Program guide data selection device

• US 6,910,191 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2001
• Issued: 06/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Segerberg, Tomas, Bernhardson, Marcus
• Primary Examiner(s): Cabeca, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Becker, Shawn M.
• Application Number:
  US09/985,307
• Publication Number:
  US 20030090524A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,327 Days
• Field of Search: 345/721, 345784-787, 345828-830, 345/833, 725/45, 725/52
• US Class Current: 715/830
• 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 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72

Abstract

A digital interactive television set device for selecting program guide data corresponding to available programming content. A processor filters the programming guide data according to different filter categories and also individual filter ranges associated with respective categories, and provides a corresponding display on the television. A graphical user interface provides a horizontal scroll bar with scroll bar elements signifying individual filter ranges of the filter categories, such that when selected individually, scroll bar elements of a vertical scroll bar signify individual program content items from the program data that fall within the filter category and range of the selected horizontal bar element, at least one of the scroll bar elements of the horizontal scroll bar comprising a multiple depiction of more than one of the individual filter ranges of filter categories, whereby an individual one of the filter ranges may be selected from the multiple depiction.

Claims

1. A programming guide data selection device for selecting program guide data corresponding to available programming content, comprising:

a processor operable to filter the programming guide data according to different filter categories and individual filter ranges associated with the respective categories, and

a graphical user interface to provide first and second transversely extending and intersecting scroll bars which each comprise a plurality of scroll bar elements that can be scrolled successively through a focus region positioned at the intersection of the first and second scroll bars,

the scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar signifying individual filter ranges of the filter categories, which are individually selectable by being scrolled into the focus region, such that when selected individually, the scroll bar elements of the second scroll bar signify individual program content items from the program data that fall within the filter category and range of the selected first scroll bar element, said individual program content items being individually selectable by scrolling the second scroll bar to place the element of the second scroll bar corresponding to the program item into the focus region,

at least one of the scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar comprising a multiple depiction of more than one of said individual filter ranges of the filter categories selectable from the multiple depiction individually by being moved into the focus region, and

a viewing region for viewing a program content item selected in the focus region.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the multiple depiction of said more than one filter category ranges comprises a three dimensional depiction thereof.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar include multiple facets that signify individual filter ranges of different categories.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar are polygonal and are rotatable about a common axis extending longitudinally about the first scroll bar.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the elements are rotatable in unison about said axis.

6. The device of claim 2 wherein the scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar each include facets associated with respective different filter categories.

7. The device of claim 1 further including a controller operable by a user to scroll the scroll bars individually through the focus region.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the controller includes a selector device to select an individual scroll bar element corresponding to a filter category and range.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein the controller includes a selector device to select a filter category and range corresponding to an individual scroll bar element when scrolled into the focus region.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the processor is operable to perform multiple filtering whereby scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar are selected successively, and the scroll bar elements of the second scroll bar signify individual program content items from the program data that fall within the filter categories and ranges of all of the successively selected first scroll bar elements.

11. An interactive display device for displaying content from a plurality of different sources thereof on a display screen, including a programming guide data selection device for selecting program guide data corresponding to available programming content, comprising:

a processor operable to filter the programming guide data according to different filter categories and individual filter ranges associated with the respective categories, a graphical user interface to provide a display on the display screen that includes a focus region, first and second transversely extending scroll bars which intersect in the focus region, and which each comprise a plurality of scroll bar elements, the scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar signifying individual filter ranges of the filter categories, which are individually selectable by being scrolled into the focus region, such that when selected individually, the scroll bar elements of the second scroll bar signify individual program content items from the program data that fall within the filter category and range of the selected first scroll bar element, said individual program content items being individually selectable by scrolling the second scroll bar to place the element of the second scroll bar that corresponds to the program item into the focus region, at least one of the scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar comprising a multiple depiction of more than one said individual filter ranges of filter categories, selectable from the multiple depiction individually by being moved into the focus region, and

a controller operable by a user to scroll the scroll bar elements of the first and second scroll bars through the focus region to select individual program items.

12. The device of claim 11 further including the display screen.

13. The device according to claim 11 comprising a control unit for a multi-channel television set.

14. The device according to claim 13 and comprising a set top box.

15. The device of claim 11 configured to receive programming data selected from a group consisting of satellite transmissions, cable transmissions, the Internet and pre-recorded digital data.

16. The device of claim 11 wherein the controller comprises a handheld device connected to the circuitry by a wireless link.

17. A data carrier provided with a program to be run by a processor to provide as graphical user interface for a programming guide data selection device which is operable to select program guide data corresponding to available programming content, the interface including a focus region, first and second transversely extending scroll bars which intersect in the focus region and which each comprise a plurality of scroll bar elements, the scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar signifying individual filter ranges of the filter categories, which are individually selectable by being scrolled into the focus region, such that when selected individually, the scroll bar elements of the second scroll bar signify individual program content items from the program data that fall within the filter category and range of the selected first scroll bar element, said individual program content items being individually selectable by scrolling the second scroll bar to place the element of the second scroll bar that corresponds to the program item into the focus region, at least one of the scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar comprising a multiple depiction of more than one of said individual filter ranges of filter categories, selectable from the multiple depiction individually by being moved into the focus region.

18. A method of operating a graphical user interface to select content items form programming guide data the user interface including a focus region, first and second transversely extending scroll bars which intersect in the focus region and which each comprise a plurality of scroll bar elements, the scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar signifying individual filter ranges of filter categories, which are individually selectable by being scrolled into the focus region. such that when selected individually, the scroll bar elements of the second scroll bar signify individual program content items from the program data that fall within the filter category and range of the selected first scroll bar element, said individual program content items being individually selectable by scrolling the second scroll bar to place the element of the second scroll bar that corresponds to the program item into the focus region, at least one of the scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar comprising a multiple depiction of more than one of said individual filter ranges of filter categories, whereby an individual one of the filter ranges may be selected from the multiple depiction, the method comprising:

selecting an individual filter range and category from the multiple depiction for an individual one of the scroll bar elements of the first scroll bar by moving the selected depiction into the focus region;

displaying program content items form the programming data corresponding to the selected an individual filter range and category in the scroll bar elements of the second scroll bar, and

selecting one of the program items by scrolling the second scroll bar to place the item to be selected into the focus region.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the selecting from the multiple depiction includes rotating the elements of the first scroll bar.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the selecting from the multiple depiction includes shuffling facets which signify the individual filter category ranges.

21. The method of claim 18 including performing multiple filtering whereby scroll elements of the first scroll bar are selected successively, and such that the scroll bar elements of the second scroll bar signify individual program content items from the program data that fall within the filter categories and ranges of all of the successively selected first scroll bar elements.