Systems and Methods for Providing Abbreviated Electronic Program Guides

• US 20130273864A1
• Filed: 04/11/2012
• Published: 10/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Helm, Sean L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,649,756 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/150.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/57 for mobile receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/72 using electronic programme guides [EPG] focusing on identifying broadcast space time H04H60/39 ; menu type display of EPG in television receivers H04N21/47

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing an abbreviated electronic program guide are provided. Some embodiments include receiving a radio signal that includes an audio content portion and an auxiliary information display portion, determining whether the vehicle is in operation, and in response to determining that the vehicle is not in operation, providing the auxiliary information display portion for display in the vehicle. In response to determining that the vehicle is in operation, some embodiments may be configured to create an altered auxiliary information by removing content from the auxiliary information display portion, provide the audio content portion for playback in the vehicle, and provide the altered auxiliary information for display in the vehicle, wherein the altered auxiliary information includes only a subset of features from the auxiliary information display portion.

Claims

1. A method for providing an abbreviated electronic program guide, comprising:

receiving, via a vehicle, a radio signal, the radio signal including an audio content portion and an auxiliary information display portion;

determining whether the vehicle is in operation;

in response to determining that the vehicle is not in operation, providing the audio content portion for playback in the vehicle and providing the auxiliary information display portion for display in the vehicle; and

in response to determining that the vehicle is in operation;

creating an altered auxiliary information by removing content from the auxiliary information display portion;

providing the audio content portion for playback in the vehicle; and

providing the altered auxiliary information for display in the vehicle, wherein the altered auxiliary information includes a subset of features from the auxiliary information display portion.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to determining that the vehicle is currently in use, providing an in-vehicle user interface with an unselectable option that is otherwise selectable when the vehicle is not in operation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the altered auxiliary information comprises providing an in-vehicle user interface that provides at least one of the following:

an artist name, a content title, a station, a category, and a next title.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an auto-tune option for scheduling a channel change for a future program.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the vehicle is in operation comprises determining at least one of the following:

whether a parking brake is engaged, whether an emergency brake is engaged, whether a gear of the vehicle is engaged, a geographic location of the vehicle, and whether the vehicle is traveling at a speed that meets a predetermined threshold.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to determining that the vehicle is in operation, disabling receipt of user input.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to determining that the vehicle is in operation, providing a previously scheduled auto-tune selection to a user.

8. A system for providing an abbreviated electronic program guide comprising:

a memory component that stores logic that causes the system to perform at least the following;

receive a media signal at a vehicle, the media signal including an audio content portion and an auxiliary information display portion;

determine whether the vehicle is in operation;

in response to determining that the vehicle is not in operation, provide the audio content portion for playback in the vehicle and provide the auxiliary information display portion for display in the vehicle; and

in response to determining that the vehicle is in operation;

create altered auxiliary information by removing content from the auxiliary information display portion;

provide the audio content portion for playback in the vehicle; and

provide the altered auxiliary information for display on the display device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein, in response to determining that the vehicle is currently in use, the logic further causes the system to provide an in-vehicle user interface with an unselectable option that is otherwise selectable when the vehicle is not in operation.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein providing the altered auxiliary information comprises providing an in-vehicle user interface that provides at least one of the following:

an artist name, a content title, a station, a category, and a next title.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the logic further causes the system to provide an auto-tune option for scheduling a channel change for a future program.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein determining whether the vehicle is in operation comprises determining at least one of the following:

whether a parking brake is engaged, whether an emergency brake is engaged, whether a gear of the vehicle is engaged, a geographic location of the vehicle, and whether the vehicle is traveling at a speed that meets a predetermined threshold.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein, in response to determining that the vehicle is in operation, the logic further causes the system to disable receipt of user input.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein, in response to determining that the vehicle is in operation, the logic further causes the system to provide a previously scheduled auto-tune selection to a user.

15. A vehicle for providing an abbreviated electronic program guide comprising:

a display device; and

a vehicle computing device that is coupled to the display device and stores logic that causes the vehicle computing device to perform at least the following;

receive a media signal, the media signal including an audio content portion and an auxiliary information display portion;

determine whether the vehicle is in operation; and

in response to determining that the vehicle is in operation;

create altered auxiliary information by removing content from the auxiliary information display portion;

provide the audio content portion for playback in the vehicle; and

provide the altered auxiliary information to the display device for display on the display device.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein, in response to determining that the vehicle is currently in use, the logic further causes the vehicle computing device to provide an in-vehicle user interface with an unselectable option that is otherwise selectable when the vehicle is not in operation.

17. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein providing the altered auxiliary information comprises providing an in-vehicle user interface that provides at least one of the following:

an artist name, a content title, a station, a category, and a next title.

18. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein determining whether the vehicle is in operation comprises determining at least one of the following:

whether a parking brake is engaged, whether an emergency brake is engaged, whether a gear of the vehicle is engaged, a geographic location of the vehicle, and whether the vehicle is traveling at a speed that meets a predetermined threshold.

19. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein, in response to determining that the vehicle is in operation, the logic further causes the vehicle computing device to disable receipt of user input.

20. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein, in response to determining that the vehicle is in operation, the logic further causes the vehicle computing device to provide a previously scheduled auto-tune selection to a user.