Method and apparatus for displaying time and program status in an electronic program guide

• US 6,243,142 B1
• Filed: 10/17/1997
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nishikawa, Yuko, Saib, Joseph, Mugura, Kazuto
• Primary Examiner(s): HSIA, SHERRIE Y
• Application Number:
  US08/953,706
• Time in Patent Office: 1,327 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.550, H04/N.5445, 348/569, 348/906, 348/563, 348/564
• US Class Current: 348/564
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• 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 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4438 Window management, e.g. event handling following interaction with the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• 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 21/84 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

Abstract

A method and apparatus for displaying graphic images to indicate a status of programs in an electronic program guide are provided. A multiple channel broadcasting system generates an electronic program guide including graphic images to indicate a status of the programs in the electronic program guide. The status includes whether a user has selected pay-per-view broadcasts for purchase, whether a broadcast system timer has been set to tune to a particular channel program at a designated time, whether a channel program has been set for recording, and whether a program is designated as a favorite program. The broadcast system displays the graphic images or icons within an electronic program guide in areas delineating particular programs that a user has selected for purchase so that the user can view the status of the programs while viewing the electronic program guide. A method and apparatus for displaying a graphical representation of time in relation to programming times are also provided. A time bar is displayed with the electronic program guide that identifies times of programming on the channels in the broadcasting system. A graphical representation of time is generated and displayed in proximity to the time bar to indicate the current time so the user can view the current time in relation to the times of programming on the channels of the broadcast system.

Claims

1. In a multiple channel broadcasting system in which programs are broadcasted for display on a screen, a method for generating an on-screen guide for a user to select channels to view, comprising the steps of:

generating an electronic program guide identifying channels and corresponding programs in the broadcasting system;

generating at least one graphic image to indicate a status of said programs, said status including whether said user has selected pay-per-view broadcasts for purchase;

displaying said at least one graphic image within said electronic program guide in areas delineating particular programs that a user has selected for purchase;

wherein the user can view the status of said programs while viewing said electronic program guide.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said graphic image to indicate said status of selected pay-per-view broadcast resembles a dollar sign.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said status of said programs further includes the selection of a corresponding program for recording.

4. The method as set forth in claim 3, wherein said graphic image to indicate said status of selected for recording resembles a videocassette.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said status of said programs further includes the setting of a broadcasting system timer to the time of a corresponding program, said graphic image to indicate said status of setting of said system timer resembling a clock.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said status of said programs further includes favorite programs.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of generating an electronic program guide further comprises the step of generating a plurality of electronic menus, said plurality of electronic menus controlling pay-per-view broadcast purchases, selection of programs for recording, and setting of a broadcasting system timer.

8. The method as set forth in claim 7, wherein the at least one graphic image serves as an electronic link between the electronic program guide and a corresponding menu of said plurality of electronic menus.

9. The method as set forth in claim 7, wherein the at least one graphic image serves as an electronic link between said plurality of electronic menus and a display information packet.

10. The method as set forth in claim 7, wherein said multiple channel broadcasting system includes a computer network.

11. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

displaying a time bar identifying times of programming on the channels in the broadcasting system;

generating a graphical representation of time;

displaying said graphical representation in proximity to said time bar, placement of said graphical representation indicative of the current time.

12. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein said graphical representation of time is displayed as an inverted triangle.

13. A system comprising:

a processor configured to be coupled to a display device, said processor,

configured to control the system to display an electronic program guide identifying channels and corresponding programs in a multiple channel broadcasting system;

configured to control the system to generate at least one graphic image to indicate a status of said programs, said status including whether a user has selected pay-per-view broadcasts for purchase;

configured to control the system to display the at least one graphic image within said electronic program guide in areas delineating particular programs that said user has selected for purchase;

wherein said user can view the status of said programs while viewing said electronic program guide.

14. The system as set forth in claim 13, wherein said status of said programs further includes:

status to indicate selection of a corresponding program for recording;

status to indicate setting of a broadcasting system timer to the time of a corresponding program;

status to indicate selection of favorite programs.

15. The system as set forth in claim 13, wherein said processor is configured to control the system to generate a plurality of electronic menus, said plurality of electronic menus controlling pay-per-view broadcast purchases, selection of programs for recording, and setting of a broadcasting system timer.

16. The system as set forth in claim 15, wherein the at least one graphic image serves as an electronic link between said electronic program guide, a display information packet and a corresponding menu of said plurality of electronic menus.

17. The system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to:

display a time bar identifying times of programming on the channels in the broadcasting system;

generate a graphical representation of time;

display said graphical representation in proximity to said time bar, placement of said graphical representation indicative of the current time.

18. The system as set forth in claim 17, wherein said graphical representation of time is displayed as an inverted triangle.

19. A system for generating an on-screen guide for a user to select channels to view in a multiple channel broadcasting system, comprising:

an electronic program guide identifying channels and corresponding programs in the broadcasting system;

at least one graphic image indicating a status of said programs, said status including whether said user has selected pay-per-view broadcasts for purchase;

a display of the at least one graphic image within said electronic program guide in areas delineating particular programs that a user has selected for purchase;

wherein the user can view the status of said programs while viewing said electronic program guide.

20. The system as set forth in claim 19, wherein said graphic image to indicate said status of selected pay-per-view broadcast resembles a dollar sign.

22. The system as set forth in claim 19, wherein said status of said programs further includes a status to indicate a setting of a broadcasting system timer to the time of a corresponding program, said graphic image to indicate said status of setting of said system timer resembling a clock.

23. The system as set forth in claim 19, wherein a plurality of electronic menus are generated, said plurality of electronic menus controlling pay-per-view broadcast purchases, selection of programs for recording, and setting of a broadcasting system timer.

24. The system as set forth in claim 23, wherein the at least one graphic image serves as an electronic link between said electronic program guide, a display information packet and a corresponding menu of said plurality of electronic menus.

25. The system as set forth in claim 19, further comprising:

a time bar identifying times of programming on the channels in the broadcasting system;

a graphical representation of time displayed in proximity to said time bar, placement of said graphical representation indicative of the current time.

26. The system as set forth in claim 25, wherein said graphical representation of time is displayed as an inverted triangle.

21. The system as set forth in cl aim 19, wherein said status of said programs further includes a status to indicate a select ion of a corresponding program for recording, said graphic image to indicate said status of selected for recording resembles a videocassette.

27. A computer readable medium containing executable instructions which, when executed in a processing system, causes the system to perform the steps for generating an on-screen guide for a user to select channels to view in a multiple channel broadcasting system comprising:

generating an electronic program guide identifying channels and corresponding programs in the broadcasting system;

generating at least one graphic image to indicate a status of said programs, said status including whether said user has selected pay-per-view broadcasts for purchase;

displaying the at least one graphic image within said electronic program guide in areas delineating particular programs that a user has selected for purchase;

wherein the user can view the status of said programs while viewing said electronic program guide.

28. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 27, wherein said executable instructions further includes:

providing status to indicate selection of a corresponding program for recording;

providing status to indicate setting of a broadcasting system timer to the time of a corresponding program;

providing status to indicate selection of favorite programs.

29. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 27, wherein said generating an electronic program guide further comprises generating a plurality of electronic menus, said plurality of electronic menus controlling pay-per-view broadcast purchases, selection of programs for recording, and setting of a broadcasting system timer.

30. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 29, wherein the at least one graphic image serves as an electronic link between said electronic program guide, a display information packet and a corresponding menu of said plurality of electronic menus.