METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDES

• US 20120054797A1
• Filed: 12/20/2010
• Published: 03/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: SKOG, Robert, COLLINSWORTH, Curt, PETERSSON, Justus
• Granted Patent: US 8,381,246 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/41
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid

Abstract

A method of generating on a display device an electronic program guide for broadcast channels. Electronic program guide information for a plurality of broadcast channels is received at an electronic terminal from a broadcast media server. The electronic program guide information includes live video streams and/or snapshot pictures from programs that are presently being broadcast on a plurality of broadcast channels. A graphical arrangement of a plurality of objects is generated on the display device. Each of the objects is associated with a different one of the broadcast channels. The live video stream and/or the snapshot picture from the program that is presently being broadcast on the associated broadcast channel is displayed on a defined surface of each of the associated objects. A three-dimensional graphical arrangement may be generated from the objects. Each of the objects may extend with a respective virtual depth into the display device that is controlled to indicate to a user how much time remains in the program that is presently being broadcast on the associated broadcast channel. Related electronic terminals and media servers are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of operating an electronic terminal to generate an electronic program guide for broadcast channels on a display device of the electronic terminal, the method comprising:

receiving, at the electronic terminal from a broadcast media server, electronic program guide information for a plurality of broadcast channels, the electronic program guide information including live video streams and/or snapshot pictures from programs that are presently being broadcast on a plurality of broadcast channels;

generating, by operation of a computer circuit of the electronic terminal, a graphical arrangement on the display device of a plurality of objects, wherein each of the objects is associated with a different one of the broadcast channels; and

displaying, by operation of the computer circuit, on a defined surface of each of the objects the live video stream and/or the snapshot picture from the program that is presently being broadcast on the associated broadcast channel.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sensing a user selection of one of the objects; and

responding to the user selection by communicating a channel selection command from the electronic terminal to a separate television that commands the television to tune to the broadcast channel associated with the selected object.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sensing a user selection of one of the objects; and

toggling from displaying on the defined surface of the selected object a snapshot picture from a program that is presently being broadcast on the associated broadcast channel to displaying on the defined surface of the selected object the live video stream from the program that is presently being broadcast on the associated broadcast channel.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a scroll command that is triggered by a user swiping an object across the display device and that indicates a direction of movement of the swiped object;

generating new associations between the objects and the broadcast channels that shift, in a direction determined responsive to the scroll command and the indicated direction of movement of the swiped object, which of the objects are associated with which of the broadcast channels; and

displaying on the defined surface of each of the objects the live video stream and/or the snapshot picture from the program that is presently being broadcast on the newly associated broadcast channel.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a three-dimensional graphical arrangement of the objects with each of the objects being viewable by a user and extending with a respective virtual depth into the display device that is controlled to indicate to a user how much time remains in the program that is presently being broadcast on the associated broadcast channel.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

generating the three-dimensional graphical arrangement of the objects comprises generating each of the objects as a three-dimensional object that extends from a planar front surface at an angle that appears to extend to the virtual depth into the display device that indicates to a user how much time remains in the broadcast of the program that is presently being broadcast on the associated broadcast channel; and

displaying on the defined surface of each of the objects the live video stream and/or the snapshot picture from the program comprises displaying the live video stream and/or the snapshot picture on the planar front surface of each of the objects.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein generating the three-dimensional graphical arrangement of the objects comprises:

generating each of the objects as a rectangular box that extends to the virtual depth into the display device that indicates to a user how much time remains in the broadcast of the program that is presently being broadcast on the associated broadcast channel; and

arranging the rectangular boxes horizontally across the display device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a three-dimensional graphical arrangement of the objects with each of the objects being viewable by a user and extending with a respective virtual depth into the display device; and

displaying a timeline of upcoming programs along the three-dimensional graphical arrangement of the objects that indicates what program will be broadcast at what time on the associated broadcast channels.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein:

generating a three-dimensional graphical arrangement of the objects comprises;

segmenting each of the objects to generate a group of sub-objects that are arranged end-to-end extending into the display device;

associating a sequence of the sub-objects of one of the objects with a sequence of upcoming programs that will be sequentially broadcast on the associated broadcast channel; and

displaying the timeline of upcoming programs along the three-dimensional graphical arrangement of the objects comprises displaying a program identifier adjacent to each of the sub-objects that identifies the program that is associated with the respective sub-object.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein:

a length of each of sub-objects is controlled to indicate a duration of the associated program.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

displaying time indications adjacent to at least some of the sub-objects that indicate when the associated program will be broadcasted on the associated broadcast channel.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

sensing a first user selection of one of the sub-objects;

responding to the first user selection by displaying information that provides a description of the program associated with the selected sub-object, wherein the description is received with the electronic program guide information;

sensing a second user selection responsive to the displayed information; and

responding to the second user selection by communicating a record program command to a digital video recorder that commands the digital video recorder to record the program associated with the selected sub-object.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a scroll command that is triggered by a user swiping an object across the display device and that indicates a direction of movement of the swiped object; and

selectively scrolling forward or backward in time along the timeline of upcoming programs responsive to the scroll command and the indicated direction of movement of the swiped object.

14. An electronic terminal that generates an electronic program guide for broadcast channels, the electronic terminal comprises:

at least one communication interface that receives from a broadcast media server electronic program guide information for a plurality of broadcast channels, the electronic program guide information including live video streams and/or snapshot pictures from programs that are presently being broadcast on a plurality of broadcast channels;

a display device; and

a processor circuit that is configured to;

generate a graphical arrangement on the display device of a plurality of objects, wherein each of the objects is associated with a different one of the broadcast channels; and

display on a defined surface of each of the objects the live video stream and/or the snapshot picture from the program that is presently being broadcast on the associated broadcast channel.

15. The electronic terminal of claim 14, wherein the processor circuit is further configured to:

respond to a signaling indicating a user selection of one of the objects by communicating a channel selection command to a separate television through the at least one communication interface that commands the television to tune to the broadcast channel associated with the selected object.

16. The electronic terminal of claim 14, wherein the processor circuit is further configured to:

receive a scroll command from the display device that is triggered by a user swiping an object across the display device and that indicates a direction of movement of the swiped object;

generate new associations between the objects and the broadcast channels that shift, in a direction determined responsive to the scroll command and the indicated direction of movement of the swiped object, which of the objects are associated with which of the broadcast channels; and

display on the defined surface of each of the objects the live video stream and/or the snapshot picture from the program that is presently being broadcast on the newly associated broadcast channel.

17. The electronic terminal of claim 14, wherein the processor circuit is further configured to:

generate a three-dimensional graphical arrangement of the objects with each of the objects being viewable by a user and extending with a respective virtual depth into the display device that is controlled to indicate to a user how much time remains in the program that is presently being broadcast on the associated broadcast channel.

18. The electronic terminal of claim 14, wherein the processor circuit is further configured to:

generate a three-dimensional graphical arrangement of the objects with each of the objects being viewable by a user and extending with a respective virtual depth into the display device by;

segmenting each of the objects to generate a group of sub-objects that are arranged end-to-end extending into the display device;

associating a sequence of the sub-objects of one of the objects with a sequence of upcoming programs that will be sequentially broadcast on the associated broadcast channel; and

controlling a length of each of sub-objects to indicate a duration of the associated program; and

display a timeline of upcoming programs along the three-dimensional graphical arrangement of the objects that indicates what program will be broadcast on the associated broadcast channels by displaying a program identifier adjacent to each of the sub-objects that identifies the program that is associated with the respective sub-object.

19. The electronic terminal of claim 18, wherein the processor circuit is further configured to:

receive a scroll command that is triggered by a user swiping an object across the display device and that indicates a direction of movement of the swiped object; and

selectively scroll forward or backward in time along the timeline of upcoming programs responsive to the scroll command and the indicated direction of movement of the swiped object.

20. A media server that communicates electronic program guide information to an electronic terminal, the media server comprising:

at least one communication interface; and

a processor circuit that is configured to;

determine a schedule of programs that are presently being broadcast over a plurality of broadcast channels and that will be broadcast over a defined period of time;

generate a live video stream and/or a snapshot picture from each of a plurality of the programs that are presently being broadcast on the broadcast channels, wherein the live video stream has a reduced frame size and/or the snapshot picture has a reduced resolution relative to the programs;

generate electronic program guide information that includes the determined schedule of programs and the generated live video streams and/or snapshot pictures for the programs that are presently being broadcast on the broadcast channels; and

communicate the electronic program guide information through the communication interface to the electronic terminal.