Categorical electronic program guide

• US 7,627,882 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2004
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brown, Jeffrey A., Finseth, Craig A., Hsiao, Philip E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirl; Joseph P
• Assistant Examiner(s): PENG, FRED H
• Application Number:
  US10/821,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20040194136A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,062 Days
• Field of Search: 725 38- 62
• US Class Current: 725/44
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23617 by inserting additional data into a data carousel, e.g. inserting software modules into a DVB carousel arrangements for broadcast or for distribution of identical information repeatedly in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26266 for determining content or additional data repetition rate, e.g. of a file in a DVB carousel according to its importance arrangements for broadcast or for distribution of identical information repeatedly in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• 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 21/482 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

The invention is a device for generating a display of an electronic program guide on a screen. Invention is comprised of a receiver which includes a tuner for receiving an input stream of television content and electronic program guide data. The receiver separates the electronic program guide data from the input stream. The invention also comprises a memory coupled to the receiver for storing the electronic program guide data that has been separated from the input stream. Additionally, a display means is included for generating a display which combines a set of electronic program guide data. The program guide data includes a plurality of program titles, and a plurality of organizational categories. Each program title belongs to at least one of the organizational categories. The program titles are arranged in the display so that the program titles which belong to the same organizational categories are spatially adjacent and program titles which are not members of the same organizational categories are spatially separated. The organizational categories provide a first-level organization which defines overall content of the display. It also defines a second-level organization which defines the spatial separation of the program titles. The organizational categories are time, channel, topic and actor based, and are used at any organizational level.

Claims

1. A device for generating a display of an electronic program guide on a screen, the device comprising:

a receiver including a tuner for receiving an input stream, of television content and electronic program guide data, and separating the electronic program guide data from the input stream;

a memory coupled to the tuner for storing the electronic program guide data separated from the input stream;

display means for generating a display which combines a set of electronic program guide data including a plurality of program titles, and a plurality of organizational categories, each program title belonging to at least one of the organizational categories, the program titles arranged in the display so that program titles which belong to the same organizational categories are spatially adjacent and program titles which are not members of the same organizational categories are spatially separated, the organizational categories providing a first-level organization which defines overall content of the display and a second-level organization which defines the spatial separation of the program titles, where the organizational categories are used at any organizational level.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the organizational categories provide additional levels of organization to the display.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein program titles are displayed in different colors to represent associated organizational categories.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the organizational categories are represented by icons.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the display further includes a first user-link, where selecting the link provides instructions to the display means.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the instructions provided to the display means instruct the display means to display a television program.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the instructions provided to the display means instruct the display means to display additional textual or graphical electronic program guide data.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein the instructions provided to the display means instruct the display means to display a receiver operating menu.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the receiver operating menu includes a second user-link which instructs the display means to display the electronic program guide based on the organizational categories.

10. The device of claim 8, further comprising a memory device couple to the receiver for recording selected television content, where the memory device is activated through the selection of a second user-link included in the operating menu.

11. The device of claim 8, further comprising a second user-link included in, the operating menu, wherein a reminder for an upcoming television program is set when the second user-link is selected.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the program titles are arranged three-dimensionally so that some program titles appear to be displayed more distal from the front of the display behind other program titles displayed more proximal to the front of the display.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein a remote control is used to direct the receiver to perform an operational function, including signaling a recording device to record a specified television program, signaling the tuner to generate a display of a specified television program, and setting a reminder in memory to display the specified television program upon receiving the specified television program in the input stream, the operational function is performed by pressing a button on the remote control.

14. A method of displaying an electronic program guide on a screen, the method comprising:

receiving an input stream of television content and electronic program guide data;

separating the electronic program guide data from the input stream;

storing the electronic program guide data separated from the input stream;

generating a display from the electronic program guide data, wherein the display includes a plurality of program titles, and a plurality of organizational categories, each program title belonging to at least one of the organizational categories;

arranging the program titles in the display so that program titles which belong to the same organizational categories are spatially adjacent and program titles which are not members of the same organizational categories are spatially separated;

creating a first-level organization through the organizational categories;

defining overall content of the program guide through the first-level organization;

creating a second-level organization through the organizational categories;

defining the spatial separation of the program titles through the second-level organization; and

utilizing organizational categories at any organizational level.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

providing additional levels of organization, spatially separating the program titles; and

utilizing organizational categories for the additional levels of organization.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the program titles utilize different colors to represent the organizational categories.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the organizational categories are represented by icons.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving a user tuning request selecting a user-link; and

responding to the tuning request by displaying the television content associated with the selected user-link.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a user request selecting a user-link; and

responding to the request by displaying textual or graphical electronic, program guide data associated with the selected user-link.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

displaying an operating menu; and

displaying at least one user-link in the operating menu.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of activating a recording device.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of setting a reminder for an upcoming television program.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the program titles are arranged three-dimensionally so that some program titles appear to be displayed more distally from a front of the display, behind other program titles that appear to be displayed more proximally to the front of the display.

24. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

requesting the performance of an operational function from a remote control; and

performing the operational function by one of the following signaling a recording device to record a specified television program;

generating a display of the specified television program; and

setting a reminder to display the specified television program upon transmission of the specified television program.

25. A device for presenting an electronic program guide comprising:

a memory for storing a set of electronic program guide data including a plurality of program titles and a plurality of organizational categories, where each program title belongs to at least one organizational category;

a display for presenting the electronic program guide;

wherein the electronic program guide comprises;

a first spatial arrangement of program titles in a three-dimensional format where one organization level of the electronic program guide spatially groups program titles which belong to the same organizational category in a three-dimensional space and spatially separates program titles which do not belong to the same organizational category in a different three-dimensional space; and

a second spatial arrangement of program titles in two-dimensional space within the three dimensional space, wherein a second organizational level of the electronic program guide spatially groups program titles which belong to the same organizational category in the same two dimensional plane, and spatially separates program titles which do not belong to the same organizational category in a different two-dimensional plane.

26. A device for generating a display of an electronic program guide on a screen, the device comprising:

a receiver including a tuner for receiving an input stream, of television content and electronic program guide data, and separating the electronic program guide data from the input stream;

a memory coupled to the tuner for storing the electronic program guide data separated from the input stream;

display means, coupled to the receiver, for generating a display which combines a set of the electronic program guide data including a plurality of program titles, and a plurality of organizational categories, each program title belonging to at least one of the organizational categories, the program titles arranged in the display so that program titles which belong to the same organizational categories are spatially adjacent and program titles which are not members of the same organizational categories are spatially separated, the organizational categories providing a first-level organization which defines overall content of the display and a second-level organization which defines the spatial separation of the program titles, wherein at least one of the organizational categories are used at any organizational level.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the organizational categories provide additional levels of organization to the display.

28. The device of claim 26, wherein program titles are displayed in different colors to represent associated organizational categories.

29. The device of claim 26, wherein the organizational categories are represented by icons.

30. The device of claim 26, wherein the display further includes a first user link, where selecting the link provides instructions to the display means.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the instructions provided to the display means instruct the display means to display a television program.

32. The device of claim 30, wherein the instructions provided to the display means instruct the display means to display additional textual or graphical electronic program guide data.

33. The device of claim 30, wherein the instructions provided to the display means instruct the display means to display a receiver operating menu.

34. The device of claim 33, wherein the receiver operating menu includes a second user-link which instructs the display means to display the electronic program guide based on the organizational categories.

35. The device of claim 33, further comprising a memory device couple to the receiver for recording selected television content, where the memory device is activated through the selection of a second user-link included in the operating menu.

36. The device of claim 33, further comprising a second user-link included in, the operating menu, wherein a reminder for an upcoming television program is set when the second user-link is selected.

37. The device of claim 26, wherein the program titles are arranged three-dimensionally so that some program titles appear to be displayed more distal from the front of the display behind other program titles displayed more proximal to the front of the display.

38. The device of claim 26, wherein a remote control is used to direct the receiver to perform an operational function, including signaling a recording device to record a specified television program, signaling the tuner to generate a display of a specified television program, and setting a reminder in memory to display the specified television program upon receiving the specified television program in the input stream, the operational function is performed by pressing a button on the remote control.

39. A method of displaying an electronic program guide on a screen, the method comprising:

receiving an input stream of television content and electronic program guide data;

separating the electronic program guide data from the input stream;

storing the electronic program guide data separated from the input stream;

generating a display from the electronic program guide data, wherein the display includes a plurality of program titles, and a plurality of organizational categories, each program title belonging to at least one of the organizational categories;

arranging the program titles in the display so that program titles which belong to the same organizational categories are spatially adjacent and program titles which are not members of the same organizational categories are spatially separated; and

utilizing organizational categories at any organizational level.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising the steps of:

providing additional levels of organization, spatially separating the program titles; and

utilizing organizational categories for the additional levels of organization.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the program titles utilize different colors to represent the organizational categories.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein the organizational categories are represented by icons.

43. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

receiving a user tuning request selecting a user-link; and

responding to the tuning request by displaying the television content associated with the selected user-link.

44. The method of claim 39, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a user request selecting a user-link; and

responding to the request by displaying textual or graphical electronic, program guide data associated with the selected user-link.

45. The method of claim 39, further comprising the steps of:

displaying an operating menu; and

displaying at least one user-link in the operating menu.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising the step of activating a recording device.

47. The method of claim 45, further comprising the step of setting a reminder for an upcoming television program.

48. The method of claim 39, wherein the program titles are arranged three-dimensionally so that some program titles appear to be displayed more distally from a front of the display, behind other program titles that appear to be displayed more proximally to the front of the display.

49. The method of claim 39, further comprising the steps of:

requesting the performance of an operational function from a remote control; and

performing the operational function by one of the following;

signaling a recording device to record a specified television program;

generating a display of the specified television program; and

setting a reminder to display the specified television program upon transmission of the specified television program.