Automatic display of new program information during current program viewing

• US 20070136749A1
• Filed: 11/01/2004
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Madison Patent Holdings (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Tenbarge, James, Hawkins, Bret
• Granted Patent: US 8,176,517 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/38
• 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 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4823 using a channel name
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71

Abstract

A method and apparatus for automatic display of next or future television program information when tuned to a television channel. Acquired or received program information for a television program to be shown next or later on the currently tuned television channel is automatically displayed on the currently tuned channel. In this manner, a viewer is provided with information regarding a next or future television program on the television channel currently being watched without active intervention by the viewer. According to an aspect of the invention, if a new or next television program guide or program information (update) is received before the end of a current television program, the television apparatus automatically updates the display of program information according to the information included in the newly received program guide.

Claims

1. A method for displaying information of a future program by a television apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, by the television apparatus, program information;

determining, by the television apparatus, a future program of a currently tuned television channel from the received program information in response to receiving the program information; and

displaying information of the determined future program.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving program information comprises receiving program information comprising program and system information data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving program information comprises receiving program information comprising program and system information protocol event information table data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving program information comprises receiving program information comprising program guide data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving program information comprises receiving program information comprising a program guide.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving program information comprises receiving program information comprising data for the future program.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying information of the determined future program includes displaying one or more of a future program title, a future program time length, a future program time start and stop, a future program rating, a future program brief description, and a future program expanded description.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying information of the determined future program includes displaying the information of the determined future program for a predetermined period of time.

9. A television apparatus comprising:

storage configured for storing program information for television programs; and

a controller configured for displaying program information of a future television program of a currently tuned television channel in response to the television apparatus receiving an update of the stored program information.

10. The television apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a program and system information protocol processor configured for obtaining program information for television programs from a program and system information portion of a received television signal.

11. The television apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a program guide data processor configured for obtaining program information for television programs from a guide data portion of a received television signal.

12. The television apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a program guide processor configured for obtaining program information for television programs from a program guide portion of a received television signal.

13. The television apparatus of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured for displaying information of the determined future program comprising one or more of a future program title, a future program time length, a future program time start and stop, a future program rating, a future program brief description, and a future program expanded description.

14. The television apparatus of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured for displaying information of the determined future program for a predetermined period of time.

15. A television apparatus comprising:

means for storing program information for a plurality of television programs; and

means for controlling display of program information of a future television program of a currently tuned television channel in response to the television apparatus receiving an update of the stored program information.

16. The television apparatus of claim 15, further comprising means for obtaining program information for a plurality of television programs from a program and system information portion of a received television signal.

17. The television apparatus of claim 15, further comprising means for obtaining program information for television programs from a guide data portion of a received television signal.

18. The television apparatus of claim 15, further comprising means for obtaining program information for television programs from a program guide portion of a received television signal.

19. The television apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for controlling display includes means for displaying information of the determined future program comprising one or more of a future program title, a future program time length, a future program time start and stop, a future program rating, a future program brief description, and a future program expanded description.

20. The television apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for controlling display includes means for displaying information of the determined future program for a predetermined period of time.