Perpendicular view three dimensional electronic programming guide

• US 7,312,796 B1
• Filed: 09/19/2000
• Issued: 12/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: JLB Ventures, LLC
• Original Assignee: JLB Ventures, LLC
• Inventors: Kikinis, Dan
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kimbinh T.
• Application Number:
  US09/664,843
• Time in Patent Office: 2,653 Days
• Field of Search: 345/419, 345/721, 345/719, 345/421, 345/427, 345/420, 348/569, 348/731, 348/563, 348/906, 348/580, 725/39, 725/50, 725/40, 725/54, 725/51, 725/60, 715/719, 715/721
• US Class Current: 345/420
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time

Abstract

A method and apparatus of displaying an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG). In one embodiment, an EPG is constructed of a three dimensional virtual mesh, in which independent objects representing television programs are situated. The virtual mesh is displayed perpendicularly, so that the hardware requirements of the set top box (STB) may be reduced. A user can navigate the mesh to find television programs that they wish to view. A user can designate the types of television programs that they prefer, and these programs will be displayed more prominently. In addition, the mesh is constructed of at least two planes. The first plane is flat, while all other planes are hyperbolic to correct for a viewer'"'"'s line of sight.

Claims

1. A method for displaying an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) comprising:

displaying a three dimensional polyhedron;

forming a plane positioned in said three dimensional polyhedron, said plane comprising at least one object, said object comprising at least one interactive surface;

displaying at least one geometric surface positioned in said three dimensional polyhedron, said geometric surface comprising at least one object,

wherein the three dimensional polyhedron includes a plurality of plane surfaces which are used to display information, and

wherein said plurality of plane surfaces include a first plane surface that forms a first face of said three dimensional polyhedron, a second plane surface forming a second face of said three dimensional polyhedron, and a third plane surface disposed between the first plane surface and the second plane surface, wherein the first, second and third plane surfaces lie in different planes.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said geometric surfaces are hyperbolic planes.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said objects are independent of said polyhedron.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said polyhedron is displayed with a perpendicular view.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said polyhedron is displayed with an isometric view.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said plane is positioned in front of said geometric surfaces.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said objects represent a television program.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said EPG is displayed exclusive of three dimensional graphics circuitry.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said polyhedron is a cube.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein:

said information positioned in said first plane surface represents television programs which are preferred; and

said information positioned in said third plane surface represents television programs which are not preferred.

11. An Electronic Programming Guide (EPG) comprising:

a three dimensional polyhedron;

said polyhedron comprising a plane and at least one geometric surface positioned in said polyhedron;

said plane comprising at least one object;

said geometric surface comprising at least one object; and

said objects comprising at least one interactive surface,

wherein the three dimensional polyhedron includes a plurality of plane surfaces which are used to display information, said plurality of plane surfaces including a first plane surface that forms a first face of said three dimensional polyhedron, a second plane surface forming a second face of said three dimensional polyhedron, and a third plane surface disposed between the first plane surface and the second plane surface, wherein the first, second and third plane surfaces lie in different planes.

12. The EPG of claim 11, wherein said geometric surfaces are hyperbolic planes.

13. The EPG of claim 11, wherein said objects are independent of said polyhedron.

14. The EPG of claim 11, wherein said polyhedron is displayed with a perpendicular view.

15. The EPG of claim 14, wherein said polyhedron is displayed with an isometric view.

16. The EPG of claim 14, wherein said plane is positioned in front of said geometric surfaces.

17. The EPG of claim 11, wherein said objects represent a television program.

18. The EPG of claim 11, wherein said EPG is displayed exclusive of three dimensional graphics circuitry.

19. The EPG of claim 11, wherein said polyhedron is a cube.

20. The EPG of claim 17, wherein:

said information positioned in said first plane surface represents television programs which are preferred; and

said information positioned in said third plane surface represents television programs which are not preferred.

21. A system for displaying an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) comprising:

a memory; and

a first unit to display a three dimensional polyhedron;

said first unit to further display a plane positioned in said three dimensional polyhedron, said plane comprising at least one object, said object comprising at least one interactive surface; and

said first unit to further display at least one geometric surface positioned in said three dimensional polyhedron, said geometric surface comprising at least one object, said object comprising at least one interactive surface; and

further wherein the three dimensional polyhedron includes a plurality of plane surfaces which are used to display information, said plurality of plane surfaces including a first plane surface that forms a first face of said three dimensional polyhedron, a second plane surface forming a second face of said three dimensional polyhedron, and a third plane surface disposed between the first plane surface and the second plane surface, wherein the first, second and third plane surfaces lie in different planes.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said geometric surfaces are hyperbolic planes.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein said objects are independent of said polyhedron.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein said polyhedron is displayed with a perpendicular view.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein said polyhedron is displayed with an isometric view.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein said plane is positioned in front of said geometric surfaces.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein said objects represent a television program.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein said EPG is displayed exclusive of three dimensional graphics circuitry.

29. The system of claim 21, wherein said polyhedron is a cube.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein:

said information positioned in said first plane surface represents television programs which are preferred; and

said information positioned in said third plane surface represents television programs which are not preferred.

31. A computer readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions which are executable by a processor, and which, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform a method for displaying an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG) comprising:

displaying a three dimensional polyhedron;

forming a plane positioned in said three dimensional polyhedron, said plane comprising at least one object, said object comprising at least one interactive surface; and

displaying at least one geometric surface positioned in said three dimensional polyhedron, said geometric surface comprising at least one object,

wherein the polyhedron includes a plurality of plane surfaces which are used to display information, said plurality of plane surfaces including a first plane surface that forms a first face of said three dimensional polyhedron, a second plane surface forming a second face of said three dimensional polyhedron, and a third plane surface disposed between the first plane surface and the second plane surface, wherein the first, second and third plane surfaces lie in different planes.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 31, wherein said geometric surfaces are hyperbolic planes.

33. The computer readable medium of claim 31, wherein said objects are independent of said three dimensional polyhedron.

34. The computer readable medium of claim 31, wherein said three dimensional polyhedron is displayed with a perpendicular view.

35. The computer readable medium of claim 31, wherein said three dimensional polyhedron is displayed with an isometric view.

36. The computer readable medium of claim 34, wherein said plane is positioned in front of said geometric surface.

37. The computer readable medium of claim 31, wherein said objects represent a television program.

38. The computer readable medium of claim 31, wherein said EPG is displayed exclusive of three dimensional graphics circuitry.

39. The computer readable medium of claim 31, wherein said three dimensional polyhedron is a cube.

40. The computer readable medium of claim 37, wherein:

said information positioned in said first plane surface represents television programs which are preferred; and

said information positioned in said third plane surface represents television programs which are not preferred.