Interactive program guide systems and processes
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A method for controlling a first tuner and a second tuner with an interactive television program guide, said method comprising:
- receiving television programs and program schedule information;
storing the program schedule information in a memory;
causing a display device to display a program guide display with said interactive television program guide;
receiving a user selection to record, with a video recorder, a first television program indicated on said program guide display with said interactive television program guide;
receiving a user selection to view a second television program indicated on said program guide display with said interactive television program guide; and
directing an output of said first tuner of said first television program selected to be recorded to said video recorder and an output of said second tuner of said second television program selected to be viewed to said display device with said interactive television program guide, such that said first television program selected to be recorded is recorded by said video recorder at the same time that said second television program selected to be viewed is displayed by said display device, and wherein a set-top box includes two tuners, one each for said video recorder and said display device, said two tuners comprising said first tuner and said second tuner.
12 Assignments
Litigations
2 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Interactive program guide systems and related processes are provided which can automatically tune a television, or program a VCR, based on program selections made from program schedule information displayed on a television or other suitable video monitor. The interactive program guide is preferably implemented using a microprocessor-controlled set-top box that is coupled to the viewer'"'"'s television set. The set-top box receives program schedule information and software from a headend telecasting center. Preferably, program schedule information for the current day and at least six subsequent days is stored in a memory within the set-top box. The interactive program guide provides a display mode for allowing the viewer to apply a restrictive search selection criterion and a nonrestrictive sort attribute to the program schedule information.
177 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a first tuner and a second tuner with an interactive television program guide, said method comprising:
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receiving television programs and program schedule information; storing the program schedule information in a memory; causing a display device to display a program guide display with said interactive television program guide; receiving a user selection to record, with a video recorder, a first television program indicated on said program guide display with said interactive television program guide; receiving a user selection to view a second television program indicated on said program guide display with said interactive television program guide; and directing an output of said first tuner of said first television program selected to be recorded to said video recorder and an output of said second tuner of said second television program selected to be viewed to said display device with said interactive television program guide, such that said first television program selected to be recorded is recorded by said video recorder at the same time that said second television program selected to be viewed is displayed by said display device, and wherein a set-top box includes two tuners, one each for said video recorder and said display device, said two tuners comprising said first tuner and said second tuner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. User equipment having an interactive television program guide implemented thereon, said user equipment comprising a display device, a first tuner, a second tuner, a memory, a set-top box, and a video recorder, said interactive television program guide configured to:
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receive television programs and program schedule information; store the program schedule information in said memory; cause said display device to display a program guide display; receive a user selection to record, with said video recorder, a first television program indicated on said program guide display; receive a user selection to view a second television program indicated on said program guide display; and direct an output of said first tuner of said first television program selected to be recorded to said video recorder and an output of said second tuner of said second television program selected to be viewed to said display device, such that said first television program selected to be recorded is recorded by said video recorder at the same time that said second television program selected to be viewed is displayed by said display device, and wherein said set-top box includes two tuners, one each for said video recorder and said display device, said two tuners comprising said first tuner and said second tuner. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A non-transitory machine-readable medium for an interactive television program guide that controls a first tuner and a second tuner, said machine-readable medium having machine program logic recorded thereon for:
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receiving television programs and program schedule information; storing the program schedule information in a memory; causing a display device to display a program guide display with said interactive television program guide; receiving a user selection to record, with a video recorder, a first television program indicated on said program guide display with said interactive television program guide; receiving a user selection to view a second television program indicated on said program guide display with said interactive television program guide; and directing an output of said first tuner of said first television program selected to be recorded to said video recorder and an output of said second tuner of said second television program selected to be viewed to said display device with said interactive television program guide, such that said first television program selected to be recorded is recorded by said video recorder at the same time that said television second program selected to be viewed is displayed by said display device, and wherein a set-top box includes two tuners, one each for said video recorder and said display device, said two tuners comprising said first tuner and said second tuner. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification