PROVIDING A LINK TO PROGRAMS IN A PROGRAM GUIDE

• US 20020073427A1
• Filed: 12/22/1998
• Published: 06/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Madison Patent Holdings (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing SA (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: MORRISON, HUGH BOYD, WESTLAKE, MARK SHERIDAN
• Granted Patent: US 6,601,238 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73

Abstract

a method and a system for displaying program information for a plurality of information sources on an electronic program guide (EPG) is described. A matched program and its respective program source is first determined. This first matched program from the respective program source is then highlighted in the EPG. Additionally, an icon for a respective program source is displayed indicating a future or a previously matched program from the respective program source.

Claims

1. A method for displaying program information in an image representing a time interval, said method comprising the steps of:

determining from said program information a program matching a criteria and occurring at a time outside of said time interval; and

generating an icon indicating that said program matching said criteria exists and occurs at a time outside of said time interval.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said icon further indicates said time outside said time interval.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said icon further indicates number of occurrence of programs matching said criteria.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said icon further indicates the direction of said time outside said time interval.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein said icon further indicates the direction of said time outside said time interval.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein said icon further indicates said time outside said time interval.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein said icon further indicates number of occurrence of programs matching said criteria.

6. A method for displaying program information for a plurality of information sources on an electronic program guide (EPG), comprising the steps of:

determining a first matched program and its respective program source in said EPG;

highlighting said first matched program from said respective program source in said EPG; and

displaying an icon for a respective program source;

said icon indicating a future matched program from said respective program source.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said icon further indicates time of said future matched program.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of displaying an additional icon for said respective program source, said icon indicating a previously matched program from said respective program source.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said icon further indicates time of said previously matched program.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of advancing said EPG to highlight said future matched program upon user selecting said icon.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of retracting said EPG to highlight said previously matched program upon user selecting said additional icon.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein said program source is a television channel.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of retracting said EPG to highlight said previously matched program upon user selecting said icon.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said icon further indicates time of said occurrence.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said icon further indicates time of said future matched program.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein said icon further indicates number of occurrence of programs matching said criteria.

13. A method for displaying program information for a plurality of information sources on an electronic program guide (EPG), comprising the steps of:

determining a first matched program and its respective program source in said EPG;

highlighting said first matched program from said respective program source in said EPG; and

displaying an icon for a respective program source;

said icon indicating an occurrence of a previously matched program from said respective program source.

16. A system for displaying program information for a plurality of information sources on an electronic program guide (EPG), comprising:

means for receiving said program information;

means for determining a first matched program and its respective program source from said program information; and

means for highlighting said first matched program from said respective program source in said EPG, and for displaying an icon for a respective program source;

said icon indicating a future matched program from said respective program source.

19. A system for displaying program information in an image representing a time interval, comprising:

means for receiving program information;

means for determining from said program information a program matching a criteria and occurring at a time outside of said time interval; and

means for generating an icon indicating that said program matching said criteria exists and occurs at a time outside of said time interval.