Apparatus and method for displaying digital broadcasting program information

• US 8,930,994 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2005
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Tae-Hyung
• Primary Examiner(s): Goodarzi, Nasser
• Assistant Examiner(s): HONG, MICHAEL HYUN
• Application Number:
  US11/110,308
• Publication Number:
  US 20060095936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,548 Days
• Field of Search: 725/62, 725/128, 725/39
• US Class Current: 725/39
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• 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 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• 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 5/64 Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers furniture aspects of television cabinets A47B81/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

Disclosed are an apparatus capable of receiving digital broadcasting and displaying program information regarding the digital broadcasting and a method thereof. The apparatus for displaying digital broadcasting program information in a terminal capable of receiving digital broadcasting, includes a digital broadcasting receiving unit for receiving a digital broadcasting program, a memory for storing received broadcasting channel guide information, a control unit for creating program information based on the broadcasting channel guide information stored in the memory and driving the digital broadcasting receiving unit if a broadcasting channel is selected by a user, and a display unit for displaying the program information created by the control unit on a background image in an idle mode.

Claims

1. A method for displaying digital broadcasting program guide information in a mobile communication terminal, said terminal including a display unit, a digital broadcasting receiving unit and a memory, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving the broadcasting program guide information through the digital broadcasting receiving unit;

storing the received broadcasting program guide information in the memory;

determining whether an idle mode is set and an image is displayed on the display unit while a user is not viewing digital broadcasting; and

automatically displaying the broadcasting program guide information on the display unit, if it is determined that the idle mode is set and the image is displayed on the display unit while the user is not viewing digital broadcasting.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

customizing the received broadcasting program guide information; and

displaying the customized broadcasting program guide information on the display unit.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

selecting a channel of the digital broadcasting program guide information by pressing a key for a time period.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein displaying the customized broadcasting program guide information further comprises displaying the customized broadcasting program guide information on the display unit in an idle mode of the mobile communication terminal.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein displaying the customized broadcasting program guide information further comprises displaying the customized broadcasting program guide information on the display unit in a digital broadcasting mode of the mobile communication terminal.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the broadcasting program guide information is customized based on a criterion.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the digital broadcasting receiving unit is inactive while displaying the customized broadcasting program guide information from the memory.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the criterion is set by a user.

9. A method for displaying digital broadcasting program guide information in a mobile communication terminal, said terminal including a display unit, a digital broadcasting receiving unit and a memory, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving the broadcasting program guide information through the digital broadcasting receiving unit;

storing the received broadcasting program guide information in the memory;

determining whether an idle mode is set and an image is displayed on the display unit while a user is not viewing digital broadcasting;

automatically displaying the broadcasting program guide information on the display unit, if it is determined that the idle mode is set and the image is displayed on the display unit while the user is not viewing digital broadcasting; and

activating the digital broadcasting receiving unit when a user selects a broadcasting program from the displayed broadcasting program guide information.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

customizing the received broadcasting program guide information; and

displaying the customized broadcasting program guide information on the display unit.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

selecting a channel of the digital broadcasting program guide information by pressing a key for a time period.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein displaying the customized broadcasting program guide information further comprises displaying the customized broadcasting program guide information on the display unit in an idle mode of the mobile communication terminal.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein displaying the customized broadcasting program guide information further comprises displaying the customized broadcasting program guide information on the display unit in a digital broadcasting mode of the mobile communication terminal.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the broadcasting program guide information is customized based on a criterion.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the digital broadcasting receiving unit is inactive while displaying the customized broadcasting program guide information from the memory.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the criterion is set by the user.

17. An apparatus for displaying digital broadcasting guide program information in a pocket-sized mobile communication device, the apparatus comprising:

a digital broadcasting receiving unit for receiving the broadcasting program guide information;

a memory for storing received the broadcasting program guide information;

a display unit for automatically displaying the broadcasting program guide information on a background image when an idle mode is set and an image is displayed on the display unit while a user is not viewing digital broadcasting; and

a control unit for activating the digital broadcasting receiving unit when a user selects a broadcasting program from the broadcasting program guide information.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the control unit allows the user to customize the received broadcasting program guide information and display the customized broadcasting program guide information on the display unit.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the digital broadcasting receiving unit is inactive while displaying the customized broadcasting program guide information from the memory.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein a channel of the digital broadcasting program guide information is selected by pressing a key for a time period.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the control unit allows the user to select the customized broadcasting program guide information as a background image of the pocket-sized mobile communication device.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the display unit displays the customized broadcasting program guide information in a digital broadcasting mode of the mobile communication device.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the broadcasting program guide information is customized based on a criterion.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the criterion is set by the user.