SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GRAPHICAL ADJUSTMENT OF AN ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE

• US 20100083313A1
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Dish Network Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: RUDOLPH, Daniel L., VANDUYN, Luke, WHITE, James Matthew, TAXIER, Karen Michelle, COBURN, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 8,473,979 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/39
• 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 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4221 Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• 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 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• 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 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite

Abstract

Systems and methods provide for displaying an electronic program guide (EPG) on a display generated by a set top box (STB) or other television receiver. The electronic program guide is presented in at least a portion of the display. A resize indicator is also provided on the display so that viewer inputs corresponding to the resize indicator can be received. The size of the electronic program guide presented on the display can be adjusted in response to the viewer input corresponding to the resize indicator.

Claims

1. A method for displaying an electronic program guide on a display, the method comprising:

presenting the electronic program guide in at least a portion of the display, wherein the portion of the display comprises a resize indicator;

receiving a viewer input corresponding to the resize indicator; and

in response to the viewer input corresponding to the resize indicator, adjusting the size of the electronic program guide presented on the display.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the adjusting comprises increasing the size of the electronic program guide.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the adjusting comprises decreasing the size of the electronic program guide.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the resize indicator comprises a first resize indicator and a second resize indicator, and wherein the adjusting comprises increasing the size of the electronic program guide in response to the viewer input corresponding to the first resize indicator and decreasing the size of the electronic program guide in response to the viewer input corresponding to the second resize indicator.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the adjusting comprises presenting a first size, a second size or a third size of the electronic program guide in response to the viewer input.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the first size is smaller than the second or the third size.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the third size is a full-screen view.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the viewer input is a directional input received from a two-dimensional input device.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein further comprising directing a cursor on the display in response to the directional input.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the adjusting takes place in response to a select instruction received from the remote control when the cursor is positioned over the resize indicator on the display.

11. A video receiver for presenting imagery on a display in response to viewer input signals provided from a remote control, the receiver comprising:

a receiver interface configured to receive an incoming modulated signal;

a decoder configured to decode the incoming modulated signal to extract a video signal;

a wireless receiver configured to receive the viewer input signals from the remote control; and

a processor configured to generate the imagery presented on the display, wherein the imagery comprises the extracted video signal, and wherein the processor is further configured to present an electronic program guide in at least a portion of the display, wherein the portion of the display comprises a resize indicator, and wherein the processor is further configured to process the viewer input signals and to adjust the size of the electronic program guide presented on the display in response to the viewer input signals corresponding to the resize indicator.

12. The video receiver of claim 11 wherein the receiver interface comprises a satellite interface.

13. The video receiver of claim 11 wherein the receiver interface comprises a cable interface.

14. The video receiver of claim 11 wherein the wireless receiver is configured to receive the two-dimensional input signals from a wireless remote control comprising a two-dimensional input device.

15. The video receiver of claim 14 wherein the two-dimensional input device is one of the group consisting of:

a touchpad, a trackball, a joystick, a directional pad, and a plurality of directional keys.

16. The video receiver of claim 11 wherein the processor is further configured to adjust a size of the imagery relative to the electronic program guide on the display.

17. The video receiver of claim 11 wherein the viewer input is a directional input received from a two-dimensional input device.

18. The video receiver of claim 17 wherein the processor is further configured to direct a cursor on the display in response to the directional input and to adjust the size of the electronic program guide in response to a select instruction received from the remote control when the cursor is positioned over the resize indicator on the display.

19. The video receiver of claim 11 wherein the resize indicator comprises a first resize indicator and a second resize indicator, and wherein the adjusting comprises increasing the size of the electronic program guide relative to the size of the extracted video signal in response to the viewer input signals corresponding to the first resize indicator and decreasing the size of the electronic program guide in response to the viewer input signals corresponding to the second resize indicator.

20. A system for presenting television content on a display, the system comprising:

a wireless remote control configured to provide a two-dimensional input signal in response to a user input; and

a video receiver comprising;

a receiver interface configured to receive an incoming modulated signal;

a decoder configured to decode the incoming modulated signal to extract a television content;

a wireless receiver configured to receive the two-dimensional input signal from the wireless remote control; and

a processor configured to generate the imagery presented on the display, wherein the imagery comprises the extracted video signal in a first portion of the display and an electronic program guide in a second portion of the display, wherein the imagery further comprises a resize indicator, and wherein the processor is further configured to process the two-dimensional input signal and to adjust the size of the electronic program guide relative to the electronic program guide in response to the two-dimensional input signal corresponding to the resize indicator.