Three dimensional light electronic programming guide

• US 7,322,009 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2004
• Issued: 01/22/2008
• 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; Cao (Kevin)
• Application Number:
  US11/001,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20050097603A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 715/700, 715/716, 715/765, 715/769, 715/853, 715/854, 725/4, 725/10
• US Class Current: 715/700
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04802 3D-info-object: information is displayed on the internal or external surface of a three dimensional manipulable object, e.g. on the faces of a cube that can be rotated by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/04 involving 3D image data
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42653 for processing graphics
• 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 21/454 Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4826 using recommendation lists, e.g. of programs or channels sorted out according to their score
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/16 Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems

Abstract

A method and apparatus of displaying an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG). In one embodiment, an EPG is displayed in a three dimensional virtual mesh, in which independent objects representing television programs are situated. The simplified nature of the three dimensional EPG reduces the amount of processing necessary to display it. In addition, the virtual mesh may be displayed isometrically, so that hardware requirements are further reduced and it may be possible to use a software only three dimensional graphics pipeline. If a user has a set top box (STB) with a hardware accelerated graphics pipeline, the EPG may be displayed in a full three dimensional perspective view. A user can navigate the mesh to find television programs that they wish to view. A user can assign values to types of television programs that they prefer, and these programs will be displayed more prominently.

Claims

1. A method for displaying an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG) performed by computer instruction storage on a memory and executed by a computer, the method comprising:

generating a three dimensional virtual mesh polyhedron wherein the virtual mesh polyhedron is displayed at an angle other than normal view;

generating a plurality of planes positioned in said polyhedron, said planes being approximately parallel, said polyhedron having a first object on a first plane and a second object on a second plane,

wherein said plurality of planes are both internal and external plane surfaces which are used to display information; and

providing a supplementary information area.

2. A method for displaying an EPG as in claim 1, wherein said EPG is generated exclusive of three dimensional graphics circuitry.

3. A method for displaying an EPG as in claim 1, wherein the selection of one of said objects will select a program provided on a certain channel at a certain time.

4. A method for displaying an EPG as in claim 1, wherein said objects are independent of said polyhedron.

5. A method for displaying an EPG as in claim 1, wherein said objects represent a certain television program on a certain channel at a certain time.

6. A method for displaying an EPG as in claim 1, wherein said virtual mesh polyhedron is a cube.

7. A method for displaying an EPG as in claim 6, wherein said cube further comprises three axes.

8. A method for displaying an EPG as in claim 7, wherein said axes correspond to time, channel, and user preference.

9. A method for displaying an EPG as in claim 1, wherein said planes correspond to levels of preference.

10. A method for displaying an EPG as in claim 1, wherein at least one of said objects a pictogram.

11. A method for displaying an EPG as in claim 1, wherein said planes correspond to categories of channels.

12. A method for displaying an EPG as in claim 1, wherein said supplementary information area displays details of a selected program.

13. A method for displaying an EPG as in claim 1, wherein said supplementary information area is an extension of one of said planes.

14. A method for displaying an EPG as in claim 1, wherein said supplementary information area displays advertisement/promotional information.

15. A method for displaying an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) performed by computer instruction storage on a memory and executed by a computer, the method comprising:

a three dimensional isometric virtual mesh polyhedron wherein the virtual mesh polyhedron is displayed at an angle other than normal view;

a plurality of planes positioned in said polyhedron, said polyhedron having a first object on a first plane and a second object on a second plane; and

said objects providing interactive surfaces;

wherein said plurality of planes are both internal and external plane surfaces which are used to display information; and

further wherein at least one of said planes are rectangular.

16. The EPG of claim 15, wherein said EPG is generated exclusive of three dimensional graphics circuitry.

17. The EPG of claim 15, wherein the selection of one of said objects will select a program provided on a certain channel at a certain time.

18. The EPG of claim 15, wherein said objects are independent of said polyhedron.

19. The EPG of claim 15, wherein said objects represent a certain television program on a certain channel at a certain time.

20. The EPG of claim 15, wherein said polyhedron is a cube.

21. The EPG of claim 20, wherein said cube further comprises three axes.

22. The EPG of claim 21, wherein said axes correspond to time, channel, and user preference.

23. The EPG of claim 15, wherein said planes are parallel.

24. The EPG of claim 15, wherein said planes correspond to levels of preference.

25. The EPG of claim 15, wherein at least one of said objects is a pictogram.

26. A method for displaying an EPG as in claim 15, wherein said planes correspond to program information for a particular channel.

27. A method for displaying an EPG as in claim 15, wherein said planes correspond to categories of channels.

28. A method for displaying an EPG as in claim 15, wherein said planes are comprised of varying colors.

29. A method for displaying an Electronic Program Guide (EPG), the displaying performed by computer instruction storage on a memory and executed by a computer, the system comprising:

a first unit for generating a three dimensional virtual mesh polyhedron wherein the virtual mesh polyhedron is displayed at an angle other than normal view;

said first unit also generating a plurality of planes positioned in said polyhedron, said polyhedron having a first object on a first plane and a second object on a second plane, said objects providing interactive surfaces; and

further wherein selection of at least one of said objects transforms the object to a pictogram.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein said EPG is generated exclusive of three dimensional graphics circuitry.

31. The system of claim 29 wherein the selection of one of said objects or pictograms will select a program provided on a certain channel at a certain time.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein said objects are independent of said polyhedron.

33. The system of claim 29, wherein said objects represent a certain television program on a certain channel at a certain time.

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

35. The system of claim 29, wherein said planes are parallel.

36. The system of claim 29, wherein said planes correspond to levels of preference.