Television navigation program guide
First Claim
1. A method for presenting program information on a television screen, comprising:
- displaying a plurality of sectors of program information in a layout, each sector in the layout relating to a different genre of program information, each sector spanning from a generally central area of the layout to a generally peripheral area of the layout, and each sector encompassing a plurality of program listings;
displaying at least one cell within each sector, each cell showing one of the program listings;
indicating that one of the cells in the layout is selected;
upon user interaction, panning between program listings within one of the sectors to indicate that a different program listing is selected; and
upon user interaction, panning between sectors of the layout.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An interactive television program guide and method using the guide. Under one aspect, the program guide features a layout having a plurality of sectors of program information, with each sector in the layout relating to a different genre of program information. Each sector in the layout extends from a generally central area of the layout to a generally peripheral area of the layout. Each sector includes a cell to display one or more program listings. The program guide also features an indicator that one of the cells in the layout is selected. A user of the program guide can pan between program listings within a single sector and can also pan between sectors to navigate through the program guide.
-
Citations
35 Claims
-
1. A method for presenting program information on a television screen, comprising:
-
displaying a plurality of sectors of program information in a layout, each sector in the layout relating to a different genre of program information, each sector spanning from a generally central area of the layout to a generally peripheral area of the layout, and each sector encompassing a plurality of program listings;
displaying at least one cell within each sector, each cell showing one of the program listings;
indicating that one of the cells in the layout is selected;
upon user interaction, panning between program listings within one of the sectors to indicate that a different program listing is selected; and
upon user interaction, panning between sectors of the layout. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. An apparatus for presenting program information on a television screen, comprising:
-
a memory storing a program;
a processor in communication with the memory;
in which the processor is directed by the program to;
display a plurality of sectors of program information in a layout, each sector in the layout relating to a different genre of program information, each sector spanning from a generally central area of the layout to a generally peripheral area of the layout, and each sector encompassing a plurality of program listings;
display at least one cell within each sector, each cell showing one of the program listings;
indicate that one of the cells in the layout is selected;
upon user interaction, pan between program listings within one of the sectors to indicate that a different program listing is selected; and
upon user interaction, pan between sectors of the layout.
-
-
22. An apparatus for presenting program information on a monitor, comprising:
circuitry that receives program information from a distribution facility, wherein the circuitry is configured to display the program information in a television program guide including;
a layout having a plurality of sectors of program information, each sector in the layout relating to a different genre of program information, each sector extending from a generally central area of the layout to a generally peripheral area of the layout, and each sector encompassing a plurality of program listings;
at least one cell organized and displayed within each sector, each cell displaying one of the program listings; and
an indicator that one of the cells in the layout is selected. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
-
33. A method for presenting program information, comprising:
-
receiving program information for a television program guide from a distribution facility;
in response to the program information for a television program guide, displaying a plurality of sectors of program information in a layout, each sector in the layout relating to a different genre of program information, each sector spanning from a generally central area of the layout to a generally peripheral area of the layout, and each sector encompassing a plurality of program listings;
displaying at least one cell within each sector, each cell showing one of the program listings;
indicating that one of the cells in the layout is selected;
upon user interaction, panning between program listings within one of the sectors to indicate that a different program listing is selected; and
upon user interaction, panning between sectors of the layout.
-
-
34. A method for providing program information, comprising:
transmitting information for a television program guide to a user, the television program guide including;
a layout having a plurality of sectors of program information, each sector in the layout relating to a different genre of program information, each sector extending from a generally central area of the layout to a generally peripheral area of the layout, and each sector encompassing a plurality of program listings;
at least one cell organized and displayed within each sector, each cell displaying one of the program listings; and
an indicator that one of the cells in the layout is selected.
-
35. A television program guide, comprising:
-
a layout having a plurality of sectors of program information, each sector in the layout relating to a different genre of program information, each sector extending from a generally central area of the layout to a generally peripheral area of the layout, and each sector encompassing a plurality of program listings;
at least one cell organized and displayed within each sector, each cell displaying one of the program listings; and
an indicator that one of the cells in the layout is selected.
-
Specification