Hyper-cell TV schedule listing representation

• US 20050005290A1
• Filed: 06/26/2004
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Yakov Kamen
• Original Assignee: Yakov Kamen
• Inventors: Kamen, Yakov
• Application Number:
  US10/877,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20050005290A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/39
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4856 for language selection, e.g. for the menu or subtitles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

An electronic programming guide (“EPG”) in accordance with the invention provides a schedule listing comprising of two or more groups of event names depending on special event name group creation criteria. Each group of event names is represented differently by time proportional cells or fixed-sized cells. The EPG information display format is thus easier to navigate and review than prior art EPG formats. In one embodiment the EPG listing consists of two groups of event names: currently playing and near-future event names, and distant-future event names. All currently playing and near-future events presented as time proportional grid cells. All distant-future event names are presented as fixed-sized cells organized in channel-based lists. In one embodiment current and near-future time is defined differently for different channels and two groups can have repeated elements.

Claims

1. A method of presenting programming information, comprising:

subdivision of all programming event names into multiple groups; and

assignment of one type of listing visualization to each said group; and

displaying each said group in a chosen type of said listing visualization at the device screen.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said programming event name belongs to a single group.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said groups are chosen based on event associated time according to a pre-defined event waiting time criterion.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said groups are two groups chosen by separating the event'"'"'s associated time into two time categories:

current and near-future time and distant-future time.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said groups are two groups chosen by separating event'"'"'s associated time into two time categories:

current and near-future time and distant-future time and displaying one said group in time-proportional cells and other said group in fixed-sized cells.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said groups are two groups defined differently for different channels;

and displaying one said group in time-proportional cells and other said group in fix-size cells.

7. An apparatus comprising:

a screen for displaying a video program; and

an electronic program guide for displaying time associated program information on a window within said screen while a video program is displayed another portion of said screen outside of said window; and

a program listing for displaying names of time associated programs.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said program listing comprises of two groups of event names;

and one said group of event names is visualized in time proportional cells; and

other said group of events name is visualized in fixed size cells.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said groups are defined based on an event name group creation criterion.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said event name group creation criterion is a function of time associated with said event names.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said event name group creation criterion is a function of said current and near-future time and said distant-future time.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said event name group creation criterion is defined differently for different said event groups.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said event name group creation criterion is defined differently for different channels.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said criterion is defined differently for different said channels.

15. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said program listing comprises multiple groups of event names;

and each said group of event names is defined by said event name group definition criterion; and

each said group is visualized in a different format.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said visualization format set includes said time proportional cells, and said fixed size cells.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said event name group definition criterion is a function of time associated with said event names.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said event name group definition criterion is a function of said current and near-future said distant-future time.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said event name group creation criterion is defined differently for different event groups.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said event name group creation criterion is defined differently for different channels.