Television – Basic receiver with additional function – For display of additional information
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-31
2001-08-28
Hsia, Sherrie (Department: 2614)
Television
Basic receiver with additional function
For display of additional information
C348S569000, C725S038000, C725S056000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06281940
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This application relates generally to displaying channel information, and more particularly to displaying information corresponding to previewed channels.
2. Description of the Related Art
Home entertainment continues to change at a rapid pace, with ever increasing content becoming seemingly available. For example, cable or satellite broadcasting system viewers may now expect to select programming from among hundreds of available channels. Also, the convergence of computer network architectures and traditional broadcast entertainment promises to further increase the availability of information.
Typically, a user may preview available channels in sequential fashion, or may manually jump to a given channel, with each previewed channel occupying the entirety of the display. Various electronic program guides (EPGs), such as those provided in a cable television system or satellite system, have also become available to preview channels. Specifically, EPGs typically provide textual programming information about available channels. Many EPGs display a grid detailing certain programming information for the channels available for viewing. The columns in the grid may represent various programming times, while the rows in the grid may represent various available channels. The intersection of rows representing the available channels with the column for a given time provides the programming information for that time.
While conventional EPGs have been helpful in compiling channel information, they may be inadequate interfaces for users navigating numerous channels, and do not efficiently convey information to the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, methods and apparatus convey information corresponding to previewed channels using a display configuration having a plurality of channel information locations arranged in a sequence. One of the channel information locations is the main channel location, and the other channel locations may be referred to as remaining channel locations. When a user is previewing channels, information for both the currently previewed channel and other channels is displayed. The currently previewed channel resides in the main channel location, and the other channels reside in the remaining channel locations. Channels to be previewed move along the sequence of channel information locations until they reach the main channel location as the currently previewed channel.
In one embodiment, the channel information locations are arranged in an arc, with the main channel location residing at an intermediate point along the arc, and the remaining channel locations residing at first and second sides of the arc that are separated by the intermediate point. Thus, as channels to be previewed rotate along the arc, they progress along the first side, then to the main channel location, and then to the second side. Alternatively, the channels to be previewed progress from the second side, then to the main channel location, then to the first side.
Preferably, a remote control jog dial is used to provide control signals which cause the channels to be previewed to rotate along the sequence of channel information locations. Thus, when used in conjunction with the arc embodiment, maintaining the jog dial in a rotated position causes channels to continue to rotate along the arc such that a series of channels move into the main channel location for preview by the user. Using the jog dial allows the user to preview channels while maintaining the jog dial in a certain position. Such a maneuver would not require the user to continue to look for control buttons on the remote control, thus allowing the user to concentrate on the display as channels are being previewed. Preferably, the rotation of the jog dial matches the rotation of the channels to be previewed. Specifically, if the jog dial is maintained in a position where it is rotated clockwise, then channels to be previewed rotate clockwise along the arc. Similarly, if the jog dial is maintained in a counter-clockwise position, then channels to be previewed rotate counter-clockwise along the arc.
The channels to be previewed may be a full set of the channels available for viewing, or may be a subset, such as a list of the user's favorites or all of the available channels that have programming from a specific category such as sports, movies, or subcategories such as comedies, dramas, baseball, or any subset of available channels.
REFERENCES:
patent: 6028600 (2000-02-01), Rosin
Fujii Harold T.
Hsia Sherrie
Sony Corporation
Tobin Christopher M.
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