Three-dimensional program guide

• US 20040103432A1
• Filed: 11/25/2002
• Published: 05/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Barrett, Peter T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,511,710 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/414 Specialised client platforms, e.g. receiver in car or embedded in a mobile appliance
• 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 21/4222 Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73

Abstract

A three-dimensional electronic program guide (EPG) is displayed as multiple two-dimensional areas within a three-dimensional television viewing environment. Each two-dimensional area contains a particular category of EPG data. A viewer navigates the three-dimensional EPG using an input device, such as a joystick or other game controller.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

rendering a three-dimensional environment in which multiple two-dimensional areas are defined; and

rendering a first category of electronic program guide data in a first one of the two-dimensional areas and a second category of electronic program guide data in a second one of the two-dimensional areas.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first category is based on at least one of a genre, a program type, a target audience, a channel, a time of day, and a program topic.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first category represents a genre selected from a group of genre comprising drama, comedy, mystery, and romance.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first category represents a program type selected from a group of program types comprising television series, movie, game show, documentary, and educational program.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first and second two-dimensional areas are rendered within the same two-dimensional plane.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first and second two-dimensional areas are perpendicular to each other.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first and second two-dimensional areas are parallel to each other.

8. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to perform the method as recited in claim 1.

9. A game console configured to perform the method as recited in claim 1.

10. A system comprising:

a tuner to receive electronic program guide data; and

a three-dimensional graphics processing unit to render the electronic program guide data in multiple two-dimensional areas within a three-dimensional viewing environment.

11. The system as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

a controller interface to receive input from an input device such that the input directs the three-dimensional graphics processing unit to navigate within the three-dimensional viewing environment.

12. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the input device is a game controller.

13. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein the input device is a television remote control.

14. The system as recited in claim 10, implemented as a game console.

15. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to:

receive electronic program guide data; and

render the data in multiple two-dimensional areas within a three-dimensional viewing environment.

16. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 15, wherein a first of the multiple two-dimensional areas represents a first category of electronic program guide data and a second of the multiple two-dimensional areas represents a second category of electronic program guide data.

17. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 15 further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to:

render a first and a second of the multiple two-dimensional areas in different planes within the three-dimensional viewing environment.

18. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 15 further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to:

render a first and a second of the multiple two-dimensional areas in perpendicular planes within the three-dimensional viewing environment.

19. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 15 further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to:

render a first and a second of the multiple two-dimensional areas in parallel planes within the three-dimensional viewing environment.

20. The one or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 15 further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to:

render a first and a second of the multiple two-dimensional areas in the same plane within the three-dimensional viewing environment.

21. A media viewing system comprising:

means for receiving data associated with media content; and

means for rendering a three-dimensional environment within which a first two-dimensional area contains a first portion of the media content and a second two-dimensional area contains a second portion of the data.

22. The media viewing system as recited in claim 21 further comprising:

means for receiving input that directs the media viewing system to navigate the three-dimensional environment.