Program guide system with video window browsing

• US 6,563,515 B1
• Filed: 03/04/1999
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: UV Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D., Hassell, Joel G., Rudnick, David M., Reynolds, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Sy D
• Application Number:
  US09/262,670
• Time in Patent Office: 1,531 Days
• Field of Search: 345/716, 345/719, 345/721, 345/781, 345/803-804, 725/39, 725/40, 725/41, 725/43, 725/44, 725/45, 725/52, 725/56, 725/59, 725/86, 725/87, 725/104, 348/563-568
• US Class Current: 715/721
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4221 Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72

Abstract

An interactive television program guide system is provided in which a viewer may direct a television to simultaneously display a selected television program, a program guide display, and a program guide video window. A viewer may use the program guide video window to browse video of programs shown on the program guide display while continuing to view a previously selected program in the background. The program guide display may display video on demand (VOD) programs, programs to be broadcast in the future, and programs currently being broadcast on other channels. The viewer may browse through programs on the program guide display using a variety of keys on a remote control unit. The viewer may direct the program guide to swap audio and video signals back and forth between programs shown in the video window and programs shown on the background screen.

Claims

1. An interactive television program guide system implemented on viewer television equipment having a main display screen, comprising:

means for displaying a given television program on the viewer television equipment;

means for displaying a partial screen program guide display that includes at least one program listing on the viewer television equipment;

means for displaying a partial screen program guide video window at the same time that the given television program and the program guide display are displayed, the program guide video window displaying a currently broadcasted program that corresponds to the at least one program listing; and

means for reducing the main display screen area occupied by the given television program when the program guide display is active such that the given television program may be viewed unobscured.

2. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 further comprising means for reducing the main display screen area occupied by the given television program when said program guide display and said video window are active such that the given television program may be viewed unobscured.

3. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 further comprising means for allowing the viewer to browse through additional program listings available in the program guide using remote control keys.

4. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 further comprising means for allowing a viewer to direct the program guide system to display the program guide on said main display screen using a remote control key.

5. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 further comprising means for allowing a viewer to remove the program guide from said main display screen and return to normal television viewing mode using a remote control key.

6. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 further comprising means for allowing a viewer to use a remote control key to display said video window on the main display screen and to remove said video window from the main display screen.

7. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1, wherein the viewer television equipment has an audio signal, the system further comprising means for allowing the viewer to switch the source of the audio signal back and forth between a program shown in a main display screen and a program shown in the video window.

8. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 further comprising means for allowing the viewer to interchange programs shown on the main display screen with programs shown in the video window using a remote control key so that the program originally shown on the main display screen is shown in the video window and the program originally shown in the video window is shown on the main display screen.

9. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 wherein the video displayed by the video window remains in synchronization with the program displayed on the program guide display as the viewer browses through other available program listings on the program guide.

10. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 further comprising a means for allowing the viewer to browse through various available program listings with the program guide display while the video displayed by the video window remains tuned to a previously selected program listing.

11. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 wherein the means for displaying the program guide video window further comprises means for allowing the viewer to use a remote control key to direct the television to tune the video window to the program listing contained in the program guide display.

12. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 wherein the means for displaying the program guide video window further comprises means for allowing the viewer to use a remote control key to direct the television to tune the video window to the program listing contained in the program guide display and to display the video for that program listing in the video window.

13. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 further comprising means for allowing the viewer to browse video-on-demand programs on said program guide.

14. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 wherein the at least one program listing in the program guide display is a video-on-demand program listing, the system further comprising means for storing video-on-demand programs in a home storage device.

15. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 wherein the at least one program listing in the program guide display is a video-on-demand program listing, the system further comprising means for providing a video clip for the video-on-demand program listing in the program guide display.

16. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 wherein the at least one program listing in the program guide display is a video-on-demand program listing, the system further comprising means for providing a video clip for the video-on-demand program listing in the program guide display by allowing the viewer to use a remote control key to direct the program guide to request and display the video clip of the displayed video-on-demand program in the video window.

17. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 16 further comprising means for indicating that video clips are available for the displayed video-on-demand program listing.

18. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 17 wherein said indicating means is an icon.

19. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 wherein the at least one program listing in the program guide display is a video-on-demand program listing, the system further comprising means for providing more detailed information about the listed video-on-demand program using a remote control key.

20. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 wherein the at least one program listing is a video-on-demand program listing, the system further comprising means for placing an order for the video-on-demand program listing.

21. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 further comprising means for displaying said program guide display with a time interval to indicate the time period for which program listings are being displayed.

22. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 1 wherein the program guide display contains an adjustable time interval for which the at least one program listing is displayed, the system comprising means for allowing the viewer to adjust the time interval to future time periods using remote control keys so that the viewer may browse program listings in said future time periods.

23. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 22 further comprising means for indicating that video clips are available for the program listings in said future time periods.

24. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 23 wherein said indicating means is an icon.

25. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 22 further comprising means for allowing the viewer to view video clips for future program listings contained in the program guide display by using a remote control key to direct the program guide to request and display such video clips in the video window.

26. A method for using an interactive television program guide system implemented on viewer television equipment having a main display screen comprising:

simultaneously displaying on the main display screen (a) a television program, (b) a partial screen program guide display including at least one program listing, and (c) a partial screen program guide window displaying a currently broadcasted program that corresponds to the at least one program listing;

allowing the viewer to navigate through the at least one program listing in the program guide; and

reducing the main display screen area occupied by the given television program when the program guide display is active such that the given television program may be viewed unobscured.

27. The method defined in claim 26 wherein said displaying further comprises:

updating the video shown in said video window to correspond to the program listing currently shown on the program guide display.

28. The method defined in claim 26 wherein said displaying further comprises:

displaying said program guide on said main display screen when the viewer presses a remote control key.

29. The method defined in claim 26 wherein said displaying further comprises:

removing the program guide from said main display screen and return to normal television viewing mode when the viewer presses a remote control key.

30. The method defined in claim 26 wherein said displaying further comprises:

allowing a viewer to use a remote control key to display said video window on the main display screen and to remove said video window from the main display screen.

31. The method defined in claim 26 wherein the viewer television equipment has an audio signal, and wherein said browsing further comprises:

providing the viewer with an opportunity to switch the source of the audio signal back and forth between a program shown on the main display screen and a program shown in the program guide video window.

32. The method defined in claim 26 wherein the browsing further comprises:

providing the viewer with an opportunity to interchange programs shown on the main display screen with programs shown in the program guide video window so that the program originally shown on the main display screen is shown in the program guide video window and the program originally shown in the program guide video window is shown on the main display screen.

33. The method defined in claim 26 wherein the displaying further comprises:

maintaining the video displayed by the video window in synchronization with the program displayed on the program guide display as the viewer browses through other available program listings on the program guide.

34. The method defined in claim 26 wherein the allowing the viewer to navigate further comprises:

providing the viewer with an opportunity to keep the video displayed by the video window tuned to a previously selected program listing and browse through other available program listings on the program guide.

35. The method defined in claim 26 wherein the allowing the viewer to navigate further comprises:

allowing the viewer to browse through various available program listings with the program guide display while the video displayed by the video window remains tuned to a previously selected program listing.

36. The method defined in claim 26 wherein the allowing the viewer to navigate further comprises:

allowing the viewer to use a remote control key to direct the television to tune the video window to the program. listing contained in the program guide display.

37. The method defined in claim 26 wherein the allowing the viewer to navigate further comprises:

allowing the viewer to use a remote control key to direct the television to tune the video window to the program listing contained in the program guide display and to display the video for that program listing in the video window.

38. The method defined in claim 26 wherein the allowing the viewer to navigate further comprises:

allowing the viewer to browse video-on-demand programs on said program guide.

39. The method defined in claim 26 wherein the at least one program listing in the program guide display is a video-on-demand program listing, the method further comprising:

storing video-on-demand programs in a home storage device.

40. The method defined in claim 26 wherein the at least one program listing in the program guide display is a video-on-demand program listing, said method further comprising:

providing a video clip for the video-on-demand program listing in the program guide display.

41. The method defined in claim 26 wherein the at least one program listing in the program guide display is a video-on-demand program listing, said method further comprising:

providing a video clip for the video-on-demand program listing in the program guide display by allowing the viewer to use a remote control key to direct the program guide to request and display the video clip of the displayed video-on-demand program in the video window.

42. The method defined in claim 41 wherein the providing further comprises:

indicating that video clips are available for the displayed video-on-demand program listing.

43. The method defined in claim 42 wherein the indicating further comprises using an icon.

44. The method defined in claim 26 wherein the at least one program listing in the program guide display is a video-on-demand program listing, said method further comprising:

allowing the viewer to obtain more detailed information about said listed video-on-demand program using a remote control key.

45. The method defined in claim 26 wherein the at least one program listing in the program guide display is a video-on-demand program listing, said method further comprising:

allowing a viewer to place an order for the listed video-on-demand program.

46. The method defined in claim 26 wherein the displaying further comprises:

displaying said program guide display with a time interval to indicate the time period for which program listings are being displayed.

47. The method defined in claim 26 wherein the displaying further comprises:

displaying the program guide display with an adjustable time interval for which the at least one program listing is displayed and allowing the viewer to adjust the time interval to future time periods using remote control keys so that the viewer may browse program listings in said future time periods.

48. The method defined in claim 47 wherein the displaying further comprises:

indicating that video clips are available for the program listings in said future time periods.

49. The method defined in claim 47 wherein the displaying further comprises:

allowing the viewer to view video clips for future program listings contained in the program guide display by using a remote control key to direct the program guide to request and display such video clips in the video window.

50. The method defined in claim 48 wherein the indicating further comprises using an icon.

51. An interactive television program guide system implemented on viewer television equipment having a main display screen configured to:

display a given television program on the viewer television equipment;

display a partial screen program guide display that includes at least one program listing on the viewer television equipment;

display a partial screen program guide video window at the same time that the given television program and the program guide display are displayed, the program guide video window displaying a currently broadcasted program that corresponds to the at least one program listing; and

reduce the main display screen area occupied by the given television program when the program guide display is active such that the given television program may be viewed unobscured.

52. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 51 further configured to reduce the main display screen area occupied by the given television program when said program guide display and said video window are active such that the given television program may be viewed unobscured.

53. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 51 further configured to allow the viewer to browse through additional program listings available in the program guide using remote control keys.

54. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 51 further configured to allow a viewer to direct the program guide system to display the program guide on said main display screen using a remote control key.

55. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 51 further configured to allow a viewer to remove the program guide from said main display screen and return to normal television viewing mode using a remote control key.

56. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 51 further configured to allow a viewer to use a remote control key to display said video window on the main display screen and to remove said video window from the main display screen.

57. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 51 wherein the viewer television equipment has an audio signal, the system further configured to allow the viewer to switch the source of the audio signal back and forth between a program shown in a main display screen and a program shown in the video window.

58. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 51 further configured to allow the viewer to interchange programs shown on the main display screen with programs shown in the video window using a remote control key so that the program originally shown on the main display screen is shown in the video window and the program originally shown in the video window is shown on the main display screen.

59. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 51 wherein the video displayed by the video window remains in synchronization with the program displayed on the program guide display as the viewer browses through other available program listings on the program guide.

60. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 51 further configured to allow the viewer to browse through various available program listings with the program guide display while the video displayed by the video window remains tuned to a previously selected program listing.

61. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 51 wherein the means for displaying the program guide video window further comprises means for allowing the viewer to use a remote control key to direct the television to tune the video window to the program listing contained in the program guide display.

62. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 51 further configured to allow the viewer to use a remote control key to direct the television to tune the video window to the program listing contained in the program guide display and to display the video for that program listing in the video window.

63. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 51 further configured to allow the viewer to browse video-on-demand programs on said program guide.

64. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 51 wherein the at least one program listing in the program guide display is a video-on-demand program listing, the system further configured to store video-on-demand programs in a home storage device.

65. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 51 wherein the at least one program listing in the program guide display is a video-on-demand program listing, the system further configured to provide a video clip for the video-on-demand program listing in the program guide display.

66. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 51 wherein the at least one program listing in the program guide display is a video-on-demand program listing, the system further configured to provide a video clip for the video-on-demand program listing in the program guide display by allowing the viewer to use a remote control key to direct the program guide to request and display the video clip of the displayed video-on-demand program in the video window.

67. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 66 further configured to indicate that video clips are available for the displayed video-on-demand program listing.

68. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 51 wherein the at least one program listing in the program guide display is a video-on-demand program listing, the system further configured to provide more detailed information about the listed video-on-demand program using a remote control key.

69. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 51 wherein the at least one program listing is a video-on-demand program listing, the system further configured to place an order for the video-on-demand program listing.

70. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 51 further configured to display said program guide display with a time interval to indicate the time period for which program listings are being displayed.

71. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 51 wherein the program guide display contains an adjustable time interval for which the at least one program listing is displayed, the system comprising means for allowing the viewer to adjust the time interval to future time periods using remote control keys so that the viewer may browse program listings in said future time periods.

72. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 71 further configured to indicate that video clips are available for the program listings in said future time periods.

73. The interactive television program guide system defined in claim 71 further configured to allow the viewer to view video clips for future program listings contained in the program guide display by using a remote control key to direct the program guide to request and display such video clips in the video window.

74. Machine-readable media for using an interactive television program guide system implemented on viewer television equipment having a main display screen, wherein said media is encoded with machine-readable instruction for performing the method comprising:

simultaneously displaying on the main display screen (a) a television program, (b) a partial screen program guide display including at least one program listing, and (c) a partial screen program guide window displaying a currently broadcasted program that corresponds to the at least one program listing;

allowing the viewer to navigate through the at least one program listing in the program guide; and

reducing the main display screen area occupied by the given television program when the program guide display is active such that the given television program may be viewed unobscured.

75. The machine-readable media defined in claim 74 wherein said displaying further comprises:

updating the video shown in said video window to correspond to the program listing currently shown on the program guide display.

76. The machine-readable media defined in claim 74 wherein said displaying further comprises:

displaying said program guide on said main display screen when the viewer presses a remote control key.

77. The machine-readable media defined in claim 74 wherein said displaying further comprises:

removing the program guide from said main display screen and return to normal television viewing mode when the viewer presses a remote control key.

78. The machine-readable media defined in claim 74 wherein said displaying further comprises:

allowing a viewer to use a remote control key to display said video window on the main display screen and to remove said video window from the main display screen.

79. The machine-readable media defined in claim 74 wherein the viewer television equipment has an audio signal, and wherein said browsing further comprises:

providing the viewer with an opportunity to switch the source of the audio signal back and forth between a program shown on the main display screen and a program shown in the program guide video window.

80. The machine-readable media defined in claim 74 wherein the browsing further comprises:

providing the viewer with an opportunity to interchange programs shown on the main display screen with programs shown in the program guide video window so that the program originally shown on the main display screen is shown in the program guide video window and the program originally shown in the program guide video window is shown on the main display screen.

81. The machine-readable media defined in claim 74 wherein the displaying further comprises:

maintaining the video displayed by the video window in synchronization with the program displayed on the program guide display as the viewer browses through other available program listings on the program guide.

82. The machine-readable media defined in claim 74 wherein the browsing further comprises:

providing the viewer with an opportunity to keep the video displayed by the video window tuned to a previously selected program listing and browse through other available program listings on the program guide.

83. The machine-readable media defined in claim 74 wherein the browsing further comprises:

allowing the viewer to browse through various available program listings with the program guide display while the video displayed by the video window remains tuned to a previously selected program listing.

84. The machine-readable media defined in claim 74 wherein the browsing further comprises:

allowing the viewer to use a remote control key to direct the television to tune the video window to the program listing contained in the program guide display.

85. The machine-readable media defined in claim 74 wherein the browsing further comprises:

allowing the viewer to use a remote control key to direct the television to tune the video window to the program listing contained in the program guide display and to display the video for that program listing in the video window.

86. The machine-readable media defined in claim 74 wherein the browsing further comprises:

allowing the viewer to browse video-on-demand programs on said program guide.

87. The machine-readable media defined in claim 74 wherein the at least one program listing in the program guide display is a video-on-demand program listing, the method further comprising:

storing video-on-demand programs in a home storage device.

88. The machine-readable media defined in claim 74 wherein the at least one program listing in the program guide display is a video-on-demand program listing, said method further comprising:

providing a video clip for the video-on-demand program listing in the program guide display.

89. The machine-readable media defined in claim 74 wherein the at least one program listing in the program guide display is a video-on-demand program listing, said method further comprising:

providing a video clip for the video-on-demand program listing in the program guide display by allowing the viewer to use a remote control key to direct the program guide to request and display the video clip of the displayed video-on-demand program in the video window.

90. The machine-readable media defined in claim 89 wherein the providing further comprises:

indicating that video clips are available for the displayed video-on-demand program listing.

91. The machine-readable media defined in claim 90 wherein the indicating further comprises using an icon.

92. The machine-readable media defined in claim 74 wherein the at least one program listing in the program guide display is a video-on-demand program listing, said method further comprising:

allowing the viewer to obtain more detailed information about said listed video-on-demand program using a remote control key.

93. The machine-readable media defined in claim 74 wherein the at least one program listing in the program guide display is a video-on-demand program listing, said method further comprising:

allowing a viewer to place an order for the listed video-on-demand program.

94. The machine-readable media defined in claim 74 wherein the displaying further comprises:

displaying said program guide display with a time interval to indicate the time period for which program listings are being displayed.

95. The machine-readable media defined in claim 74 wherein the displaying further comprises:

displaying the program guide display with an adjustable time interval for which the at least one program listing is displayed and allowing the viewer to adjust the time interval to future time periods using remote control keys so that the viewer may browse program listings in said future time periods.

96. The machine-readable media defined in claim 95 wherein the displaying further comprises:

indicating that video clips are available for the program listings in said future time periods.

97. The machine-readable media defined in claim 95 wherein the displaying further comprises:

allowing the viewer to view video clips for future program listings contained in the program guide display by using a remote control key to direct the program guide to request and display such video clips in the video window.

98. The machine-readable media defined in claim 96 wherein the indicating further comprises using an icon.