System and method for displaying event related electronic program guide data on intelligent remote devices

• US 6,862,741 B1
• Filed: 12/22/1999
• Issued: 03/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Spotware Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Grooters, Brandon A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yenke, Brian P.
• Application Number:
  US09/470,537
• Time in Patent Office: 1,896 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N00.5/44, H04/N00.7/18, H04/N00.5/445, G06/F00.3/00, G06/F01.3/00, 348/734, 725 39- 56, 725/80, 725/81, 725 74- 85, 725/134
• US Class Current: 725/39
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• 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

Abstract

A method and system for displaying event related program content and program guide data are disclosed. Upon the occurrence of an event such as a channel selection or change input, event related program content is displayed on a display coupled to an information handling system that functions as a host device and a tuning device for tuning to channels on which program content is broadcast. The information handling system further includes electronic program guide (EPG) data that includes program information for available programs. A portion of the EPG data that is related to the event being displayed is transmitted to a remote device that is capable of displaying the event related program guide data on a display of the remote device. The remote device allows a user to view and to browse event related program guide data on the remote device display such that the viewability of program content displayed on the display coupled to the information handling system is maximized, and any interference with the viewability of the program content is minimized. A bi-directional communications link is provided between the remote device and the information handling system and may be an infrared or radio-frequency link. The user may thereby browse event related programming information for other channels without detracting from the present channel, and may browse for event related programming information for the present channel over a predetermined time interval.

Claims

1. A method for displaying program information comprising:

upon occurrence of an event, sending a request for program guide data to a second information handling system from a first information handling system;

upon receiving the request, fetching event related program guide data;

transmitting the event related program guide data to the first information handling system; and

upon receiving the event related program guide data, displaying at least a portion of the event related program guide data on a first display of the first information handling system, wherein said event related program guide data on said first display corresponds to electronic program guide data displayed on a second display of said second information handling system.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first display includes a display of content and the display of electronic program guide data simultaneously.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the electronic program guide displayed on said first display of said first information handling system is displayed in at least one of a minimally invasive and minimally interfering manner.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the electronic program guide displayed on said first display of said first information handling system is displayed in a portion smaller than said display of content.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising determining whether the event related program guide data is available in the first information handling system, and in the event the event related program guide data is not available, executing said sending step.