Hypertext service guide menu display
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method, comprising:
- presenting for display at a display device a first service guide menu and a second service guide menu both with a plurality of hypertext links ordered according to at least in part a received specification, wherein the ordering provides at least in part that television programming services are displayed as hypertext links in the first service guide menu and non-television services are displayed as hypertext links in the second service guide menu, wherein the second service guide menu is overlaid on the first service guide menu, the second service menu configured to be presented for repeated occurrences of a first recurring predetermined time period upon expiration of a second recurring predetermined time period associated with the first service menu wherein both the television programming services and the non-television programming services are available during the first and second recurring predetermined time periods, and wherein the hypertext links in the first service guide menu become inactive during the first recurring predetermined time period;
dimming the first service guide menu;
receiving a user selection of a hypertext link; and
activating a service that corresponds to the selected hypertext link, wherein activating the service that corresponds to the selected hypertext link comprises utilizing additional information included in the selected hypertext link, wherein the additional information comprises a specified screen state and a service display location comprising a plurality of minimum and maximum coordinates.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method and system for accessing services in a television system. In one implementation, a DHCT presents a user a menu containing a plurality of selectable link representations corresponding to separate services or applications offered by the cable television system. The user navigates the menu with a remote device and selects a desired service by choosing the selectable link representation corresponding to the desired service or application. The DHCT receives the user input, translates the selectable link command into an executable call, and activates the service or application corresponding to the selected link representation from the menu chosen by the user.
702 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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presenting for display at a display device a first service guide menu and a second service guide menu both with a plurality of hypertext links ordered according to at least in part a received specification, wherein the ordering provides at least in part that television programming services are displayed as hypertext links in the first service guide menu and non-television services are displayed as hypertext links in the second service guide menu, wherein the second service guide menu is overlaid on the first service guide menu, the second service menu configured to be presented for repeated occurrences of a first recurring predetermined time period upon expiration of a second recurring predetermined time period associated with the first service menu wherein both the television programming services and the non-television programming services are available during the first and second recurring predetermined time periods, and wherein the hypertext links in the first service guide menu become inactive during the first recurring predetermined time period; dimming the first service guide menu; receiving a user selection of a hypertext link; and activating a service that corresponds to the selected hypertext link, wherein activating the service that corresponds to the selected hypertext link comprises utilizing additional information included in the selected hypertext link, wherein the additional information comprises a specified screen state and a service display location comprising a plurality of minimum and maximum coordinates. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system, comprising:
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a memory; and
;a processor capable of performing steps stored in the memory, the steps comprising; presenting for display at a display device a first service guide menu and a second service guide menu both with a plurality of hypertext links ordered according to at least in part a received specification, wherein the ordering provides at least in part that television programming services are displayed as hypertext links in the first service guide menu and non-television service are displayed as hypertext links in the second service guide menu, wherein the second service guide menu is overlaid on the first service guide menu, the second service menu configured to be presented for repeated occurrences of a first recurring predetermined time period upon expiration of a second recurring predetermined time period associated with the first service menu wherein both the television programming services and the non-television programming services are available during the first and second recurring predetermined time periods, and wherein the hypertext links in the first service guide menu become inactive during the first recurring predetermined time period; dimming the first service guide menu; receiving a user selection of a hypertext link; and activating a service that corresponds to the selected hypertext link, wherein activating the service that corresponds to the selected hypertext link comprises utilizing additional information included in the selected hypertext link, wherein the additional information comprises a specified screen state and a service display location comprising a plurality of minimum and maximum coordinates.
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11. A method comprising:
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receiving a specification; ordering a plurality of hypertext links based on the specification, wherein the ordering provides at least in part that television programming services are displayed as hypertext links in the first service guide menu and non-television services are displayed as hypertext links in the second service guide menu; displaying the first service guide menu and the second service guide menu upon user request, wherein the second service guide menu is overlaid on the first service guide menu, the second service menu configured to be presented for repeated occurrences of a first recurring predetermined time period upon expiration of a second recurring predetermined time period associated with the first service menu wherein both the television programming services and the non-television programming services are available during the first and second recurring predetermined time periods, and wherein the hypertext links in the first service guide menu become inactive during the first recurring predetermined time period; receiving a user selection of a hypertext link; and activating the service that corresponds to the selected hypertext link, wherein activating the service that corresponds to the selected hypertext link comprises utilizing additional information included in the selected hypertext link, wherein the additional information comprises a specified screen state and a service display location comprising a plurality of minimum and maximum coordinates. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification