Program guide system with browsing display
First Claim
1. An interactive television program guide system implemented on user television equipment, comprising:
- means for simultaneously displaying (a) a program list that contains multiple program listings that only contains program listings for programs that are currently available for viewing, and that has a highlight region for highlighting a given one of the program listings, (b) a video window that contains an unobstructed view of a television program, and (c) a detailed program description of the highlighted program listing;
means for allowing the user to position the highlight region among the program listings;
means for allowing the user to position the highlight region in the program list with a first set of remote control keys, wherein when the first set of remote control keys is used to position the highlight region on a new program listing, the detailed program description is updated to correspond to the highlighted program listing while maintaining unchanged the television program displayed in the video window; and
means for allowing the user to position the highlight region in the program list with a second set of remote control keys, wherein the second set of remote control keys is different than the first set of remote control keys, and wherein when the second set of remote control keys is used to position the highlight region on a new program listing, both the detailed program description and the television program displayed in the video window are updated to correspond to the highlighted program listing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inter pap active television program guide system is provided in which a user may direct the program guide to display a browsing display screen. The browsing display screen includes a list of current programs including a movable highlight region, a video window containing a television program to which the system is currently tuned, and a detailed description of the highlighted program listing. The user may position the highlight region using remote control cursor keys. The user may then synchronize the content of the video window with the highlighted program listing by pressing a select key or a channel up or down key. If the user changes channels repeatedly using the channel up and down keys, the contents of the video window and the highlighted program listings remain in synchronization.
68 Citations
36 Claims
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1. An interactive television program guide system implemented on user television equipment, comprising:
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means for simultaneously displaying (a) a program list that contains multiple program listings that only contains program listings for programs that are currently available for viewing, and that has a highlight region for highlighting a given one of the program listings, (b) a video window that contains an unobstructed view of a television program, and (c) a detailed program description of the highlighted program listing; means for allowing the user to position the highlight region among the program listings; means for allowing the user to position the highlight region in the program list with a first set of remote control keys, wherein when the first set of remote control keys is used to position the highlight region on a new program listing, the detailed program description is updated to correspond to the highlighted program listing while maintaining unchanged the television program displayed in the video window; and means for allowing the user to position the highlight region in the program list with a second set of remote control keys, wherein the second set of remote control keys is different than the first set of remote control keys, and wherein when the second set of remote control keys is used to position the highlight region on a new program listing, both the detailed program description and the television program displayed in the video window are updated to correspond to the highlighted program listing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for using an interactive television program guide system implemented on user television equipment, comprising the steps of:
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simultaneously displaying (a) a program list that contains multiple program listings that only contains program listings for programs that are currently available for viewing, and that has a highlight region for highlighting a given one of the program listings, (b) a video window that contains an unobstructed view of a television program, and (c) a detailed program description of the highlighted program listing; allowing the user to position the highlight region among the program listings; allowing the user to position the highlight region in the program list with a first set of remote control keys, wherein when the first set of remote control keys is used to position the highlight region on a new program listing, the detailed program description is updated to correspond to the highlighted program listing while maintaining unchanged the television program displayed in the video window; and allowing the user to position the highlight region in the program list with a second set of remote control keys, wherein the second set of remote control keys is different than the first set of remote control keys, and wherein when the second set of remote control keys is used to position the highlight region on a new program listing, both the detailed program description and the television program displayed in the video window are updated to correspond to the highlighted program listing. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An interactive television program guide system implemented on user television equipment, comprising:
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a processor for simultaneously displaying on a display (a) a program list that contains multiple program listings that only contains program listings for programs that are currently available for viewing, and that has a highlight region for highlighting a given one of the program listings, (b) a video window that contains an unobstructed view of a television program, and (c) a detailed program description of the highlighted program listing; a control device for positioning the highlight region among the program listings; wherein the control device comprises a first set of remote control keys for positioning the highlight region in the program list, and wherein the processor is configured to position the highlight region on a new program listing and update the detailed program description to correspond to the highlighted program listing while maintaining unchanged the television program displayed in the video window when the first set of remote control keys is used; and the control device further comprises a second set of remote control keys for positioning the highlight region in the program list, wherein the second set of remote control keys is different than the first set of remote control keys, and wherein the processor is configured to position the highlight region on a new program listing and update both the detailed program description and the television program displayed in the video window to correspond to the highlighted program listing when the second set of remote control keys is used. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification