System for displaying programming information

• US 5,812,123 A
• Filed: 12/13/1996
• Issued: 09/22/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rovi Technologies Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Matthews, Joseph H. III, Rowe, Keith, Lawler, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): HUYNH, BA
• Application Number:
  US08/766,808
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 395/352, 395/353, 395/354, 395/356, 395/357, 345/327, 345/328, 345/340, 345/341, 345/146
• US Class Current: 725/43
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• 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 21/84 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 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/973 Scroll tool, e.g. window scroll bar

Abstract

A system for retrieving and displaying programming information in response to selection of a category of programming information. Programming information is presented via a schedule display having a category display, a subcategory category display, and a program display. The category display displays an array of category tiles representing categories of programming information. The subcategory display displays an array of subcategory tiles representing subcategories that are associated with the categories of the category display. The program display displays an array of program tiles that are associated with the subcategories of the subcategory display. A viewing panel extends along each of the displays for displaying one each of the category, subcategory, and program tiles. Classes of programming information are selected by scrolling the tiles of the associated displays until the desired class items are presented within the viewing panel.

Claims

1. A method for retrieving and displaying electronic information relating to a category, a subcategory and program scheduling, comprising the steps of:

selecting one of a plurality of categories of said electronic information by scrolling a category display displaying an array of category tiles representing said categories until one of said category tiles representing said selected category appears within a viewing panel;

selecting one of a plurality of subcategories of said electronic information by scrolling a subcategory display displaying an array of subcategory tiles representing said subcategories until one of said subcategory tiles representing said selected subcategory appears within said viewing panel, each of said subcategories being associated with at least one of said categories; and

selecting one of a plurality of programs of said electronic information by scrolling a program display displaying an array of program tiles representing said programs until one of said program tiles representing said selected program appears within said viewing panel, each of said programs being associated with at least one of said subcategories,

wherein said viewing panel extends along at least a portion of said category display, said subcategory display, and said program display to display one each of said category tiles, subcategories tiles, and program tiles.

2. The method recited in claim 1, wherein each of said subcategories is associated with said selected category, and each of said selected programs is associated with said selected subcategory.

3. The method recited in claim 1, wherein selecting one of said categories causes said subcategory display to show at least one of said subcategory tiles representing one of said subcategories associated with said selected category, and selecting one of said subcategories display causes said program display to show to at least one of said program tiles representing one of said programs associated with said selected subcategory.

4. The method recited in claim 3, wherein scrolling said program display moves chronologically through said program tiles representing programs that are associated with said selected subcategory.

5. The method recited in claim 1, wherein said step of selecting one of said categories comprises:

moving a focus frame along said viewing panel to said category display, said focus frame operative to supply an indication of user control of the display of said category tiles when said focus frame is positioned along said category display;

scrolling in a selected vertical direction said category tiles until said category tile representing said selected category appears within said viewing panel.

6. The method recited in claim 1 wherein said step of selecting one of said subcategories comprises:

moving a focus frame along said viewing panel to said subcategory display, said focus frame operative to supply an indication of user control of the display of said subcategory tiles when said focus frame is positioned along said subcategory display;

scrolling in a selected vertical direction said subcategory tiles until said subcategory tile representing said selected subcategory appears within said viewing panel.

7. The method recited in claim 1, wherein said step of selecting one of said programs comprises:

moving a focus frame along said viewing panel to said program display, said focus frame operative to supply an indication of user control of the display of said program tiles when said focus frame is positioned along said program display;

scrolling in a selected vertical direction said program tiles until said program tile representing said selected program appears within said viewing panel.

8. The method recited in claim 1, wherein said array of category tiles and said array of subcategory tiles are maintained in alphabetical order for represented categories and subcategories.

9. The method recited in claim 1, wherein said array of program tiles is maintained in time-sorted order for represented programs.

10. The method recited in claim 1, wherein each of said program tiles comprises at least program name, program date and start time, and program channel.

11. The method recited in claim 1, wherein said program tiles are ordered in time-sorted order for represented programs, and said program display includes a plurality of date tiles representing dates, each of said date tiles separating said program tiles associated with one of said dates from said program tiles associated with another one of said dates.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said program display further comprises a date status indicator operative to display one of said dates associated with one of said program tiles appearing within said viewing panel.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said category display, said subcategory display, and said program display are operative to display at any particular interval up to a predetermined number of said category tiles, said subcategory tiles, and said program tiles.

14. A system for displaying electronic information relating to a category, a subcategory and program scheduling, comprising:

a category display for displaying an array of category tiles representing categories of said electronic information;

a subcategory display for displaying an array of subcategory tiles representing subcategories, each of said subcategories associated with at least one of said categories, said subcategory display indicated adjacent to said category display;

a program display for displaying an array of program tiles, each of said programs associated with at least one of said subcategories, said program display located adjacent to said subcategory display; and

a viewing panel extending along a portion of each of said category display, said subcategory display, and said program display for displaying one each of said category tiles, subcategory tiles, and program tiles,

wherein said subcategory display, responsive to one of said category tiles representing a selected category appearing within said viewing panel, displays at least one of said subcategory tiles representing one of said subcategories associated with said selected category, and

said program display, responsive to one of said subcategory tiles representing a selected subcategory appearing within said viewing panel, displays at least one of said program tiles representing an available one of said programs associated with said selected subcategory.

15. The system recited in claim 14, wherein said array of category tiles and said array of subcategory tiles are maintained in alphabetical order for represented categories and subcategories.

16. The system recited in claim 14, wherein said array of program tiles is maintained in time-sorted order for represented programs.

17. The system recited in claim 14, wherein each of said program tiles comprises at least program name, program date and start time, and program channel.

18. The system recited in claim 14, wherein said program tiles are ordered in time-sorted order for represented programs, and said program display includes a plurality of date tiles representing dates, each of said date tiles separating said program tiles associated with one of said dates from said program tiles associated with another one of said dates.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said program display further comprises a date status indicator operative to display one of said dates associated with said program tile appearing within said viewing panel.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein said category display, said subcategory display, and said program display are operative to respectively display up to a predetermined number of said category tiles, said subcategory tiles, and said program tiles.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein said category tiles are stored within a database and are retrievable to support the display of said category tiles by said category display.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said subcategory tiles are stored within said database, and at least one of said subcategory tiles representing one of said subcategories associated with said selected category is retrieved from said database in response to one of said category tiles representing said selected category appearing within said viewing panel.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said program tiles are stored within said database, and at least one of said program tiles representing one of said programs associated with said selected subcategory is retrieved from said database in response to one of said subcategory tiles representing said selected subcategory appearing within said viewing panel.

24. A method for selecting and displaying electronic information relating to a category, a subcategory and program scheduling, comprising the steps of:

selecting one of a plurality of categories of said electronic information by scrolling a category display displaying an array of category tiles representing said categories until one of said category tiles representing said selected category appears within a viewing panel;

selecting one of a plurality of subcategories of said electronic information, each of said subcategories, being associated with said selected category, by scrolling a subcategory display displaying an array of subcategory tiles representing said subcategories until one of said subcategory tiles representing said selected subcategory appears within said viewing panel; and

selecting one of a plurality of programs of said electronic information, each of said programs being associated with said selected subcategory, by scrolling a program display displaying an array of program tiles representing said programs until one of said program tiles representing said selected program appears within said viewing panel,

wherein said viewing panel extends along at least a portion of said category display, subcategory display, and program display and supplies a highlighted display one each of said category tiles, said subcategory tiles, and said program tiles appearing within said viewing panel.

25. The method recited in claim 24, wherein said array of category tiles and said array of subcategory tiles are maintained in alphabetical order for represented categories and subcategories, and said array of program tiles is maintained in time-sorted order for represented programs.

26. The method recited in claim 24, wherein said program tiles are ordered in time-sorted order for represented programs, and said program display includes a plurality of date tiles representing dates, each of said date tiles separating said program tiles associated with one of said dates from said program tiles associated with a another one of said dates.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein said program display further comprises a date status indicator operative to display one of said dates associated with said program file appearing within said viewing panel.

28. In a computer system having a user interface presented on a display device and responsive to an input device, a method for presenting on said display device electronic information relating to a category, a subcategory and program scheduling, comprising the steps of:

displaying on said display device a category display comprising a plurality of category tiles representing categories of said electronic information;

displaying on said display device a subcategory display comprising a plurality of subcategory tiles representing subcategories, each of said subcategories associated with at least one of said categories, said subcategory display located adjacent to said category display;

displaying on said display device a program display for displaying comprising a plurality of program tiles representing programs, each of said programs associated with at least one of said subcategories, said program display located adjacent to said subcategory display;

displaying on said display device a viewing panel extending along a portion of each of said category display, said subcategory display, and said program display for displaying one each of said category tiles, subcategory tiles, and program tiles; and

displaying on said display device a focus frame, responsive to commands from the input device, movable along said viewing panel and proximate to one of said category display, said subcategory display, and said program display, for enabling control of the presentation of one of said category tiles, subcategory tiles, and program tiles.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of determining if one of said category tiles representing a selected category appears within said viewing panel and, if so, then displaying within said subcategory display one of said subcategory tiles representing one of said subcategories associated with said selected category.

30. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of determining if one of said subcategory tiles representing a selected subcategory appears within said viewing panel and, if so, then displaying within said program display one of said program tiles representing an available one of said programs associated with said selected subcategory.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said category tiles, subcategory tiles, and program tiles are stored within a database connected to said computer system, and said step of displaying said category display comprises retrieving said category tiles from said database and presenting one of said retrieved category tiles within said category display.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said step of displaying said subcategory display comprises (1) retrieving said subcategory tiles representing one of said subcategories associated with said selected category from said database in response to one of said category tiles representing said selected category appearing within said viewing panel, and (2) presenting one of said retrieved subcategory tiles within said subcategory display.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein said step of displaying said program display comprises (1) retrieving said program tiles representing one of said programs associated with said selected subcategory in response to one of said subcategory tiles representing said selected subcategory appearing within said viewing panel, and (2) presenting one of said retrieved program tiles within said program display.

34. The method recited in claim 33, wherein each of said program tiles comprises at least program name, program date and start time, and program channel.

35. The method recited in claim 28 wherein said category display is responsive to commands from said input device when said focus frame is placed proximate to said category display, and further comprising the step of receiving a first command to move said focus frame along said viewing panel and, upon positioning said focus frame proximate to said category display, receiving a second command to scroll said category tiles of said category display in alphabetical order.

36. The method recited in claim 28 wherein said subcategory display is responsive to commands from said input device when said focus frame is placed proximate to said subcategory display, and further comprising the steps of receiving a first command to move said focus frame along said viewing panel and, upon positioning said focus frame proximate to said subcategory display, receiving a second command to scroll said subcategory tiles of said subcategory display in alphabetical order.

37. The method recited in claim 28 wherein said program display is responsive to commands from said input device when said focus frame is placed proximate to said program display, and further comprising the steps of receiving a first command to move said focus frame along said viewing panel and, upon positioning said focus frame proximate to said program display, receiving a second command to scroll said program tiles of said program display in chronological order.