Electronic television program guide schedule system and method including virtual channels

We claim:

1. An electronic programming guide for use with a receiver for displaying programs or information on a plurality of user-selectable channels, said channels comprising service channels and virtual channels, said guide comprising:

user control means for issuing control commands, including channel-control commands comprising a channel up command for selecting a higher numbered channel in a channel tuning sequence;

a data processor for receiving said control commands and for generating video control commands;

a video display generator adapted to receive video control commands from said data processor for generating and displaying a plurality of said virtual channels, each of said virtual channels associated with a service received on a subset of service channels, each of said virtual channels identifying the subset of service channels on which its associated service is received;

wherein a first subset of service channels is located between first and second virtual channels in said channel tuning sequence, and said data processor causes said receiver to select said second virtual channel in response to said channel up command received by said data processor while said first virtual channel is displayed by said receiver.

2. The programming guide according to claim 1 wherein each of said virtual channels also identifies the programs or information currently being received on each of the service channels in said identified subset.

3. The programming guide according to claims 1 or 2 wherein said service is selected from a group consisting of video programming, audio programming, near video on demand, video on demand, electronic game programming and news information.

4. The programming guide according to claims 1 or 2 wherein each of said virtual channels is selectable by issuing a user control command to tune said receiver to any channel in said subset of service channels on which said associated service is received.

5. The programming guide according to claims 1 or 2 further comprising selection means for allowing a user to select a service channel in said first subset while said first virtual channel is displayed by said receiver.

6. The programming guide according to claim 5 wherein said data processor causes said receiver to tune to said selected service channel in response to a user control command to tune to said selected service channel.

7. The programming guide according to claim 5 wherein said selection means comprises a moveable cursor displayed on said receiver and controllable with said user control means.

8. The programming guide according to claim 5 wherein said service is selected from a group consisting of video programming, audio programming, near video on demand, video on demand, electronic game programming and news information.

9. The programming guide according to claim 5 further comprising means for identifying a programs or information currently being received on said selected channel while said receiver remains tuned to said first virtual channel.

10. The programming guide according to claim 9 wherein said program or information includes video or text.

11. The programming guide according to claim 10 wherein said identified program or information is displayed in partial overlaying relationship with said first virtual channel.

12. The programming guide according to claim 10 wherein said identified program is displayed in a window in a portion of said first virtual channel.

13. The programming guide according to claim 9 wherein said program or information comprises an audio program or information.

14. The programming guide according to claim 1 wherein said data processor controls said video display generator to cause each of said virtual channels also to identify a program or information scheduled to be delivered on each of the service channels in said identified subset for a time period other than the current time period in response to a user time-control command.

15. In an electronic programming guide for use with a receiver for displaying programs or information on a plurality of user-selectable channels, said channels comprising service channels and virtual channels, a process for accessing information on said service channels comprising:

providing a channel tuning sequence comprising a first subset of service channels located between first and second virtual channels said sequence;

selecting said first virtual channel for display on said receiver;

generating and displaying said first virtual channel on said receiver, said first virtual channel associated with a first service received on said first subset of said service channels and identifying said first subset of service channels on which its associated service is received;

issuing a channel up command for selecting a higher numbered channel in said tuning sequence;

receiving said channel up command and generating a video control command in response thereto;

generating and displaying-said second virtual channel in said sequence in response to said video control command, said second virtual channel associated with a second service received on a second subset of service channels and identifying the second subset of service channels on which its associated service is received.

16. The process according to claim 15 wherein each of said virtual channels also identifies the programs or information currently being received on each of the service channels in said subsets.

17. The process according to claims 15 or 16 wherein said service is selected from a group consisting of video programming, audio programming, near video on demand, video on demand, electronic game programming, and news information.

18. The process according to claims 15 or 16 further comprising issuing a channel control command to tune said receiver to a channel in said second subset of service channels on which said associated service is received and selecting said second virtual channel associated with said subset in response thereto.

19. The process according to claims 15 or 16 further comprising selecting a service channel in said second subset while said second virtual channel is selected by said receiver.

20. The process according to claim 19 wherein said receiver tunes to said selected service channel in response to a user control command to tune to said selected service channel.

21. The process according to claim 19 wherein said selected service channel is selected using a moveable cursor displayed on said receiver.

22. The process according to claim 19 wherein said service is selected from a group consisting of video programming, audio programming, near video on demand, video on demand, electronic game programming, and news information.

23. The process according to claim 19 further comprising identifying a program or information currently being received on said selected channel while said second virtual channel remains selected by said receiver.

24. The process according to claim 23 wherein said program or information includes video or text.

25. The process according to claim 24 wherein said identified program or information appears in partial overlaying relationship with said second virtual channel.

26. The process according to claim 24 wherein said program or information appears in a window in a portion of said second virtual channel.

27. The process according to claim 23 wherein said program or information is an audio program or information.

28. The process according to claim 15 wherein said second virtual channel identifies a program or information scheduled to be received on each of the service channels in said second subset for a time period other than the current time period in response to a user time-control command.

29. In an electronic programming guide for use with a receiver for displaying programs or information on a plurality of user-selectable channels, said channels comprising service channels and virtual channels, a process for accessing information on said service channels comprising:

providing a channel tuning sequence comprising a first subset of service channels located between first and second virtual channels in said sequence;

selecting said second virtual channel for display on said receiver;

generating and displaying said second virtual channel on said receiver, said second virtual channel associated with a second service received on a second subset of service channels and identifying said second subset of service channels on which its associated service is received;

issuing a channel down command for selecting a lower numbered channel in said tuning sequence;

receiving said channel down command and generating a video control command in response thereto;

generating and displaying said first virtual channel in said sequence in response to said video control command, said first virtual channel associated with a first service received on said first subset of service channels and identifying said first subset of service channels on which its associated service is received.

Description Submit all comments and votes

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an electronic program schedule system, which provides a user with schedule information for broadcast or cablecast programs viewed by the user on a television receiver. More particularly, it relates to an improved electronic program guide that provides the user with a more powerful and convenient operating environment, while, at the same time, increasing the efficiency of navigation by the user through the guide.

Electronic program guides for television systems are known in the art. For example, one prior system used an electronic character generator to display textual schedule information on the full screen of a television receiver. Other prior systems presented electronically stored program schedule information to a user for viewing while allowing the user to select display formats. Still other systems employed a data processor to input user-selection criteria, then stored only the program schedule information meeting these criteria, and subsequently used the stored information to automatically tune a programmable tuner or activate a recording device at the time of broadcast of the selected television programs. Such prior systems are generally discussed in "Stay Tuned for Smart TV," published in the November 1990 issue of Popular Science.

Collectively, the prior electronic program systems may be difficult to implement and cumbersome to use. They also fail to provide viewing capabilities that address in a more realistic manner the viewing habits of the users of these electronic program systems. Moreover, many of these systems are complex in their design and are expensive to implement. Ease of use and economy are primary concerns of television program distributors and viewers as they contemplate dramatic increases in the number and nature of program networks and other television-based services. And, as the number of television channels available to a user increases dramatically with the advent of new satellite and cable-based technologies, the utility of these prior systems substantially diminishes.

These prior-art systems also fail to provide the user with sufficient information, for example pricing and the like, about pay-per-view events, premium services or other packaged programming to which the user does not subscribe, nor do they provide the user with the capability to automatically purchase such programming on demand or impulse. Moreover, these prior-art systems are deficient in that they fail to provide an efficient and automatic method of updating or replacing the application software programs that implement the electronic guide at the user sites, relying instead on manual or other cumbersome forms of revision or replacement or hardware-based systems that can not be updated without physical replacement of integrated circuits and/or other parts.

Nor do these prior electronic guide systems have the capability of linking the user to other applications or information systems which are not part of the electronic program guide application or data.

Nor do these prior electronic guide systems provide video promotion of television programs and services that are functionally linked and visually displayed in an integrated fashion. Program promotion is an important element of the effective marketing of television programming. The promotion of pay-per-view pay (i.e., "a la carte") programs and other unregulated program services is particularly important to cable television operators in the wake of re-regulation by the federal government. The current method of promoting such programming using video is through dedicated "barker" channels that use full screen continuous trailers (i.e., previews) which may or may not be accompanied by prices and ordering information. Recently, such promotional videos have been shown in split screens where part of the screen shows general schedule information for a time period roughly corresponding to the time period during which the general program being promoted is shown. Accordingly, there exists a need for an electronic program guide which can provide improved display and linking of video promotions with program schedule information and order processing functions.

The prior electronic program guides also fail to provide the user with a simple and efficient method of controlling access to individual channels and individual programs. The amount of adult situations involving sex and violence has steadily increased during the last 40 years. The issue of how this affects children or other viewers has gained national attention. Providing a parent with the ability to lock-out a channel is a well known and widespread feature of certain television receivers and cable converter boxes. Despite this availability, the feature is seldom used by parents. The main impediments to its effective use are the cumbersome ways in which it is generally implemented, as well as the requirement that entire channels be blocked in order to block access to any objectional programming. A channel-oriented parental lock is unfair to other programmers on the blocked channel--who, for example, offer adult-oriented programming in the evening and youth-oriented programming the following morning--and inconvenient for viewers who want access to such programs. Thus, there is a particular need for a system which provides password control to individual programs and channels using a flexible and uncomplicated on-screen user interface.

The prior electronic program guides are also deficient in that they do not provide the user with the ability to view on demand current billing status and, thus, a need exists for a system which can provide the user with current billing information on the user's demand.

An additional problem with prior program guides is that when displaying schedule information in grid format, i.e., columns representing time slots and rows representing channels, program titles generally are width-wise truncated to fit into the cells of the grid. The width of a grid cell varies with the duration of the program. Since a 30 minute program is allotted only a small amount of space for the program title and description, titles and/or descriptions for half and even full hour programs often must be truncated in order to fit into the allotted space. Some systems simply cut off the description of a program without abbreviating it in any way, such that the user is unable to determine the subject matter of the program. For example, a recent television program display included the following text in a grid cell: "Baseball: Yankees v." Although some systems partially alleviate this problem by providing two lines of text in each grid cell, this solution is not ideal because program descriptions may still be truncated.

A similar problem arises as the time slots change, either automatically or in response to a user control command. Typically, 90 minutes of schedule information is displayed at one time and the 90 minute window is shiftable in 30-minute increments. In the case where a 30 minute shift causes a 30 minute size grid cell to display, e.g., a two-hour movie, it is likely that the full title of the movie will not fit into the cell. Truncation of the title is thus required in this situation as well. In this case, while two lines of text may be desirable to fit the title in the 30 minute cell, the 60 and 90 minute cells may require only one line of text to display the title.

The prior electronic program guides also lack a method for creating a viewing itinerary electronically while still viewing a program currently appearing on the television receiver. Moreover, these prior program guides leave much guess work for the user as he navigates through a sequence of channels. When skimming through channels to ascertain the program then being displayed on any channel, commonly known as "channel surfing," the user needs to guess which program is currently being aired from the video encountered as the user surfs through the channels. Since much--in some cases, up to 30%--of the programming appearing on any given channel at any given time is advertising or other commercial programming, the user is not provided with any clues as to what program is appearing on a selected channel at a given time and must therefore wait until the advertisement or commercial is over before ascertaining the program then appearing on the selected channel. Thus a need exists for a program guide which displays current program schedule information for each channel as the user surfs through the available channels.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a simplified electronic program schedule system that may be more easily implemented, and which is appealing and efficient in operation. There is also a need to provide the user with an electronic program schedule system that displays both broadcast programs and electronic schedule information in a manner not previously available with other electronic program schedule systems, particularly those using a remote controller.

For example, there is a particular need for a flexible program schedule system that allows a user to view selected broadcast programs on a portion of the screen of the television receiver while simultaneously viewing program schedule information for other channels and/or services on another portion of the screen. There is also a need for such a program schedule system that permits the user to select from a plurality of selectable display formats for viewing the program schedule information. It is also preferred to have a system that indicates to the user those keys on the remote controller that are active in any particular mode of operation. There also exists a need for such a system that will give a user the capability to set a programmable reminder for viewing a program scheduled to air at a future time.

There is also a need for an electronic guide system providing the user with comprehensive information about pay-per-view events, premium services or other packaged programming to which the user does not ordinarily subscribe, and which provides the user with the capability to automatically purchase such programming on demand or impulse. There is also a need for an electronic guide system providing a reliable and efficient method of updating or replacing the application software that implements the electronic guide at the user sites.

There also exists a need for an electronic program guide that operates as a shell or window to provide the user with the capability to access other applications or information systems that are not part of the electronic program guide application or data.

There also exists a need for an electronic programming guide that provides a user with a simple interface for accessing other services provided by various programming sources, such as near video on demand, digital music services, electronic game programming and news and information delivery services.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a system that will allow the user to view a broadcast program while, at the same time, interactively viewing program schedule information for other programs.

It is another object of the present invention to provide the user with the ability to select from among a plurality of display formats for the program schedule information.

It is yet another object of the present invention to indicate to the user of the program schedule system those keys on the remote controller active in the particular mode of operation of the system at the time of use.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide the user of the electronic program schedule system with the capability of setting programmable reminder messages for any future program.

It is yet a further object of this invention to provide the system user with comprehensive information about pay-per-view events, premium services or other packaged programming to which the user does not subscribe and the capability to automatically purchase such programming on demand or impulse.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an electronic guide system that provides a reliable and efficient method of updating or replacing the application software programs that implement the electronic guide at the user sites.

It is still another object of the electronic program guide to operate as a shell or window to provide the user with the capability to access other applications or information systems which are not part of the electronic program guide application or data.

It is yet another object of the electronic program guide to provide a system whereby video promotion of television programs and services are functionally linked and visually displayed in an integrated fashion to facilitate the marketing and sale of such programs and Services.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide password control for access to individual programs, as well as channels, using a protected interactive flexible and uncomplicated on-screen interface.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the user with current programming information for all programs as the user surfs through the available channels.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a system in which the user can access his current billing information on demand.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a system which overlays television program listings against varying background views.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved display of text in the grid cells comprising a page of television program listings.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an electronic programming guide that utilizes virtual channels to simplify the interface for accessing various digitally distributed services.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved by an electronic program schedule system having virtual channels which includes a receiver for receiving broadcast, satellite or cablecast television programs for a plurality of television channels and a tuner for tuning a television receiver to a selected one of the plurality of channels. A data processor receives and stores in a memory television program schedule information for a plurality of television programs to appear on the plurality of television channels. A user control apparatus, such as a remote controller, is utilized by a viewer to choose user control commands and transmit signals in response to the data processor which receives the signals in response to user control commands. A television receiver is used to display the television programs and virtual channel programming. A video display generator receives video control commands from the data processor and generates and displays a plurality of virtual channels, each virtual channel being accessible as a channel and associated with a service delivered on a subset of the channels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing various components of the preferred embodiment of the invention herein.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the combination of program and schedule information by the video overlay device utilized in the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 depicts a remote controller that can be used in connection with the preferred embodiment of the electronic program guide system of the present application.

FIG. 4 depicts an alternative embodiment of the remote controller shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows an overlay appearing on a television screen in one mode of operation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a menu that appears on a television screen in a MENU mode of operation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6A is yet another menu that appears on a television screen in a MENU mode of operation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 depicts a Viewer Preference Menu that appears on a television screen in one aspect of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a Preferred Channel selection submenu.

FIG. 9 shows an impulse ordering menu that appears on a television screen in one aspect of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 shows a Premium Services submenu that appears in one mode of operation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 shows a graphic overlay appearing on a television screen in a BROWSE mode of operation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 shows a graphic overlay appearing on a television screen in a BROWSE mode of operation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention having different information from that shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 12A shows a graphic overlay appearing on a television screen in a BROWSE mode of operation in the present invention displaying schedule information for a time and channel other than that shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 shows a graphic overlay appearing in a REMINDER mode of operation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 shows yet another graphic overlay appearing in a REMINDER mode of operation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is yet another menu that appears on a television screen in a MENU mode of operation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is yet another menu that appears on a television screen in a MENU mode of operation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is yet another menu that appears on a television screen in a MENU mode of operation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 shows a grid listing of schedule information displayed in an All Listings mode of operation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 shows schedule information displayed in a Listings By Category mode of operation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 shows schedule information displayed in a Listings By Channel mode of operation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 shows information displayed in response to a user's request for supplemental programming information.

FIG. 22 shows programming, ordering and video promotional information displayed in a Pay-Per-View mode of operation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 shows an ordering submenu used in conjunction with the mode of operation shown in FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 shows yet another ordering submenu used in conjunction with the mode of operation shown in FIG. 22.

FIG. 24A shows yet another ordering submenu used in conjunction with the mode of operation shown in FIG. 22.

FIG. 25 shows another grid listing of schedule information displayed in an All Listings mode of operation of the present invention.

FIG. 26 shows a Premium Services submenu that appears in one mode of operation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 shows a Messages menu that appears in one mode of operation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 shows exemplary messages used in connection with the menu of FIG. 27.

FIG. 28A is an alternative message menu.

FIG. 29 shows billing information used in connection with the menu of FIG. 27.

FIG. 30 shows a Key Lock Access menu that appears during one mode of operation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 31 shows a menu appearing in connection with an Interactive Television mode of operation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 32 shows information that appears in a Quote Watch menu in connection with the Interactive Television mode of operation shown in FIG. 31.

FIG. 33 shows other information that appears in connection with the Interactive Television mode of operation shown in FIG. 31.

FIG. 34 is a menu showing information that appears in a news display in the Interactive Television mode of operation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 35 is a menu showing information that appears in a sports display in the Interactive Television mode of operation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 36 is a flow chart showing the operation logic required for implementation of a computer program for the electronic program guide.

FIG. 37 is a menu showing a Locator screen for locating channel numbers and defining favorite channel lists.

FIG. 38 is an alternative menu that can be used in a MENU mode of operation of the electronic program guide.

FIG. 38A and 38B show, respectively, an alternative main menu screen and a listing-by-time screen accessible from the alternative main menu.

FIG. 39 is a Lockout menu that alternatively can be used for permitting or prohibiting access to certain programs.

FIG. 40 is a Setup menu that can be used to set text location and a purchase code for premium and pay-per-view programming.

FIG. 40A shows an exemplary menu for inputting a lockout code.

FIGS. 40B through 40E show, respectively, exemplary menus for entering, confirming, clearing or changing a purchase code.

FIG. 41 is a Lockout Verify menu that is used in connection with the Lockout menu of FIG. 39.

FIG. 42 is a flow chart showing the operation of the preferred embodiment of the textfit system of the invention herein.

FIG. 43 shows one embodiment of a channel 40 DMX (digital music service) virtual channel television screen display.

FIG. 44 shows an alternative embodiment of a channel 40 DMX virtual channel television screen display which incorporates a LISTEN function.

FIG. 45 shows another alternative embodiment of a channel 40 DMX virtual channel television screen display which includes a LISTEN function and a LOOK AHEAD function.

FIG. 46 shows one embodiment of a LOOK AHEAD television screen display for a virtual channel DMX service.

FIG. 47 shows one embodiment of a FLIP mode television screen display for a virtual channel DMX service.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

System Configuration

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing various components of the electronic program schedule system generally designated as 10. Physically, these system components can be located in a user's set-top cable converter box or other signal reception or processing device, such as a satellite receiver. Alternatively, the components can be mounted in a separate housing, or included as part of a television receiver, VCR, personal computer, or multimedia player; or reside as a distributed application in a broadband network architecture.

An input signal 11 is connected to a receiver 12, which receives a transmitted data stream from a data provider. The data stream may contain, for example, information about programs or services available in a particular market, geographical or otherwise. The input signal 11 can originate, for example, as part of a standard broadcast, cablecast or satellite transmission, or other form of data transmission. The data provider is a program information provider, the satellite uplink manager, a local cable operator, or a combination of these sources, and the data stream contains program schedule information for all television programs and other services available in the operator's geographical market.

The data stream may be modulated and then transmitted on the cable line in any number of ways, including as part of a dedicated channel transmission operating at a frequency of, for example, 75 MHz. Those of skill in the art will understand that numerous other transmission schemes can be used to transmit the data stream, such as embedding it in the vertical blanking interval of a program broadcast signal. As will be discussed in greater detail below, according to the present invention, the transmitted data stream may additionally contain application software for implementing or updating the electronic program guide at the user site.

The transmitted program schedule data or application software is received by the receiver 12 on signal input line 11. The received signal is passed from the receiver to a data demodulator 13, such as a QPSK demodulator or a GI Info-Cipher 1000R, which demodulates the transmission and passes it to a buffer 15.

A microcontroller 16, such as a M68000EC, receives data passed to the buffer 15. Bootstrap operating software, which may be used for capturing electronic program guide application software updates, is stored in a read only memory (ROM) 17. The microcontroller 16 uses the received program schedule information to build a database by storing the data in appropriately organized records in dynamic random access memory (DRAM) 18. The stored schedule information can be updated on a periodic basis, such as hourly, daily or weekly, or at any time when changes in scheduling or other factors warrant an update. The system also includes a system clock 19.

Alternatively, the program schedule information could be supplied in a ROM, disk or other non-volatile memory, or it could be downloaded to a storage disk or other data storage device. The invention herein is not directed to the particular method of transmission or reception of the schedule information.

If the microcontroller 16 recognizes the received data as application software which controls the program schedule system, as opposed to program schedule information, it stores it in non-volatile memory, such as an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM) 20 or battery-backed static RAM (SRAM). This configuration allows revised or replacement versions of the application software to be downloaded directly from the software developer to the user site through the cable or other transmission system.

In the case where an EEPROM is utilized, revised or replacement versions of the application software downloaded from the developer are first stored in DRAM 18 by the microcontroller 16, under direction of the downloading operating software stored in the ROM 17. The stored application software can then be checked for accuracy by, for example, a checksum analysis or other verification routine.

After the accuracy of the application software has been verified, the microcontroller 16 initiates a routine to re-program the EEPROM 20, where the application software is permanently stored. The microcontroller 16 will issue proper control commands to a reprogram circuit 21, which is adapted to supply the proper program voltage and logic control signals 22 required to erase and write to the EEPROM. It supplies this program voltage, Vprog, as well as any other required control signals, such as read or write enable, to the EEPROM 20 upon command from the microcontroller 16. After the EEPROM 20 has been electrically erased, the microcontroller 16 initiates transfer of the new application software from the DRAM 18 to the EEPROM 20 for storing.

When a battery-backed SRAM is utilized as non-volatile memory, the microcontroller stores the revised or replacement version of the application software downloaded from the developer directly in the SRAM, again under direction of the downloading operating software stored in the ROM. The stored application software can then be checked for accuracy by, for example, a checksum analysis or other verification routine.

When power is first applied to the system 10, the bootstrap operating software verifies that the program guide application software is resident in memory. If it is not resident, the bootstrap operating software waits for a download of the software. Once the application software is resident, the microcontroller 16 executes the application program software from a dedicated portion of the DRAM 18. Alternatively, the application software can be executed directly from the nonvolatile memory 20. Under control of the program guide application software, the microcontroller 16 first verifies that the program schedule information is resident in DRAM 18. If it is not resident, the microcontroller waits for a download of the program schedule information, as discussed above. Alternatively, if the application program is resident in memory, but the database records containing the program schedule information data are not yet available, the application software can be configured to carry out other tasks, such as allowing the user to carry out f