Combination of recorded program index and EPG

• US 7,663,700 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2006
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Index Systems Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Index Systems Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Kwoh, Daniel S., Mankovitz, Roy J., Yuen, Henry C., Leung, Elsie Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/471,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20060236360A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,338 Days
• Field of Search: 348/569, 348/570, 348/563, 348/565, 348/584, 348/705, 348/706, 348/731, 348/732, 348/554, 348/555, 386/83, 386/69, 386/125, 725/39, 725/40, 725/41, 725/43, 725/44, 725/49
• US Class Current: 348/569
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/41 Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/042 Auxiliary features sensing such features G11B15/06
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/36 Signals on record carriers or on containers and recorded by the same method as the main recording
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/032 on tapes G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/107 of operating tapes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• 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 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A television system has a television viewing mode and a guide mode. The guide mode includes an electronic program guide (EPG), which provides the viewer program information for tuned programs, and a tape index guide (TIG), which provides information for programs recorded on a video cassette. In both guides, real time images of a program are displayed in a PIP window on the television screen and guide information is displayed in the background. In both guides, the viewer may switch between a currently telecast program or a recorded program. The viewer may access either guide from the television mode and vice versa. In the guide mode, the viewer may independently switch the guide information and the type of program, i.e., tuned or recorded, in the PIP window.

Claims

1. A method for use in an interactive television guide system in which program listings are available for broadcast programs and recorded programs, the method comprising:

displaying an on-screen guide comprising at least two program listings, wherein a first program listing corresponds to a recorded program and a second program listing corresponds to a broadcast program;

receiving a user selection of a program listing displayed in the on-screen guide; and

in response to the user selection, displaying a program that corresponds to the selected program listing.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the program further comprises displaying the on-screen guide when displaying the program.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the program is displayed in a PIP window.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the selected program listing is the first program listing; and

the program is the recorded program.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the selected program listing is the second program listing; and

the program is the broadcast program.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the on-screen program guide is displayed in response to a user indicating a desire to display recorded program listings while tuned to the broadcast program in full screen format.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the program is displayed in a full screen format.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising, in response to the user selection, displaying a program description that is associated with the program.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast program will be broadcast in the future.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast program is currently being broadcast.

11. An interactive television guide system that makes available program listings for broadcast programs and recorded programs, the system comprising:

a display screen;

a storage device;

an on-screen guide implemented at least partially by a microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor is programmed to;

provide on-screen guide comprising at least two program listings, wherein a first program listing corresponds to a recorded program and a second program listing corresponds to a broadcast program;

receive a user selection of a program listing displayed in the on-screen guide; and

in response to the user selection, display a program that corresponds to the selected program listing.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the microprocessor is further programmed to display the on-screen guide when displaying the program.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the microprocessor is further programmed to display the program in a PIP window.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the selected program listing is the first program listing; and

the program is the recorded program.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the selected program listing is the second program listing; and

the program is the broadcast program.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the microprocessor is further programmed to display the on-screen program guide in response to a user indicating a desire to display recorded program listings while tuned to the broadcast program in full screen format.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the microprocessor is further programmed to display the program in a full screen format.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the microprocessor is further programmed to display a program description that is associated with the program in response to the user selection.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the broadcast program will be broadcast in the future.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the broadcast program is currently being broadcast.