Multimedia systems, methods and applications

• US 20070199022A1
• Filed: 12/04/2006
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DRNC Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hillcrest Laboratories Incorporated (CEVA Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gritton, Charles, Moshiri, Negar, Wroblewski, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 8,850,478 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/39
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42646 for reading from or writing on a non-volatile solid state storage medium, e.g. DVD, CD-ROM
• 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 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• 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 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47815 Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 : on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 : Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Systems and methods according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a user interface including an electronic program guide and scrollable visual directories.

Claims

1. An electronic program guide (EPG) responsive to pointing inputs and having an integrated digital video recorder (DVR) function comprising:

a grid displayed on a display screen, said grid having a plurality of program selections displayed therein;

a cursor displayed as a moveable overlay on said grid, said cursor responsive to said pointing inputs to provide random access to said plurality of program selections; and

wherein when said cursor is positioned over one of said plurality of program selections, a visual indication of focus is provided to said one of said plurality of program selections; and

further wherein when a selection command is received by said electronic program guide, a DVR control overlay is displayed on said grid.

2. The EPG of claim 1, wherein said DVR control overlay includes a record button.

3. The EPG of claim 1, wherein said grid includes a first axis grid corresponding to a plurality of channels and a second axis of grid corresponding to time.

4. The EPG of claim 1, wherein said DVR control overlay includes a button which, when actuated, causes said EPG to display a user interface screen which shows at least one of previously recorded programs and programs scheduled to be recorded.

5. The EPG of claim 4, wherein said at least one of previously recorded programs and programs scheduled to be recorded are displayed as a visual directory of images.

6. The EPG of claim 5, wherein said visual directory of images includes a plurality of images each associated with one of said at least one of previously recorded programs and programs scheduled to be recorded, said plurality of images arranged in a rectangular matrix with a first number of images in each row and a second number of images, different than said first number, in each column.

7. The EPG of claim 6, wherein said visual directory includes a scroll bar for vertical scrolling of said visual directory.

8. The EPG of claim 7, wherein said scroll bar is actuable via a scroll wheel of a remote control device.

9. The EPG of claim 1, further comprising:

a pair of arrow-shaped overlays superimposed on said grid which, when pointed to and actuated, scroll said EPG horizontally.

10. The EPG of claim 4, wherein a user interface screen which shows at least one of previously recorded programs and programs scheduled to be recorded further comprises two tabs, one of which is associated with display of a visual directory of said previously recorded program images and one of which is associated with display of a visual directory of said programs scheduled to be recorded.

11. A scrollable visual directory display comprising:

a plurality of images each associated with a selectable media item, said plurality of images arranged in a rectangular matrix with a first number of images in each row and a second number of images in each column; and

a scroll bar on one side of said plurality of images for scrolling said rectangular matrix.

12. The scrollable visual directory of claim 11, wherein said selectable media items are associated with at least one of previously recorded programs and programs scheduled to be recorded.

13. The scrollable visual directory of claim 11, wherein said scroll bar is on the left or right side of said rectangular matrix and is usable to vertically scroll said plurality of images up and down.

14. The scrollable visual directory of claim 11, wherein said scroll bar is above or below said rectangular matrix and is usable to horizontally scroll said plurality of images to the left and right.

15. A method for providing information in an electronic program guide (EPG) having an integrated digital video recorder (DVR) function comprising:

displaying a grid displayed on a display screen, said grid having a plurality of program selections displayed therein;

displaying a cursor as a moveable overlay on said grid, said cursor responsive to said pointing inputs to provide random access to said plurality of program selections;

providing, when said cursor is positioned over one of said plurality of program selections, a visual indication of focus to said one of said plurality of program selections; and

displaying, when a selection command is received by said electronic program guide, a DVR control overlay on said grid.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said DVR control overlay includes a record button.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said grid includes a first axis grid corresponding to a plurality of channels and a second axis of grid corresponding to time.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said DVR control overlay includes a button which, when actuated, causes said EPG to display a user interface screen which shows at least one of previously recorded programs and programs scheduled to be recorded.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said at least one of previously recorded programs and programs scheduled to be recorded are displayed as a visual directory of images.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said visual directory of images includes a plurality of images each associated with one of said at least one of previously recorded programs and programs scheduled to be recorded, said plurality of images arranged in a rectangular matrix with a first number of images in each row and a second number of images, different than said first number, in each column.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said visual directory includes a scroll bar for vertical scrolling of said visual directory.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said scroll bar is actuable via a scroll wheel of a remote control device.

23. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

displaying a pair of arrow-shaped overlays superimposed on said grid which, when pointed to and actuated, scroll said EPG horizontally.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein said user interface screen which shows at least one of previously recorded programs and programs scheduled to be recorded further comprises two tabs, one of which is associated with display of a visual directory of said previously recorded program images and one of which is associated with display of a visual directory of said programs scheduled to be recorded.