System and method for customizing program guide information to include reminder item or local identifier
First Claim
1. A method of customizing a program guide, said method comprising the steps of:
- storing program guide information into an electronic host device, said program guide information including program identifiers, each of which designates one of a plurality of programs;
generating a menu by displaying at least some of said program identifiers on a display device associated with said electronic host device, said program identifiers being selectable by a user to implement respective ones of said programs; and
customizing said menu to include at least one additional identifier which is selectable by a user to implement a function associated with said identifier, said function comprising a calendaring or scheduling reminder entered by said user unrelated to said programs.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An interface and a method for customizing program guide information containing program descriptions is provided. The program guide information is downloaded and stored in a memory, preferably in a generic manner. A menu is generated based on the program guide information. The menu includes program identifiers which can be selected by a user to implement the corresponding programs. The menu then can be customized to include identifier(s) indicative of one or more additional programs or item, including user-specific programs and items which are remotely accessed or locally accessed. After customization, the additional identifiers are selectable by the user to implement the corresponding programs or display the corresponding items. Preferably, the customization is performed locally and interactively using displays generated by an electronic host device or another device connected thereto.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A method of customizing a program guide, said method comprising the steps of:
-
storing program guide information into an electronic host device, said program guide information including program identifiers, each of which designates one of a plurality of programs;
generating a menu by displaying at least some of said program identifiers on a display device associated with said electronic host device, said program identifiers being selectable by a user to implement respective ones of said programs; and
customizing said menu to include at least one additional identifier which is selectable by a user to implement a function associated with said identifier, said function comprising a calendaring or scheduling reminder entered by said user unrelated to said programs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
entering at least one term believed to be in the characteristic information of a desired program;
searching through said characteristic information to find matches with said at least one term; and
modifying said menu to display those of said identifiers and said at least one additional program identifier which have matching terms in the characteristic information associated therewith.
-
-
14. The method of claim 4, wherein said at least one additional program includes at least one audio presentation from at least one local audio medium.
-
15. The method of claim 4, wherein said at least one additional program includes at least one audiovisual presentation from at least one local audiovisual medium.
-
16. The method of claim 4, wherein said at least one additional program includes at least one audiovisual presentation from a camcorder.
-
17. The method of claim 4, wherein said at least one additional program includes at least one audio presentation from at least one local audio medium, at least one audiovisual presentation from at least one local audiovisual medium, and at least one audiovisual presentation from a camcorder.
-
18. An electronically generated interface for displaying and customizing a program guide, said interface comprising:
-
program guide information stored in an electronic host device, said program guide information including program identifiers, each of which designates one of a plurality of programs;
a menu of at least some of said program identifiers on a display device associated with said electronic host device, said program identifiers being selectable by a user to implement respective ones of said programs; and
an input device adapted to communicate with said electronic host device to customize said menu so that said menu further includes at least one additional identifier which is selectable by a user to implement a function associated with said additional identifier, said function comprising a calendaring or scheduling reminder entered by said user unrelated to said programs. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification