Television viewer interface system

• US 8,516,520 B1
• Filed: 05/10/2004
• Issued: 08/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TiVo Solutions Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TiVo Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Look, Howard, Vallone, Robert, Brown, David Avraham, Bedard, Karen, Van Stam, Wijnand, McKendrick, Ain
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar, Pankaj
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAIG, SAHAR A
• Application Number:
  US10/843,550
• Time in Patent Office: 3,389 Days
• Field of Search: 725/43, 725/40, 725/39, 725/38, 725/37, 725/47
• US Class Current: 725/39
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/455 said record carriers being in one device and being used as primary and secondary/backup media, e.g. HDD-DVD combo device, or as source and target media, e.g. PC and portable player
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• 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 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• 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 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4583 Automatically resolving scheduling conflicts, e.g. when a recording by reservation has been programmed for two programs in the same time slot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4668 for recommending content, e.g. movies
• 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 21/47217 for controlling playback functions for recorded or on-demand content, e.g. using progress bars, mode or play-point indicators or bookmarks specific graphical features in visual interfaces H04N21/4312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4756 for rating content, e.g. scoring a recommended movie
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/783 : Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7921 : for more than one processing mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 : involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8063 : using time division multiplex of the PCM audio and PCM video signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 : involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

A television viewer interface system provides a viewer interface that allows the viewer to access different functions of a system. Information is presented in a successive disclosure format where the user navigates through menus by moving the highlight bar to the right to obtain more information or to the left to see less information and return to the previous location. A banner is displayed in the upper region of the screen and the user can rotate through three different levels of banners, each successively containing more information about the program.

Claims

1. A process for an interactive television viewer interface providing program information to a user, comprising:

displaying a multi-level banner, the banner comprising a lowest level banner, a second level banner, and a highest level banner, the banner overlaying program material that is currently playing;

the displaying step further comprising;

displaying each level banner of the multi-level banner in response to command input, and rotating through each level of banner of the multi-level banner, each successive higher level banner displaying more detailed program information, the lowest level banner displaying at least a current time, the second level banner displaying information that was not included in the lowest level banner, including at least a start time of a current program that is being watched and an end time of the same current program, and the highest level banner displaying at least a description of the same current program;

in response to receiving the command input while displaying the highest level banner, rotating to display the lowest level banner to correspond to a lowest amount of information displayable on the banner.

2. The process of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a first level banner, the first level banner being the lowest level banner, that includes any of;

channel number, or station ID.

3. The process of claim 2, further comprising:

displaying the second level banner that has a greater amount of information than the first level banner and includes any of;

channel number, station ID, current time, program title, program duration, program MPAA or TV rating or thumbs rating.

4. The process of claim 3, further comprising:

displaying a third level banner, the third level banner being the highest level banner, that has a greater amount of information than the second level banner and includes any of;

channel number, station ID, current time, program title, program duration, program MPAA or TV rating, thumbs rating, or program text description window, the program text description window is semi-transparent.

13. The process of claim 1, wherein the multi-level banner displays an icon.

34. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to receiving the user command input while displaying the highest level banner, displaying the lowest level banner.

5. An apparatus for an interactive television viewer interface providing program information, comprising:

display logic, implemented at least partially by hardware, that causes displaying a multi-level banner, the banner comprising a lowest level banner, a second level banner, and a highest level banner, the banner overlaying program material that is currently playing;

the display logic further causing;

displaying each level banner of the multi-level banner in response to command input, and rotating through each level of banner of the multi-level banner, each successive higher level banner displaying more detailed program information, the lowest level banner displaying at least a current time, the second level banner displaying information that was not included in the lowest level banner, including at least a start time of a current program that is being watched and an end time of the same current program, and the highest level banner displaying at least a description of the same current program;

in response to receiving the command input while displaying the highest level banner, rotating to display the lowest level banner to correspond to a lowest amount of information displayable on the banner.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, the display logic further causing:

displaying a first level banner, the first level banner being the lowest level banner, that includes any of;

channel number, or station ID.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, the display logic further causing:

displaying the second level banner that has a greater amount of information than the first level banner and includes any of;

channel number, station ID, current time, program title, program duration, program MPAA or TV rating, or thumbs rating.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, the display logic further causing:

displaying a third level banner, the third level banner being the highest level banner, that has a greater amount of information than the second level banner and includes any of;

channel number, station ID, current time, program title, program duration, program MPAA or TV rating, thumbs rating, or program text description window, the program text description window is semi-transparent.

14. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the multi-level banner displays an icon.

35. The apparatus of claim 5, the display logic further causing:

in response to receiving the user command input while displaying the highest level banner, displaying the lowest level banner.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more computing devices, cause:

displaying a multi-level banner, the banner comprising a lowest level banner, a second level banner, and a highest level banner, the banner overlaying program material that is currently playing;

the displaying step further comprising;

displaying each level banner of the multi-level banner in response to command input, and rotating through each level of banner of the multi-level banner, each successive higher level banner displaying more detailed program information, the lowest level banner displaying at least a current time, the second level banner displaying information that was not included in the lowest level banner, including at least a start time of a current program that is being watched and an end time of the same current program, and the highest level banner displaying at least a description of the same current program;

in response to receiving the command input while displaying the highest level banner, rotating to display the lowest level banner to correspond to a lowest amount of information displayable on the banner.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause:

displaying a first level banner, the first level banner being the lowest level banner, that includes any of;

channel number, or station ID.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause:

displaying the second level banner that has a greater amount of information than the first level banner and includes any of;

channel number, station ID, current time, program title, program duration, program MPAA or TV rating or thumbs rating.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause:

displaying a third level banner, the third level banner being the highest level banner, that has a greater amount of information than the second level banner and includes any of;

channel number, station ID, current time, program title, program duration, program MPAA or TV rating, thumbs rating, or program text description window, the program text description window is semi-transparent.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the multi-level banner displays an icon.

36. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause:

in response to receiving the user command input while displaying the highest level banner, displaying the lowest level banner.

16. A process for an interactive television viewer interface providing program information, comprising:

displaying a multi-level channel banner, each successive higher level banner displaying information displayed to the user on a previous level banner along with additional information, the multi-level channel banner comprising a lowest level, a second level, and a highest level;

overlaying the channel banner over program material that is currently playing, allowing viewing of the program material as the program material progresses, the channel banner displaying information that includes at least a current time;

varying, on the channel banner, an amount of information displayed in response to a command, the lowest level of the channel banner displaying at least a current time, the second level of the channel banner displaying information that was not included in the lowest level banner, including at least a start time of a current program that is being watched and an end time of the same current program, and the highest level banner displaying at least a program text description window for the same current program that is semi-transparent;

in response to receiving the command while displaying the highest amount of information, varying the amount of information displayed by the channel banner to correspond to a lowest amount of information displayable on the channel banner.

17. The process of claim 16, further comprising:

displaying an icon in the channel banner.

18. The process of claim 16, wherein the displayed information in the channel banner further includes any of:

program title, program duration, program MPAA or TV rating, thumbs rating, or program text description window.

19. The process of claim 16, wherein the channel banner expands in size to accommodate a larger amount of displayed information as commanded by the user.

20. The process of claim 16, wherein the channel banner reduces in size to accommodate a smaller amount of displayed information as commanded by the user.

31. The process of claim 16, wherein at the highest amount of information displayed by the channel banner, a second level banner has a different opacity from the program text description.

21. An apparatus for an interactive television viewer interface providing program information to a user, comprising display logic, implemented at least partially by hardware, that causes:

displaying a multi-level channel banner, each successive higher level banner displaying information displayed to the user on a previous level banner along with additional information, the multi-level channel banner comprising a lowest level, a second level, and a highest level;

overlaying the channel banner over program material that is currently playing, allowing viewing of the program material as the program material progresses, the channel banner displaying information that includes at least a current time;

varying, on the channel banner, an amount of information displayed in response to a command, the lowest level of the channel banner displaying at least a current time, the second level of the channel banner displaying information that was not included in the lowest level banner, including at least a start time of a current program that is being watched and an end time of the same current program, and the highest level banner displaying at least a program text description window for the same current program that is semi-transparent;

in response to receiving the command while displaying the highest amount of information, varying the amount of information displayed by the channel banner to correspond to a lowest amount of information displayable on the channel banner.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, the display logic further causing:

displaying an icon in the channel banner.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the displayed information in the channel banner further includes any of:

program title, program duration, program MPAA or TV rating, thumbs rating, or program text description window.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the channel banner expands in size to accommodate a larger amount of displayed information as commanded by the user.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the channel banner reduces in size to accommodate a smaller amount of displayed information as commanded by the user.

32. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein at the highest amount of information displayed by the channel banner, a second level banner has a different opacity from the program text description.

26. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more computing devices, cause:

displaying a multi-level channel banner, each successive higher level banner displaying information displayed to the user on a previous level banner along with additional information, the multi-level channel banner comprising a lowest level, a second level, and a highest level;

overlaying the channel banner over program material that is currently playing, allowing viewing of the program material as the program material progresses, the channel banner displaying information that includes at least a current time;

varying, on the channel banner, an amount of information displayed in response to a command, the lowest level of the channel banner displaying at least a current time, the second level of the channel banner displaying information that was not included in the lowest level banner, including at least a start time of a current program that is being watched and an end time of the same current program, and the highest level banner displaying at least a program text description window for the same current program that is semi-transparent;

in response to receiving the command while displaying the highest amount of information, varying the amount of information displayed by the channel banner to correspond to a lowest amount of information displayable on the channel banner.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computing devices, further cause:

displaying an icon in the channel banner.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the displayed information in the channel banner further includes any of:

program title, program duration, program MPAA or TV rating, thumbs rating, or program text description window.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the channel banner expands in size to accommodate a larger amount of displayed information as commanded by the user.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the channel banner reduces in size to accommodate a smaller amount of displayed information as commanded by the user.

33. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein at the highest amount of information displayed by the channel banner, a second level banner has a different opacity from the program text description.