Electronic program guide with rapid time advancement feature

• US 20020087982A1
• Filed: 12/29/2000
• Published: 07/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thomson Licensing SA (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing SA (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Stuart, Anthony Edward
• Application Number:
  US09/752,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20020087982A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/39
• 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 21/4312 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 21/4438 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 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen

Abstract

Method and apparatus for rapidly advancing an EPG, wherein a viewer can use a time line to advance an EPG hours, days, weeks and/or months in the future to a desired day and time. The viewer can then advance the time window of the EPG as is conventionally done in one-half hour increments to view desired program listings.

Claims

1. A method for rapidly advancing an electronic program guide, comprising the steps of:

displaying on a display device a time line having notches thereon delineating times and days in the future from a current day and time to which a marker can be slidably moved;

slidably moving the marker to a notch delineating a desired day and time in the future, thereby causing to be displayed in a time window displayed on the display device a time period displaying indicia for programs to be broadcast during the time period on said desired day and time.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the notches delineate times that are hours, days, weeks and months in the future from the current day and time.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of moving the time window to view desired program indicia.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of moving the time window in one-half hour increments.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the marker can be selectively moved forward and backward in time.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the marker can be selectively moved backwards in time to display indicia for programs that were already broadcast.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method is implemented using a remote control device.

8. A method for rapidly advancing an electronic program guide, comprising the steps of:

displaying on a display device a time line having notches thereon delineating times and days in the future from a current day and time to which a marker can be slidably moved;

displaying on the display device a time window defining a first time period on the current day, wherein the time window displays indicia for programs broadcast during the first time period of the current day; and

slidably moving the marker to a notch delineating a desired day and time in the future, thereby causing to be displayed in the time window a second time period displaying indicia for programs to be broadcast during the second time period on said desired day and time.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the second time period is for a period of time on a different day than the first time period

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the second time period overlaps the first time period.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the first and second time periods are successive time periods.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the notches delineate times that are hours, days, weeks and months in the future from the current day and time.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the time window can be moved in one-half hour increments.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the marker can be selectively moved forward and backward in time.

16. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the marker can be selectively moved backwards in time to display indicia for programs that were already broadcast.

17. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the apparatus is operated using a remote control device.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the second time period is for a period of time on a different day than the first time period

20. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the second time period overlaps the first time period.

21. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the first and second time periods are successive time periods.

12. An apparatus for rapidly advancing an electronic program guide, comprising:

a display device displaying a time line having notches thereon delineating times and days in the future from a current day and time; and

a slidable marker which can be slid to a notch delineating a desired day and time in the future, thereby causing to be displayed in a time window displayed on the display device a time period displaying indicia for programs to be broadcast during the time period on said desired day and time.

18. An apparatus for rapidly advancing an electronic program guide, comprising:

a display device displaying a time line having notches thereon delineating times and days in the future from a current day and time to which a marker can be slidably moved, and also displaying a time window defining a first time period on the current day, wherein the time window displays indicia for programs broadcast during the first time period of the current day; and

a slidable marker which can be slid to a notch delineating a desired day and time in the future, thereby causing to be displayed in the time window a second time period displaying indicia for programs to be broadcast during the second time period on said desired day and time.