VISUAL CUE FOR PROGRAMS IN AN ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE

• US 20130268966A1
• Filed: 01/25/2011
• Published: 10/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Madison Patent Holdings (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Foote, Evan Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,789,099 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/39
• 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 21/47 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 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time

Abstract

An electronic program guide includes a plurality of elements arrayed in a grid of rows and columns, with the rows corresponding to program sources and the columns corresponding to time intervals. Each element corresponds to a program played out from a particular program source during a corresponding time interval. The background of each element changes, such as by way of a color gradient or changing shape, to indicate one of a program beginning or ending. In this way, a viewer can ascertain the length of the program even if the element gets clipped upon updating the electronic program guide.

Claims

1. A method for providing an electronic program guide, comprising the steps of:

forming a grid array of elements, at least one element having a foreground legend identifying at least a portion of a program from a particular program source appearing during a time interval, and

providing each element with a background which changes in a manner to indicate at least one of a program beginning and ending.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the providing step further comprises the step includes the step of providing each element with a background having a color gradient that changes across the element to indicate one of a program beginning and ending.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the providing step further comprises the step of providing the background of each element with a shape which changes across the element to indicate one of a program beginning and ending.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the shape comprises a half-oval.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the half-oval shape contrasts with the element background.

6. The method according to claim 3 wherein the shape comprises a combination of two triangles with opposing gradients spanning from opposing corners of each element.

7. An electronic program guide, comprising:

a grid array of elements, at least one element having a foreground legend identifying at least a portion of a program from a particular program source appearing during a time interval, and

each element having a background which changes in a manner to indicate at least one of a program beginning and ending.

8. The electronic program guide according to claim 7 wherein the background of each element has a color gradient that changes across the element to indicate one of a program beginning and ending.

9. The electronic program guide according to claim 7 wherein the background of each element includes a shape which changes across the element to indicate one of a program beginning and ending.

10. The electronic program guide according to claim 9 wherein the shape comprises a half-oval.

11. The electronic program guide according to claim 9 wherein the half-oval shape contrasts with the element background.

12. The electronic program guide according to claim 9 wherein the shape comprises a combination of two triangles with opposing gradients spanning from opposing corners of each element.

13. A method of forming an electronic program guide, comprising the steps of:

selecting a pattern which changes in a manner indicate of one of a programming beginning or ending;

embedding the selected shape within each of a plurality of elements arranged in a one of a row or column corresponding to a given program source, each element associated with a given program from the program source for a corresponding time interval;

arraying the elements associated with each program source with elements associated with the other program sources so that the elements associated with a given program source align with the elements of the other program sources for corresponding time intervals;

selecting a window is created to encompass the elements associated with the program sources, with the start and end times clipped to make the elements within the window current with respect to a current time; and

adding borders and labels added to the elements within the window.