Systems and methods for providing a scan transport bar

• US 8,407,737 B1
• Filed: 07/11/2007
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): HANCE, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US11/827,246
• Time in Patent Office: 2,085 Days
• Field of Search: 725/38, 725/52
• US Class Current: 725/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4886 for displaying a ticker, e.g. scrolling banner for news, stock exchange, weather data

Abstract

A scan transport bar is disclosed. The scan transport bar includes a number of cells indicating programs within the scan. The scan transport bar is displayed with the currently-tuned program. The scan transport bar includes tuning sequence numbers for allowing users to easily tune to programs within the scan. A countdown timer is also provided that indicates the amount of time until the next tune in the scan.

Claims

1. A method for generating a program scan toolbar for allowing users of an interactive media guidance application to navigate programs within a program scan, comprising:

identifying a plurality of programs for inclusion in a program scan;

retrieving information identifying each of the plurality of programs from memory;

generating a cell for each of the plurality of programs, each cell containing the identifying information for a program;

assigning a tuning sequence number for each of the plurality of programs;

displaying the plurality of cells;

performing a program scan in which each of the plurality of programs is successively tuned to for a defined period of time;

receiving a user navigation numerical input comprising a tuning sequence number; and

in response to receiving the tuning sequence number, directing the tuner to the received tuning sequence number and, without further user input, restarting the program scan from the program assigned the tuning sequence number.

2. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising highlighting the cell of the currently tuned-to program with a highlight region.

3. The method defined in claim 2 further comprising:

receiving a user input to advance the scan one program; and

in response to the user input advancing the scan one program, highlighting the cell of, and tuning to, the next program in the scan tuning sequence.

4. The method defined in claim 2 further comprising:

receiving a user input to reverse the scan one program; and

in response to the user input reversing the scan one program, highlighting the cell of, and tuning to, the prior program in the scan tuning sequence.

5. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the number of programs and tuning sequence numbers is greater than the number of cells displayed simultaneously.

6. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the plurality of cells are simultaneously displayed with at least a substantial portion of the current program of the scan.

7. The method defined in claim 1 wherein only a subset of the plurality of cells is simultaneously displayed.

8. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising:

receiving an input to remove a program from the scan; and

in response to receiving the input to remove the program from the scan;

designating the program for removal from the scan; and

visually indicating in the cell of the program that the program has been designated for removal from the scan.

9. The method defined in claim 8 further comprising:

receiving an input to de-designate a program for removal from the scan; and

in response to receiving the input to de-designate the program for removal from the scan;

de-designating the program for removal from the scan and

removing the visual indication from the cell.

10. The method defined in claim 1 comprising:

receiving a user input to reverse the scan; and

in response to receiving the user input to reverse the scan, reversing the scan.

11. The method defined in claim 10 wherein reversing the scan comprises playing the currently-tuned program backwards from a buffer.

12. The method defined in claim 11 wherein playing the currently-tuned program backwards comprises playing the currently-tuned program backwards from the buffer faster than real time.

13. The method defined in claim 10 further comprising:

receiving a second user input to reverse the scan; and

in response to the second user input, adjusting the speed of the reverse of the scan.

14. The method defined in claim 10 wherein reversing the scan comprises reversing the order in which the programs are selected in the scan.

15. The method defined in claim 1 comprising:

receiving a user input to fast-forward the scan; and

in response to receiving the user input to fast-forward the scan, fast-forwarding the scan.

16. The method defined in claim 15 wherein fast-forwarding the scan comprises playing the currently-tuned program from a buffer faster than real time.

17. The method defined in claim 15 further comprising:

receiving a second user input to fast-forward the scan; and

in response to the second user input, adjusting the speed of the fast-forward of the scan.

18. The method defined in claim 15 wherein fast-forwarding the scan comprises reversing the direction of the scan if it had been previously reversed.

19. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising displaying a countdown timer indicating the time until the next tune in the scan occurs.

20. The method defined in claim 19 further comprising:

receiving a user input to reverse the scan; and

in response to receiving the user input to reverse the scan, reversing the countdown timer.

21. The method defined in claim 20 wherein reversing the countdown timer comprises reversing the countdown timer faster than real time.

22. The method defined in claim 19 further comprising:

receiving a user input to fast-forward the scan; and

in response to receiving the user input to fast-forward the scan, advancing the countdown timer in faster than real time.

23. A system for generating a program scan toolbar for allowing users of an interactive media guidance application to navigate programs within a program scan, comprising:

a user input device; and

control circuitry comprising memory and a tuner, the control circuitry configured to;

identify a plurality of programs for inclusion in a program scan;

retrieve information identifying each of the plurality of programs from the memory;

generate a cell for each of the plurality of programs, each cell containing the identifying information for a program;

assign a tuning sequence number for each of the plurality of programs;

direct a display device to display the plurality of cells;

initiate a program scan in which the control circuitry directs the tuner to successively tune to each of the plurality of programs for a defined period of time;

receive a user navigation numerical input from the user input device comprising a tuning sequence number; and

in response to receiving the tuning sequence number, directing the tuner to the received tuning sequence number and, without further user input, restarting the program scan from the program assigned the tuning sequence number.

24. The system defined in claim 23 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to highlight the cell of the currently tuned-to program with a highlight region.

25. The system defined in claim 24 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive a user input from the user input device to advance the scan one program; and

in response to the user input advancing the scan one program, highlight the cell of, and directing the tuner to tune to, the next program in the scan tuning sequence.

26. The system defined in claim 24 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive a user input from the user input device to reverse the scan one program; and

in response to the user input reversing the scan one program, highlighting the cell of, and directing the tuner to tune to, the prior program in the scan tuning sequence.

27. The system defined in claim 23 wherein the control circuitry is further configured so that the number of programs and tuning sequence numbers is greater than the number of cells displayed simultaneously.

28. The system defined in claim 23 wherein the control circuitry is further configured so that the plurality of cells are simultaneously displayed with at least a substantial portion of the current program of the scan.

29. The system defined in claim 23 wherein the control circuitry is further configured so that only a subset of the plurality of cells is simultaneously displayed.

30. The system defined in claim 23 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive an input from the user input device to remove a program from the scan; and

in response to receiving the input to remove the program from the scan;

designate the program for removal from the scan; and

visually indicate in the cell of the program that the program has been designated for removal from the scan.

31. The system defined in claim 30 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive an input from the user input device to de-designate a program for removal from the scan; and

in response to receiving the input to de-designate the program for removal from the scan;

de-designate the program for removal from the scan and

remove the visual indication from the cell.

32. The system defined in claim 23 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive a user input from the user input device to reverse the scan; and

in response to receiving the user input to reverse the scan, reversing the scan.

33. The system defined in claim 32 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to reverse the scan by playing the currently-tuned program backwards from a buffer.

34. The system defined in claim 33 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to play the currently tuned program backwards from the buffer faster than real time.

35. The system defined in claim 32 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive a second user input to reverse the scan; and

in response to the second user input, adjust the speed of the reverse of the scan.

36. The system defined in claim 32 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to reverse the scan by reversing the order in which the programs are selected in the scan.

37. The system defined in claim 23 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive a user input from the user input device to fast-forward the scan; and

in response to receiving the user input to fast-forward the scan, fast-forwarding the scan.

38. The system defined in claim 37 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to fast-forward the scan by playing the currently-tuned program from a buffer faster than real time.

39. The system defined in claim 37 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive a second user input to fast-forward the scan; and

in response to the second user input, adjust the speed of the fast-forward of the scan.

40. The system defined in claim 37 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to fast-forward the scan by reversing the direction of the scan if it had been previously reversed.

41. The system defined in claim 23 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to display a countdown timer indicating the time until the next tune in the scan occurs.

42. The system defined in claim 41 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive a user input to reverse the scan; and

in response to the user input, reverse the countdown timer.

43. The system defined in claim 42 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to reverse the countdown timer in faster than real time.

44. The system defined in claim 41 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

receive a user input to fast-forward the scan; and

in response to the user input, fast-forward the countdown timer in faster than real time.

45. A system for generating a program scan toolbar for allowing users of an interactive media guidance application to navigate programs within a program scan, comprising:

means for identifying a plurality of programs for inclusion in a program scan;

means for retrieving information identifying each of the plurality of programs from memory;

means for generating a cell for each of the plurality of programs, each cell containing the identifying information for a program;

means for assigning a tuning sequence number for each of the plurality of programs;

means for displaying the plurality of cells;

means for performing a program scan in which each of the plurality of programs is successively tuned to for a defined period of time;

means for receiving a user navigation numerical input comprising a tuning sequence number; and

means for, in response to receiving the tuning sequence number, directing the tuner to the received tuning sequence number and, without further user input, restarting the program scan from the program assigned the tuning sequence number.

46. The system defined in claim 45 further comprising means for highlighting the cell of the currently tuned-to program with a highlight region.

47. The system defined in claim 45 further comprising:

means for receiving a user input to advance the scan one program; and

means for, in response to the user input advancing the scan one program, highlighting the cell of, and tuning to, the next program in the scan tuning sequence.

48. The system defined in claim 45 further comprising:

means for receiving a user input to reverse the scan one program; and

means for, in response to the user input reversing the scan one program, highlighting the cell of, and tuning to, the prior program in the scan tuning sequence.

49. The system defined in claim 45 wherein the number of programs and tuning sequence numbers is greater than the number of cells displayed simultaneously.

50. The system defined in claim 45 wherein the plurality of cells are simultaneously displayed with at least a substantial portion of the current program of the scan.

51. The system defined in claim 45 wherein only a subset of the plurality of cells is simultaneously displayed.

52. The system defined in claim 45 further comprising:

means for receiving an input to remove a program from the scan; and

means for, in response to receiving the input to remove the program from the scan;

designating the program for removal from the scan; and

visually indicating in the cell of the program that the program has been designated for removal from the scan.

53. The system defined in claim 52 further comprising:

means for receiving an input to de-designate a program for removal from the scan; and

means for, in response to receiving the input to de-designate the program for removal from the scan;

de-designating the program for removal from the scan and

removing the visual indication from the cell.

54. The system defined in claim 45 comprising:

means for receiving a user input to reverse the scan; and

means for, in response to receiving the user input to reverse the scan, reversing the scan.

55. The system defined in claim 54 wherein the means for reversing the scan comprises means for playing the currently-tuned program backwards from a buffer.

56. The system defined in claim 55 wherein the means for playing the currently-tuned program backwards comprises means for playing the currently-tuned program backwards from the buffer faster than real time.

57. The system defined in claim 54 further comprising:

means for receiving a second user input to reverse the scan; and

means for, in response to the second user input, adjusting the speed of the reverse of the scan.

58. The system defined in claim 54 wherein the means for reversing the scan comprises means for reversing the order in which the programs are selected in the scan.

59. The system defined in claim 45 further comprising:

means for receiving a user input to fast-forward the scan; and

means for, in response to receiving the user input to fast-forward the scan, fast-forwarding the scan.

60. The system defined in claim 59 wherein the means for fast-forwarding the scan comprises means for playing the currently-tuned program from a buffer faster than real time.

61. The system defined in claim 59 further comprising:

means for receiving a second user input to fast-forward the scan; and

means for, in response to the second user input, adjusting the speed of the fast-forward of the scan.

62. The system defined in claim 59 wherein the means for fast-forwarding the scan comprises means for reversing the direction of the scan if it had been previously reversed.

63. The system defined in claim 45 further comprising means for displaying a countdown timer indicating the time until the next tune in the scan occurs.

64. The system defined in claim 63 further comprising:

means for receiving a user input to reverse the scan; and

means for, in response to receiving the user input to reverse the scan, reversing the countdown timer.

65. The system defined in claim 64 wherein the means for reversing the countdown timer comprises means for reversing the countdown timer faster than real time.

66. The system defined in claim 63 further comprising:

means for receiving a user input to fast-forward the scan; and

means for, in response to receiving the user input to fast-forward the scan, advancing the countdown timer in faster than real time.

67. A method for allowing users of an interactive media guidance application to navigate within a program scan out of the order of the tuning sequence of the scan, comprising:

directing at least one tuner to perform a program scan in which each of a plurality of programs is successively tuned to for a defined period of time;

receiving a user input to tune to a program in the scan that is not the next or prior program in the tuning sequence; and

in response to the user input, tuning to the program in the scan and, without further user input, automatically resuming the scan tuning sequence from that program.

68. The method defined in claim 67 wherein the user input is a tuning sequence number.

69. The method defined in claim 67 wherein the user input positions a highlight region on a program that is not the next or prior program in the tuning sequence.

70. A method for allowing users of an interactive media guidance application to access program information for programs within a program scan out of the order of the tuning sequence of the scan, comprising:

directing at least one tuner to perform a program scan in which each of a plurality of programs is successively tuned to for a defined period of time;

while the at least one tuner continues to perform the program scan, retrieving information specific to at least two programs from program guide data stored in a memory, wherein the retrieved information comprises at least two program titles, and wherein the at least two programs are programs within the scan tuning sequence other than the currently tuned to program; and

displaying, during the scan, the retrieved information, wherein the displaying comprises simultaneously displaying the at least two program titles, and wherein the currently tuned to program is independent of user interactions with the displayed at least two program titles.

71. The method defined in claim 70 wherein displaying the retrieved information comprises displaying the retrieved information in a cell of a scan transport bar.

72. The method defined in claim 70 wherein:

the method further comprises displaying a plurality of cells in a scan transport bar, wherein each cell includes information about programs within the scan; and

displaying the retrieved information comprises displaying the retrieved information in response to a user selection of a cell of the plurality of cells.

73. The method of claim 70, wherein the retrieving information comprises retrieving the information without receiving user input.

74. A system for allowing users of an interactive media guidance application to navigate within a program scan out of the order of the tuning sequence of the scan, comprising:

a user input device; and

control circuitry comprising a tuner and configured to;

perform a program scan in which the control circuitry directs the tuner to successively tune to each of a plurality of programs for a defined period of time;

receive a user input from the user input device to tune to a program in the scan that is not the next or prior program in the tuning sequence; and

in response to the user input, direct the tuner to tune to the program in the scan and, without further user input, automatically resume the scan tuning sequence from that program.

75. The system defined in claim 74 wherein the user input is a tuning sequence number.

76. The system defined in claim 74 wherein the user input positions a highlight region on a program that is not the next or prior program in the tuning sequence.

77. A system for allowing users of an interactive media guidance application to access program information for programs within a program scan out of the order of the tuning sequence of the scan, comprising:

a user input device; and

control circuitry comprising a tuner and configured to;

perform a program scan in which the control circuitry directs the tuner to successively tune to each of a plurality of programs for a defined period of time;

while the program scan continues to be performed, retrieve information specific to at least two programs from program guide data stored in a memory, wherein the retrieved information comprises at least two program titles, and wherein the at least two programs are programs within the scan tuning sequence other than the currently tuned to program; and

direct a display device to display, during the scan, the retrieved information, wherein the display of the retrieved information includes the simultaneous display of the at least two program titles, and wherein the currently tuned to program is independent of user interactions with the displayed at least two program titles.

78. The system defined in claim 77 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to direct the display device to display the retrieved information in a cell of a scan transport bar.

79. The system defined in claim 77 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

direct the display device to display a plurality of cells in a scan transport bar, wherein each cell includes information about programs within the scan; and

direct the display device to display the retrieved information in response to receiving from a user input device a user selection of a cell of the plurality of cells.

80. The system of claim 77, wherein the information is retrieved without receiving user input.

81. A system for allowing users of an interactive media guidance application to navigate within a program scan out of the order of the tuning sequence of the scan, comprising:

means for performing a program scan in which each of a plurality of programs is successively tuned to for a defined period of time;

means for receiving a user input to tune to a program in the scan that is not the next or prior program in the tuning sequence; and

means for in response to the user input, tuning to the program in the scan and, without further user input, automatically resuming the scan tuning sequence from that program.

82. The system defined in claim 81 wherein the user input is a tuning sequence number.

83. The system defined in claim 81 wherein the user input positions a highlight region on a program that is not the next or prior program in the tuning sequence.

84. A system for allowing users of an interactive media guidance application to access program information for programs within a program scan out of the order of the tuning sequence of the scan, comprising:

means for performing a program scan in which each of a plurality of programs is successively tuned to for a defined period of time;

means for retrieving, while the at least one tuner continues to perform the program scan, information specific to at least two programs from program guide data stored in a memory, wherein the retrieved information comprises at least two program titles, and wherein the at least two programs are programs within the scan tuning sequence other than the currently tuned to program; and

means for displaying, during the scan, the retrieved information, wherein the means for displaying comprises means for simultaneously displaying the at least two program titles, and wherein the currently tuned to program is independent of user interactions with the displayed at least two program titles.

85. The system defined in claim 84 wherein the means for displaying the retrieved information comprises means for displaying the retrieved information in a cell of a scan transport bar.

86. The system defined in claim 84 wherein the system further comprises:

means for displaying a plurality of cells in a scan transport bar, wherein each cell includes information about programs within the scan; and

the means for displaying the retrieved information comprises means for displaying the retrieved information in response to a user selection of a cell of the plurality of cells.

87. The system of claim 84, wherein the means for retrieving information comprises means for retrieving the information without receiving user input.