Program guide system with browsing display

• US 20030177494A1
• Filed: 03/14/2003
• Published: 09/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UV Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Lemmons, Thomas R., Perry, Brent E., Satterfield, Kevin D., Nelson, Jennifer E., Marshall, Connie T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,487,528 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/43
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• 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 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72

Abstract

An inter pap active television program guide system is provided in which a user may direct the program guide to display a browsing display screen. The browsing display screen includes a list of current programs including a movable highlight region, a video window containing a television program to which the system is currently tuned, and a detailed description of the highlighted program listing. The user may position the highlight region using remote control cursor keys. The user may then synchronize the content of the video window with the highlighted program listing by pressing a select key or a channel up or down key. If the user changes channels repeatedly using the channel up and down keys, the contents of the video window and the highlighted program listings remain in synchronization.

Claims

1. An interactive television program guide system implemented on user television equipment, comprising:

means for simultaneously displaying (a) a program list that contains multiple program listings, and that has a highlight region for highlighting a given one of the program listings, (b) a video window that contains an unobstructed view of a currently being broadcast television program, and (c) a detailed program description of the highlighted program listing;

first and second means for allowing the user to position the highlight region among the program listings;

wherein

when the user is positioning the highlight region among program listings for currently being broadcast programs and when the first means for positioning the highlight region is used to position the highlight region on a new program listing, the detailed program description is updated to correspond with the highlighted program listing while the currently being broadcast television program displayed in the video window remains unchanged; and

when the user is positioning the highlight region among program listings for currently being broadcast programs and when the second means for positioning the highlight region is used to position the highlight region on a new program listing, both the detailed program description and the currently being broadcast television program displayed in the video window are updated to correspond with the highlighted program listing.

2. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 wherein the first means for positioning the highlight region is different than the second means for positioning the highlight region.

3. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 further comprising means for providing the user with an opportunity to select the highlighted program listing.

4. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 3 wherein the means for providing the user with an opportunity to select the highlighted program listing further comprises means for allowing the user to select the highlighted program listing with a remote control select key.

5. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 wherein the first means for allowing the user to position the highlight region further comprises means for allowing the user to position the highlight region with remote control cursor keys.

6. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 wherein the first means for allowing the user to position the highlight region further comprises means for allowing the user to position the highlight region with remote control page up and down keys.

7. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 wherein the first means for allowing the user to position the highlight region further comprises means for allowing the user to position the highlight region with remote control numeric keys.

8. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 wherein the second means for positioning the highlight region comprises remote control channel up and down keys.

9. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 further comprising means for providing the user with an opportunity to display an information screen containing an additional description of the highlighted program listing.

10. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 further comprising means for providing the user with an opportunity to return to normal television viewing from the simultaneously displayed program list, video window, and detailed program description.

11. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 further comprising:

means for displaying the program list with the highlight region repositioned at the top of the list on top of a program listing for an adjacent channel whenever the program listing for the adjacent channel does not appear on the program list when the user uses the first or the second means to position the highlight region on the program listing for the adjacent channel.

12. A method for using an interactive television program guide system implemented on user television equipment, comprising:

simultaneously displaying (a) a program list that contains multiple program listings, and that has a highlight region for highlighting a given one of the program listings, (b) a video window that contains an unobstructed view of a currently being broadcast television program, and (c) a detailed program description of the highlighted program listing;

allowing the user to position the highlight region in the program list by inputting a first user input, wherein when the first user input is used to position the highlight region on a new program listing for a currently being broadcast program, the detailed program description is updated to correspond with the highlighted program listing while the currently being broadcast television program displayed in the video window remains unchanged; and

allowing the user to position the highlight region in the program list by inputting a second user input, wherein when the second user input is used to position the highlight region on a new program listing for a currently being broadcast program, both the detailed program description and the currently being broadcast television program displayed in the video window are updated to correspond with the highlighted program listing.

13. The method defined in claim 12 wherein the first user input is different than the second user input.

14. The method defined in claim 12 further comprising providing the user with an opportunity to select the highlighted program listing.

15. The method defined in claim 14 wherein providing the user with an opportunity to select the highlighted program listing further comprises allowing the user to select the highlighted program listing with a remote control select key.

16. The method defined in claim 12 further comprising allowing the user to input the first user input with remote control cursor keys.

17. The method defined in claim 12 further comprising allowing the user to input the first user input with remote control page up and down keys.

18. The method defined in claim 12 further comprising allowing the user to input the first user input with remote control numeric keys.

19. The method defined in claim 12 further comprising allowing the user to input the second user input with remote control channel up and down keys.

20. The method defined in claim 12 further comprising providing the user with an opportunity to display an information screen containing an additional description of the highlighted program listing.

21. The method defined in claim 12 further comprising providing the user with an opportunity to return to normal television viewing from the simultaneously displayed program list, video window, and detailed program description.

22. The method defined in claim 12 further comprising:

displaying the program list with the highlight region repositioned at the top of the list on top of a program listing for an adjacent channel whenever the program listing for the adjacent channel does not appear on the program list when the user uses the first or the second user input to position the highlight region on the program listing for the adjacent channel.

23. An interactive television program guide system comprising user television equipment configured to:

simultaneously display (a) a program list that contains multiple program listings, and that has a highlight region for highlighting a given one of the program listings, (b) a video window that contains an unobstructed view of a currently being broadcast television program, and (c) a detailed program description of the highlighted program listing;

allow the user to position the highlight region in the program list by inputting a first user input, wherein when the first user input is used to position the highlight region on a new program listing for a currently being broadcast program, the detailed program description is updated to correspond with the highlighted program listing while the currently being broadcast television program displayed in the video window remains unchanged; and

allow the user to position the highlight region in the program list by inputting a second user input, wherein when the second user input is used to position the highlight region on a new program listing for a currently being broadcast program, both the detailed program description and the currently being broadcast television program displayed in the video window are updated to correspond with the highlighted program listing.

24. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 23 wherein the first user input is different than the second user input.

25. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 23 wherein the user television equipment is configured to provide the user with an opportunity to select the highlighted program listing.

26. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 25 wherein the user television equipment is configured to allow the user to select the highlighted program listing with a remote control select key.

27. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 23 wherein the first user input is inputted with remote control cursor keys.

28. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 23 wherein the first user input is inputted with remote control page up and down keys.

29. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 23 wherein the first user input is inputted with remote control numeric keys.

30. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 23 wherein the second user input is inputted with remote control channel up and down keys.

31. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 23 wherein the user television equipment is configured to provide the user with an opportunity to display an information screen containing an additional description of the highlighted program listing.

32. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 23 wherein the user television equipment is configured to provide the user with an opportunity to return to normal television viewing from the simultaneously displayed program list, video window, and detailed program description.

33. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 23 wherein the user television equipment is configured to display the program list with the highlight region repositioned at the top of the list on top of a program listing for an adjacent channel whenever the program listing for the adjacent channel does not appear on the program list when the user uses the first or the second user input to position the highlight region on the program listing for the adjacent channel.

34. Machine-readable medium for an interactive television program guide system implemented on user television equipment, the machine-readable medium comprising program logic recorded thereon for:

simultaneously displaying (a) a program list that contains multiple program listings, and that has a highlight region for highlighting a given one of the program listings, (b) a video window that contains an unobstructed view of a currently being broadcast television program, and (c) a detailed program description of the highlighted program listing;

allowing the user to position the highlight region in the program list by inputting a first user input, wherein when the first user input is used to position the highlight region on a new program listing for a currently being broadcast program, the detailed program description is updated to correspond with the highlighted program listing while the currently being broadcast television program displayed in the video window remains unchanged; and

allowing the user to position the highlight region in the program list by inputting a second user input, wherein when the second user input is used to position the highlight region on a new program listing for a currently being broadcast program, both the detailed program description and the currently being broadcast television program displayed in the video window are updated to correspond with the highlighted program listing.

35. The machine-readable medium of claim 34 wherein the first user input is different than the second user input.

36. The machine-readable medium of claim 34 further comprising program logic recorded thereon for providing the user with an opportunity to select the highlighted program listing.

37. The machine-readable medium of claim 36 wherein the program logic recorded thereon for providing the user with an opportunity to select the highlighted program listing further comprises program logic recorded thereon for allowing the user to select the highlighted program listing with a remote control select key.

38. The machine-readable medium of claim 34 wherein the program logic recorded thereon for allowing the user to position the highlight region by inputting a first user input further comprises program logic recorded thereon for allowing the user to position the highlight region with remote control cursor keys.

39. The machine-readable medium of claim 34 wherein the program logic recorded thereon for allowing the user to position the highlight region by inputting a first user input further comprises program logic recorded thereon for allowing the user to position the highlight region with remote control page up and down keys.

40. The machine-readable medium of claim 34 wherein the program logic recorded thereon for allowing the user to position the highlight region by inputting a first user input further comprises program logic recorded thereon for allowing the user to position the highlight region with remote control numeric keys.

41. The machine-readable medium of claim 34 wherein the program logic recorded thereon for allowing the user to position the highlight region by inputting a second user input further comprises program logic recorded thereon for allowing the user to position the highlight region with remote control channel up and down keys.

42. The machine-readable medium of claim 34 further comprising providing the user with an opportunity to display an information screen containing an additional description of the highlighted program listing.

43. The machine-readable medium of claim 34 further comprising providing the user with an opportunity to return to normal television viewing from the simultaneously displayed program list, video window, and detailed program description.

44. The machine-readable medium of claim 34 further comprising the step of displaying the program list with the highlight region repositioned at the top of the list on top of a program listing for an adjacent channel whenever the program listing for the adjacent channel does not appear on the program list when the user uses the first or the second user input to position the highlight region on the program listing for the adjacent channel.