Multipurpose channel banner

• US 6,567,106 B1
• Filed: 01/05/1998
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amiga Development LLC
• Inventors: Wugofski, Theodore D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Kristine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Thomas T.
• Application Number:
  US09/002,733
• Time in Patent Office: 1,961 Days
• Field of Search: 345/327, 345/328, 345/346, 345/716, 345/714, 345/723, 345/804, 345/805, 345/764, 348/10, 348/12, 348/13, 348/569, 348/906
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• 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 21/4622 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 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73

Abstract

A convergence system that displays channel banners that assume the same form regardless of the source. Accordingly, a computer-readable medium having computer-executable components stored thereon for execution on a suitably equipped computerized system is described. The components include a television services component for receiving a plurality of inputs from a plurality of sources. Each input includes a corresponding data set. Also, a user interface component is included for providing a partial-screen graphical user interface in response to the data set of a selected source. The graphical user interface includes a basic field for display in a form regardless of the selected source.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable components stored thereon for execution on a suitably equipped computerized system, the components including:

a television services component for receiving a plurality of inputs from a plurality of sources, wherein each input includes a corresponding data set; and

a user interface component for providing a partial-screen graphical user interface in response to the data set of a selected source;

wherein the graphical user interface includes a basic field for display in a consistent form regardless of the selected source, wherein the consistent form comprises a same displayed location and format of the basic field regardless of the selected source.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the graphical user interface includes a plurality of basic fields for display in a form regardless of the selected source.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the graphical user interface includes a source-specific additional field.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 3 wherein the additional field is selectively displayed.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 3 wherein the graphical user interface includes an additional fields section, and wherein the additional fields section includes the source-specific additional field.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 5 wherein the additional fields portion includes a plurality of source-specific additional fields.

7. A method suitable for use with a convergence system, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of sources, each source having an input having associated therewith a set of information;

displaying a channel banner having a plurality of fields for receiving and displaying at least some of the set of information;

selecting one of the plurality of sources; and

displaying at least some of the set of information from the selected source in the plurality of the fields;

wherein the plurality of fields retains a consistent form regardless of the selected source, wherein the consistent form comprises a same displayed location and format of the plurality of fields regardless of the selected source.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of displaying a channel banner includes displaying at least one additional field which includes source-specific information.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of displaying at least some of the set of information includes accessing an electronic program guide database for a first information and a functional database for additional information, wherein the set of information includes the first information and the second information.

10. The method of claim 7 and further comprising the step of displaying a video output associated with the selected source.

11. A convergence system, comprising:

a plurality of input components, each input component having an output signal with at least one of a channel and event and a data set;

a display operably coupled to the input components for outputting the output signals; and

a controller for selecting one of the input components; and

a processor operably coupled to the input components, the controller, and the display, the processor for generating a channel banner for output on the display wherein the channel banner includes a plurality of basic fields updatable with the data set wherein the basic fields retain a consistent form regardless of the selected input component, wherein the consistent form comprises a same displayed location and format of the basic fields regardless of the selected input component.

12. The convergence system of claim 11 wherein the plurality of input components includes at least one television receiver and at least one personal computer.

13. The convergence system of claim 12 wherein the at least one television receiver is one of a radio-frequency receiver, satellite receiver, and digital receiver.

14. The convergence system of claim 12 wherein the plurality of input components also includes a consumer electronic device.

15. The convergence system of claim 11 wherein the processors receives inputs from an electronic program guide database.

16. The convergence system of claim 11 wherein the channel banner includes at least one additional field for displaying information dependent on the selected input component.