Method and apparatus for the display of electronic program guide information
First Claim
1. A method for the display of electronic program guide information, the method comprising:
- (a) receiving a plurality of viewing event indicators indicating a plurality of viewing events;
(b) generating a first list of viewing event indicators based on a viewing start time of each of the plurality of viewing event indicators such that all of the plurality of viewing event indicators on the first list have the same viewing start time;
(c) generating a second list of viewing event indicators from the first list of viewing event indicators by combining each of the viewing event indicators having common elements; and
(d) providing the second list to a display device, wherein the second list includes a plurality of viewing event indicators.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for the display of electronic program guide information includes receiving a plurality of viewing event indicators indicating a plurality of viewing events. The viewing event indicators may be any suitable data representation of the corresponding viewing event, such as a multi-digit program identifier and a program title, such as the name of the television show. The method and apparatus further includes generating a first list of viewing event indicators based on a viewing start time and a second list of viewing event indicators from the first list of viewing event indicators based on the viewing events having common elements within the viewing event indicators. The method and apparatus further includes providing the second list to a display device so the electronic program guide information includes timely viewing event indicators and excludes redundant viewing event indicators.
59 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for the display of electronic program guide information, the method comprising:
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(a) receiving a plurality of viewing event indicators indicating a plurality of viewing events;
(b) generating a first list of viewing event indicators based on a viewing start time of each of the plurality of viewing event indicators such that all of the plurality of viewing event indicators on the first list have the same viewing start time;
(c) generating a second list of viewing event indicators from the first list of viewing event indicators by combining each of the viewing event indicators having common elements; and
(d) providing the second list to a display device, wherein the second list includes a plurality of viewing event indicators. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for the display of electronic program guide information, the apparatus comprising:
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a memory device operative to store executable instructions; and
at least one processing device operably coupled to the memory device, the at least one processing device operative to, in response to the executable instructions;
(a) receive a plurality of viewing event indicators;
(b) generate a first list of viewing event indicators based on a viewing start time of each of the plurality of viewing event indicators such that all of the plurality of viewing event indicators on the first list have the same viewing start time;
(c) generate a second list of viewing event indicators from the first list of viewing event indicators by combining each of the viewing event indicators have common elements; and
(d) provide the second list to a display device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for the display of electronic program guide information, the method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of viewing event indicators;
generating a current list of viewing event indicators by;
(a) filtering out viewing event indicators based on a viewing start time;
(b) combining each of the viewing event indicators having a common identifier; and
(c) combining each of the viewing event indicators having a common title;
generating an output signal including the viewing event indicators of the current list;
receiving a viewing event selection indicator such that if the viewing event selection indicator indicates a condensed viewing event;
generating an expanded viewing event list including all combined viewing event indicators. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for the display of electronic program guide information, the method comprising:
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generating a current list of viewing event indicators by;
(a) filtering out viewing event indicators based on a viewing start time;
(b) combining each of the viewing event indicators having a common identifier; and
(c) combining each of the viewing event indicators having a common title; and
generating an output signal including only the viewing start time and viewing event indicators of the current list. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification