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Three-dimensional program guide

  • US 7,511,710 B2
  • Filed: 11/25/2002
  • Issued: 03/31/2009
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2002
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:

  • rendering a three-dimensional environment in which multiple two dimensional areas are defined, each said two dimensional area having electronic program guide data that identifies media content scheduled to be available to a user, wherein;

    a first two-dimensional area of the multiple two-dimensional areas and a second two-dimensional area of the multiple two-dimensional areas are rendered within a common two-dimensional plane;

    a third two-dimensional area of the multiple two-dimensional areas is rendered perpendicular to the first two-dimensional area;

    a fourth two-dimensional area of the multiple two-dimensional areas is rendered parallel to the first two-dimensional area; and

    a fifth two-dimensional area of the multiple two-dimensional areas is rendered such that it is neither;

    within the common two-dimensional plane;

    parallel to the first two-dimensional area;

    norperpendicular to the first two-dimensional area;

    rendering program listings for media content associated with a first category of the electronic program guide data in a particular one of the two-dimensional areas;

    rendering program listings for media content associated with a second category of the electronic program guide data in another particular one of the two-dimensional areas;

    rendering detailed information about a particular media content in yet another particular one of the two-dimensional areas;

    identifying a virtual location and a virtual viewing direction of the user within the three-dimensional environment;

    displaying a portion of the three-dimensional environment via a display device, wherein;

    the portion of the three-dimensional environment that is displayed is determined based on the virtual location and the virtual viewing direction of the user; and

    the three-dimensional environment extends beyond the portion of the three-dimensional environment that is displayed, with reference to the virtual location and the virtual viewing direction of the user, in each of a plurality of directions, wherein the plurality of directions comprises;

    above;

    below;

    to the right;

    to the left; and

    behind;

    receiving a user-submitted location navigation command;

    in response to receiving the user-submitted location navigation command, modifying the virtual location of the user within the three-dimensional environment, thereby causing a different portion of the three-dimensional environment to be displayed;

    receiving a user-submitted viewing direction navigation command; and

    in response to receiving the user-submitted viewing direction navigation command, modifying the virtual viewing direction of the user within the three-dimensional environment, thereby causing another different portion of the three-dimensional environment to be displayed.

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