Method and apparatus for displaying video data and corresponding entertainment data for multiple entertainment selection sources

• US 6,295,646 B1
• Filed: 09/30/1998
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Shah-Nazaroff, Anthony A., Williams, Christopher D., Goldschmidt Iki, Jean M., Hackson, David N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, John W.
• Application Number:
  US09/166,134
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 345/326, 345/327, 348/564-566, 348/906, 348/10, 455/6.2, 725/37, 725/38, 725/39, 725/41, 725/43, 725/46, 725/131, 725/139, 725/151
• US Class Current: 725/41
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• 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 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• 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 21/4532 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 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• 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 7/088 the inserted signal being digital

Abstract

A graphical user interface (GUI) includes a first window that displays video data of a first entertainment selection from a first entertainment selection source. A first area, proximate to the first window, displays entertainment system data that corresponds to the first entertainment selection. The GUI includes a second window that displays video data of a second entertainment selection from a second entertainment selection source. A second area, proximate to the second window, displays entertainment system data that corresponds to the second entertainment selection.

Claims

1. A method for presenting entertainment selections, comprising:

displaying video data of a first entertainment selection on a first window;

displaying entertainment system data corresponding to the first entertainment selection in a location proximate to the first window;

displaying further entertainment system data corresponding to the first entertainment selection in a second location proximate to the first window;

displaying video data of a second entertainment selection from the second entertainment selection source on a second window; and

displaying entertainment system data corresponding to the second entertainment selection in a location proximate to the second window; and

displaying further entertainment system data corresponding to the second entertainment selection in a second location proximate to the second window; and

displaying still further entertainment system data regarding the entertainment selection corresponding to the respective window upon selection by a user of the first and second windows.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising;

determining a user'"'"'s preference of entertainment selection sources;

obtaining video data corresponding to entertainment selections broadcasted on the entertainment selection sources; and

obtaining entertainment system data corresponding to the entertainment selections.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining a user'"'"'s preference of entertainment selection sources comprises referencing a list of entertainment selection sources stored in the channel scan control unit.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein obtaining the video data corresponding to the entertainment selections broadcasted on the entertainment sources comprises programming a video tuner to obtain the video data from the entertainment selection sources.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein obtaining the entertainment system data corresponding to the entertainment selections broadcasted on the entertainment sources comprises accessing a database of entertainment selections.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the further entertainment system data corresponding to the first entertainment selection comprises a title of the first entertainment selection.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the still further entertainment system data corresponding to the first entertainment selection comprises a description of the first entertainment selection.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the still further entertainment system data corresponding to the first entertainment selection comprises a rating of the first entertainment selection.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the still further entertainment system data corresponding to the first entertainment selection comprises a critique of the first entertainment selection.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a full-screen display of the entertainment selection corresponding to the respective window upon selection by a user of the first and second windows.

11. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a sequence of instructions, the sequence of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform:

displaying video data of a first entertainment selection on a first window;

displaying entertainment system data corresponding to the first entertainment selection in a location proximate to the first window;

displaying further entertainment system data corresponding to the first entertainment selection in a second location proximate to the first window;

displaying video data of a second entertainment selection from the second entertainment selection source on a second window; and

displaying entertainment system data corresponding to the second entertainment selection in a location proximate to the second window; and

displaying further entertainment system data corresponding to the second entertainment selection in a second location proximate to the second window; and

displaying still further entertainment system data regarding the entertainment selection corresponding to the respective window upon selection by a user of the first and second windows.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform:

determining a user'"'"'s preference of entertainment selection sources;

obtaining video data corresponding to entertainment selections broadcasted on the entertainment selection sources; and

obtaining entertainment system data corresponding to the entertainment selections.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein obtaining the video data corresponding to the entertainment selections broadcasted on the entertainment selection sources comprises programming a video tuner to obtain the video data from the entertainment selection sources.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein obtaining the entertainment system data corresponding to the entertainment selections broadcasted on the entertainment selection sources comprises accessing a database of entertainment selections.

15. A graphical user interface (GUI), comprising:

a first window that displays video data of a first entertainment selection;

a first area, proximate to the first window, that displays entertainment system data that corresponds to the first entertainment selection;

a second area, proximate to the first window, that displays further entertainment system data that corresponds to the first entertainment selection;

a second window that displays video data of a second entertainment selection;

a first area, proximate to the second window, that displays entertainment system data that corresponds to the second entertainment selection; and

a second area, proximate to the second window, that displays further entertainment system data that corresponds to the second entertainment selection

wherein the first and second windows comprise selectable multimedia identifiers that can be selected by a user to cause the display of still further entertainment system data regarding the entertainment selection corresponding to the respective window.

16. The GUI of claim 15, further comprising a navigation tool that allows a user to view additional windows that display video data of additional entertainment selections not originally displayed on the GUI.

17. The GUI of claim 15, wherein the further entertainment system data corresponding to the respective entertainment selection comprises a title of the respective entertainment selection.

18. The GUI of claim 15, wherein the still further entertainment system data corresponding to the respective entertainment selection comprises a description of the respective entertainment selection.

19. The GUI of claim 15, wherein the still further entertainment system data corresponding to the first program comprises a rating of the respective entertainment selection.

20. The GUI of claim 15, wherein the still further entertainment system data corresponding to the first program comprises a critique of the respective entertainment selection.

21. The GUI of claim 15, wherein the selectable multimedia identifiers can further be selected by a user to cause a full-screen display of the entertainment selection corresponding to the respective window.

22. A channel scan unit, comprising:

a channel scan control unit that stores a list of entertainment selection sources;

a database interface, coupled to the channel scan control unit, that receives the list of entertainment selection sources from the channel scan control unit and obtains entertainment system data that corresponds to entertainment selections that are broadcasted on the listed entertainment selection sources;

a tuner interface coupled to the channel scan control unit that receives the list of entertainment selection sources from the channel scan control unit and obtains video data from the listed entertainment selection sources; and

a display interface coupled to the database interface and the tuner interface that receives the entertainment system data and the video data and venerates a graphical user interface that simultaneously displays the video data and the entertainment system data.

23. The channel scan unit of claim 22, wherein the channel scan control unit, the database interface, the tuner interface and the display interface comprise modules implemented in software resident on a memory of a computer system.

24. The channel scan unit of claim 22, wherein the tuner interface obtains video data by programming a tuner to obtain video data.

25. A computer system, comprising:

a bus;

a processor coupled to the bus;

a display device coupled to the bus;

a channel scan control unit that stores a list of entertainment selection sources;

a database interface, coupled to the channel scan control unit, that receives the list of entertainment selection sources from the channel scan control unit and obtains entertainment system data that corresponds to entertainment selections that are broadcasted on the listed entertainment selection sources;

a tuner interface coupled to the channel scan control unit that receives the list of entertainment selection sources from the channel scan control unit and obtains video data from the listed entertainment selection sources; and

a display interface coupled to the database interface and the tuner interface that receives the entertainment system data and the video data and generates a graphical user interface that simultaneously displays the video data and the entertainment system data.

26. The computer system of claim 25, wherein the channel scan control unit, the database interface, the tuner interface and the display interface comprise modules implemented in software resident on a memory of the computer system.

27. The channel scan unit of claim 25, wherein the tuner interface obtains video data by programming a tuner to obtain video data.

28. A graphical user interface (GUI), comprising:

a first window that displays video data of a first entertainment selection;

a first area, on a first side of the first window, that displays an identification of the source of the first entertainment selection;

a second area, on a second side of the first window, that displays a title of the first entertainment selection;

a second window that displays video data of a second entertainment selection;

a first area, on a first side of the second window, that displays an identification of the source of the second entertainment selection; and

a second area, on a second side of the second window, that displays a title of the second entertainment selection

wherein the first and second windows comprise selectable multimedia identifiers that can be selected by a user to cause the display of descriptive information regarding the entertainment selection corresponding to the respective window.

29. The GUI of claim 28, further comprising a navigation tool that allows a user to view additional windows that display video data of additional programs not originally displayed on the GUI.

30. The GUI of claim 28, wherein the descriptive information comprises at least one of a rating and a critique of the corresponding entertainment selection.

31. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon data representing sequences of instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations to provide a channel scan unit, the sequences comprising:

a channel scan control unit that when executed by the machine, causes the machine to store a list of entertainment selection sources;

a database interface, coupled to the channel scan control unit that when executed by the machine, causes the machine to receive the list of entertainment selection sources from the channel scan control unit and obtain entertainment system data that corresponds to entertainment selections that are broadcasted on the listed entertainment selection sources;

a tuner interface coupled to the channel scan control unit that when executed by the machine, causes the machine to receive the list of entertainment selection sources from the channel scan control unit and obtain video data from the listed entertainment selection sources; and

a display interface coupled to the database interface and the tuner interface that when executed by the machine, causes the machine to receive the entertainment system data and the video data and generate a graphical user interface that simultaneously displays the video data and the entertainment system data.

32. The channel scan unit of claim 31, wherein the tuner interface obtains video data by programming a tuner to obtain video data.