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Claims  |
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We claim:
1. A method, performed by a computer, of obtaining from a user a selected
program from among a plurality of television programs, the method
comprising the steps of:
(a) storing, for each of the television programs, a program name, a time of
broadcast, and textual and graphic descriptions of the television program;
(b) providing to a display device, for each of the television programs, the
program name and the time of broadcast for display in a schedule layout
which visually associates the program name with the time of broadcast;
(c) obtaining from the user a designation of the selected program; and
(d) providing to the display device the textual description of the selected
program and a graphic description of the selected program for concurrent
display with the schedule layout in a separate location so that the
textual and graphic descriptions do not overlay the displayed schedule
layout.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) further comprises storing a
channel indicator associated with the program name and the time of
broadcast for each of the television programs, and step (b) comprises
providing the channel indicator to the display device for display in the
schedule layout so as to be visually associated with the program name and
the time of broadcast.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the schedule layout comprises a grid
containing the program name of each of the television programs and having
a channel axis which references the channel indicator associated with each
of the television programs and a time axis which references the time of
broadcast of each associated with the television programs.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:
for each channel indicator, determining the number of times that an
attribute associated with the channel indicator has been designated by the
user; and
arranging the channel indicators on the channel axis in order from the
channel indicator with the attribute designated the most number of times
to the channel indicator with the attribute designated the least number of
times.
5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:
for each channel indicator, determining the number of times that program
names associated with the channel indicator have been designated by the
user; and
arranging the channel indicators on the channel axis in order from the
channel indicator with the highest frequency of program names designated
by the user to the channel indicator with the lowest frequency of program
names designated by the user.
6. The method of claim 3, further comprising:
for each channel indicator, determining the number of times that a program
name displayed on the time axis has been designated by the user; and
arranging the channel indicators on the channel axis in order from the
channel indicator with the program name designated the highest number of
times to the channel indicator with the program name designated the lowest
number of times.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises storing a set of
topics, each topic having one or more programs classified according to the
topic, and wherein step (c) comprises obtaining a topic selected by the
user, displaying a list of the television programs classified according to
the selected topic and obtaining from the user a designated program from
the program list as the selected program.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein step (c) further comprises providing the
user with a list of topics and obtaining from the user a designated topic
from the topic list as the selected topic, the list of topics being
provided in an order corresponding to the number of times each of the
topics has been previously selected.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein step (c) further comprises displaying the
list of television programs classified according to the topic in an order
based on program use criteria related to the topic.
10. The method of claim 7 wherein step (c) further comprises displaying the
list of television programs classified according to the topic in an order
based on the frequency of selection of television programs displayed on a
same channel.
11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of (e) obtaining
from the user a request to view the selected program, and (f) displaying
the requested program on a full screen of the display device.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of displaying
program information superimposed on the display of the requested program
when a channel is changed by the user to display the requested program.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the program information includes the
textual description of the requested program.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein the program information includes the
program name of the requested program.
15. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
(e) obtaining from the user a request to record the selected program; and
(f) providing an instruction to a recording device to record the selected
program at the corresponding time of broadcast stored for the selected
program in response to obtaining the request.
16. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
(e) obtaining from the user a request to record the selected program;
(f) providing an instruction to a recording device to record the selected
program at the corresponding time stored for the selected program; and
(g) providing an instruction to the recording device to record the textual
description for a predetermined time just prior to performing the step (f)
of providing the instruction to record the selected program.
17. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) comprises providing to the
display device a broadcast of the selected program in a
picture-in-graphics display window for concurrent display with the
schedule layout.
18. The method of claim 1 wherein the step (a) of storing comprises storing
a bitmap describing the selected program and step (d) comprises providing
the bitmap to the display device for concurrent display with the schedule
layout.
19. A computer system for selecting and displaying a television program
from among a plurality of television programs, comprising:
a display;
an input device through which the selected television program is selected
from a user; and
a computer coupled to the display and to the input device, comprising
an input unit for obtaining the selected television program from the input
device,
a memory for storing a program name and a time of broadcast of each of the
plurality of television programs, and
a processor four obtaining the selected television program from the input
unit, for reading the program name and time of broadcast for each of the
plurality of television programs from the memory, for displaying on the
display the read program names and times of broadcast, and, when the
selected television program is currently being broadcast, for displaying
the selected television program concurrently with the program name and
time of broadcast of the plurality of television programs.
20. The computer system of claim 19, further comprising
a video recorder coupled to the computer and coupled to the display, and
wherein the processor controls the video recorder to record the selected
television program upon obtaining from the input unit a request provided
by the user via the input device to record the selected television
program.
21. A method in a computer system for displaying television information
about a plurality of television programs on a display device, the method
comprising the steps of:
receiving the television information for each of the plurality of
television programs, the television information include a name and a time
of broadcast, and a graphics information or the television program;
for each of the plurality of television programs, displaying on the display
device the name of the television program and an indication of the time of
broadcast of the television program;
receiving from a user of the computer system a selection of a television
program; and
in response to receiving the selection, displaying on the display device
the graphics information of the selected television program simultaneously
with the displayed names and indications of time and channel of broadcast
of the television programs.
22. The method of claim 21 including the step of in response to receiving
the selection and when the selected television program is currently being
broadcast, displaying the broadcast of the selected television program
simultaneously with the displayed names and indications of the times of
broadcast of the television programs.
23. The method of claims 22 wherein the step of displaying the broadcast
includes the step of suppressing the displaying of the graphics
information.
24. A method in a computer system for displaying television information
about a plurality of television programs on a display device, the method
comprising the steps of:
receiving the television information for each of the plurality of
television programs, the television information include a name and a time
of broadcast;
for each of the plurality of television programs, displaying on the display
device the name of the television program and an indication of the time of
broadcast of the television program;
receiving from a user of the computer system a selection of a television
program; and
in response to receiving the selection and when the selected television
program is currently being broadcast, displaying the broadcast of the
selected television program simultaneously with the displayed names and
indications of the time of broadcast of the television programs.
25. A method in a computer system for displaying television information
about a plurality of television programs on a television screen, the
television information for each television program including a name and a
time of broadcast, the method comprising:
for each of the plurality of television programs, displaying on the
television screen the name of the television program and an indication of
the time of broadcast of the television program;
receiving from a user of the computer system a selection of a television
program whose information is currently displayed on the television screen;
and
in response to receiving the selection of the television program,
determining whether the television program is currently being broadcast;
when it is determined that the selected television program is currently
being broadcast, displaying the broadcast of the selected television
program on the television screen simultaneously with the displayed names
and indications of the time of broadcast of the television programs; and
when it is determined that the selected television program is not currently
being broadcast, displaying additional information about the television
program on the television screen.
26. The method of claim 25, including:
when the broadcast of the selected television program is being displayed,
receiving from the user of the computer system a selection of another
television program whose information is simultaneously being displayed
with the broadcast on the television screen; and in response to receiving
the selection of the other television program,
determining whether the other selected television program is currently
being broadcast;
when it is determined that the other selected television program is
currently being broadcast, displaying the broadcast of the other selected
television program on the television screen simultaneously with the
displayed names and indications of the time of broadcast of the television
programs; and
when it is determined that the other selected television program is not
currently being broadcast, displaying additional information about the
other television program on the television screen.
27. The method of claim 25 wherein the displayed broadcast of the selected
television program does not overlap the displayed television program
information so that the user can view both the displayed broadcast and the
information.
28. The method of claim 25 wherein the additional information displayed
when the selected television program is not being displayed is a graphical
representation of the selected television program.
29. The method of claim 25 wherein the additional information is displayed
simultaneously with the displayed names and indications of the time of
broadcast of the television programs.
30. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for causing a
computer system to display a schedule for a plurality of television
programs on a television screen by:
displaying the schedule on the television screen;
receiving from a user of the computer system a selection of a television
program from the displayed schedule; and
in response to receiving the selection of the television program,
determining whether the television program is currently being broadcast;
when it is determined that the selected television program is currently
being broadcast, displaying the broadcast of the selected television
program on the television screen simultaneously with the displayed
schedule; and
when it is determined that the selected television program is not currently
being broadcast, displaying additional information about the television
program on the television screen simultaneously with the displayed
schedule.
31. The computer-readable medium of claim 30, including:
when the broadcast of the selected television program is being displayed,
receiving from the user of the computer system a selection of another
television program from the schedule that is simultaneously being
displayed with the broadcast on the television screen; and
in response to receiving the selection of the other television program,
determining whether the other selected television program is currently
being broadcast;
when it is determined that the other selected television program is
currently being broadcast, displaying the broadcast of the other selected
television program on the television screen simultaneously with the
displayed schedule; and
when it is determined that the other selected television program is not
currently being broadcast, displaying additional information about the
other television program on the television screen simultaneously with the
displayed schedule.
32. The computer-readable medium of claim 30 wherein the displayed
broadcast of the selected television program does not overlap the
displayed schedule so that the user can view both the displayed broadcast
and the schedule.
33. The computer-readable medium of claim 30 wherein the additional
information displayed when the selected television program is not being
displayed is a graphical representation of the selected television
program.
34. The computer-readable medium of claim 30 wherein the additional
information is displayed simultaneously with the displayed schedule. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to the field of computer systems and, more
particularly, to television program selection using a computer system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A television viewer often considers a number of different television
programs before deciding on a program to view or record. Before making
such a decision, the viewer typically engages in a cumbersome and
time-consuming process in considering the different television programs
with reference to a printed television schedule. The viewer first
considers a program by referring to the printed schedule to obtain a time
and channel over which the program will be broadcast. The program may be
included anywhere within the schedule, and thus some effort may be
required of the user and some time may be wasted in locating the program.
Where provided, the viewer also reads a text description of the program in
the printed schedule or in another publication. The text description may
also require time and effort to locate. The viewer then considers the
program based on the text description. If the program is currently being
broadcast, the viewer may further consider the program by selecting the
channel indicated by the printed schedule to momentarily view the program.
When the viewer wishes to consider a number of programs, the above decision
process becomes particularly cumbersome and time-consuming. The viewer
considers a first program as described above, determining the location of
the first program in the printed television schedule, determining the
location of and reading the text description of the first program and, if
currently being broadcast, perhaps momentarily viewing the first program.
The viewer then considers a second program by determining the location of
the second program in the printed schedule, determining the location of
and reading the text description of the second program and perhaps
momentarily viewing the second program. This process is continued for each
television program the viewer considers.
One prior art attempt at improving the selection process described above
involves a method which actually displays the television schedule on the
television screen. By localizing the television schedule and text
description to the television, this method renders the user's selection
process less awkward than the method described above. Unfortunately,
however, this method is still quite cumbersome and time-consuming. When
deciding on a program to view or record, the viewer considers a first
program by determining the location of a first program name in the
displayed television schedule and then designating the program name via a
remote control pointing device. A text description is then displayed to
the viewer in a display window superimposed upon the displayed television
schedule.
After the viewer has read the text description, the viewer must remove the
display window using the pointing device. The user then selects the first
program for viewing if momentary viewing of the first program is desired.
After momentary viewing, the user designates the schedule to be displayed
again with the device. To continue, the user must then determine the
location of a second program name in the television schedule, designate
the second program name, read a second text description of the second
program in a display window superimposed on the television schedule,
remove the display window, select the second program for viewing,
designate the schedule to be again displayed, and so on. This entire
process must be repeated for each program that the user considers. Thus, a
more efficient means of television program selection is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a computer method and system for providing a user
with efficient selection of a television program to view or record. The
method provides a television schedule which is consistently displayed
concurrently with a description of the program currently selected by the
user from the displayed television schedule. The description of the
program includes both a textual description and a graphic description. The
graphic description including a bitmap or a video presentation of the
selected program. The displayed television schedule comprises a schedule
layout displayed to the user on a screen display. The schedule layout
includes a number of program names arranged in an adaptively learned order
based on the frequency of the user's previous selections. Each time a
program name is selected by the user, the graphic description and the
textual description of the television program represented by the selected
program name are displayed concurrently with the schedule layout in a
separate location on the screen display. As a result of the concurrent
display of program names, the user can select a television program
perceptively by viewing the adaptively ordered schedule layout at the same
time as both the textual and graphic description. Also, as a result of the
concurrent display, the user's selection is unencumbered by any delay when
the description of each selected program is displayed. Because the
television schedule is arranged in an adaptively learned order, the user's
selection is likely to be even more efficient. Thus, the user can rapidly
select and view the descriptions of a number of television programs when
making a decision.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a computer obtains the program
name and the description of each of a number of television programs from a
cable source which broadcasts the television program over cable. The
computer also obtains from the cable source a time of broadcast of each
television program and a channel indicator indicating the channel over
which each television program is to be broadcast. The computer stores the
program name, a channel indicator, including a channel name and a channel
number, a time of broadcast, including a day, start time, and end time of
the broadcast, and a description of each television program, in an entry
in a program table provided for that television program. Upon a request by
the user, the computer displays the program name, channel indicator and
time of broadcast in the schedule layout in a fashion which visually
associates the program name with the channel indicator and time of
broadcast. Preferably, the schedule layout includes a grid containing one
of the program names in each entry. The grid has a channel axis for
referencing the channel indicators and a time axis for referencing the
corresponding times of each of the scheduled television programs. The
order of entries along the channel axis is based on the frequency of user
selections of each of the channels.
The computer provides the description of each currently selected program to
the television for concurrent display with the schedule layout. The
description provided for each television program includes a text string
stored by the computer which describes the television program. The
computer provides the text string describing a television program to the
television for display when the program name of the television program is
designated in the grid by the user via an input device such as a remote
control. The description provided for each television program also
includes a picture-in-graphics display window. A picture-in-graphics
display window is similar to a picture-in-picture display window except
that the reduced-size picture is displayed in a display window
superimposed on a computer graphics background. If the program is
currently being broadcast, the computer provides to the television to
display in the picture-in-graphics display window the program currently
being broadcast. Otherwise, the computer controls the television to
display a blank window, or, in an alternative embodiment, a bitmap for the
network or television program indicated by the bitmap indicator. The
bitmap is provided by the cable source. When a program has been selected
for viewing as described above, the selected program is displayed in full
screen in place of the schedule layout. Thereafter, when the user changes
channels, the program name, channel indicator and text string are
displayed superimposed on the program displayed in a corner of the screen.
The computer system of the preferred embodiment also includes a video
recorder. The computer controls the video recorder to record a television
program when it is broadcast if the television program has been previously
selected by the user to be recorded. In the preferred embodiment, the
computer can control the video recorder to record the television program
even when the television is not "ON". The user selects a program to be
recorded by selecting the program name of the program from the schedule
layout. When the time of broadcast of the selected television program is
reached, the computer briefly displays the text string describing the
selected program and then controls the video recorder to record the
selected program.
In the preferred embodiment, the user can also select a television program
to view or record with reference to a specific topic which defines the
nature of the television program. The computer provides to the television
for display a list of topics. Each topic corresponds to a set of the
scheduled television programs fitting the category described by the topic,
such as movies, sports, and so forth. The topic list is displayed in an
adaptively learned order based on the number of television programs
previously selected from each topic. For example, if movies have been
selected most frequently, then a "movies" topic is displayed first in the
topic list.
The user then designates a topic from the topic list via the input device.
When the topic is designated, the computer provides to the television for
display a program list which lists the program names of the television
programs defined by the selected topic. The user selects a television
program to view or record by designating a program name in the displayed
program list via the input device. The computer updates and stores the
number of television programs selected for each topic. When the topic list
is thereafter displayed, the topics are displayed in an order based on the
updated number of television programs selected for each topic.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the computer system of the preferred
embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 is an illustration of the screen display displayed in accordance
with the preferred embodiment.
FIG. 3 is an illustration of the program table which stores program
information in the preferred embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of the selection program performed by the
preferred embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of the schedule routine performed by the selection
program of FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of the change selection routine performed by the
schedule routine of FIG. 5 and the topics routine of FIG. 7.
FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of the topics routine performed by the selection
program of FIG. 4.
FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of the record program of the preferred embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a computer
method and system for providing a user with efficient selection of
television programs to view and record. The system layout and component
interrelationship of the preferred embodiment will be described first,
followed by a detailed description of the processes that are performed on
the system.
System Overview
A block diagram of the computer system of the preferred embodiment is shown
in FIG. 1. The computer system of FIG. 1 includes a computer 100 which is
connected to a cable source 110, a tuner 115, an input device 120, a
television 130 and a video recorder 140. In a preferred embodiment, the
cable source 110 is a broad band coaxial cable over which a television
cable provider sends television programs in a broadcast signal and
television program information in a digital data stream. In alternate
embodiments, the programs may be broadcast over other media such as a
standard television broadcast, direct broadcast via satellite, and so
forth. As will be explained, the user utilizes the computer 100 via the
input device 120 to select a television program broadcast by the cable
source 110. The input device 120 is a mouse, a remote control pointing
device, or the like. The cable source 110 and the computer 100 control the
tuner, or alternatively the tuner and the video recorder 140, to control
the display of the selected television program on the television 130. The
computer also controls the video recorder 140 to control the recording of
the selected television program.
Specifically, the computer 100 contains a memory 150 which stores a
selection computer program 152. It should be noted that the memory 150
includes random access memory (RAM) in which data is stored by programs.
As will be explained below, the selection program 152 allows the user to
select the desired television programs. The computer 100 also contains a
graphics display generator 157 that generates computer graphics, and a
picture-in-graphics processor 155 that combines an output from both the
tuner 115 and the graphics display generator 157 and sends the resulting
signal to the television 130. The memory 150 is connected via an I/O unit
160 to a central processing unit (CPU) 170 which executes the selection
program 152. The CPU 170 is also connected to the cable source 110, the
tuner 115, the input device 120, the television 130 and the video recorder
140 via the I/O unit 160. When the CPU 170 executes the selection program
152, the CPU 170 obtains the television program information from the cable
source 110 in a digital data stream. The program information includes
information about a number of television programs. The CPU 170 then stores
the program information in the RAM portion of the memory 150.
The program information includes a program name, time of broadcast, channel
indicator, and description of each television program. In an alternative
embodiment, the program information includes actor names, director names,
content ratings such as "R," "PG," etc., and star ratings indicating
quality. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the
principles of the invention can be applied to maintain a variety of other
kinds of program information, as well. The selection program 152 provides
the program information to the television 130 via the picture-in-graphics
processor 155 in a schedule layout which the television 130 displays. The
selection program 152 thereafter obtains from the user via the input
device 120 a selection of a television program to display or record by
using the schedule layout. The selection program 152 provides the
description of the selected program concurrently with the schedule layout
to the graphics display generator 157 to be displayed on the television
130. When the user requests to view the selected program, the selection
program 152 controls the tuner 115 to tune the selected program, generates
a graphics image of the schedule layout and graphics portions by
controlling the graphics display generator 157, and instructs the
picture-in-graphics processor 155 to combine the video information and
graphics image and to send the resulting signal to the television 130. In
cases where the schedule layout and portions of the description are
combined with a reduced size picture-in-graphics display of the selected
program, the selection program 152 instructs the picture-in-graphics
processor 155 to overlay the digital image of the broadcast signal
obtained from the cable source 110 with a computer graphics image of the
schedule layout and graphic portions. The picture-in-graphics processor
155 sends the composite image to the television 130 to be displayed. When
the user requests to record the selected program, the selection program
152 designates the program to be recorded. A record program 154 stored in
the memory 150 is executed by the CPU 170 concurrently with the selection
program. The record program provides a command to the video recorder 140
via the I/O device 160 to record the designated program at the time of
broadcast of the selected program. In the preferred embodiment, the
command is an infrared command.
A screen display is shown in FIG. 2 which is displayed by the television
130 under control of the selection program 152 when the user requests a
schedule. The screen display includes a schedule layout 200 which displays
the program name, channel indicator, and time of broadcast of each of the
television programs. The schedule layout 200 includes a grid 210 in which
a grid entry 212 is provided for each of a number of television programs
broadcast by the cable source 110. Each grid entry 212 contains the
program name of one of the television programs. The grid entries 212 are
arranged horizontally according to a time of broadcast and arranged
vertically according to the channel over which the television programs are
broadcast. In an alternate embodiment, the grid entries 212 may be
arranged vertically according to the time of broadcast and horizontally
according to the channel. A number of time entries 215 are provided along
a horizontal time axis 214 which display the different times over which
the television programs are broadcast. Similarly, a number of channel
entries 217 are provided along a vertical channel axis 216 which display
the different channels over which the television programs are broadcast.
In the embodiment of the invention having the screen display shown in FIG.
2, the selection program 152, via the graphics display generator 157,
controls the television 130 to display only a portion of the grid 210 at a
given time. Thus, the grid 210 can contain a large number of times and
channels over which the television programs are broadcast without the need
to reduce each grid entry 212 to a size in which the program name becomes
unreadable in order to display all television programs at the same time.
It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the
schedule layout 200 can be designed such that the size of the displayed
portion of the grid 210 can be varied.
In an alternative embodiment, the channel entries 217 are arranged along
the channel axis 216 according to a frequency with which channel entries
associated with the program names have been designated by the user. Each
time the user designates one of the program names, the selection program
152 increments a channel counter 151 for the channel entry 217 associated
with the designated program name. The channel counter 151 is preferably
stored in the RAM portion of the memory 150. The selection program 152,
via the graphics display generator 157, controls the television 130 to
arrange the channel entries 217 in an order of use from the channel entry
with the highest value in its associated channel counter 151 to the
channel entry with the lowest value in its associated channel counter 151.
FIG. 2 illustrates a state of the schedule layout 200 wherein the order of
use for the channel entries 217 is channels 2,4,5, and 7.
In yet another embodiment, the channel entries can be arranged along the
channel axis 216 according to a frequency with which program names have
been designated by the user. Each time the user designates one of the
program names, the selection program 152 increments a program counter 153
associated with the designated program name. The program counter 153 is
preferably stored in the RAM portion of the memory 150. The selection
program 152, via the graphics display generator 157, then controls the
television 130 to arrange the channel entries 217 in an order of use from
the channel entry whose program name has been designated the most number
of times, to the channel entry whose program name has been designated the
least number of times. FIG. 2 illustrates a state of the schedule layout
200 wherein the program name designated the most number of times is
associated with channel 2, for the currently displayed channel entries.
The program name designated the least number of times is associated with
channel 7, for the currently displayed channel entries. There may be more
frequently displayed program names above channel 2 and less frequently
displayed program names below channel 7 since the schedule 200 scrolls
(the scroll feature is described in more detail below).
While the discussion above has focused on arranging channel entries 217
based on the frequency with which associated program names have been
designated, those of ordinary skill will understand that other attributes
or selection patterns can be monitored and the channel entries rearranged
based on the results of that monitoring.
The schedule layout 200 also includes a day selector 220 with which the
user selects the day for which the television programs are to be displayed
by the grid 210. The day selector 220 contains arrow buttons with which
the user moves the selected day chronologically forward or backward, as
shown. The schedule layout 200 also includes a day entry 222 which
indicates the day previously selected by the user via the day selector 220
and for which the television programs are displayed by the grid 210. The
grid 210 varies in content based on the day currently selected.
The schedule layout 200 includes a time scroll bar 224 which the user
scrolls to select time entries 215 that are different than the time
entries currently displayed on the time axis 214 of the grid 210. Program
names corresponding to the newly selected time entries 215 and the
previously selected channel entries 217 are displayed in the grid entries
212. For example, the time scroll bar 224 is scrolled so that the time
entries for the times 6:00 PM, 6:30 PM, 7:00 PM and 7:30 PM are selected,
as shown in FIG. 2. Similarly, the schedule layout 200 provides a channel
scroll bar 226 which the user scrolls to select channel entries 217 that
are different than the channel entries currently displayed on the grid
210. Program names corresponding to the newly selected channel entries 217
and the previously selected time entries 215 are displayed in the grid
entries 212. For example, the channel scroll bar 226 is manipulated so
that the channel entries 217 for channels 2, 4, 5 and 7 are selected, as
shown in FIG. 2. Thus, by manipulating the time scroll bar 224 and the
channel scroll bar 226, the user varies the content of the displayed
portion of the grid 210 shown in the schedule layout 200. In an alternate
embodiment, the contents of the grid may be manipulated by directional
buttons provided on the input device 120.
The present invention displays a description of the television program
selected from the schedule layout 200 concurrently with the schedule
layout. As shown in FIG. 2, the screen display contains a text display
window 230 and a picture-in-graphics display window 240. The text display
window 230 is provided in a location on the screen display that is
separate from the schedule layout 200. The text display window 230
displays, concurrently with the schedule layout 200, a text string which
describes the currently selected program from the grid 210.
The picture-in-graphics display window 240 is also provided in a location
separate from the schedule layout 200. The picture-in-graphics display
window 240 contains a graphic representation of the television program
currently selected from the grid 210. When the currently selected program
is actually being broadcast, the selection program 152 instructs the tuner
115 and the picture-in-graphics processor 155 to display a reduced-size
video display of the selected program in the picture-in-graphics display
window 240. It is well known to those skilled in the art how to provide
such a reduced-size display on the screen display of a television. When
the currently selected program is not being broadcast, the selection
program 152, via the picture-in-graphics processor 155, controls the
television 130 to display in the picture-in-graphics display window 240 a
blank window, or, alternatively, a bitmap representing the selected
program or the network logo or a network provided program video clip. The
bitmap is provided by the cable source 110 and stored by the selection
program 152 as part of the program information in the RAM portion of the
memory 150.
Both a text description and a graphic representation of the selected
program are preferably displayed when a television program is selected by
the user in the preferred embodiment of the invention. When the user
changes among selected programs by designating different entries 212 in
the grid 210, the selection program 152, via the graphics display
generator 157, concurrently changes the text description displayed in the
text display window 230 and the graphic representation in the
picture-in-graphics display window 240 of the selected programs so as to
correspond to the newly selected program. As a result, the user is
consistently provided with useful descriptions of the tel | | |
