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

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Barrett, Peter T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Kimbinh T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hajnik; Daniel F.
• Application Number:
  US10/303,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20040103432A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,318 Days
• Field of Search: 345/650, 345/733, 725/52, 348/580
• US Class Current: 345/419
• 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: H04N 21/414 Specialised client platforms, e.g. receiver in car or embedded in a mobile appliance
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4222 Remote control device emulator integrated into a non-television apparatus, e.g. a PDA, media center or smart toy remote control device for a television receiver integrated into a mobile phone H04M1/72415
• 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• 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

Abstract

A three-dimensional electronic program guide (EPG) is displayed as multiple two-dimensional areas within a three-dimensional television viewing environment. Each two-dimensional area contains a particular category of EPG data. A viewer navigates the three-dimensional EPG using an input device, such as a joystick or other game controller.

Claims

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;

nor

perpendicular 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.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first category is based on at least one of a genre, a program type, a target audience, a channel, a time of day, or a program topic.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first category represents a genre selected from a group of genre comprising drama, comedy, mystery, and romance.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first category represents a program type selected from a group of program types comprising television series, movie, game show, documentary, and educational program.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the user-submitted location navigation command is received via a game controller.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the user-submitted viewing direction navigation command is received via a game controller.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein a program listing for a particular media content is simultaneously rendered in both the particular one of the two dimensional areas and the another particular one of the two dimensional areas, indicating that the particular media content is associated with both the first category and the second category.

8. One or more computer storage media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to perform the method as recited in claim 1.

9. A game console configured to perform the method as recited in claim 1 further comprising a processor for executing instructions to perform the method and a memory.