Integration of web-based EPG with TV functions

• US 20020010932A1
• Filed: 03/23/2001
• Published: 01/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ozawa, Toshiro, Nguyen, Nga Marie
• Application Number:
  US09/815,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20020010932A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4355 involving reformatting operations of additional data, e.g. HTML pages on a television screen optimising the visualization of content for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/9577; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/066; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time

Abstract

A web based electronic program guide (EPG) is integrated with other television functions. Upon execution of a hot key (704) during normal television mode operation (408), a browser (182) is invoked and directed to the URL of a preferred program guide using the cable or satellite system'"'"'s high speed data capabilities. While the browser (182) is invoked, receipt of a TV command is detected by rejection of such a command (610) by the browser (182) and redirection of the command by an event manager (510) to a TV manager module (520) that controls the hardware of the television or set-top box function.

Claims

1. A method of tuning a television channel while displaying a web-based program guide, comprising:

generating a video signal to display the web-based program guide using a web browser application, the display indicating a cursor location;

receiving an input signal;

determining that the input signal is unmatched to the current cursor location; and

redirecting the input signal to a television manager.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

at the television manager, determining that the input signal corresponds to a television command; and

implementing the television command.

3. The method according to claim 1, carried out in a Television Set-Top Box.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining and redirecting are carried out in an event manager.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein an input signal corresponding to a user actuation of a numerical character 0-9 is considered to be unmatched if the cursor is not situated at a text entry field of the web-based program guide.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the actuation of a numerical character 0-9 is considered to be a channel selection command if the cursor is not situated at a text entry field of the web-based program guide;

and wherein the television manager implements a channel selection function in response thereto.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the receiving comprises receiving the input signal from a television remote control.

8. A television Set-Top Box, comprising:

a programmed processor;

a web browser running on the programmed processor, the web browser accessing a web page as a current web page;

an input receiving a user input signal, wherein the user input signal may be directed either to a television control action or to the current web page;

a television manager that receives user input signals and implements television control actions in response thereto; and

an event manager that directs the input signal to the television manager in the event the input signal is not directed to the current web page.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the current web page comprises a web-based program guide page.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the current web page has a cursor location, and wherein the event manager determines that the input signal is not directed to the current web page if the input signal is not matched to the current cursor location.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein an input signal corresponding to a user actuation of a numerical character 0-9 is considered to be a channel selection command if the cursor is not situated at a text entry field of the current web page.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the television manager implements a channel selection function in response to the channel selection command.

13. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the input receives the user input signal from a television remote control.

14. An electronic storage medium storing instructions which, when executed on a programmed processor, carry out a process of tuning a television channel, comprising:

generating a video signal to display a web-based program guide using a web browser application, the display indicating a cursor location;

receiving an input signal;

determining that the input signal is unmatched to the current cursor location; and

redirecting the input signal to a television manager.

15. The electronic storage medium according to claim 14, further comprising:

at the television manager, determining that the input signal corresponds to a television command; and

implementing the television command.

16. The electronic storage medium according to claim 14, wherein an input signal corresponding to a user actuation of a numerical character 0-9 is considered to be unmatched if the cursor is not situated at a text entry field of the web-based program guide.

17. The electronic storage medium according to claim 16, wherein the actuation of a numerical character 0-9 is considered to be a channel selection command if the cursor is not situated at a text entry field of the web-based program guide;

and wherein the television manager implements a channel selection function in response thereto.

18. The electronic storage medium according to claim 14, wherein the receiving comprises receiving the input signal from a television remote control.

19. A method of invoking an electronic program guide, comprising:

producing a video signal corresponding to a television program;

receiving an input command to display a program guide;

invoking a web browser application directed to a Universal Resource Locator (URL) calling a web-based program guide; and

producing a video signal to display the web-based program guide.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising again receiving the input command to display the program guide;

and

resuming producing the video signal corresponding to the television program.

21. The method according to claim 19, further comprising establishing a default URL for a the web-based program guide and storing the default URL in a memory.

22. A method of changing from a television mode to a browser mode, comprising:

producing a video signal corresponding to a television program;

receiving an input command;

invoking a web browser application directed to a default Universal Resource Locator (URL) in response to the input command; and

producing a video signal to display a web page corresponding to the URL.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising again receiving the input command;

and

resuming producing the video signal corresponding to the television program.

24. The method according to claim 22, further comprising establishing a default URL for a the web-based program guide and storing the default URL in a memory, and wherein the input command comprises a command to retrieve a program guide.

25. A television Set-Top Box, comprising:

a programmed processor;

a web browser application that runs on the programmed processor;

an input receiving a user input signal, wherein the user input signal comprises a command to display a program guide, the command being passed from the input to the programmed processor; and

wherein, the programmed processor invokes the web browser application directed to a Universal Resource Locator (URL) calling a web-based program guide page as a result of the input receiving the command to display a program guide.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising:

a television manager that controls television functions; and

an event manager that directs the input signal to the television manager in the event the input signal is not directed to the web-based program guide page.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the program guide has a cursor location, and wherein the event manager determines that the input signal is not directed to the web-based program guide page if the input signal is not matched to the current cursor location.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein an input signal corresponding to a user actuation of a numerical character 0-9 is considered to be a channel selection command if the cursor is not situated at a text entry field of the web-based program guide page.

29. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the television manager implements a channel selection function in response to the channel selection command.

30. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the input receives the user input signal from a television remote control.