Method and apparatus for displaying television programs and related text
DC CAFCFirst Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for displaying an electronic program guide in an interactive television system having a tuner and a screen, the method comprising:
- simultaneously displaying a plurality of television program listings in a first area of the screen, a currently broadcast television program received by the tuner in a second, nonoverlapping area of the screen and a detailed program description of the currently broadcast television program displayed in the second area of the screen in a third nonoverlapping area of the screen; and
switching the detailed program description displayed in the third area of the screen in response to a user input without changing the currently broadcast television program displayed in the second area of the screen.
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Abstract
A television viewer uses a PIP format for display of program related information such as television program listings from a program schedule data base in the background and moving, real time or stored video clip images of a program selected from the displayed listings in the PIP window. All the text of the background information lies outside the PIP window. In one embodiment, as the viewer selects a particular program from the display of current television program listings by means of a cursor or a code number, the corresponding program automatically appears in the PIP window.
759 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for displaying an electronic program guide in an interactive television system having a tuner and a screen, the method comprising:
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simultaneously displaying a plurality of television program listings in a first area of the screen, a currently broadcast television program received by the tuner in a second, nonoverlapping area of the screen and a detailed program description of the currently broadcast television program displayed in the second area of the screen in a third nonoverlapping area of the screen; and switching the detailed program description displayed in the third area of the screen in response to a user input without changing the currently broadcast television program displayed in the second area of the screen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for displaying an electronic program guide in an interactive television system having a tuner and a screen, the method comprising:
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displaying in a first area of the screen a plurality of program listings; simultaneously displaying in a second area of the screen substantially all of a currently broadcast television program; simultaneously displaying in a third area of the screen a detailed program description of the current television program displayed in the second area of the screen; and switching the detailed program description displayed in the third area of the screen in response to a user input without changing the current television program displayed in the second area of the screen. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for displaying an electronic program guide in an interactive television system having a tuner and a screen, the method comprising:
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simultaneously displaying a plurality of television program listings in a first area of the screen, substantially all of a currently broadcast television program received by the tuner in a second area of the screen and a detailed program description of the currently broadcast television program displayed in the second area of the screen in a third area of the screen; and switching the detailed program description displayed in the third area of the screen in response to a user input without changing the currently broadcast television program displayed in the second area of the screen. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for displaying an electronic program guide in an interactive television system having a tuner and a screen, the method comprising:
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simultaneously displaying a plurality of television program listings in a first area of the screen, substantially all of a currently broadcast television program received by the tuner in a second area of the screen and a detailed program description of the currently broadcast television program displayed in the second area of the screen in a third area of the screen; receiving a selection of one of the plurality of program listings displayed in the first area of the screen and switching the display in the third area to a description of the program corresponding to the selected program listing without changing the video program displayed in the second area of the screen.
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16. An interactive entertainment system comprising:
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a microprocessor coupled to a tuner; the microprocessor configured to; format a screen comprising a simultaneous display of a plurality of television program listings in a first area of the screen, a currently broadcast television program received by the tuner in a second nonoverlapping area of the screen and a detailed program description of the currently broadcast television program displayed in the second area of the screen in a third nonoverlapping area of the screen; and switch the detailed program description displayed in the third area of the screen in response to a user input without changing the currently broadcast television program displayed in the second area of the screen. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification