Method of data display for electronic program guides (EPGs)

• US 6,483,548 B1
• Filed: 12/28/1998
• Issued: 11/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rakuten, Inc. (Rakuten Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Research Investment Network Incorporated
• Inventors: Allport, David E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Trang U.
• Application Number:
  US09/221,940
• Time in Patent Office: 1,422 Days
• Field of Search: 348/645, 348/646, 348/647, 348/649, 348/651, 348/652, 348/648, 348/643, 348/644, 348/563, 348/564, 348/906, 725/39, 725/49, 725/48, 725/59
• US Class Current: 348/564
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• 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

Abstract

A method of displaying Electronic Program Guide (EPG) data in substantially a grid format, without using “channel” information as an axis. Instead of being presented by channel and time, the data is presented only by time. Thus, program information from multiple channels may be displayed in a single row. Various truncation algorithms allow program descriptions to be shortened, enabling placement of the descriptions into gaps or empty cells in an available row, whereas without the truncation the program description would not have fit into the gaps. For example, when there is a program X in the grid on a first line with at least one gap, and another program Y in the grid on a second line, where Y spans a time slot corresponding to at least one of the gaps on program X'"'"'s line, either X'"'"'s title or Y'"'"'s title, or both, can be truncated, and Y'"'"'s title can be moved to X'"'"'s line. Another opportunity occurs when there is a program X that runs for an extended period of the day, representing “ongoing” content, such that the exact start and end time of the program adds little value to an EPG display. Its listing in the EPG grid may be truncated at start and/or end as needed, to allow its placement in any available empty cell or cells. Another aspect of the invention involves using the techniques described above to display EPG data for multiple categories on the same display.

Claims

1. A method of displaying electronic program guide (EPG) data on a display, wherein the data is associated with a plurality of programs scheduled to air at a plurality of times throughout a calendar day, comprising:

defining a grid on the display, said grid having a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows intersecting to form a plurality of cells, wherein each column has associated therewith a beginning time and an end of a time period;

displaying in a first cell formed at the intersection of a first row and a first column, program information for a first program associated with a first source; and

displaying in a second cell formed at the intersection of the first row and a second column, program information for a second program associated with a second source;

wherein the second program is scheduled to air substantially continuously during the time period associated with the first column and the time period associated with the second column.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the program information for the first and second programs comprises title-based information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second programs are associated with a first program category.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the third program is associated with a second program category.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein a first icon associated with the first program category is displayed on the display, and a second icon associated with the second program category is displayed on the display.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of sources comprises a television broadcast channel, a cable broadcast channel, and a satellite broadcast channel.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second program represents ongoing content.

8. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the first program is scheduled to air substantially continuously during the time period associated with the first column and the time period associated with the second column.

9. The method recited in claim 8, wherein the first program represents ongoing content.

10. The method recited in claim 8, wherein the second program represents ongoing content.

11. A method of displaying electronic program guide (EPG) data on a display, comprising:

defining a logical grid on the display, said grid having a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows, wherein each column has associated therewith a beginning time and an end of a time period; and

displaying in at least two cells, program information for a first program associated with a first source, said at least two cells comprising a first cell formed at the intersection of a first row and a first column, and a second cell formed at the intersection of a second row and the first column, said first and second rows sharing a common boundary.