TV graphical user interface providing selection among various lists of TV channels

• US 6,175,362 B1
• Filed: 07/21/1997
• Issued: 01/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Leung, Alfred, Nasledov, Dimitry, Harms, Kevin, Deacon, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Faile, Andrew I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, RUEBEN M
• Application Number:
  US08/897,827
• Time in Patent Office: 1,275 Days
• Field of Search: 348/7, 348/12, 348/563, 348/906, 348/10, 348/6, 348/13, 455/5.1, 455/21.2, 455/6.2, 345/327
• US Class Current: 715/721
• 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 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• 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

Abstract

A TV graphical user interface (GUI) in a satellite TV system enables users to create customized lists of TV channels. Everyday, favorite and theme lists may be generated to respectively combine TV channels being watched regularly, favorite TV channels and channels relating to particular subjects. An oval list name object is arranged on a screen to indicate the name of the currently selected list of TV channels. The users may click on the list name object to make their selection among various TV channel lists available in the TV system. In a channel changer mode, the TV GUI displays a graphical channel changer composed of channel boxes that show numbers and logos of TV channels in the currently selected list. To switch the TV set to a required TV channel, the user clicks on the graphical channel box that indicates the required channel. In a program guide mode, a list of TV programs may be provided based on the channel changer. Vertical program bars that display TV programs are aligned with the channel boxes indicating TV channels that carry the corresponding TV programs. To identify various TV channel lists available in the TV system, the oval list name object, as well as the channel boxes and program bars, are displayed in a color that represents a selected TV channel list.

Claims

1. A television (TV) system comprising:

a CPU, and

a TV monitor controlled by said CPU for displaying a graphical channel changer having channel objects for representing TV channels of a first TV channel list selected among a plurality of TV channel lists preprogrammed by a user,

wherein said CPU is configured to arrange a list name object on a screen of the TV monitor to switch said channel changer from said first TV channel list to a second TV channel list when the user activates a pointing device directed at said list name object, and said list name object is dynamic and shows a name of the TV channel list currently represented by said channel changer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said list name object is identified by a first color when said channel changer represents said first TV channel list, and by a second color when said channel changer represents said second TV channel list.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said channel objects are identified by said first color when said channel changer represents said first TV channel list, and by said second color when said channel changer represents said second TV channel list.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said TV monitor further displays an electronic TV program guide that contains a first TV program schedule for a predetermined time period for TV channels of the first TV channel list.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said electronic program guide switches from the first TV program schedule for the first TV channel list to a second TV program schedule for the second TV channel list when the user activates a pointing device directed at said list name object.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said electronic TV program guide comprises program bars for indicating TV programs carried by TV channels of a currently selected TV channel list.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said program bars are identified by said first color when said program guide represents said first TV program schedule, and by said second color when said program guide represents said second TV program schedule.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said program bars are aligned with said channel objects.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said channel changer switches from the second TV channel list to a third TV channel list when the user activates the pointing device directed at said list name object representing the second TV channel list.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said electronic program guide switches from the second TV program schedule for the second TV channel list to a third TV program schedule for the third TV channel list when the user activates the pointing device directed at said list name object representing the second TV channel list.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said list name object is identified by a third color when said channel changer represents said third TV channel list.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said channel objects are identified by said third color when said channel changer represents said third TV channel list.

13. The system of claim 6, wherein said vertical program bars are identified by said third color when said program guide represents said third TV program schedule.

14. In a graphical user interface displayed on a TV monitor and having channel objects for indicating TV channels, and a list name object for identifying a first list of the TV channels currently selected by a user, a method of selecting customized lists of TV channels comprising the steps of:

checking a position of a cursor moved by a pointing device,

detecting when the cursor is positioned over the list name object,

redrawing the channel objects to indicate a second list of TV channels when the pointing device is activated,

displaying a name of the selected list of TV channels on said list name object in a dynamic fashion.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of redrawing the channel objects to indicate a third list of TV channels when the pointing device is activated again.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the list name object is identified by a first color when the first list is selected, by a second color when the second list is selected, and by a third color when the third list is selected.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the channel objects are identified by the first color when the first list is selected, by the second color when the second list is selected, and by the third color when the third list is selected.

18. A TV system comprising:

a CPU and

a monitor controlled by the CPU for displaying lists of TV channels, and a TV channel list name indicator for enabling a user to switch from a first list of TV channels to a second list of TV channels when a pointing device directed at said TV channel list name indicator is activated once, and for enabling the user to switch from the first list of TV channels to a third list of TV channels when the pointing device directed at said TV channel list name indicator is activated twice,

whereby said list name indicator dynamically displays a name of the list of TV channels.

19. The TV system of claim 18, wherein the displayed lists of TV channels are identified by a first color, when the first list is selected, by a second color when the second list is selected, and by a third color when the third list is selected.