9, 1996, now
U.S. Pat. No. 5,828,420, which is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 08/234,060, filed Apr. 28, 1994, now U.S. Pat.
No. 5,502,504.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to interactive video
communications and more particularly concerns viewer controlled
channel programming guide displays.
[0003] Programming guide information is presently displayed to the
home TV viewer in a non-interactive scroll on a single channel
dedicated to programming guide information.
[0004] When the home viewer selects the programming guide channel,
viewing of the channel previously selected is interrupted. While
the viewer executes best judgment to when to make the change, key
portions of the program on the previously selected channel may be
missed. This is especially probable in cases of live programming.
It is also especially irritating to the viewers not in possession
of the controller.
[0005] It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a
process and in-home scrolling hardware by which a home viewer may
interactively control a channel programming guide. Another object
of this invention is to provide a process and in-home scrolling
hardware in which the scroll can be simultaneously superimposed on
and displayed with the programming of any channel accessible to the
home viewer. Another object of this invention is to provide a
process and in-home scrolling hardware by which a home viewer may
control the comparative weight of the programming guide or
superimposed signal in relation to the basic programming signal
over which it is superimposed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In accordance with the invention, a system interactively
controlled by a TV viewer remote control transmitter displays a
scroll program guide superimposed on the normal programming
displayed on any channel accessible to the viewer's display screen.
A tuner receives TV radio frequency or optical transmission signals
in a plurality of cable channels and passes a viewer usable signal
of any selected one of the channels to a signal combiner. A
computer receives any of a plurality of control signals from the TV
viewer remote control transmitter. It also controls the tuner to
pass the viewer usable signal of any selected channel in response
to one of the control signals from the TV viewer remote control
transmitter. It also receives and stores a scroll input picture
image signal containing local program guide data and generates a
scroll output picture image signal consisting of at least a portion
of the scroll input picture image signal. The signal combiner
combines the viewer usable signal of any selected channel from the
tuner with the output picture image signal from the computer to
provide a display signal with the program guide display
superimposed over the channel programming display for input to the
viewer's display screen. The computer is responsive to a control
signal from the remote to change the weight of the superimposed
signal in relation to the base or normal programming signal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Other objects and advantages of the invention will become
apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon
reference to the drawings in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a preferred
embodiment of the hardware of the interactive scrolling program
guide;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating the basic process and
options of the video mix capability of the interactive scrolling
program guide;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a representation of an interactive scrolling
program guide menu display;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a representation of an interactive scrolling
program guide display in a video mix mode;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a representation of the interactive scrolling
program guide display in a solid or one hundred percent programming
guide condition relative to the base signal;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a representation of the interactive scrolling
program guide display in a ninety percent programming guide
condition relative to the base signal;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a representation of the interactive scrolling
program guide display in an eighty percent programming guide
condition relative to the base signal;
[0015] FIG. 8 is a representation of the interactive scrolling
program guide display in a seventy percent programming guide
condition relative to the base signal; and
[0016] FIG. 9 is a representation of the interactive scrolling
program guide display in a sixty percent programming guide
condition relative to the base signal.
[0017] While the invention will be described in connection with a
preferred embodiment and process, it will be understood that it is
not intended to limit the invention to that embodiment or process.
On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives,
modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit
and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] Turning first to FIG. 1, the components of the interactive
scroll program guide are illustrated. A computer 11 having a
command information receiver, preferably an infrared or radio
frequency receiver 13, provides a control signal 15 to a tuner 17
and a picture image signal 19 to a digital video board 21. The
tuner 17 converts or demodulates radio frequencies or optical
transmissions to a signal usable by the viewer to output a signal
23 selected from a plurality of signals 25 input to the tuner 17
from the cable source (not shown), typically frequency division
multiplexed video, audio and data signals transmitted via a coaxial
cable, over-the-air radio frequencies or fiber optics. The digital
video board 21 converts digital data into a video signal. The tuner
output or base programming signal 23 has superimposed thereon a
scroll information picture image signal 27 from the digital video
board 21 in a genlock signal combiner or overlayer 29. The combined
scroll and TV picture signal 31 is then displayed on a video signal
display device such as the display screen 33 of the viewer's
television. The combiner 29 permits the viewer to select the weight
of the scroll information picture signal 27 in relation to the base
programming signal 23. The viewer sends commands to the receiver 13
to control the operation of the computer 11 by the use of a remote
control transmitter, preferably an infrared or radio frequency
transmitter 35. The computer 11 is based on microprocessor and may
utilize random access (RAM) and/or read only (ROM) memory. The
software necessary to operate the microprocessor may be embedded in
the device or downloaded via the cable system to the device.
[0019] The above described interactive scroll program guide
components operate in response to the control of the computer 11.
As shown in FIG. 2, while the home viewer is watching programming
presented on his display 33 in response to the tuner 17 feeding any
basic program signal 23 from the input selections 25 to the genlock
combiner 29, the viewer may opt to simultaneously view the
programming guide scroll available to the combiner 29 from the
computer 11 through the digital video board 21. The viewer simply
presses a predetermined key on the remote 35 to select the program
guide display as is illustrated in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the
program guide nomenclature (Prgm Guide) will appear on the screen
between arrows indicating upward or downward menu access to the
possible choices in the program guide routine. By use of the up and
down arrows on the controller 35, the program guide menu can be
manipulated to the "video mix" condition, illustrated as step 51 in
the routine of FIG. 2. The visual appearance of the viewer's
display 33 in the "video mix" condition is illustrated in FIG. 4.
Upon "user selection of video mix" 51, the computer 11 routine
inquires as to whether or not there has been a key pressed 53
requesting that the weight of the program guide signal 27 be
changed in relation to the basic programming signal 23. If the
answer to this inquiry is "NO", routing proceeds through a path 55
to continue the "key pressed" inquiry 53. If the response to the
"key pressed" inquiry 53 is "YES", the routine continues to a "user
exit" inquiry 57. If the viewer has opted to exit the video mix
routine, a "YES" response to the "user exit" inquiry 57 will result
in a "return to the previous menu" 59. If, however, the response to
the "user exit inquiry" 57 is "NO", the routine continues to a new
mix selection inquiry 61. If the response to the "new mix
selection" inquiry 61 is "NO", the routine returns via the route 55
to the original "key pressed" inquiry 53. If the answer to the "new
mix selection" inquiry 61 is "YES", the routine proceeds through
the calculate hardware parameters step 63 and the "set hardware to
new level" step 65, at which point the genlock combiner 29
automatically performs these functions to establish the weight of
the program guide signal 27 superimposed by the genlock combiner 29
over the basic programming signal 23. When the hardware is set to
its new level 65, the routine continues through the path 55 to the
"key pressed" inquiry 53 to determine whether the viewer has again
selected a different percentage of signal mix.
[0020] FIGS. 5 through 9 illustrate the solid or one hundred
percent video mix, ninety percent video mix, eighty percent video
mix, seventy percent video mix and sixty percent video mix,
respectively, the percentage indicating the weight the programming
guide signal 27 superimposed on the basic programming signal
23.
[0021] If the video mix routine is exited and later reselected, the
weight of the programming guide signal 27 will automatically be the
weight last opted by the viewer.
[0022] Thus, each individual viewer will be provided with a scroll
program guide in which the home viewer can interactively determine
whether the program guide scroll should be displayed and, if so,
its weight relative to the basic program data.
[0023] Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided, in
accordance with the invention, a video mix program guide that fully
satisfies the objects, aims and advantages set forth above. While
the invention has been described in conjunction with specific
embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives,
modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in
the art and in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it
is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and
variations as fall within the spirit of the appended claims.
* * * * *