Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Utility Patent
1998-12-28
2001-01-02
Grant, Chris (Department: 2711)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C348S901000, C348S564000
Utility Patent
active
06169543
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention generally relates to the field of program guide information processing and more particularly, to a system and method of customizing program guide information.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Electronic devices such as televisions and personal computers (PC) require a control system that includes a user interface system. Typically, a user interface provides information to a user and simplifies use of the device. One example of a user interface is an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) in a television system.
An EPG is an interactive, on-screen display feature that displays information analogous to TV listings found in local newspapers or other print media. In addition, an EPG also includes information necessary for collating and decoding programs. An EPG provides information about each program within the time frames covered by the EPG which typically ranges from the next hour up to seven days. The information contained in an EPG includes programming characteristics such as channel number, program title, start time, end time, elapsed time, time remaining, rating (if available), topic, theme, and a brief description of the program's content. EPGs are usually arranged in a two-dimensional table or grid format with time information on one axis and channel information on the other axis.
Unlike non-interactive guides that reside on a dedicated channel and merely scroll through the current programming on the other channels for the next 2 to 3 hours, EPGs allow viewers to select any channel at any time during some period into the future, e.g., up to seven days forward. Further EPG features include the ability to highlight individual cells of the grid containing program information. Once highlighted, the viewer can perform functions pertaining to that selected program. For instance, the viewer could instantly switch to that program if it is currently being aired. Viewers could also program one touch video cassette recording (VCR) or the like if the television is properly configured and connected to a recording device. Such EPGs are known in the art and described, for instance, in US Pat. Nos. 5,353,121; 5,479,268; and 5,479,266 issued to Young et al. and assigned to StarSight Telecast, Inc.
In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,106, issued to Chaney et al., and assigned to the same assignee of the present invention, describes in detail an exemplary embodiment including data packet structure necessary to implement an exemplary program guide system. The exemplary data packet structure is designed so that both the channel information (e.g., channel name, call letters, channel number, type, etc.) and the program description information (e.g., title, rating, star, etc.) relating to a program may be transmitted from a program guide database provider to a receiving apparatus efficiently.
User interfaces such as EPGs are applicable to analog and digital television systems and to other electronic devices such as personal computers. As electronic devices become increasingly complex with a multitude of features, the need for a robust and easy-to-use user interface becomes ever more important. For example, separate electronic systems having respective interfaces for controlling features of each system are now being combined into a single system requiring a single user interface. One specific example is the so-called PCTV which includes features of both a personal computer and a television. The user interface system for such a device must provide both clear communication of computer and television related information and provide for simple control of both computer and television related features.
One problem with the current EPG system is that the program guide is typically provided in a fixed format (i.e., in a two-dimensional grid format with time information on one axis and channel information on the other axis, as described above). The users typically are not provided with ways to customize the program guide list or to categorize the program guide information.
Another problem with current EPG systems is that the content of the program guide typically is modified only on a generic level for all subscribers to the EPG system. There typically is no way to customize the program guide list to include user-selectable program identifiers corresponding to the user's own programs from a local source (e.g., audio presentations from the user's compact disk collection and/or audiovisual presentations from the user's video tape collection, DVD collection, video disk collection, and/or camcorder), nor is there typically a way to customize the program guide list to include user-selectable program identifiers of any other kind (e.g., shortcuts to web sites, computer programs, and the like) which implement the corresponding program when selected.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present inventor recognizes that an EPG is becoming the preferred way for program navigation in entertainment systems. The present inventor also recognizes that more and more people are spent more and more time in front of such entertainment systems everyday. It is, therefore, desirable to integrate calendaring or scheduling function into an EPG. In other words, it would be desirable, for example, to allow a user to enter a reminder in the EPG, such as “call Mom”, “Wife's birthday” or “pay bill” in a time period specified by a user as part of the EPG display. This is especially advantageous since a typical EPG is already being displayed in a time grid format.
A primary object of the present invention is to overcome at least one of the aforementioned problems by providing a user with customizing capabilities so that the user's EPG may be customized to include user-specific programs or items in addition to those which are distributed generically.
To achieve this and other objects of the present invention provides a method of customizing a program guide. The method comprises the steps of: (a) storing program guide information into an electronic host device, the program guide information including program identifiers, each of which designates one of a plurality of programs; (b) generating a menu by displaying at least some of the program identifiers on a display device associated with the electronic host device, the program identifiers being selectable by a user to implement respective ones of the programs; and (c) customizing the menu to include at least one additional identifier which is not from said program guide information.
The present invention also provides an electronically generated interface for displaying and customizing a program guide. The interface comprises program guide information, a menu, and an interface device. The program guide information is stored in an electronic host device and includes program identifiers, each of which designates one of a plurality of programs. The menu includes at least some of the program identifiers on a display device associated with the electronic host device. The program identifiers are selectable by a user to implement respective ones of the programs. The input device is adapted to communicate with the electronic host device to customize the menu so that the menu further includes at least one additional identifier.
The above and other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent when reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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Grant Chris
Liao Frank Y.
Shedd Robert D.
Thomson Licensing S.A.
Tripoli Joseph S.
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