Method and apparatus providing an improved electronic program guide in a cable television system
First Claim
1. In a cable television system, an interactive entertainment guide presentation subsystem that comprises a head-end database storing programming information for a plurality of cable channels and an internet protocol-based Web browser function in each television set-top box (STB) for receiving and displaying the programming information in a list format, and for providing subscriber interactivity with the head-end via a bidirectional data link.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An Electronic Programming Guide (EPG) is implemented as an Interactive Entertainment Guide (IEG) that enables a subscriber to interact with a database containing programming schedule and other information over a bidirectional communication link provided between the subscriber'"'"'s set top box (STB) and the IEG source or server at the cable system head-end, or at some other location. This invention provides an advanced cable television system having an IEG presentation subsystem that comprises a head-end database for storing programming information for a plurality of cable channels, and an internet protocol (IP)-based Web browser function in each television STB for receiving and displaying the programming information in a list format, and for providing interactivity with the head-end via a bidirectional data link.
131 Citations
20 Claims
- 1. In a cable television system, an interactive entertainment guide presentation subsystem that comprises a head-end database storing programming information for a plurality of cable channels and an internet protocol-based Web browser function in each television set-top box (STB) for receiving and displaying the programming information in a list format, and for providing subscriber interactivity with the head-end via a bidirectional data link.
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6. In a television interactive entertainment guide display system for displaying television channels, broadcast program titles, and broadcast times on a television display screen, the improvement comprising:
the system being adapted to display on the television display screen a vertically arranged list of the broadcast program titles, the list having only a single column of the titles organized and displayed adjacent respective associated broadcast times in a vertically arranged time sequence, wherein the list is limited to only a predetermined user selected channel. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. In a television interactive entertainment guide display system for displaying television channels, broadcast program titles, and broadcast times on a television display screen, the improvement comprising:
the system being adapted to display a list of the television channels and subsequently display a first type of sub-list for a selected one of the channels, the first type of sub-list comprising a vertical column array of the broadcast program titles and associated ones of the broadcast times for the channel or, alternatively, the system being adapted to display a list of the broadcast times and subsequently display a second type of sub-list for a selected one of the broadcast times, the second type of sub-list comprising a vertical column array of the television channels and associated ones of the broadcast program titles, wherein the titles are displayed in only a single vertical column on the television display screen in a predetermined sequential order along the column. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A method for selecting a broadcast television program, the program being broadcast based upon broadcast limitations comprising a broadcast channel and a broadcast time, the method comprising steps of:
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entering a first one of the broadcast limitations into a broadcast television program selector;
upon entering the first broadcast limitation, displaying a list of a second one of the broadcast limitations, corresponding to the entered first broadcast limitation, in a vertical array on a screen of the television, the list being arranged adjacent a single column of program titles corresponding to the broadcast television programs for the vertically displayed second broadcast limitations and the entered first broadcast limitation; and
selecting one of the program titles in the single column of program titles by vertically moving a stepwise vertical only moving cursor/highlighter. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification