Video mix program guide

• US 5,502,504 A
• Filed: 04/28/1994
• Issued: 03/26/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Prevue Networks Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Lemmons, Thomas R., Allison, Donald W., Marshall, Connie T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEST, NINA NHYCHON
• Application Number:
  US08/234,060
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 348/13, 348/552, 348/563, 348/589, 348/584, 348/598, 348/906, 348/6, 348/7, 348/10, 348/12
• US Class Current: 725/47
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42653 for processing graphics
• 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 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0884 for the transmission of additional display-information, e.g. menu for programme or channel selection

Abstract

A system interactively controlled by a TV viewer remote superimposes portions of a scroll program guide over a basic programming signal for display on the viewer'"'"'s display screen. A tuner has an input for receiving TV signals in a plurality of cable channels and an output for passing a signal of any selected one of said channels. A computer has an input for receiving any of a plurality of control signals from the TV viewer remote and an output for controlling the tuner to pass the signal of the selected one of the channels in response to one of the plurality of control signals from the TV viewer remote. The computer receives and stores a scroll input picture image signal containing local program guide data and generates a scroll output picture image signal consisting of at least a portion of the scroll input picture image signal. A combiner superimposes output picture image signal over the passed signal to provide a display signal for input to the viewer'"'"'s display screen. The computer is responsive to control signals from the remote to cause the combiner to change the weight of the output picture image signal in relation to the passed signal.

Claims

1. A system interactively controlled by a TV viewer remote for superimposing portions of a scroll program guide over a basic programming signal for display on the viewer'"'"'s display screen comprising:

a tuner having an input for receiving TV signals in a plurality of cable channels and an output for passing a signal of any selected one of said channels;

a computer having input means for receiving any of a plurality of control signals from the TV viewer remote, output means for controlling said tuner to pass said signal of said any selected one of said channels in response to one of said plurality of control signals from said TV viewer remote and means for receiving and storing a scroll input picture image signal containing local program guide data and for generating a scroll output picture image signal consisting of at least a portion of said scroll input picture image signal; and

means for superimposing said output picture image signal over said passed signal to provide a display signal for input to the viewer'"'"'s display screen,

said computer being responsive to control signals from said remote to cause said superimposing means to change the percentage of transparencey of said output picture image signal in relation to said passed signal.