Method and apparatus for navigating an on-screen program guide

• US 5,751,372 A
• Filed: 02/19/1996
• Issued: 05/12/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Forson, Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): HSIA, SHERRIE Y
• Application Number:
  US08/604,120
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 348/569, 348/906, 348/589, 348/600
• US Class Current: 725/49
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224

Abstract

A method and apparatus for generating and navigating an on-screen program guide comprising current and future scheduling information for a plurality of different program sources. The method comprises the steps of entering a date and a time which defines a reference time for the on-screen program guide, and generating the on-screen program guide containing scheduling information for the plurality of different program sources including the user-entered reference time.

Claims

1. A method of navigating an on-screen program guide comprising current and future scheduling information for a plurality of different program sources, said method comprising the steps of:

entering a date and a time, said date and a time defining a reference time for said on-screen program guide, and

generating said on-screen program guide containing scheduling information for a subset of said plurality of different program sources including said reference time.

2. The method of navigating an on-screen program guide according to claim 1, wherein said on-screen program guide displays scheduling information for programs currently broadcasting at said reference time and for programs being broadcast before said reference time.

3. The method of navigating an on-screen program guide according to claim 1, wherein said on-screen program guide displays scheduling information for programs currently broadcasting at said reference time and for programs being broadcast after said reference time.

4. The method of navigating an on-screen program guide according to claim 1, wherein said step of entering a date and a time defining a reference time for said program guide comprises:

generating a selection display including a plurality of times within a given day,

selecting a single time from said plurality of times,

wherein said selected time represent said reference time.

5. The method of navigating an on-screen program guide according to claim 1, wherein said step of entering a date and a time defining a reference time for said program guide comprises:

generating a selection display, said selection display including a plurality of days and a plurality of times within a given day,

selecting a single day from said plurality of days and a single time from said plurality of times,

wherein said selected day and said selected time represent said reference time.

6. The method of navigating an on-screen program guide according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of times within a given day are designated by name.

7. The method of navigating an on-screen program guide according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of times within a given day are designated by names including morning, afternoon, evening, and late night.

8. An apparatus for generating an on-screen program guide comprising current and future scheduling information for a plurality of different program sources, said apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a signal, said signal including said current and future scheduling information for a plurality of different program sources;

memory means coupled to said receiving means, said scheduling information being stored in said memory means;

user input means for entering a date and a time, said date and time defining a reference time for said on-screen program guide;

a system controller coupled to said memory means and said user input means, said system controller operative for generating said on-screen program guide containing scheduling information for a subset of said plurality of different program sources including said reference time.

9. The apparatus for generating an on-screen program guide according to claim 8, further comprising a display means coupled to said system controller, said display means operative for displaying said on-screen program guide generated by said system controller.

10. The apparatus for generating an on-screen program guide according to claim 8, wherein said on-screen program guide displays scheduling information for programs currently broadcasting at said reference time and for programs being broadcast before said reference time.

11. The apparatus for generating an on-screen program guide according to claim 8, wherein said on-screen program guide displays scheduling information for programs currently broadcasting at said reference time and for programs being broadcast after said reference time.

12. The apparatus for generating an on-screen program guide according to claim 8, wherein:

said system controller is operative for generating a selection display, said selection display including a plurality of times within a given day, and

said user input means is operative for allowing a viewer to select a single time from said plurality of times;

said selected time representing said reference time of said on-screen program guide.

13. The apparatus for generating an on-screen program guide according to claim 8, wherein:

said system controller is operative for generating a selection display, said selection display including a plurality of days and a plurality of times within a given day, and

said user input means is operative for allowing a viewer to select a single day from said plurality of days and a single time from said plurality of times;

said selected day and said selected time representing said reference time of said on-screen program guide.

14. The apparatus for generating an on-screen program guide according to claim 13, wherein said plurality of times within a given day are designated by name.

15. The apparatus for generating an on-screen program guide according to claim 13, wherein said plurality of times within a given day are designated by names including morning, afternoon, evening, and late night.

16. The apparatus for generating an on-screen program guide according to claim 13, wherein said plurality of days includes a week of consecutive days, said days being designated by name.