User interface for television schedule system

• US 5,809,204 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 09/15/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Starsight Telecast Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Anderson, David, Young, Patrick, Ebright, Alan R., Faber, Michael W., Roop, John H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Faile, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Boccio, Vincent F.
• Application Number:
  US08/484,412
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• Field of Search: 386/83, 386/46, 386/1, 348/906, 348/731, 348/734, 348/6, 348/7, 348/10, 348/12, 348/13, 348/563, 348/564, 348/565, 455/185.1, 455/186.1, 455/171.1, 455/4.2, 455/5.1, 455/6.1, 455/6.2, 455/6.3, 360/69
• US Class Current: 386/291
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 15/006 for operating at a number of different times cigar or cigarette receptacles or boxes with means for limiting the frequency of smoking A24F15/005
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/023 remotely controlled
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/41 Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/65 wherein solid state memory is used for storing indexing information or metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/80 Indexing information stored in optical or magnetic or other strip attached to cassette or disc, e.g. barcodes attached to a recording medium
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/107 of operating tapes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/28 by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording G11B27/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/3054 Vertical Interval Time code [VITC]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/309 Table of contents
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/324 Duty cycle modulation of control pulses, e.g. VHS-CTL-coding systems, RAPID-time code, VASS- or VISS-cue signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/328 on a tape [TTOC]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/36 Monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing for digital recording G11B20/00 and s.gr.; for monitoring, testing or measuring of TV recorders of the type covered by H04N5/76 and subgroups, see H04N17/06
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/10 Indicating arrangements; Warning arrangements G11B15/04, G11B19/04, G11B27/34, G11B27/36 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 : for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 : for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43622 : Interfacing an external recording device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 : Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 : Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 : Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4828 : for searching program descriptors retrieval of video data G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4858 : for modifying screen layout parameters, e.g. fonts, size of the windows
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 : Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 : Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 : by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44504 : Circuit details of the additional information generator, e.g. details of the character or graphics signal generator, overlay mixing circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 : Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 : between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 : on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/025 : Systems for the transmission of digital non-picture data, e.g. of text during the active part of a television frame transmission of digital non-picture data during the vertical blanking interval only H04N7/088
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 : the inserted signal being digital
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0884 : for the transmission of additional display-information, e.g. menu for programme or channel selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0887 : for the transmission of programme or channel identifying signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0888 : Subscription systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 : by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 : Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309

Abstract

Screen (10) for a user interface of a television schedule system and process consists of an array (24) of irregular cells (26), which vary in length, corresponding to different television program lengths of one half hour to one-and-one half hours or more. The array is arranged as three columns (28) of one-half hour in duration, and twelve rows (30) of program listings. Some of the program listings overlap two or more of the columns (28) because of their length. Because of the widely varying length of the cells (26), if a conventional cursor used to select a cell location were to simply step from one cell to another, the result would be abrupt changes in the screen (10) as the cursor moved from a cell (26) of several hours length to an adjacent cell in the same row. An effective way of taming the motion is to assume that behind every array (24) is an underlying array of regular cells. By restricting cursor movements to the regular cells, abrupt screen changes will be avoided. With the cursor (32), the entire cell (26) is 3-D highlighted, using a conventional offset shadow (34). The offset shadow (34) is a black bar that underlines the entire cell and wraps around the right edge of the cell. To tag the underlying position--which defines where the cursor (32) is and thus, where it will move next--portions (36) of the black bar outside the current underlying position are segmented, while the current position is painted solid.

Claims

1. A television schedule system, which comprises:

a television display,

a schedule memory,

a processing unit coupled to said schedule memory, said processing unit being configured to obtain television schedule information from said schedule memory and to format the television schedule information as a television schedule for display on said television display as a grid of two-dimensionally arranged, adjacent irregular cells which vary in length corresponding to time duration of programs, with a title of a program being displayed in each of said irregular cells, said grid having a plurality of channels listed in a first dimension and time listed in a second dimension, some of said plurality of listed channels being identified by channel number and some of said plurality of listed channels being identified by television service name, and

a video display generator coupled between said processing unit and said television display, said video display generator being configured to provide the television schedule as a video signal to said television display.

2. The television schedule system of claim 1 in which said schedule memory and said processing unit are local with said television display.

3. An interactive television schedule system, which comprises:

a television display,

means coupled to said television display for displaying a television schedule on said television display as a grid of two-dimensionally arranged, adjacent irregular cells which vary in length corresponding to time duration of programs, with a title of a program being displayed in each of said irregular cells, said grid having a plurality of channels listed in a first dimension and time listed in a second dimension, some of said plurality of listed channels being identified by channel number and some of said plurality of listed channels being identified by television service name,

user input means coupled to said means for displaying the television schedule, said user input means including a program selector and a movement control for a visual identification of selected ones of said irregular cells which controls movement of said visual identification in the first dimension and in the second dimension from cell to cell, responsive to an input by a user to said movement control to visually identify a desired one of said irregular cells corresponding to a desired program,

a channel conversion memory containing conversion information identifying a channel number to which each of said some of said plurality of channels identified by television service name needs to be tuned to receive that television service,

means coupled to said means for displaying the television schedule for selecting the desired visually identified program in response to activation of said program selector, and

a programmable tuner coupled to said means for selecting the desired program and to said channel conversion memory for tuning to a select channel for the desired program based on position of said visual identification.

4. The interactive television schedule system of claim 3 in which said means for displaying the television schedule is further configured to display alternatively a schedule for a plurality of channels covering a first time period or a schedule covering a second time period for a single channel selected by position of said visual identification in said grid.

5. The interactive television schedule system of claim 3 in which said means for displaying the television schedule is further configured to display an overlay containing information on a television program being shown on said television display when a channel being shown on said television display is changed.

6. The interactive television schedule system of claim 5 in which the information on the television program includes program title, name of television service, channel number, and time.

7. The interactive television schedule system of claim 6 in which said means for displaying the television schedule is further configured to provide an alternate overlay including a program note with a program description for the television program being shown on said television display.

8. The interactive television schedule system of claim 3 in which said means for displaying the television schedule is responsive to user actuation of a single key to display the television schedule on said television display when the user is watching a television program.

9. An interactive television schedule system, which comprises:

a television display,

means coupled to said television display for displaying a television schedule on said television display as a grid of two-dimensionally arranged, adjacent irregular cells which vary in length corresponding to time duration of programs, with a title of a program being displayed in each of said irregular cells, said grid having a plurality of channels listed in a first dimension and time listed in a second dimension,

user input means coupled to said means for displaying the television schedule, said user input means including a program selector and a movement control for a visual identification of selected ones of said irregular cells which controls movement of said visual identification in the first dimension and in the second dimension from cell to cell, responsive to an input by a user to said movement control to visually identify a desired one of said irregular cells corresponding to a desired program,

means coupled to said means for displaying the television schedule for selecting the desired visually identified program in response to activation of said program selector, and

a programmable tuner coupled to said means for selecting the desired program for tuning to a select channel for the desired program,

said means for displaying the television schedule on said television display further being configured to display alternatively a television schedule for a single channel selected by position of said visual identification in said grid in response to a first guide command.

10. The interactive television schedule system of claim 9 in which said means for displaying the television schedule is further configured to provide an alternate display including a program note with a program description for the visually identified program in response to a second program note command.

11. The interactive television schedule system of claim 9 in which said means for displaying the television schedule is further configured to display an overlay containing information on a television program being shown on said television display when a channel being shown on the television display is changed.

12. The interactive television schedule system of claim 11 in which the overlay information on the television program includes program title, name of television service, channel number, and time.

13. The interactive television schedule system of claim 12 in which said means for displaying the television schedule is further configured to provide an alternate overlay including a program note with a program description for the television program being shown on said television display.

14. An interactive television schedule system, which comprises:

a television display,

means coupled to said television display for displaying a television schedule on said television display as a grid of two-dimensionally arranged, adjacent irregular cells which vary in length corresponding to time duration of programs, with a title of a program being displayed in each of said irregular cells, said grid having a plurality of channels listed in a first dimension and time listed in a second dimension,

user input means coupled to said means for displaying the television schedule, said user input means including a program selector and a movement control for a visual identification of selected ones of said irregular cells which controls movement of said visual identification in the first dimension and in the second dimension from cell to cell, responsive to an input by a user to said movement control to visually identify a desired one of said irregular cells corresponding to a desired program,

means coupled to said means for displaying the television schedule for selecting the desired visually identified program in response to activation of said program selector, and

a programmable tuner coupled to said means for selecting the desired program for tuning to a select channel for the desired program,

said means for displaying the television schedule on said television display further being configured to display an overlay containing information on a television program being shown on said television display when a channel being shown on said television display is changed.

15. The interactive television schedule system of claim 14 in which the overlay information on the television program includes program title, name of television service, channel number, and time.

16. The interactive television schedule system of claim 15 in which said means for displaying the television schedule is further configured to provide an alternate overlay including a program note with a program description for the television program being shown on said television display.

17. The interactive television schedule system of claim 14 in which said means for displaying the television schedule is further configured to provide an alternate display including a program note with a program description for the visually identified program.

18. An interactive television schedule system, which comprises:

a television display,

means coupled to said television display for displaying a television schedule on said television display as a grid of two-dimensionally arranged, adjacent irregular cells which vary in length corresponding to time duration of programs, with a title of a program being displayed in each of said irregular cells, said grid having a plurality of channels listed in a first dimension and time listed in a second dimension,

user input means coupled to said means for displaying the television schedule, said user input means including a program selector and a movement control for a visual identification of selected ones of said irregular cells which controls movement of said visual identification in the first dimension and in the second dimension from cell to cell, responsive to an input by a user to said movement control to visually identify a desired one of said irregular cells corresponding to a desired program,

means coupled to said means for displaying the television schedule for selecting the desired visually identified program in response to activation of said program selector, and

a programmable tuner coupled to said means for selecting the desired program for tuning to a select channel for the desired program,

said means for displaying the television schedule on said television display further being configured to display a screen containing recording information in response to a user command to record the desired program.

19. An interactive television schedule system, which comprises:

a television display,

means coupled to said television display for displaying a television schedule on said television display as a grid of two-dimensionally arranged, adjacent irregular cells which vary in length corresponding to time duration of programs, with a title of a program being displayed in each of said irregular cells, said grid having a plurality of channels listed in a first dimension and time listed in a second dimension,

user input means coupled to said means for displaying the television schedule, said user input means including a program selector and a movement control for a visual identification of selected ones of said irregular cells which controls movement of said visual identification in the first dimension and in the second dimension from cell to cell, responsive to an input by a user to said movement control to visually identify a desired one of said irregular cells corresponding to a desired program,

means coupled to said means for displaying the television schedule for selecting the desired visually identified program in response to activation of said program selector, and

a programmable tuner coupled to said means for selecting the desired program for tuning to a select channel for the desired program,

said programmable tuner and said user input means being configured to permit user selection of any available channel by entry of a channel number either in the presence of or absence of said television schedule on said television display.

20. An interactive process for operating a television schedule system, which comprises:

displaying a television schedule on a television display as a grid of two-dimensionally arranged, adjacent irregular cells which vary in length corresponding to time duration of programs, with a title of a program being displayed in each of said irregular cells, said grid having a plurality of channels listed in a first dimension and time listed in a second dimension, a first some of said plurality of channels being listed by channel number and a second some of said plurality of channels being listed by television service name,

storing information in a memory of the television schedule system relating the television service name to a corresponding channel number to which each of said second some of said plurality of channels needs to be tuned to in order to receive that television service,

providing a visual identification of a selected one of said irregular cells,

moving said visual identification in the first dimension and in the second dimension between first and second ones of said irregular cells to select a desired one of said irregular cells corresponding to a desired program, and

using the stored information to tune a programmable tuner to a select channel listed by television service name based on position of said visual identification for the desired program.

21. The interactive process for operating a television schedule system of claim 20 additionally comprising the step of alternatively displaying a schedule for a plurality of channels covering a first time period or a schedule for a single channel selected by position of said visual identification in said grid covering a second time period in response to a first guide command.

22. The interactive process for operating a television schedule system of claim 20 additionally comprising the step of displaying an overlay containing information related to a television program being shown on said television display when a channel being shown on the television display is changed.

23. The interactive process for operating a television schedule system of claim 22 in which the information related to the television program includes program title, name of television service, channel number, and time.

24. The interactive process for operating a television schedule system of claim 23 additionally comprising the step of displaying an alternate overlay including a program note with a program description for the television program being shown on said television display.

25. The interactive process for operating a television schedule system of claim 20 in which the television schedule displayed on the television display is responsive to user actuation of a single key to display the television schedule on said television display when the user is watching a television program.

26. An interactive process for operating a television schedule system, which comprises:

displaying a television schedule on a television display as a grid of two-dimensionally arranged, adjacent irregular cells which vary in length corresponding to time duration of programs, with a title of a program being displayed in each of said irregular cells, said grid having a plurality of channels listed in a first dimension and time listed in a second dimension,

providing a visual identification of a selected one of said irregular cells,

moving said visual identification in the first dimension and in the second dimension between first and second ones of said irregular cells to select a desired one of said irregular cells corresponding to a desired program,

alternatively displaying a television schedule for a single channel selected by position of said visual identification in said grid, and

tuning a programmable tuner to a select channel either selected as said single channel or selected based on position of said visual identification in said grid for the desired program.

27. The interactive process for operating television schedule system of claim 26 additionally comprising the step of displaying a program note with a program description for the visually identified program.

28. The interactive process for operating a television schedule system of claim 26 additionally comprising the step of displaying information relating to a television program being shown on said television display when a channel being shown on the television display is changed.

29. The interactive process for operating a television schedule system of claim 28 in which the information relating to the television program includes program title, name of television service, channel number, and time.

30. The interactive process for operating a television schedule system of claim 29 in which said means for displaying a schedule is further configured to provide an alternate overlay including a program note with a program description for the television program being shown on said television set.

31. An interactive process for operating a television schedule system, which comprises:

displaying a television schedule on a television display as a grid of two-dimensionally arranged, adjacent irregular cells which vary in length corresponding to time duration of programs, with a title of a program being displayed in each of said irregular cells, said grid having a plurality of channels listed in a first dimension and time listed in a second dimension,

providing a visual identification of a selected one of said irregular cells,

moving said visual identification in the first dimension and in the second dimension between first and second ones of said irregular cells to select a desired one of said irregular cells corresponding to a desired program,

tuning a programmable tuner to a select channel based on position of said visual identification for the desired program, and

displaying an overlay containing information relating to a television program being shown on said television set when a channel being shown on the television set is changed.

32. The interactive process for operating a television schedule system of claim 31 in which the information relating to the television program includes program title, name of television service, channel number, and time.

33. The interactive process for operating a television schedule system of claim 32 additionally comprising the step of displaying an overlay including a program note with a program description for the television program being shown on said television set.

34. The interactive process for operating a television schedule system of claim 31 additionally comprising the step of displaying a program note with a program description for the visually identified program.

35. An interactive process for operating a television schedule system, which comprises:

displaying a television schedule on a television display as a grid of two-dimensionally arranged, adjacent irregular cells which vary in length corresponding to time duration of programs, with a title of a program being displayed in each of said irregular cells, said grid having a plurality of channels listed in a first dimension and time listed in a second dimension,

providing a visual identification of a selected one of said irregular cells,

moving said visual identification in the first dimension and in the second dimension between first and second ones of said irregular cells to select a desired one of said irregular cells corresponding to a desired program,

displaying a recording screen on said television display in response to a user command to record the desired program, and

tuning a programmable tuner to a select channel based on position of said visual identification for the desired program at a time of the desired program to thereby effect recording of the desired program.

36. An interactive process for operating a television schedule system, which comprises:

displaying a television schedule on a television display as a grid of two-dimensionally arranged, adjacent irregular cells which vary in length corresponding to time duration of programs, with a title of a program being displayed in each of said irregular cells, said grid having a plurality of channels listed in a first dimension and time listed in a second dimension,

providing a visual identification of a selected one of said irregular cells,

moving said visual identification in the first dimension and in the second dimension between first and second ones of said irregular cells to select a desired one of said irregular cells corresponding to a desired program,

alternatively receiving entry of a channel number in said television schedule system either in the presence of or absence of said television schedule on said television display, and

tuning said programmable tuner to a select channel either based on position of said visual identification or on an entered channel number for the desired program.