Locally stored content previews. Representative of programming content in an electronic programming guide through a graphic image accessed from the hard drive of a set top box
First Claim
1. An apparatus for displaying information to a user via a television, comprising:
- a digital satellite system (DSS) processing element communicatively connected to a satellite communication medium for receiving a programming broadcast over the satellite communication medium;
a computer readable medium for storing a graphic image, the graphic image corresponding to a television program to be broadcast over the satellite communication medium; and
an internet processing element communicatively connected to the internet for transmitting and receiving data over the internet, communicatively connected to the DSS processing element for receiving the programming from the DSS processing element, communicatively connected to the computer readable medium, for retrieving the graphic image from the computer readable medium, and communicatively connected to the television for displaying the data received from the Internet and one of the television program and the graphic image on the television, the Internet processing element displaying a graphical user interface displaying on a single display screen selectable television programs that are currently being broadcast over the satellite communication medium and selectable television programs that are to be broadcast in the future, the Internet processing element displaying the television program on the television in response to a user request for the television program if the DSS processing element has received the television program from the satellite communication medium, the Internet processing element displaying the graphic image on the television and additional textual information about the content of the television program in response to the user request for the television program if the DSS processing element has not received the television program from the satellite communication medium while not displaying any graphic images corresponding to ones of the selectable television programs that have not been requested.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated DSS/WebTV receiver is communicatively connected to an Internet service provider, a DSS service provider, and (optionally) a local broadcast station to provide a display of DSS programs, Internet web sites, and local broadcast channels in a seamless fashion. The DSS/WebTV receiver downloads graphic images, corresponding to DSS programs, from a DSS communication medium or the Internet into a local memory. The graphic images are periodically updated by the DSS service provider or Internet service provider. The DSS/WebTV receiver generates a graphical user interface (GUI), displayed on a television screen, for facilitating a user'"'"'s navigation through the DSS, Internet, and local broadcast data. The GUI includes a selectable DSS program listing that displays DSS programs that are currently being broadcast or that will be broadcasted in the future. If a user selects a currently broadcasted program, the DSS/WebTV receiver displays the selected program on the television. If the user selects a program that is broadcasted in the future, the DSS/WebTV receiver displays a downloaded graphic image, corresponding to the selected program, on the television. The graphic image may be the selected program'"'"'s name or logo, still shots from the selected program, short video clips related to the selected program, or advertisements related to the selected program.
227 Citations
58 Claims
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1. An apparatus for displaying information to a user via a television, comprising:
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a digital satellite system (DSS) processing element communicatively connected to a satellite communication medium for receiving a programming broadcast over the satellite communication medium;
a computer readable medium for storing a graphic image, the graphic image corresponding to a television program to be broadcast over the satellite communication medium; and
an internet processing element communicatively connected to the internet for transmitting and receiving data over the internet, communicatively connected to the DSS processing element for receiving the programming from the DSS processing element, communicatively connected to the computer readable medium, for retrieving the graphic image from the computer readable medium, and communicatively connected to the television for displaying the data received from the Internet and one of the television program and the graphic image on the television, the Internet processing element displaying a graphical user interface displaying on a single display screen selectable television programs that are currently being broadcast over the satellite communication medium and selectable television programs that are to be broadcast in the future, the Internet processing element displaying the television program on the television in response to a user request for the television program if the DSS processing element has received the television program from the satellite communication medium, the Internet processing element displaying the graphic image on the television and additional textual information about the content of the television program in response to the user request for the television program if the DSS processing element has not received the television program from the satellite communication medium while not displaying any graphic images corresponding to ones of the selectable television programs that have not been requested. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 38, 39, 44, 49, 52, 55)
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12. A method of displaying information to a user via a television, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a graphic image related to a television program to be broadcast over a satellite communication medium;
storing the graphic image in a computer readable medium;
displaying a graphical user interface on the television, the graphical user interface displaying on a single display screen selectable television programs that are currently being broadcast over the satellite communication medium and selectable television programs that are to be broadcast in the future;
receiving a user request for the television program;
displaying the graphic image on the television in the graphical user interface if the request for the television program is received before the television program is broadcasted over the satellite communication medium, while not displaying any graphic images corresponding to ones of the selectable television programs that have not been requested by the user; and
displaying additional textual information about the content of the television program on the television if the request for the television program is received before the television program is broadcasted over the satellite communication medium. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 40, 41, 42, 45, 46, 50, 53, 56)
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25. An apparatus for displaying information to a user via a television, comprising:
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means for receiving a graphic image related to a television program to be broadcast over a satellite communication medium;
means for storing the graphic image in a computer readable medium;
means for displaying a graphical user interface on the television, the graphical user interface displaying on a single display screen selectable television programs that are currently being broadcast over the satellite communication medium and selectable television programs that are to be broadcast in the future on a single display screen;
means for receiving a user request for the television program;
means for displaying the graphic image on the television in the graphical user interface if the request for the television program is received before the television program is broadcasted over the satellite communication medium, while not displaying any graphic images corresponding to ones of the selectable television programs that have not been requested by the user; and
displaying additional textual information about the content of the television program on the television if the request for the television program is received before the television program is broadcasted over the satellite communication medium. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 43, 47, 48, 51, 54, 57)
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58. A method of displaying information to a user via a television, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a graphic image related to a television program to be broadcast over a communication medium, the graphic image received prior to the broadcasting of the television program and prior to a request for the television program in an electronic program guide;
storing the graphic image in a memory of a local television receiver unit coupled to the television;
displaying the electronic program guide on the television, the electronic program guide displaying selectable television programs that are currently being broadcast and selectable television programs that are to be broadcast in the future in a first portion of a single display screen of the electronic program guide;
receiving a user request for the television program in the electronic program guide;
displaying additional textual information about the content of the television program in a second portion of the single display screen of the electronic program guide on the television; and
in the event that the request for the television program is received before the television program is broadcasted over the communication medium, displaying the graphic image on the television in a third portion of the single display screen of the electronic program guide while not displaying any graphic images corresponding to ones of the selectable television programs that have not been requested by the user;
in the event that the request for the television program is received when the television program is being broadcast over the communication medium, displaying the television program in the third portion of the single display screen of the electronic program guide.
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Specification