Combination of VCR index and EPG

• US 6,441,862 B1
• Filed: 11/13/2000
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Index Systems Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Index Systems Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Mankovitz, Roy J., Kwoh, Daniel S., Yuen, Henry C., Leung, Elsie Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US09/712,327
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.5445, 348/569, 348/570, 348/563, 348/565, 348/584, 348/906, 348/705, 348/706, 348/731, 348/732, 348/554, 348/555, 386/83, 386/69, 386/125, 725/39, 725/40, 725/41, 725/43, 725/44, 725/49
• US Class Current: 348/565
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/41 Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/042 Auxiliary features sensing such features G11B15/06
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/36 Signals on record carriers or on containers and recorded by the same method as the main recording
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/032 on tapes G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/107 of operating tapes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• 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 21/4325 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 21/47 End-user applications
• 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• 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 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A television system has a television viewing mode and a guide mode. The guide mode includes an electronic program guide (EPG), which provides the viewer program information for tuned programs, and a tape index guide (TIG), which provides information for programs recorded on a video cassette. In both guides, real time images of a program are displayed in a PIP window on the television screen and guide information is displayed in the background. In both guides, the viewer may switch between a currently telecast program or a recorded program. The viewer may access either guide from the television mode and vice versa. In the guide mode, the viewer may independently switch the guide information and the type of program, i.e., tuned or recorded, in the PIP window.

Claims

1. A television system comprising:

a tape index guide (TIG) generator;

an electronic program guide (EPG) generator;

a guide switch for switching between the TIG generator and the EPG generator;

a VCR including means for automatically locating a selected program on a tape;

a tuner;

a program source switch for switching between the VCR and the tuner;

a picture in picture (PIP) generator operatively connected to the guide switch and to the program source switch;

the PIP generator having an active and an inactive mode, wherein in the active mode the PIP generator displays on a television screen a first area displaying a television program output from the program source switch and a second area displaying guide information output from the guide switch; and

a microprocessor for controlling the PIP generator between the inactive and active modes.

2. The television system of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor comprises:

means for controlling the operation of the VCR and the automatic tuning means;

means for controlling the output of the guide switch; and

means for controlling the output of the program source switch.

3. The television system of claim 2 wherein the guide switch is operatively connected to the tuner and to the VCR.