Television system

• US 20030028880A1
• Filed: 07/31/2002
• Published: 02/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pace Micro Technology Ltd. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rorholt, Anders Bjornson, Smith, Donn Alan
• Granted Patent: US 7,119,848 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/40
• 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 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen

Abstract

Television System A television system is provided which includes a display screen connected to or integrally formed with a broadcast data receiver (BDR). The BDR receives data from a broadcaster at a remote location and decodes the data to form video, audio and/or auxiliary data. At least part of the decoded data is used to generate first and second windows (4, 6, 8, 20, 22) on the display screen and one or more of the windows contain user selectable options. Upon user selection of a particular option (24) from the first window, at least a part of the first or second windows (4, 6, 8, 20, 22) are reconfigured, such that the at least part of the first window covers or disables a remaining part of the first window and/or a part or whole of the at least second window.

Claims

1. A television system including a display screen connected to or integrally formed with a broadcast data receiver (BDR), said BDR receiving data from a broadcaster at a remote location and decoding said data to form video, audio and/or auxiliary data, at least part of said decoded data being used to generate at least first and second windows (4, 6, 8, 20, 22) on the display screen, one or more of said windows (4, 6, 8, 20, 22) containing user selectable options and characterised in that upon user selection of a particular option (24) from said first window, at least a part of said first or second windows (4, 6, 8, 20, 22) are reconfigured, such that a remaining part of said reconfigured window and/or part of whole of said other window(s) are disabled.

2. A television system according to claim 1 characterised in that the window or windows (4, 6, 8, 20, 22) are reconfigured if the user selected option in the first window results in a further user response being required.

3. A television system according to claim 2 characterised in that once the further user response has been made, the first or second windows (4, 6, 8, 20, 22) return to their original configuration.

4. A television system according to claim 2 characterised in that a message or query is generated by the BDR which requires a further response from the user.

5. A television system according to claim 4 characterised in that the message or query is generated by the BDR during or after reconfiguration of the first or second window.

6. A television system according to claim 4 characterised in that the message or query is already present on the display screen but is hidden or is non-selectable prior to user selection of a particular option by the user.

7. A television system according to claim 1 characterised in that said first or second windows (4, 6, 8, 20, 22) are reconfigured to cover non-selected options in said first or second windows.

8. A television system according to claim 1 characterised in that said first window comprises several graphical areas and any one of these graphical areas are reconfigured to cover or hide non-selected options in said first window or said at least second window.

9. A television system according to claim 1 characterised in that the whole area of the first and/or at least second windows are reconfigured.

10. A television system according to claim 1 characterised in that reconfiguration of said first or at least said second window is substantially instantaneous following user-selection of a particular option.

11. A television system according to claim 1 characterised in that reconfiguration of said of said first or at least said second window is gradual.

12. A television system according to claim 1 characterised in that reconfiguration of the at least part of said first window includes enlargement of said window.

13. A television system according to claim 1 characterised in that reconfiguration of at least a part of said second window includes reducing the size of said window.

14. A television system according to claim 10 or 11 characterised in that the first window is enlarged and the at least second window is reduced in size.

15. A television system according to claim 1 characterised in that at least part of the video and/or auxiliary data is used to generate an EPG for display on the display screen and said EPG includes said first and at least said second windows.

16. A broadcast data receiver (BDR), said BDR receiving data from a broadcaster at a remote location and decoding said data to form video, audio and/or auxiliary data, at least part of said decoded data being used to generate at least first and second windows (4, 6, 8, 20, 22) on the display screen, one or more of said windows containing user selectable options and characterised in that upon user selection of a particular option (24) from said first window, at least a part of said first or second windows (4, 6, 8, 20, 22) are reconfigured, such that a remaining part of said reconfigured window and/or a part or whole of said other window(s) are disabled.

17. An electronic programme guide (EPG) for display on a display screen, said EPG display providing information relating to a number of television programmes and/or channels, said EPG generated via a broadcast data receiver which is connected to or integrally formed with the display screen and which receives digital data from a broadcaster at a remote location and decodes the data, at least part of said decoded data being used to generate said EPG, said EPG display including a number of windows (4, 6, 8, 20, 22) containing user selectable options and characterised in that upon user selection of a particular option (24) from said first window, at least a part of said first or second windows are reconfigured, such that a remaining part of said reconfigured window and/or a part or whole of said other window(s) are disabled.