Transmission of an electronic data base of information

• US 6,502,241 B1
• Filed: 07/02/1996
• Issued: 12/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Cautley, Hugh, Kretz, Christoph
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta, Bhavesh
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, RUEBEN M
• Application Number:
  US08/674,517
• Time in Patent Office: 2,373 Days
• Field of Search: 348/6-13, 348/467, 348/468, 348/906, 348/473-569, 455/3.1, 455/3.2, 455/6.1, 345/327, 709/217-219, 725/39-49, 725/52-53
• US Class Current: 725/52
• 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 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• 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 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• 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 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/08 Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band , e.g. by time division H04N7/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0884 for the transmission of additional display-information, e.g. menu for programme or channel selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0887 for the transmission of programme or channel identifying signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

Method and arrangements for transmitting and receiving an electronic database, e.g. an electronic television programme guide. The database includes a plurality of programme items. In order to assist the user in retrieving the items of interest, a menu structure is transmitted as well. The menu structure renders it possible to access the database in various ways. Rather than including programme items (such as known form teletext systems), the transmitted menus refer to programme items. Where necessary, references can be made to programme information transmitted by different TV stations.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting an electronic data base of displayable information items to a receiver, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first data section comprising the displayable information items; and

transmitting, separately from said first data section, a second data section defining a menu structure for navigating through said information items, said menu structure including one or more menu items each referring to at least one information item transmitted in the first data section, whereby a single displayable information item transmitted may be displayed in any menu structure containing a reference to that item; and

wherein a list of information items which match a condition defined by the menu structure is compiled at the receiver, a display format for the list of information items being based upon the transmitted menu structure.

2. Method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

associating data defining a property of information items with said items and transmitting said data in said first section, and wherein one or more of the menu items in said second data section comprises attribute data defining a condition which the property of the at least one information item to which the menu item refers needs to match.

3. Transmitter for transmitting an electronic data base of displayable information items to a receiver, the transmitter comprising:

means for transmitting a first data section comprising the displayable information items; and

means for transmitting, separately from said first data section, a second data section defining a menu structure for navigating through the information items;

said menu structure including one or more menu items each referring to at least one information item which is transmitted in the first data section, whereby a single displayable information item transmitted may be displayed in any menu structure containing a reference to that item; and

wherein a list of information items which match a condition defined by the menu structure is compiled at the receiver, a display format for the list of information items being based upon the transmitted menu structure.

4. Transmitter according to claim 3, further including:

means for transmitting in the first data section data defining a property of information items, and wherein the one or more menu items transmitted in the second data section comprise attribute data defining a condition which the property of the at least one information item to which the menu item refers needs to match.

5. Receiver for receiving an electronic data base of displayable information items, comprising:

means for receiving a first data section comprising said displayable information items;

means for receiving a second data section defining a menu structure for navigating through the information items, said menu structure including one or more menu items each referring to at least one information item which is transmitted in the first data section; and

display means for displaying said menu structure and being arranged to replace a menu item received in the second data section by the at least one information item received in the first data section the replacement being made from a list of information items, which match a condition defined by the menu structure, the list being compiled at the receiver; and

whereby a single displayable information item transmitted may be displayed in any menu structure containing a reference to that item, a display format for the list of information items being based upon the transmitted menu structure.

6. Receiver according to claim 5, wherein the information items in the first data section further include data defining a property of said information items, and wherein said one or more menu items in the second data section comprise attribute data defining a condition which the property of the at least one information to which the menu item refers needs to match, and wherein the display means is arranged to search, for each menu item having said attribute data. the information items matching the condition defined by the attribute data, and replacing said menu item by the information items found by said search.

7. Video recorder comprising a receiver according to claim 5.

8. A coded data signal embodied in a carrier wave representing an electronic database of displayable information items, separately comprising a first data section comprising the displayable information items and a second data section defining a menu structure for navigating through said information items, said menu structure including one or more menu items each referring to at least one information item which is in the first data section, and wherein a list of information items, which match a condition defined by the menu structure, is compiled at the receiver;

and whereby a single displayable information item transmitted may be displayed in any menu structure containing a reference to that item, a display format for the list of information items being based upon the transmitted menu structure.

9. A storage medium on which a signal according to claim 8 has been stored.