System for interacting with an electronic program guide

• US 8,719,870 B1
• Filed: 02/22/2013
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zeebox Limited
• Original Assignee: Zeebox Limited
• Inventors: Davies, Marc, Miller, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): Featherstone, Mark D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Doshi, Akshay
• Application Number:
  US13/774,773
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 725/52
• 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 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73

Abstract

A computer system includes a touch-screen display that displays an electronic program guide to a user. The EPG includes a list of television programs scheduled to be shown at a current time as well as a timeline and an indicator. The television programs in the EPG have a substantially fixed size, independent of the program duration. The user can adjust the relevant time in the EPG by manipulating the timeline and the indicator so that they slide relative to one another. The EPG is updated to include a list of television programs at a new time according to the new position of the indicator on the timeline. A selectable icon is provided to enable the user to return the EPG to a current time.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

a display configured to display an electronic program guide (EPG) to a user, wherein the EPG includes a list of television channels having programs scheduled at a first time, a timeline, and an indicator for indicating the first time on the timeline;

an input module configured to receive a first input and a second input, wherein the first input involves selecting one of the indicator and the timeline on the display and adjusting their positions by moving one relative to the other, and the second input involves scrolling a single channel in the EPG so that the list includes a television program which is scheduled at a third time; and

one or more processors configured to adjust an appearance of the EPG in response to the first input so that the timeline and the indicator move relative to one another until the indicator is at a new position relative to the timeline, the new position corresponding to a second time, wherein the one or more processors are configured to update the displayed EPG so that it comprises a list of television channels having programs scheduled at the second time;

the one or more processors also configured to adjust the appearance of the EPG in response to the second input so that the indicator is at a new position relative to the timeline, the new position corresponding to the third time, wherein the one or more processors are configured to update the displayed EPG so that it comprises a list of television channels having programs scheduled at the third time.

2. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the input module is configured to receive a user input directing the indicator to revert from the second time to the first time on the timeline, and wherein the one or more processors are configured to update the displayed EPG, responsive to the user input, so that it comprises the list of television programs scheduled at the first time.

3. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the first time corresponds to a current time and the second time corresponds to a desired past or future time.

4. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the EPG comprises a visible timestamp when the indicator is at the position corresponding to the second time on the timeline.

5. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the EPG comprises a visible timestamp when the indicator is moving relative to the timeline, the visible timestamp providing for precise control of the position of the indicator.

6. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the EPG comprises the list of television programs scheduled at the first time, and a list of subsequently scheduled television programs.

7. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the displayed EPG includes one or more of a name of the television program, a start time, an end time, and an identifier for at least one of the user'"'"'s contacts.

8. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the first input involves selecting the timeline on the display and moving it relative to the indicator, which remains stationary on the display.

9. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the display is a touch screen display and the input module is configured to receive user generated inputs via the touch screen display.

10. The computer system of claim 2 wherein the display is configured to display a selectable item with which to direct the indicator to revert to the first time on the timeline.

11. The computer system of claim 2 wherein the display, the input module and the one or more processors are components in a client device, and the one or more processors are configured to acquire the list of television programs scheduled at the second time from an external source.

12. The computer system of claim 5 wherein the visible timestamp is larger when the indicator is moving relative to the timestamp than when the indicator is stationary.

13. The computer system of claim 6 wherein the displayed EPG includes a list with only a single television program for each channel, and the input module is configured to receive a user generated input to toggle between the television program scheduled at the first time and the subsequently scheduled television program.

14. The computer system of claim 11 wherein the client device comprises a data storage unit to store the list of television programs scheduled at the first time, and the one or more processors are configured to retrieve the list of television programs scheduled at the first time from the data storage unit when updating the displayed EPG so that it is relevant to the first time.

15. A method of interacting with an electronic program guide (EPG) in a computer system comprising the steps of:

displaying the EPG on a display, wherein the EPG comprises a list of television programs scheduled at a first time, a timeline, and an indicator for indicating the first time on the timeline;

selecting one of the indicator and the timeline on the display and adjusting their positions by moving one relative to the other;

adjusting the appearance of the EPG so that the timeline and the indicator move relative to one another until the indicator is at a new position relative to the timeline, the new position corresponding to a second time;

updating the displayed EPG so that it comprises a list of television programs scheduled at the second time;

scrolling a single channel in the EPG so that the list includes a television program which is scheduled at a third time;

adjusting the appearance of the EPG so that the indicator is at a new position relative to the timeline, the new position corresponding to the third time; and

updating the displayed EPG so that it comprises a list of television programs scheduled at the third time.

16. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, the computer program comprising processor readable instructions that, when executed, direct a device to perform actions comprising:

displaying an electronic program guide (EPG) on a display, wherein the EPG comprises a list of television programs scheduled at a first time, a timeline, and an indicator for indicating the first time on the timeline;

receiving a user generated input, wherein the input involves selecting one of the indicator and the timeline on the display and adjusting their positions by moving one relative to the other;

adjusting the appearance of the EPG so that the timeline and the indicator move relative to one another until the indicator is at a new position relative to the timeline, the new position corresponding to a second time;

updating the displayed EPG so that it comprises a list of television programs scheduled at the second time;

scrolling a single channel in the EPG so that the list includes a television program which is scheduled at a third time;

adjusting the appearance of the EPG so that the indicator is at a new position relative to the timeline, the new position corresponding to the third time; and

updating the displayed EPG so that it comprises a list of television programs scheduled at the third time.