Simulated pip window in EPG

Television – Basic receiver with additional function – For display of additional information

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C725S048000, C725S049000, C348S584000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06538701

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to television transmission and more particularly to a television system that displays a reduced size television program and an electronic program guide (EPG) without a PIP chip.
It is now common for EPG's to display a reduced size video program simultaneously on the screen with the television program listings, sometimes called picture-in-guide (PIG). In order to utilize a PIG format according to current practice, electronics to reduce the size of the video program, such as a PIP chip, is installed in the television receiver. However, a PIP chip is relatively expensive so many television receivers are without it. This denies to many television viewers the convenience of a PIG format.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To display an EPG, a first signal representing a reduced size video program is transmitted from a central location to a plurality of user terminals in a television signal. A second signal representative of an EPG is generated at one of the user terminals. The first and second signals are linearly combined and applied to a display monitor to display the reduced size video program and the EPG on the screen of the monitor simultaneously. As a result, a PIG format can be displayed without a PIP chip at the user terminals.
A feature of the invention is to transmit a plurality of reduced size video programs in the television signal and to select one of them for display in a PIG format by marking the program listing in the EPG corresponding to the selected reduced size video program with a cursor.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5528304 (1996-06-01), Cherrick et al.
patent: 5844620 (1998-12-01), Coleman et al.
patent: 5936677 (1999-08-01), Fries et al.
patent: 6122011 (2000-09-01), Dias et al.
patent: 6317164 (2001-11-01), Hrusecky et al.
patent: 6397386 (2002-05-01), O'Connor et al.

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