Remote control device having a display for displaying a television channel guide

• US 20030035074A1
• Filed: 08/17/2001
• Published: 02/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: McKechnie, Stuart, Dubil, Thomas James
• Application Number:
  US09/932,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20030035074A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/734
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• 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 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6187 involving transmission via a telephone network, e.g. POTS

Abstract

A remote control device is provided for a television which enables a user to determine what programs are being aired or scheduled to air without disrupting a program currently being watched. The remote control device includes a display, e.g., a graphical user interface, for displaying a television channel guide listing the various programs currently being aired. Preferably, the display is a touch screen or includes directional cursor control for selecting a desired program by touching the desired program listing on the display or situating a cursor over the desired program listing and performing an action, such as clicking a “SELECT” button. The remote control device also includes a conventional user-interface with multiple user inputs for selective control of a particular one of the functionalities of the television through sending a particular one of multiple control signals to the television. The remote control device receives the television channel guide by various means, such as an RF link or a direct connection to an Internet connected host, such as a set top box or a personal computer, an RF link to a remote central station which broadcasts an RF modulated signal which includes the television channel guide, or via a set top box receiving a broadcast signal having an electronic program guide (EPG) therein.

Claims

1. A remote control device comprising:

a receiver for wirelessly receiving a signal including a television channel guide;

processing circuitry for processing the received signal to obtain the television channel guide;

a display for displaying the television channel guide; and

input interface for selecting at least one television program listing provided by the television channel guide.

2. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the input interface for selecting at least one television program listing includes a directional cursor control mechanism having a device for controlling the position of a cursor on the display and a selection button for selecting the at least one television program listing corresponding to the position of the cursor.

3. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the display and input interface for selecting at least one television program listing includes a touch screen that displays the television channel guide and the at least one television program listing is selected by a user touching the at least one television program listing on the touch screen.

4. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the signal is received from one of a remote central station, an Internet connected host, and a set top box.

5. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the signal includes XML-formatted data.

6. A system for selecting at least one television program listing provided by a television channel guide, said system comprising:

an Internet connected host for transmitting a signal including the television channel guide; and

a remote control device comprising a receiver for receiving the signal including the television channel guide, processing circuitry for processing the received signal to obtain the television channel guide, a display for displaying the television channel guide, and input interface for selecting the at least one television program listing provided by the television channel guide.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the Internet connected host connects to a remote server via the Internet to receive the television channel guide.

8. A system for transmitting a television channel guide, said system comprising:

a remote central station for transmitting a signal including the television channel guide, wherein the signal is formatted to be received by a remote control device comprising a receiver for receiving the signal including the television channel guide, processing circuitry for processing the received signal to obtain the television channel guide, and a display for displaying the television channel guide.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the remote central station includes Internet connection means for connecting to the Internet and transmitting the signal via the Internet.

10. A remote control device comprising:

a receiver for wirelessly receiving a signal including a list of functions for an electronic appliance;

processing circuitry for processing the received signal to obtain the list of functions;

a display for displaying the list of functions; and

input interface for selecting at least one function from the list of functions.

11. The remote control device according to claim 10, wherein the input interface for selecting at least one function includes a directional cursor control mechanism having a device for controlling the position of a cursor on the display and a selection button for selecting the at least one function corresponding to the position of the cursor.

12. The remote control device according to claim 10, wherein the display and input interface for selecting at least one function includes a touch screen that displays the list of functions and the at least one function is selected by a user touching the at least one function on the touch screen.

13. The remote control device according to claim 10, wherein the signal is received from one of a remote central station, an Internet connected host, and a set top box.

14. The remote control device according to claim 10, wherein the signal contains XML-formatted data.