User interface for television schedule system in which the future events are paged in time

• US 6,057,890 A
• Filed: 12/12/1997
• Issued: 05/02/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Echostar Engineering Corporation (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Engineering Corporation (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Virden, Steven P., Povenmire, Rex
• Primary Examiner(s): Faile, Andrew I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, RUEBEN M
• Application Number:
  US08/989,260
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 348/563, 348/906, 348/460, 348/12, 348/13, 348/7, 348/6, 348/569, 345/326, 345/327
• US Class Current: 348/563
• 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 21/4332 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. local EPG data repository interfaces, Database management systems or updating for information retrieval G06F16/23; details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video database G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• 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 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73

Abstract

An interface for a television system whereby a user, while viewing a television program, can upon demand via remote control view information in a banner overlaid on the currently displayed program. The banner may contain descriptions of programs being aired currently on all available channels, and descriptions of programs that are scheduled for future broadcasts on all available channels. The user can jump through the channel timeslots by manipulating keys on the keypad or remote control to input the number of hours to jump ahead or back. Program scheduling is provided by an electronic program guide that is received with the television signals and stored in the television receiver.

Claims

1. A method of displaying program information on a viewing screen, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an electronic programming guide means, said electronic programming guide means being divided into timeslots containing program information, said timeslots divided into current timeslots containing program information corresponding to programs being broadcast currently and future timeslots containing program information corresponding to programs scheduled for future broadcasts,

(b) displaying program information from said displayed timeslots on a viewing screen;

(c) allowing a user to traverse said electronic programming means and cause information from said displayed and undisplayed timeslots to be displayed on said viewing screen; and

(d) said traversing is accomplished by the user inputting a predetermined time period corresponding to a desired timeslot causing the desired timeslot to be displayed on said viewing screen.

2. A method for displaying program information as described in claim 1, wherein said program information corresponds to viewing selections transmitted on one or more channels during said timeslots.

3. A method for displaying program information as described in claim 1, further comprising the step of changing a currently displayed viewing selection to correspond to one of said displayed timeslots.

4. A method for displaying program information as described in claim 1, further comprising the step of allowing said user to summon and dismiss said electronic programming guide means from said viewing screen.

5. A method for displaying program information as described in claim 1, further comprising the step of controlling an event timer means to respond to one or more of said future timeslots.

6. A method for displaying program information as described in claim 1, further comprising the step of updating said electronic programming guide means.

7. A method for displaying program information as described in claim 6, further comprising the step of allowing a user to control said updating of said electronic programming guide means.

8. A method for displaying program information as described in claim 1, wherein said step of allowing a user to traverse said Electronic Programming Guide means includes the step of said user selecting a specific future timeslot and said step of displaying includes the step of displaying program information for all channels available at said specific timeslot.

9. Apparatus for allowing a user to selectively view electronic programming guide information on a viewing screen while simultaneously displaying on said viewing screen viewing selections and an electronic programming guide means, said electronic programming guide means comprising current timeslots containing program information corresponding to programs being broadcast currently and future timeslots containing program information corresponding to programs scheduled for future broadcasts, said apparatus comprising:

(a) receiving means for receiving said viewing selections and electronic programming guide information;

(b) selecting means for selecting one or more said undisplayed timeslots to be displayed on said viewing screen, said selecting means including means whereby the user can input a predetermined time period for selected timeslots; and

(c) displaying means for overlaying said preselected timeslots to be displayed on a currently displayed viewing selection.

10. Apparatus for allowing a user to selectively view electronic programming guide information as defined in claim 9, wherein said selecting means allows a user to selectively browse through said timeslots of electronic programming guide means corresponding to viewing selections shown on one or more channels and at one or more broadcast times.

11. Apparatus for allowing a user to selectively view electronic programming guide information as defined in claim 10, wherein said selecting means comprises remote control means for entering user input.

12. Apparatus for allowing a user to selectively view electronic programming guide information as defined in claim 10, further comprising event timer means, said event timer means receiving user input from said selecting means.

13. Apparatus for allowing a user to selectively view electronic programming guide information as defined in claim 12, wherein said receiving means comprises a tuning means, and said event timer means comprises a controlling means for directing said tuning means to tune to a channel corresponding to said selected timeslots of said electronic programming guide means.

14. Apparatus for allowing a user to selectively view electronic programming guide information as defined in claim 12, wherein said selecting means comprises means for selecting one of said future timeslots, and said display means comprises means for displaying program information for all channels corresponding to said selected future timeslot.