Channels and services display

• US 6,460,181 B1
• Filed: 12/29/1998
• Issued: 10/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Starsight Telecast Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Donnelly, Daniel B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Faile, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, NGOC K
• Application Number:
  US09/222,107
• Time in Patent Office: 1,372 Days
• Field of Search: 725/39-58, 345/327
• US Class Current: 725/50
• 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 21/4332 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 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• 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 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895

Abstract

The availability of a new information service is publicized by displaying an icon in an EPG when the presence of a new information service is detected. A list of new services is then displayed responsive to a user command. When one of the new services is selected from the list, a description of the selected new service is displayed instead of the list.

Claims

1. A method for publicizing the availability of a new information service on a cable television network comprising the steps of:

displaying a television schedule guide (EPG) on a monitor;

detecting the presence of a new information service on the network;

displaying an icon in the EPG to signal the presence of the new service only when the new service is detected;

selecting one of the new services from the displayed list; and

responsive to a user command, displaying a description of the selected new service instead of the list of services.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the new information service comprises at least one of the new information service or a new channel.

3. The method of claim 2, further including, responsive to a user command, ordering one of the new services from the displayed list.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein detecting the presence of a new information service on the network comprises monitoring transmitted data packets.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein detecting the presence of a new information service on the network further comprises detecting a unique signature designating the new information service, the unique signature included in a header of each of the data packets.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein detecting the presence of a new information service comprises receiving a new channels command.

7. The method of claim 2, further including, responsive to a user command, tuning directly to a selected one of the new services or one of the new channels.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the icon includes at least one of channel call letters or a channel number.

9. A system for displaying information on a monitor comprising:

a display controller that processes display data to display an EPG display;

a memory for storing an EPG database used to create some of the display data; and

a processor coupled to the memory and the display controller, the processor configured to process said display data that includes a television schedule guide, an icon to signal the presence of a new information service detected on a cable television network, the icon being displayed in the EPG after the new service is detected, a list of new services, the list displayed in response to a user command, and a description of one of the new services displayed in response to a user selection of one of the new services from the list of new services.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the new information service comprises at least one of the new information service or a new channel.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein detecting the presences of a new information service comprises monitoring transmitted data packets.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein detecting the presence of a new information service further comprises detecting a unique signature designating the new information service, the unique signature included in a header of each of the data packets.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein detecting the presence of a new information service comprises receiving a new channels command.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to process the tuning directly to a selected one of the new services or one of the new channels.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the icon includes at least on of channel call letters or a channel number.

16. In a system with a display controller and a memory, a processor coupled to the memory and the display controller, the processor configured to process display data that includes a television schedule guide, an icon to signal the presence of a new information service detected on a cable television network, the icon being displayed in the EPG after the new service is detected, a list of new services, the list displayed in response to a user command, and a description of one of the new services displayed in response to a user selection of one of the new services from the list of new services.

17. In a system with a memory and a processor coupled to the memory, a display controller coupled to the processor wherein the display controller displays data including a television schedule guide, an icon to signal the presence of a new information service detected on a cable television network, the icon being displayed in the EPG after the new service is detected, a list of new services, the list displayed on the monitor instead of at least a portion of the EPG in response to a user command, and a description of one of the new services displayed in response to a user selection of one of the new services from the list of new services.

18. A system for displaying information on a monitor comprising:

a means for displaying an EPG display from display data;

a means for storing an EPG database used to create some of the display data; and

a means for processing the display data that includes a television schedule guide, a signal means to signal the presence of a new information service on a cable television network, the signal means being displayed in the EPG after the new service is detected, a list of new services, the list displayed in response to a user command, and a description of one of the new services displayed in response to a user selection of one of the new services from the list of new services.