HK1081028B - Method and apparatus for displaying television programs and related text - Google Patents

Description

Method and apparatus for displaying television programs and associated text

This application is a divisional application No. 95195334.6 of chinese patent application entitled "method and apparatus for displaying television programs and related text" filed on 31/8/1995.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of television, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for simultaneously displaying video programs and associated text on a television screen.

Background

For several years, some television receivers have been provided with picture-in-picture (PIP) capability. Displaying a live, real-time image of a television channel on a screen background according to the PIP format; and the live, real-time image of the other television channel is displayed in a PIP window overlaid on a cell of the background. Since one television receiver simultaneously displays two channels, two tuners are required. The viewer enters the PIP mode by pressing a PIP key of his or her controller. The viewer can then either change the background channel or change the PIP channel by resetting the appropriate tuner. To exchange the background with the PIP image, the viewer simply presses the SWAP key. To make the PIP window disappear, the viewer presses the PIP key again.

Television program guides help television viewers select programs to watch. Such television program guides list available television programs by day of the week, time of day, channel, and program name. Television program guides have been distributed in hard copy form for many years. More recently, television program guides have begun to take an electronic form, as described in Levine patent 4,908,713. In other words, the program listings are stored in an electronic memory coupled to the television receiver. The program listings are retrieved from memory by the viewer in accordance with instructions displayed on the television screen.

Although television program guides have prevailed, many viewers still select programs by switching the television tuner on and off channel by channel and observing what programs are being received on the screen for each channel. This process is sometimes called "handover".

Emanuel patent 5,161,019 discloses an automatic form of channel switching. A set of pre-selected channels is scanned sequentially by switching the tuner of the television receiver channel by channel. A still image of the program received on each channel is stored in memory. After all channels have been scanned, still images from all channels are displayed simultaneously on the television screen. This process allows the viewer to obtain more information about the program selection, i.e., still images of the actual program being displayed, in addition to the information available from the television program guide.

Disclosure of Invention

According to the invention, a moving picture of a television program is displayed in a PIP window on a screen of a television monitor, and text information relating to the television program is displayed in a background on the screen. Preferably, the audio portion of the television program displayed in the PIP window is also played back using the sound system of the television monitor. Arranging text information on a screen as: none of the pieces of information is covered by the moving image.

In one embodiment, the textual Program Related Information (PRI) is a television program schedule. A program listing in the schedule identifies, by title and time and/or channel, the television program in the PIP window, which includes moving images.

To facilitate channel switching, a television viewer can use the PIP format to display, in the background, the current television program listings from the program schedule database, and program activity, real-time images selected from the displayed program listings in the PIP window. In particular, when a viewer selects a particular program from the displayed current television program guide using a cursor or code number, the corresponding program is automatically presented in the PIP window. In this way, the viewer can channel by selecting each program in the background one after the other. When the viewer finds a program he wants to see, he leaves the PIP format and returns to the full screen television view, and the tuner tunes to the desired program. To do this, the viewer can swap the background and PIP windows and then make the window disappear, leaving the desired program on the full screen; or the device may be configured to return to the full screen view in a single step.

In order to be able to see programs scheduled for future broadcast without delaying the current program being viewed, the television viewer can use the PIP format to display, in the background, television program listings for a particular channel from the program schedule database, and live, real-time images of the current program for that channel in the PIP window. In particular, "when the viewer changes channels, the current program for that channel is automatically presented in the PIP window. The viewer may control the background to display a program listing for a period of several days, e.g., a week, in the future. In this way, the viewer can continue to watch the television program while determining future programming about the channel tuned by the television tuner. When the viewer finds a program he wants to see, the background disappears, leaving the program for the channel tuned by the tuner in full screen.

In another embodiment, the television viewer may use the PIP format to display future television program listings from a program schedule database in the background and video clipped moving images of a program listing in the background display, e.g., selected by a cursor.

In yet another embodiment, the main-text Program Related Information (PRI) is information that is played during a vertical blanking interval of the television signal that occurs concurrently with the television program displayed in the PIP window.

Drawings

Features of some embodiments of the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention are illustrated in the figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a television receiver having an electronic television program guide that embodies principles of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2 through 5 are television screens formed in accordance with the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a remote control for operating the electronic program guide of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 7 through 14 are flowcharts illustrating how a viewer manipulates the electronic program guide shown in FIG. 1 and the screen formats that the viewer encounters during such manipulations;

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating the prompt and guideline system of FIGS. 7-14;

fig. 16 and 17 are screens formed for specifying program titles in the PIP window and program titles in the program description area using color coding;

fig. 18 is a screen formed for displaying a real-time television program using an electronic program guide whereby the screen format shown in fig. 2, 3, 4 or 5 is simulated using a television receiver without a PIP chip;

FIG. 19 is an illustrative diagram of an alternative method of viewer manipulation of a television program guide;

fig. 20 is a schematic block diagram of a television receiver having an electronic television guide displaying a PRI in accordance with the principles of another embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 21 is a screen formed to display the PRI recovered by the receiver shown in fig. 20;

FIG. 22 is a RAM memory database illustrating the static and dynamic regions of memory;

FIG. 23 is a remote loader package received by the system;

FIG. 24 is a memory bitmap contained in RAM memory;

FIG. 25 illustrates a pre-established schedule data structure contained in a static area of RAM memory;

fig. 26 illustrates a display packet data structure;

FIG. 27 illustrates a portion of a display packet data structure;

FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating an extended title display table;

FIG. 29 is a view showing a channel map data structure included in a static area of a RAM memory;

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing a control array data structure contained in a static area of a memory;

FIG. 31 is a diagram illustrating a calling alphabet data structure located in a static area of a RAM memory;

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing a record queue data structure located in a static area of a RAM memory;

FIGS. 33 through 35 are television screens formed in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 36 through 38 are flowcharts illustrating how a viewer may manipulate the electronic program guide of FIG. 1 including the screen formats of FIGS. 33 through 35; and

fig. 39 is a diagram illustrating the hierarchy of prompts and guidelines shown in fig. 36-38.

Detailed Description

In the following description of embodiments of the present invention, common reference numerals are used to designate identical components. If the functional elements of all embodiments are incorporated into a single system, these elements can be shared and they can perform all the functions of the described embodiments.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention displays information about a television program schedule and the contents of an electronic television program guide divided into three parts. One screen format is the time specific program guide (TISPG); another screen format is the Channel Specific Program Guide (CSPG); and a third screen format is a topic specific program guide (THSPG). In each case, a moving picture of the currently playing television program is displayed in real time in the PIP window.

Referring to fig. 1, a television signal source 10, such as a terrestrial antenna or cable line, is connected to a television tuner 11. The output of tuner 11 is a modulated intermediate frequency signal containing video and audio television information. The tuner 11 is connected to a picture signal detector (PI television DET)13 and an audio signal detector (SOUND DET)14, respectively, by an intermediate frequency amplifier (IF AMP)12, which generate baseband video and audio signals, respectively. The audio signal is coupled to a speaker 16 by a SOUND amplifier (SOUND AMP) 15. A video amplifier, not shown, is used to couple the video signal to an input of the switch 18. The sound detector 14 and the image detector 13 are connected to an audio input and a video input, respectively, of a Video Cassette Recorder (VCR) 17. (on the other hand, if its internal tuner and demodulation circuitry is to be used, television signal source 10 can be connected directly to the RF input of VCR 17.) the output of VCR17 is connected to another input of switch 18. The output of switch 18 is connected to an input of a conventional picture-in-picture (PIP) integrated circuit chip 19. The output of the PIP chip 19 is connected to the video input of a television receiver or monitor (TV)20 having a screen (not shown).

An updatable database of program listings for all available channels for a specified period of time, such as a day or week, is electronically stored in a program listings store 22. These program listings typically include the title of each program, the program description, the day of the week, the start time of the day, the length of the program, and the channel on which the program is transmitted and thus receivable at the source 10. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the period of storing the program listings is guide-specific, depending on the preferences and preferences of the viewer. For example, the information required to display the TISPG and CSPG may be stored for one or two days, while the information required to display the TSPG may be stored for one week or more. The database may be updated by playing a continuous data link of the Vertical Blanking Interval (VBI) of a television channel to a television receiver in a well known manner. Alternatively, the database may be updated by unplugging the memory 22 and replacing it with a memory having an updated database. The memory 22 is connected to a microprocessor 24 which is programmed to control the operation of the device. The operating program for the microprocessor 24 is stored in a Read Only Memory (ROM) 26. A viewer input 28, preferably in the form of a remote IR controller, is coupled to the microprocessor 24 to provide commands from the viewer. A video processor 30 is coupled to microprocessor 24. When the viewer wants to watch a television program schedule, microprocessor 24 recalls a portion of the program schedule database from memory 22 and couples it to video processor 30 where the program schedule is formed for display. Preferably, the information stored in video processor 30 is a bitmap that is displayed on the screen of television receiver 30. Video processor 30 is connected to another input of PIP chip 19. Preferably, viewer input 28 controls microprocessor 24 by moving a cursor on the screen of television receiver 20. To this end, the microprocessor 24 and the video processor 30 are coupled to a cursor position register 32. (alternatively, the viewer can select those items of information displayed on the screen by entering codes assigned to those items into the viewer input 28.) the microprocessor 24 is also coupled to the tuner 11 for channel changing; to the VCR17 for play/record selection and start/stop; to switch 18 for selecting one of its inputs; and to a PIP chip 19 for selecting a PIP operation mode.

The format of the electronic program guide is shown in fig. 2 to 5. Each format has a background area 40 and an overlay PIP window 42 located in the upper left corner of the screen. In a sub-section 42a of the PIP window 42a real-time, i.e. 6:15p.m., background, region 40 is displayed comprising a title and information prompt region 43 at the top of the screen, a program description region 44 adjacent the PIP window 42 in the upper right hand corner of the screen, and a program listing region 46 below the regions 42 and 44. The program description area 44 includes the start time and length (duration) of the program being described. The viewer can move the cursor 48 vertically to highlight one of the program listings displayed in the field 46. The highlighted background of the cursor 48 and the background of the program description area 44 have the same color or hue. In each format, a full moving picture of the real-time and current time of the currently playing television program is displayed in PIP window 42 and the audio portion of the television program displayed in PIP window 42 is reproduced by the audio system of monitor 20. The information displayed in the areas 43, 44 and 46 varies from format to format.

A version of the TISPG screen format is shown in fig. 2, i.e. a version of a program guide showing some tv programs being played at the current time. In the following description, this format is sometimes referred to as the "NOW" guide or the "ALL CHANNEL" guide. The program list section 46 has a channel name field or calling letter field, a channel number field, and a program title field; each row of section 46 represents a separate program listing. A moving real-time image of the current television program highlighted by cursor 48 is displayed in PIP window 42 and a brief program description of the highlighted program is displayed in field 44.

Another version of the TISPG screen format is shown in fig. 3, which displays the program listings played at a future time, i.e. 8:00p.m., in field 46. In the following description, this format is sometimes referred to as the "NEXT" guide. The viewer can select a future time of the program listings displayed at, for example, half-hour intervals. The future time selected for the program listings displayed in section 46, i.e., 8:00p.m., is shown in a sub-section 43a of section 43. A brief program description of a program listing highlighted with a cursor 48 in a field 46 is displayed in field 44. The program currently being played is still displayed in the PIP window 42 and a title 49 is displayed between the PIP window 42 and the field 46 in a different color or shade of background than the cursor 48, which identifies the current program by channel name, channel number and program title.

In FIG. 4, a CSPG screen format is shown. In the following description, this format is sometimes referred to as an "THIS CHANNEL" guide. The entire program listings for a selected channel, FOX channel 7, are displayed in field 46 in a time range from the time the program is currently being broadcast to a particular time period in the future, such as 24 hours or until the end of the next day. Section 46 has a time column and a program title column; each row of section 46 represents a separate program listing. In PIP window 42, a live real-time image of some of the current television program is displayed. If the cursor is also highlighting the current program, a brief program description of the current program is displayed in field 44. As shown in fig. 4, if the light highlights another program listing, a brief program description of the highlighted program is displayed in field 44 and the current program is identified by time and title in title 49.

In fig. 5, the THSPG screen format is shown. In the following description, this format is sometimes referred to as the "SORT" guide. A selected theme or subtopic, the program listing for ALL moves, is shown in field 46 with time ranging from the next show time to a particular time period in the future, such as one week. Region 46 has a head column 46a identifying the subject or small subject, date and day, namely ALL MOVIES DEC 12 MON; a title bar; a start time field; and a channel name or number field. Each row of section 46 represents a separate program listing. In the PIP window 42a live real-time image of the current television program is displayed and in the title 49 the current program is identified by the channel name or number and title. A brief program description of the program highlighted by the cursor 48 is displayed in the field 44.

All 4 regions of the background 40 are formed in the video processor 30. The storage space of the video processor 30 corresponding to the area where the PIP window 42 is presented on the screen is left vacant, i.e. although the PIP window 42 is overlaid on the background area 40, it does not obscure any information of the background area 40. The viewer can move a cursor 48 vertically to highlight a currently playing television program displayed in region 46 by means of a pair of up/down arrows on viewer input 28. Preferably, to reduce the delay in displaying the program schedule, all of the program listings in a particular screen format are stored in video processor 30 even though only a small portion of the program listings are displayed at the same time. When the cursor reaches the top or bottom program in region 46, microprocessor 24 also calls up more programs from video processor 30 to display them on the screen of television receiver 20.

In all formats, a live real-time image of the current television program highlighted with cursor 48 is displayed in PIP window 42; in the area 44, a program description of the highlighted program is displayed; in field 46, one or the other program listings are displayed; and in the title area 43, one or more prompts are displayed, as described in more detail below. The audio portion of the television program displayed in PIP window 42 is reproduced by the audio system of monitor 20. The PIP display, accompanying sound reproduction and program description in section 44 allows the viewer to determine whether to view the highlighted program. As the viewer moves the cursor 48 vertically, one program by one, the current television program displayed in window 42 and the program description displayed in field 44 are automatically altered accordingly to match the highlighted program in field 46. When the cursor is moved from one program listing to another, tuner 11 is adjusted to highlight the channel of the program so that the program can be displayed in PIP window 42; the microprocessor 24 calls the program description of the highlighted program listing from the program listing memory 22; and video processor 30 forms this program description so that it can be displayed in area 44.

Preferably, two levels of detail are available for the program description. Generally, the first level of detail of the program description is shown in section 44, as described above. When more detail is required, the viewer operates the input 28 to display a second level of detail of the program description. There are two schemes for displaying the second level of detail. As an alternative, the second level of detail can replace the first level of detail in region 44. This has its advantages: the viewer can continue to watch the program listings while more details about the program description are displayed. Alternatively, the second level of detail can replace the program listings in section 46. This also has its advantages: more space is available for displaying the second level of detail than the first level of detail.

Referring to fig. 6 through 14, preferred embodiments of implementing a television program guide with steps taken by the viewer are described. Viewer input 28 preferably takes the form of a hand-held remote Infrared (IR) transmitter that communicates with an IR receiver connected to microprocessor 24. As shown in FIG. 6, the IR transmitter has a housing 50 with control buttons mounted thereon. Above the up and down arrow keys 58 and 60, there are a GUIDE/TV button 52, an INFO button 54, and a VCR PLUS + button 56. Below the down arrow key 60, there is provided a row of keys 62, 64, 66 and 68, which are respectively marked with the colors red (R), green (G), yellow (Y) and blue (B). In a field 43 of the electronic guide, red, green, yellow and blue cues are displayed. To select a prompt on the screen, the key of the IR transmitter with the corresponding color is pressed, i.e. to select a blue prompt on the screen, the blue key 68 is pressed.

Two goals are considered when designing the screen format and the links between the guides: first, a program being watched by a viewer is always displayed before an electronic guide is input; second, while manipulating the electronic guide, it is never left until the viewer switches to TV mode. As described below, the guidelines are related to each other in a one-way hierarchical structure; on the screen, the hierarchy is accessed by a prompt encoding the color of a key on the remote control transmitter. At each level of the hierarchy, the viewer can choose: back to a subordinate guideline, or down to a subordinate guideline in a hierarchy. At the lowest level, the only choice is to go back to the backbone guide. At each stage, the viewer's selections are displayed on the screen with prompts to minimize the need to key the guide on the viewer input 28.

As shown in fig. 7 by a block 70, the viewer enters the electronic GUIDE by pressing the GUIDE/TV button 52 on the remote control transmitter. As shown in block 72, a so-called "NOW" guide is then displayed on the screen. This is the "backbone" of the electronic guide, as it is the starting point for entry into each of the other guides.

As indicated by block 74 in each of fig. 8-14, the viewer can move a cursor up and down the program listings in region 46 to select a particular program. As shown in box 76 in each of fig. 8 to 14, the viewer presses GUIDE/TV button 52 to return to full screen TV mode; and pressing INFO key 54 to display a second level of detail of the program information in either field 44 or field 46.

In fig. 7, block 80 depicts the layout of the NOW guide, which is a version of the TISPG screen format. Area 43 has a blue "CHOICE" prompt and a logo format in "NOW" format and shows the title of the date, day and time. When the viewer presses the blue button 68 (fig. 6) on the remote control transmitter, 4 prompt selections are presented to the viewer, as shown in block 82. These prompt selections are displayed in an "ALLCHANNEL" guide, as shown at block 84 in FIG. 8.

Block 86 represents the "all channels" guide, which is identical to the "NOW" guide except for section 43. This is a transitional guide because the viewer can enter other guides at lower levels of the hierarchy by tracking the displayed prompts. In the "ALL CHANNEL" guide, a red NOW cue, a green CSPG cue, a yellow NEXT cue, and a blue SORT cue are displayed. As shown in block 88, in each of the guides of fig. 8 through 14, when the viewer presses the red key 62 on the remote control transmitter, the NOW guide of fig. 7 is returned to.

When the green key 64 is pressed from the "ALL CHANNEL" guide, a "THISCHANNEL" guide in the CSPG format described above is displayed, as shown in block 90 of FIG. 8 and block 92 of FIG. 9. Block 94 depicts the "THIS CHANNEL" guideline, which is at the bottom of the hierarchy. Thus, only one cue, a red NOW cue, is displayed in field 43, which allows the viewer to return to the NOW guide. Area 43 also displays the name and channel number of the dedicated channel, e.g., ABC, channel 7.

As shown in block 96 of fig. 8 and block 98 of fig. 10, to display the "NEXT" guide, the viewer presses the yellow key 66 on the remote control transmitter. NEXT guidelines having the TISPG format are described by box 100. Initially the current program is displayed in field 46 as in the case of the NOW guide (fig. 2). In addition to the red NOW cue, a green up arrow cue, a blue down arrow cue, and the program times displayed in the guide between the up and down arrows are also provided in section 43 in the NEXT guide. The field 43 also displays the time at which the listed program was played, i.e. the initial current time. Each time the viewer presses the blue key 68, the guide advances by one-half hour to display the program that is broadcast one-half hour later, as shown in block 104, and the time displayed in field 43 changes accordingly. Each time the viewer presses the green key 64, the guide moves back half an hour to display the program that was broadcast half an hour ago, as shown in block 102, and the time displayed in field 43 changes accordingly. When keys 64 and 66 are pressed to display a future program in region 46, title 49 (fig. 3) is presented to identify the current real-time television program being displayed in PIP window 42. The NEXT guideline is at the bottom of the hierarchy, so the only way out of this guideline is to return to the REO prompt of the NOW guideline.

As shown in block 105 of FIG. 8 and block 106 of FIG. 11, when the viewer presses the blue key 68 while in the ALL CHANNEL guide, the first level of the "SORT" prompt is displayed. As depicted in block 108 (FIG. 11), in addition to the red NOW prompt, there is a first level of the SORT key that includes a green MOVIES prompt, a yellow SPORTS prompt, and a blue OTHERS prompt in region 43. The ALL CHANNEL guideline for the current time, the NOW guideline, is still shown in region 46. When the viewer presses the green key 64, an "ALL MOVIES" guide is displayed in field 46, as shown in block 109 of FIG. 11 and block 112 of FIG. 12; and a second level screen-1, i.e., a small theme, of the movie SORT key is displayed in area 43, as illustrated in block 114 of fig. 12. When the viewer presses the blue key 68, the NOW guide is displayed in region 46, as shown in block 130 of FIG. 14, and the first level screen-2, i.e., the SORT key, is displayed in region 43, as illustrated in block 111 of FIG. 11 and block 132 of FIG. 14.

In addition to the red NOW cue, the screen-1 second level movie SORT button (FIG. 12) also includes a green ACTION cue; a yellow comidy prompt; and a blue OTHER prompt to turn on the screen-2 series SORT button, allowing selection of OTHER subclasses of movies. In the ALL MOVIES guide, the sum of ALL MOVIES in ALL subclasses is shown. When the viewer presses the green key 64, an ACTION move guide (not shown) is displayed in field 46. When the viewer presses the yellow key 66, a command move guide (not shown) is displayed in the field 46. In each of these cases, only one RED prompt is displayed in region 43, since the electronic guide is at the bottom of the hierarchy and the only route that the viewer can take is to go back to the NOW guide (fig. 7). When the viewer presses the blue key 68, as shown in block 120 of fig. 12 and block 122 of fig. 13, the ALL move guide is still displayed in field 46 and the screen-2 series of second level movie SORT keys are displayed in field 43. As illustrated by block 124, the screen-2 series of SORT keys for the second movie level includes, in addition to the red NOW prompt, a green DRAMA prompt, a yellow HORROR prompt, and a blue ALL OTHER prompt. When the viewer presses the green key 64, a DRAMA move guide (not shown) is displayed in field 46. When the viewer presses the yellow key 66, a HORROR move guide (not shown) is displayed in field 46. When the viewer presses the blue key 68, an ALL OTHER move guide (not shown) is displayed in field 46. In each of these cases, only one RED prompt is displayed in region 43, since the electronic guide is at the bottom of the hierarchy and the only route the viewer can take is to go back to the NOW guide (fig. 7).

The reason for using the reminder multiscreen in the movie theme guide is that some reminders are provided in field 43 to display all the subclasses of the movie. If more movie subclasses are needed, a screen-3 series of second level movie SORT keys can be displayed without the ALL OTHER movie prompt. This screen format can be expanded as needed to meet the needs of the subclass.

As shown in fig. 11 and 14, when the viewer presses the blue prompt key 68 of the first-level SORT keys, a screen-2 of the first-level SORT keys is displayed in the area 43, and the NOW guide is still displayed in the area 46. As illustrated by block 132, the screen-2 SORT button includes, in addition to the red NOW prompt, a green CHILD prompt, a yellow SPECIAL prompt, and a blue SERIES prompt. When the viewer presses the green key 64, an ALL CHILDREN guide (not shown) is displayed in field 46, as indicated by block 134. When the viewer presses the yellow key 66, an ALL SPECIAL guide (not shown) is displayed in region 46, as shown in block 136. When the viewer presses the blue key 68, an ALL SERIES guide (not shown) is displayed in the field 46, as indicated by block 138. In each of these cases, only one RED prompt is displayed in region 43, since the electronic guide is at the bottom of the hierarchy and the only route the viewer can take is to go back to the NOW guide (fig. 7).

When the viewer presses the yellow prompt button 66, an ALL SPORTS guide is displayed in field 46, as shown in block 110 of fig. 11. On the other hand, there may be some sports SORT keys similar to the multiple levels and screens of movie reminders and guides. (this hierarchy may also be provided for any other kind of SORT guideline.)

Fig. 15 shows the hierarchical structure of the prompts and guides described in connection with fig. 7 to 14, starting with the input of an electronic guide by pressing a button 52 on the IR transmitter. When a prompt is selected, the particular guide is displayed on the screen in field 46, designated by parentheses, for example, when the CHOICE prompt is selected, the NOW guide is displayed. In each case, the guideline remains the same as the previous guideline in the hierarchy. If no guide is specified in the parenthesis, the same guide is displayed when a prompt is selected as the prompt, e.g., when the CSPG prompt is selected THIS CHANNEL guide is displayed and when the ALL move prompt is selected the ALL move guide is displayed. It should be noted that one polyline 150 describes the level of the SORT hierarchy: the first stage is located above line 150 and the second stage is located below line 150. At any level of the hierarchy, the viewer has two options for manipulating the guide: selecting the RED prompt to return to the NOW guide; or select one of the GREEN, YELLOW or BLUE cues to move to the next level. As described above, the hierarchy of tutorials and prompts can be expanded to provide more themes by changing the ALLSERIES prompt to an OTHERS SCREEN-3 prompt and more subtopics by changing the ALL OTHER MOVIES prompt to an ALL MOVIES SCREEN-3 prompt, etc. Likewise, the hierarchy of tutorials and prompts can be augmented to provide small topics for other topics, such as SPORTS, in the same manner as described for moves.

One feature of the present invention is to facilitate viewer positioning on an electronic guide by aligning the color code PIP window 42 and the program description area 44 with the title of the program to which the information relates in those areas. In particular, as shown in fig. 16, in the NOW guide (fig. 2), PIP window 42 has a border 152 that is the same color as the background of region 44 and cursor 48, e.g., dark blue, with cursor 48 forming a colored band. Further, as shown in fig. 17, in the NEXT guide (fig. 3), as well as in the THIS CHANNEL guide (fig. 4) and in the SORT guide (fig. 5), the description in section 44 thereof relates to a different program than that displayed in PIP window 42, so that the background of section 44 adopts a different color or tint than that of border 152. The subsequent guides all have a cursor (color bar) 48 identifying the program title in field 44. For example, the background of the field 44 and the cursor 48 are light blue to inform the viewer that the program in the field 44 is identified with the title highlighted by the cursor 48; and the border 152 and the banner 49 signal to inform that the program in the PIP window 42 is identified with the title in the banner 49.

If the television receiver does not have a PIP chip, the screen format described can be simulated by rearranging the reminder and guide and program description information and overlaying this information onto the live moving image of the current television program. This can lose part of the television program picture compared to the PIP format. However, the remaining portion of the picture, which is in the center portion of the picture, and its accompanying audio portion, can generally gather most of the basic information of the television program. In fig. 18, such a simulation has a truncated real-time picture region 160, replacing the PIP window 42; an information prompt field 162, the replacement field 43; a program description area 164, the replacement area 44; and an electronic program guide area 166 in place of the area 46. The section 164 is positioned at the top of the screen section for the full width and preferably does not include program titles. The hint area is located at the bottom of the screen area, in addition to that, like the PIP screen format described above. The guide area 166 is located between the areas 160 and 162 and preferably has fewer lines than the program listings in the PIP screen format. The size of the picture in the area 160 is the same as the picture when the electronic guide is not operating, but the top and bottom of the picture are cut off by areas 162, 164 and 166. To implement this embodiment of the invention, the television receiver shown in fig. 1 is modified as follows:

the microprocessor 24 is configured to form the screen shown in fig. 18, leaving blank areas 160.

The PIP chip 19 is replaced by an image blending console.

Fig. 19 illustrates another method of manipulating the electronic guide described above. The abscissa represents time and the ordinate represents channel. Starting with the NOW guide, the viewer moves the cursor channel by channel and displays the current program in the PIP window, indicated by the segment 170. The viewer selects THIS CHANNEL the guide and moves the cursor time slot by time slot, as indicated by the segment 172. The program on the channel to which the tuner was last tuned according to the NOW guide is still displayed in PIP window 42 and the program description on that channel at the cursor highlight slot is displayed in field 44. The viewer selects the NEXT guide, indicated by the segment 174, and moves the cursor channel by channel. The program on the channel to which the tuner was last tuned according to the NOW guide is still displayed in PIP window 42 and the program description on the channel highlighted by the cursor at the time slot last highlighted according to the NEXT guide is displayed in field 44. The viewer again selects THIS CHANNEL the guide and moves the cursor time slot by time slot, as indicated by the segment 176. The program on the channel to which the tuner was last tuned according to the NOW guide remains displayed in PIP window 42; and the program description on the channel that was last highlighted according to the NEXT guide at the time slot currently highlighted with light is displayed in field 44. The viewer selects the NEXT guide, indicated by the segment 178, and moves the cursor channel by channel. The program on the channel to which the tuner was last tuned according to the NOW guide remains displayed in PIP window 42; and the program description on the channel highlighted by the light level at the last highlighted time slot according to the NEXT guide is displayed in field 44. The viewer again selects THIS CHANNEL the guide and moves the cursor time slot by time slot, as indicated by the segment 180. The program on the channel to which the tuner was last tuned according to the NOW guide remains displayed in PIP window 42; and the program description on the last highlighted channel according to the NEXT guide at the time slot currently highlighted by the cursor is displayed in field 44. In this manner, viewers can either drive into the future time or move to the current time and cross channels to determine a television program schedule.

In summary, the technique described in connection with fig. 19, rather than manipulating a two-dimensional (time/channel) grid guide, resolves two dimensions, i.e., time and channel, and displays all channels at any time selected by the viewer, or all times at any channel selected by the viewer.

Another feature particularly useful in the NOW guide is the temporary selection of the program listings to be eliminated by a viewer command request. Thus, in the NOW guide, when the viewer is not concerned with a displayed program, the viewer can move the cursor to an undesired program and press a dedicated DELETE button (not shown) on the IR transmitter, or an existing function button such as ENTER. The microprocessor is configured to delete the program listings from the NOW guide and cause the tuner to truncate the channel setting carrying the unwanted programs. As a result, the viewer can retrieve the program of interest much faster. When the program is finished, the microprocessor causes the tuner to override the setting for the channel and display the next program on the channel according to the NOW guide. If desired, the microprocessor may be configured to keep tuner blocking active according to the THIS CHANNEL guidelines and the normal television mode.

A variation of the above feature is to configure the microprocessor to display the programs marked with the cursor in a manner different from the desired programs, such as a half-gray scale manner. When the viewer moves the cursor to a show not wanted and presses the DELETE key, the microprocessor is configured to display the show not wanted in half gray scale to prevent the cursor from highlighting the show not wanted and to prevent the tuner from being tuned to the channel carrying the show not wanted. Because the programs that are not wanted to see are still visible, the viewer can change his or her mind before ending the unwanted programs. Thus, the microprocessor is configured to, when a particular cursor control sequence is executed, restore normal program display, enable the cursor to highlight the program, and unblock the tuner. For example, the sequence may be: moving the cursor directly to the program list above the program or program series not to be watched; pressing a right arrow key to move a cursor to a program or a program series which is not wanted to be watched; brightening the program which is not wanted to be watched and is wanted to be recovered by using light; then press DELETE key.

As described in more detail below, the program listings are encoded in program listings storage 22 with day of the week, time of day, and channel so that they can be accessed by microprocessor 24 to compose program listings and program descriptions when it is desired to provide program listing information to video processor 30. The microprocessor 24 has a real time clock (not shown) that compares its time with the time of day and day of week codes to select the TISPG pattern. The functional storage area of the cursor position register 32 is converted to the storage area of the video processor 30 where a program list is formed for display on the background area 40, with the cursor position register 32 being used for the screen area and thus for the particular program for which the cursor 48 is highlighted. The channel of the highlighted program may be derived and coupled to microprocessor 24 by comparing the cursor position in register 32 with the channel corresponding to the highlighted region of video processor 30. Microprocessor 24 then tunes the tuner to this channel.

In TISPG operations, microprocessor 24 retrieves the appropriate program listings from memory 22 and transfers them to video processor 30 where the program listings in region 46 and the program descriptions of the highlighted programs in region 44 are formed. Simultaneously, microprocessor 24 operates switch 18 to connect the output of tuner 11 directly to one input of PIP chip 19; and switches PIP chip 19 to a PIP mode to cause inputs from tuner 11 to be displayed in the PIP window and to cause the program listings from video processor 30 to be displayed in the background. Microprocessor 24 detects the channel to which the tuner was tuned when the TISPG mode was entered and initially positions cursor 48 at the program listings played on that channel. When the viewer moves the up/down arrow of the cursor control key device, tuner 11 is reset accordingly and new program schedule information is sent to video processor 30 via microprocessor 24 to reconstitute the program listing, keep cursor 48 visible, and keep the program description current. The TISPG pattern described facilitates the viewer to retrieve channels. When the viewer finds the video program he or she wants to see, the viewer leaves the TISPG mode. As a result, microprocessor 24 causes PIP chip 19 to turn off the PIP mode, thereby displaying the video program input from tuner 11 in full screen.

If the viewer wants to record a program highlighted in the TISPG mode, the viewer instructs the microprocessor 24 to switch on the VCR17 for recording.

If the viewer wants to play a video cassette on VCR17, the viewer instructs microprocessor 24 to turn the VCR on for playback and operates switch 18 to connect the output of VCR17 to television receiver 20 via PIP chip 19.

The television receiver shown in fig. 1 can also be used in the case of the formats of fig. 3, 4 or 5 to display a preview of a future program in the form of a television clip in an extended CSPG mode. The television clips are stored in video cassette tapes loaded into a VCR 17. In the program schedule memory 22 the addresses of the television clips on the video cassette are stored as part of the database. These addresses link the future program listings in the database so that when a program listing is specified in the database, the television clip on the video tape can be accessed. When the viewer presses the CSPG mode key, in addition to the operations described in connection with FIG. 4, the microprocessor 24 places the current program title in the title 49, as shown in FIG. 4. When the cursor 48 highlights the title of the current program, the CSPG mode operates as described above. When the viewer highlights the title of a future program displayed in field 46 by moving cursor 48 vertically by operating cursor control key means on viewer box 28, microprocessor 24 retrieves the address of the television clip of the highlighted program listing from program schedule memory 22 and transfers it to VCR 17. A television clip is retrieved from a video tape in VCR17 and coupled to television receiver 20 via switch 18 and PIP chip 19 for display in PIP window 42. Indexing and accessing video clips on a video cassette tape in a manner described in co-pending application serial No. 08/176,852; this patent is filed on 30.12.1993 entitled "improved operation of a video cassette projector" and is hereby fully incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Augmenting the TISPG pattern shown in fig. 2 also allows for the display of future scheduled television clips. In particular, in the time-channel grid format, microprocessor 24 also controls cursor 48 in accordance with the cursor key device of viewer input 28; in this embodiment, the device includes a horizontal cursor control, such as a pair of right/left arrows. The microprocessor 24 retrieves the address of the highlighted future program listing from the program schedule memory 22 and transfers it to the VCR17 for accessing the corresponding television clip displayed in the PIP window 42, as described above.

Another embodiment of a television clip that may be displayed in the PIP window 42 is shown in fig. 5. In addition to the title area 43 and the program description area 44, the background area 40 has a program listing area 46 in which program listings are displayed by subject matter, such as movies, sports, current events, etc. Section 46 contains a list of program start times, a list of program channels, and a list of program titles. To implement this embodiment, the program listings of the database stored in the program schedule storage 22 are also coded with themes so that they can be accessed by the microprocessor 24 in a well known manner based on the theme selected by the viewer from an on-screen menu. When the title of a future program listing is highlighted with a cursor 48, the corresponding live video clip is displayed in the PIP window 42, as described in connection with the extended TISPG and CSPG modes described above. If desired, VCR17 can be replaced by a video player to provide television clips to switch 18 to speed up the access time of the moving images shown in PIP window 42.

In another embodiment, Program Related Information (PRI) is displayed in the background region 40 and real-time television programs to which the PRI relates are displayed in the PIP window 42. The PRI is transmitted during the Vertical Blanking Interval (VBI) of the television signal of the channel carrying the television program to which the PRI relates, and concurrently transmits the television program. To implement this embodiment, as shown in fig. 19, a VBI decoder 53 is connected between the output of tuner 11 and microprocessor 24, and a PRI memory 57 is connected to microprocessor 24, as shown in fig. 20. The PRI is stripped from the VBI of the television signal by decoder 53 and stored in memory 57 by microprocessor 24.

In operation, when the viewer presses a PRI key on viewer input 28, a real time television program for the channel to which tuner 11 is tuned is displayed in PIP window 42. In addition to the title area 43 and the program description area 44, the background area 40 has a PRI area 59 in which different types of PRI are displayed. In fig. 21, the real-time television program is a cooking performance by Julia Child, and the PRI displayed in field 59 is a cooking method used during the performance. Other information about the program is displayed in field 44. Another example of a real-time television program may be a commercial item of the Lexus automobile, and the PRI displayed in field 59 may be a trial sale of Lexus. The name and address of the local Lexus vendor in the audience area may be displayed in field 44.

Another version of the NOW guide is shown in figure 33. This version is the same as the guide shown in figure 2, except for the prompt in field 43; these cues are SORT NOW, SERVICE, CABLE and LATER. The SORT NOW prompt allows the viewer to SORT by topic, thereby reducing the number of programs displayed by "filtering out" all programs that do not conform to the selected topic. SERVICE prompts allow the viewer to enter a mode in which different items of information, such as news, weather, sports results, or financial data, can be selected for display. CABLE prompting allows the viewer to obtain information unique to the particular CABLE system; examples of such systems are pay-per-view systems, special promotions on premium channel packages, etc. The LATER prompt allows the viewer to advance to the screen shown in FIG. 8 and continue to navigate as described in connection with FIGS. 8-15.

In fig. 34, the cues located in region 43 are NOW and SELECT. A real-time image of the latest program highlighted by cursor 48 in field 46 of the NOW guide is displayed in PIP window 42, a program description of this program is displayed in field 44, and the title and channel of this program is displayed in title 49. In place of the program listings, a program theme list is displayed in area 46. Any theme may be highlighted with the cursor 48.

In fig. 35, the NOW prompt and a selected subject are shown in section 43. The current program listing, which corresponds to the selected topic identified in field 43, is displayed in field 46. As the viewer moves cursor 48, as in the NOW guide of fig. 2, program by program, in region 46, a real time image of the highlighted program is displayed in PIP window 42 and a program description is displayed in region 44. By thus filtering out programs that conform to other non-selected topics, the displayed current program listing can be significantly reduced. This facilitates the retrieval of channels in PIP window 42 for programs of interest to the viewer because the viewer has fewer programs to highlight with cursor 48.

Referring to fig. 36 through 39, the steps taken by the viewer to navigate a preferred embodiment of the television program guide are described; the embodiment described in connection with fig. 6 to 14 is modified to be programmed into the screens of fig. 32 to 34. Microprocessor 24 is programmed to perform the operations described.

Fig. 36 is the same as fig. 7, but the flow chart goes to fig. 37 instead of fig. 8. Thus, when the viewer enters the electronic GUIDE by pressing GUIDE/TV key 52 on the remote control transmitter, a NOW GUIDE is displayed on the screen. When the viewer presses the red key 68 on the remote control transmitter, there are 4 prompt choices presented to the viewer. These prompt selections are displayed with an "ALLCHANNEL" guide, as shown in block 400 of FIG. 37.

Block 401 represents an "ALL CHANNEL" guide, which is identical to the "NOW" guide except for region 43. This is a transformation guide because it allows the viewer to enter other modes as described above in connection with fig. 33. In this "ALL CHANNEL" guide, a blue SORT NOW cue, a green SERVICE cue, a yellow CABLE cue, and a red LATER cue are displayed. In this guide, the viewer is unable to go directly back to the NOW guide. To return to the NOW guide, the viewer must first return to TV mode by pressing key 52.

When the blue key 62 is pressed from this ALLCHANNEL guide, the theme table is displayed, as shown in block 402 in fig. 37 and block 404 in fig. 38. In FIG. 38, a NOW prompt in blue and a SELECT prompt in red are displayed as indicated in block 405. When the viewer presses the blue key 62, a NOW guide is displayed in region 46, as illustrated by block 406. To select a theme, the viewer operates the arrow keys 58 and 60 to highlight the selected theme; the red key 68 is then pressed, as shown in block 68, to select the theme, as shown in block 408. The NOW guide filtered with subject matter is then displayed in field 46 as shown in block 410. To replace a single theme, processor 24 may be programmed to select two or more themes; in this case, some current programs that fit all of the selected topics may be displayed.

Fig. 39 illustrates a hierarchical structure of the prompts and guidelines described in connection with fig. 35-37. The hierarchical structure shown in fig. 15 is programmed into the hierarchical structure of fig. 39, as shown in fig. 39.

Database operations

In the preferred embodiment, the system includes a database for storing all of the information needed to establish a program guide and to perform requests, such as requests to record specific future programs. The database is stored in the program schedule memory 22 and is directly accessible by the system microprocessor 24. The database is divided into a static area 300 and a dynamic area 301. The static area includes several pre-allocation tables for storing, locating and retrieving data for establishing a program guide. The placement of the pre-allocation table at a fixed, unchanging address in the static area facilitates quick retrieval by the microprocessor. The dynamic area is used for storing actual television program schedule data. Since the system always contains data for the current day (today) and the next day (tomorrow), the dynamic area is updated as new data is received.

Fig. 22 depicts a program schedule memory database. The static section 300 contains call letter maps, pre-established schedules, channel maps, control arrays, memory maps, source maps, record queues, and pointers to augmented subject display lists. These structures will be described in detail below. The dynamic area 301 is used to store television program schedule data. These data take the form of display packets (SIP) and augmented subject display table items. These structures are also more fully described below.

Data transmission

Television program data is received with a remote load packet. The remote-load packet is sent over the VBI and received by microprocessor 24 in the manner described in fig. 20. The remote package contains television program schedule information and routing data that allows the system to determine how to store the information in memory.

Fig. 23 illustrates a remote loading package. The packet begins with a header that includes a packet ID number 302 to distinguish the packet from other packets. The packet header also includes a number of bytes 303 and a number of blocks 304. These values are used to determine the size of the packet.

Below the header is a display packet (SIP) header. There is a display packet header for each display packet in the packet. This SIP header contains: a guide number 305, which is an internal channel number that displays data in a packet; a source ID 306 for determining a data source in the display information packet; and a time slot 307 for specifying the time of day of the data in the display packet, followed by a display packet 308 in the SIP header.

The system microprocessor extracts a display information packet from the remote package based on the reception and temporarily stores it in the program schedule memory. The display packet contains a date field for determining whether the data is for the current day (today) or the next day (tomorrow).

If the packet belongs to the window of the two days, the system determines if the data is a duplicate of existing data. The display packet contains a version number that is used to determine whether the data is new or whether it is already present in memory. If the data is new, it is stored and the address of the display packet is placed in a pre-established schedule with the appropriate indicator. The pre-established schedule is described more fully below.

If the display information packet is beyond the range of the current two-day window (today and tomorrow) and the display information packet contains some programs with subject information, the programs with subject information are extracted from the display information packet and placed in the appropriate extended subject display list. The augmented theme display list is described more fully below. If the display information packet is beyond the range of the current two-day window and does not contain the theme information, or if the display information packet is duplicated with a packet already stored, the entire display information packet is deleted.

The system uses a memory bit map to always monitor: which parts of the program list memory are currently holding program data and which parts of the program list memory are free, new program data can be stored. The memory bit map divides the memory into 32 byte blocks. Each block is represented by a bit in a memory bit map.

The memory bit map is depicted in FIG. 24. Each bit in map 310 represents a 32 byte block of memory. A "1" in bit cell 311 indicates: program data is stored in this block. A "0" in bit cell 312 indicates: the block is free. When new data arrives at the system, the microprocessor 24 searches the memory bit map to detect a sufficient number of adjacent free cells in which to store the data. When cells are found, the microprocessor 24 stores the data and then changes the numbers in the memory bit map from "0" to "1" to indicate that the memory cells are occupied.

For example, referring to FIG. 24, if the received data requires 10 memory blocks, the system scans the memory map and stores the data in the space indicated by bits 0-7 in line 3 and bits 0-1 in line 4. These locations are then "1" in the memory bitmap.

The system also periodically allocates memory so that the free spaces are contiguous in groups. For example, referring to FIG. 24, data beginning with the block represented by row 0, bit 2, and ending with the block represented by row 1, is to be slipped into the block represented by row 0, bit 3. This may eliminate the "0" gap in row 0. This process is repeated throughout the memory image to cluster all free spaces together at the end of the memory.

The system also comprises programs to reduce the amount of new data to be stored when only limited storage space is available. By scanning the memory bit map, the system can determine whether the memory is becoming full. When this occurs, the system may delete some new data, such as the program description, to maximize the number of individual displays that can be stored in the active memory.

Data structure

The data in the program schedule memory is stored in a data structure that allows the system to interpret the data. Some data structures are of fixed length and are stored in the static and dynamic areas 300. These data structures are held at fixed addresses and are thus accessible by the microprocessor without further memory computation. Other data structures are of variable length and are stored in the dynamic zone 301. The fixed data structure includes: pre-established schedules, channel maps, control arrays, call letter maps, memory maps, source maps and record queues. The variable data structure includes: display information package and expansion theme display list.

A pre-established schedule is used to find television program information for each channel in the system. The pre-established schedule relates only to that kind of program information to be broadcast on the current day (today) or the next day (tomorrow). The pre-established schedule references data pointers by using pointers are data segments containing addresses of desired data items in the dynamic area.

Fig. 25 illustrates a pre-established schedule. The pre-established schedule contains a set of 12 pointers 313 for each channel in the system. Each pointer corresponds to a display packet containing data for a 4 hour block of television programming. For example, in fig. 25, the indicator E1 corresponds to program data on channel 1 from 4 pm to 8 pm. The 12 indicators represent the sum of the 24-hour program information of the current day and the 24-hour program information of the next day.

Indicators a2 through L2 are used to indicate program data associated with channel 2 in the system. Each pointer comprises an address of a variable length display packet containing actual television program data. When special data is needed, the system first looks at a pre-established schedule to obtain a pointer; the address found at this location is then used to determine where the data actually resides. For example, if the data for channel 2 in the system is to be used for a television program between 8 pm and 12 midnight, the system uses the address in pointer F2 to locate the display packet containing the data.

The display information packet is a variable-length data structure containing actual television program schedule data. Each display packet contains a 4 hour block of television programming for a dedicated channel. The length of the presentation packets is variable, as the number of presentations in each 4 hour block will depend on the duration of each presentation.

FIG. 26 depicts a display packet. A display packet contains the following: a storage capacity for determining how much space is available for storing the display packets, thereby determining how much space is available after the display packets are no longer needed; a control date for determining whether the data in the dedicated display packet is for the current day, the next day, or out of range of the current two-day window; and a version number for specifying a dedicated version of the program data.

These three sections are followed by each displayed private data in the 4 hour time block range. For a given display, represented by block 314, the following fields exist in the display packet: a multi-display flag section for determining whether this display is the last display in the packet or whether there are other displays to be processed next; a start time segment offset by the start time of the 4 hour block, the offset being added to the time of the 4 hour block to determine the start time of the display; a duration field specifying the playing time of a particular presentation, which field is used to determine the length of a recording if the presentation is selected for recording; a theme zone containing information about the type of display, for example, the display may be a sporting event, a news program, or a movie; a CC section for determining whether the display is closed caption; a stereo section determining whether the display is played in stereo; the add segment is a segment that is left to be expanded and will include more information about the displayed information as the technical standard becomes.

The sections following these sections are: a program title; a main description, i.e. a short description of the program; a secondary description, i.e. a longer description of the program; and VCR + PLUSCODE. Each such item is represented by two sections: a length containing a particular item, such as a title length; the other contains the item itself, e.g., title.

A display end section follows the information. The display end section is used to indicate that this particular display information is completed. A display information packet may contain information for one or more displays depending on how many displays are to be played within a 4 hour block. The existence of multiple displays is indicated by 315 and 316.

A display information package is constructed to provide unique features for storing data. For values that exceed the maximum value that can be stored in one byte, the title length, primary description length, secondary description length, and VCR + plus code length fields can be extended. For example, referring to FIG. 27, if the secondary description length is equal to a number that is greater than the maximum number that can be stored in a byte, the length byte is adjusted to this maximum value. The system then assumes that the following bytes also represent the length and appends 2 values to determine the total length of the minor description. In this manner, a display packet can dynamically allocate space to accommodate longer descriptions or longer topics.

The display end field allows data to be added to display packets that are not to be read with the current version of the system. As further shown in fig. 27, two unassigned data sections follow the VCR + plus segment. These data can be read with the future version of the system but are not currently processed. When processing display packet data, the system expects a display end field following the VCR + plus code field. If the show end segment is not found, the system deletes the data and checks the next byte. The system will not begin processing the newly displayed data until the end of display segment is found. This feature enables the system to access the same data as a potential future version that can handle data beyond the title, description and VCR + plus codes. For example, a future version may also include an actor table in a particular display. This information is added to the remote load data after VCR + PLUSCODE. Older versions that do not include features to display new data will delete it without causing errors in the remote loading process.

For those displays that contain a theme (movie, sporting event, etc.) but have a start time outside the range of the two-day window (i.e., the display that will be played after tomorrow), the television program information is stored in an extended theme display list. The expansion theme display list is a television display connection list. Each display in the table contains data for a separate program. The system includes an extended theme display list for each of the different theme categories (sports, movies, children's programs, special programs, information).

FIG. 28 depicts an augmented subject display table. The address 317 of the first display in the table 318 is stored in the static area 300. The display 318 is stored in the dynamic zone 301 and contains a pointer 319 to the next display to be played. This pattern is repeated for all displays in the table. The indicator field in the last display contains the value "NULL" to indicate that there are no other displays in the table. Because each display in the table is linked to the next display, the entire table can be traversed by determining the address of the first display in the table.

Each display contains the same section format as the display information packet 314, except that a channel ID is stored for each display. Some conventions applicable to the display packet 314, allowing for extended length fields and adding data in front of the display end flag, may also be used to extend the subject display table.

The program schedule memory also contains a channel map located in the static memory area 300. The channel map associates the channel number of the television program information with the internal guide channel. For example, in fig. 29, channel 7 is designated as inside channel 1, and channel 11 is designated as inside channel 3. The channel map is referenced to identify the channel number when a program guide display is established. The source channel number is also used to tune to a dedicated channel according to the operator's selection.

The program schedule memory also contains a pre-allocation control array located in the static memory area 300. The control array is used by a system that tracks channels that have been disabled for display by an operator. FIG. 30 depicts a control array. For each channel, there is a display section 320; if the channel is to be displayed, it is tuned to "1", and if the channel is disabled, it is tuned to "0". Referring to fig. 30, channels 0, 1, 3, and 4 will be displayed in the program guide, while channel 2 is prohibited. Each channel also has a section for additional "join" information. This section allows for the addition of other operator control functions in future versions of the system, such as the native locking device.

The program schedule memory also contains a call alphabet map in the static memory area 300, which associates call alphabets corresponding to the source channel with the internal guide channel. For example, in FIG. 31, the call letters KABC are associated with inside channel 0, while WWOR is associated with inside channel 1. The call letter map is referenced to identify the source channel call letter when a program guide display is set up.

The program schedule memory also contains a source map located in the static storage area 300. The source map associates a particular source of a television station with an internal guide number. Some television stations may have the same source. For example, the source "Home Box Office" may relate to HBO, HBO2, HBO3, and so forth. In an alternative embodiment, the system may be configured to re-group program guide channels based on source information. For example, the system may be booted to place all channels from the source "Home Box Office" at the beginning of the program guide.

Operator requests for recording future programs are stored in a recording queue. The record queue is a fixed-length table (20 entries) located in the static area 300. FIG. 32 depicts a record queue.

Each display in the recording queue contains a value representing the channel to be played and a value representing the display start time. The structure of the recording queue may be such that the programs are arranged in chronological order. That is, the first entry in the table will be played earlier than any other entries, and so on. This allows the system to easily find the next program to record.

Database processing

The interrelationship between the data structures and the system is illustrated by the following system operation examples.

A. The operator requests a time specific program guide (TISPG) with viewer input 28, the current time being 7 pm.

When the user requests a TISPG to learn about the information displayed on the television currently being played, the system first reads the current time from the microprocessor clock (7 p.m.). The system then determines the indicator corresponding to the current time in the pre-established schedule of fig. 25. Since the current time is 7p.m., the system will look at the 5 th indicator for each channel (this indicator corresponds to data from 4p.m. to 8 p.m.): channel 1, E1; channel 2, E2; channel 3, E3; … … channels n, En.

For each pointer, the system accesses the associated display packet of FIG. 26. The system adds the start time of the 4 hour block (4p.m.) to the time offset in each display in the display information packet to determine the display currently playing on this channel. The information for display is then extracted from the display information packet. The extracted information includes title, primary description, secondary description and VCR + plus code.

Each internal channel number is also used to retrieve a channel map as shown in fig. 29. In particular, the channel numbers are used to extract the particular source channel numbers for display in the guide: channels 1, 7; channel 2, 6; channels 3, 11; channel n, 172. The channel number is also used to retrieve the call alphabet map as shown in fig. 31. In particular, the channel number is used to extract the station logo call letters to display in the guide: channel 1, KABC; channel 2, WWOR; … channel n, KTVR. All information from the display information package, channel map and call letter map is used to build formatted text lines for display in the guide.

B. The operator requests a Channel Specific Program Guide (CSPG) with viewer input 28 that the channel currently being viewed is channel 6 and the current time is 3p.m.

When a user requests a CSPG to learn information about a television display that is playing, or is to be played on a particular channel (channel 6) at a particular time (3p.m.), the system determines the internal channel corresponding to the displayed channel by reading a system variable. For this example, the inner channel is channel 2. The system then reads the current time from the microprocessor clock (3 p.m.). The system determines the indicator corresponding to the current time of the selected internal channel in the pre-established schedule shown in fig. 25. Because the current time is 3p.m. and the selected inside channel is channel 2, the system will note the fourth pointer in the second set of pointers (this pointer corresponds to data from 12 pm to 4 pm). This indicator is D2, as shown in fig. 25.

Thereafter, the system accesses the associated display package for the pointer D2, and as shown in FIG. 26, the system adds the start time of the 4 hour block (12 noon) to the time offset in each display in the display package to determine the display currently being played. Then, information for display is extracted from the display information packet. The extracted information includes title, primary description, secondary description and VCR + plus code. The system extracts all of the displays in the display information package pointed to by D2 that occur after the selected display. Then, information of all the displays in the display information packet pointed to by the indicator characters E2-L2 is extracted.

The internal channel number is also used to retrieve a channel map as shown in fig. 29. In particular, the channel number is used to extract the dedicated channel ID, channel 6, for display in the guide. The channel number is also used to retrieve the call alphabet map as shown in fig. 31. In particular, the channel number is used to extract the station logo call letter WWOR for display in the guide. All information from the display information package, channel map and call letter map is used to build formatted text lines for display in the guide.

C. The operator requests a theme specific program guide (THSPG) with viewer input 28, the selected theme being "MOVIE" and the current time being 10:30a.m.

When a user requests a THSPG to learn information about a television display with a special theme (MOVIE) being or about to be played, the system first reads the current time from the microprocessor clock (10:30 a.m.). The system then determines the indicator corresponding to the current time in the pre-established schedule, as shown in fig. 25. Because the current time is 10:30a.m., the system will look to each channel for the third indicator (this indicator corresponds to data from 8a.m. to 12 pm): channel, C1; channel 2, C2; channel 3, C3; … channels n, Cn.

For each pointer, the system accesses the associated display package of FIG. 26. The system adds the start time (8a.m.) of the 4 hour block to the time offset in each display in the display packet to determine the display currently playing on this channel. After the display is determined, the system compares the theme information for this display to the selected theme MOVIE. If the display is a movie, information for the display is extracted from the display information package. The extracted information includes: title, main description, secondary description and VCR + plus code.

Thereafter, the system increments the current time by 5 minutes (10:35) and repeats the above process. The clock time is increased by another 5 minutes and the process is repeated until the clock time is at the end of the 4 hour block, 12 pm. The system then accesses all of the remaining indicators, D1-Dn, E1-En, … L1-Ln, and extracts the information for all displays containing the subject MOVIE.

After extracting data for all displays that occur within the two-day window (today and tomorrow) that contain the subject MOVIE, the system begins extracting data from the "MOVIE" augmented subject display table shown in FIG. 28. The system has the address of the first entry in the "MOVIE" extended subject display table because it is stored in the static area 300. Data for the entire display in the "MOVIE" extended subject display table is extracted.

In an alternative embodiment of the system, the system user should be able to block certain channels. Truncating a channel inhibits the channel from being displayed on the system so that the channel is not part of the TISPG, CSPG, or THSPG. This feature is achieved by using the control array shown in fig. 30.

When the user selects a channel that is not to be displayed, the display flag in the control array is adjusted to "0". Each time a system user requests a program guide display, the system first checks the control array and then performs the process on the pre-established schedule. If the control array for a dedicated channel is tuned to "0", no further processing is performed for that channel and processing continues for the next channel. If the user were to reselect this channel for display in a subsequent process, the system would make the change the next time a program guide was created.

The control array may also be used to inhibit the storage of data for the selected channel. For example, in an alternate embodiment of the system, the system would first examine the control array and then store the data for the dedicated channel. If the control array for a dedicated channel contains a "0," no data corresponding to that channel is stored. It should be noted that one channel may be disabled for the above display, without necessarily disabling the storage of data.

In another alternative embodiment, the user has an option to toggle (toggle) between the TISPG and CSPG, as shown in fig. 19. Triggering between these displays allows the user to create a guide of the full program information for a future time selected by the user. The database processing associated with this option is similar to that used for TISPG and CSPG, but also differs: the time for finding each program is the user-specified time in the CSPG, not the current time, and the channel is the specified channel in the TISPG.

Recording

When the user selects a program for recording, the system stores the internal channel number and program start time of the selected program in the recording queue. As shown in fig. 32. The start time of the program is calculated by adding the offset contained in the display packet to the start time of the associated 4 hour block of data.

The record queue is time ordered each time a new entry is added. This ordering facilitates periodic queries of the start time in the first display of the queue to determine the next record command to execute. The system knows the address of the queue because it is in the static area 300. When a display is recorded, the next display in the queue is moved to the beginning of the queue.

When the operator requests a display of a recording queue, the system reads the internal channel number and start time of the first item in the recording queue. This data is used to look up pointers to the corresponding SIP packets in the pre-established schedule (fig. 25). The indicator is used for extracting the displayed title. The internal channel number is also used to extract the source channel and the calling letter corresponding to the display. The system then uses this information to create a text line representing the presentation to be recorded. This process is repeated for each display in the record queue.

We only consider the described embodiments of the invention as being the best and illustrative inventive concept; the scope of the invention is not limited to these examples. Numerous and varied other arrangements can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the disclosed electronic guide features, including techniques for manipulating the guide, can be used without displaying real-time images of the current television program.

Claims (34)

1. A system, comprising:

a video display;

a video signal tuner;

a memory storing a program list for a plurality of television programs;

means for displaying a plurality of program identifiers in a program listing area of a video display, each program identifier being associated with one of the program listings;

means for displaying a cursor highlighting the first program identifier in the program listing area;

means for displaying substantially all of the image output by the video signal tuner in a window area of a video display;

for displaying in a program description area of a video display additional information from a program listing associated with a first program identifier highlighted by a cursor in a program listing area, wherein the additional information includes information not in the first program identifier, and wherein a plurality of program identifiers, images output by a video signal tuner, and the additional information are displayed simultaneously.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the program identifier comprises at least one program title.

3. The system of claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

a user input device;

means for moving a cursor in the program listing area based on input received from the user input device to highlight the second program identifier and automatically changing the additional information in the program description area to additional information from the program listing identified by the second program identifier.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a user input device;

means for controlling the video signal tuner to automatically tune to a channel of the program corresponding to the program identifier highlighted by the cursor in the program listing area in response to cursor movement in the program listing area in accordance with input received from the user input device.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for controlling the video signal tuner to not change the tuning when moving the cursor in the program listing area from highlighting the first program identifier to highlighting the second program identifier.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for displaying additional information displays the program description area such that the program description area does not significantly overlap the window area.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for displaying additional information displays the program description area such that the program description area does not significantly overlap the schedule area.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein all of the image output by the video signal tuner is displayed in a window area of the video display.

9. A system, comprising:

a video display;

a video signal tuner;

a memory storing a program list for a plurality of television programs;

means for displaying a plurality of program identifiers in a program listing area of a video display, each program identifier being associated with one of the program listings;

means for displaying a cursor highlighting the first program identifier in the program listing area;

means for displaying an image output by the video signal tuner in a video area of a video display;

for displaying in a program description area of a video display additional information from a program listing associated with a first program identifier highlighted by a cursor in the program listing area, wherein the additional information includes information not in the first program identifier, wherein the program description area is arranged such that the program description area does not significantly overlap the program listing area, and wherein a plurality of program identifiers, images output by a video signal tuner, and the additional information are displayed simultaneously.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the program identifier comprises at least one program title.

11. The system of claim 9 or 10, further comprising:

a user input device;

means for moving a cursor in the program listing area based on input received from the user input device to highlight the second program identifier and automatically changing the additional information in the program description area to additional information from the program listing identified by the second program identifier.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

a user input device;

means for controlling the video signal tuner to automatically tune to the channel of the program corresponding to the program identifier highlighted by the cursor in the program list area in response to cursor movement in the program list area upon receipt of input means from a user input.

13. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

means for controlling the video signal tuner to not change the tuning when moving the cursor in the program listing area from highlighting the first program identifier to highlighting the second program identifier.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for displaying additional information displays the program description area such that the program description area does not significantly overlap the video area.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for displaying the plurality of program identifiers displays the program listing area such that the program listing area does not significantly overlap the video area.

16. The system of claim 9 wherein the program description area is arranged such that the program description area does not overlap the program schedule area at all.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein substantially all of the image output by the video signal tuner is displayed in a window area of the video display.

18. A method of using a video display, a video signal tuner, and a memory, comprising:

storing program listings for a plurality of television programs in a memory;

displaying a plurality of program identifiers in a program listing area of a video display, each program identifier being associated with one of the program listings;

displaying a cursor highlighting the first program identifier in the program list area;

displaying substantially all of the image output by the video signal tuner in a window area of the video display, the window area being arranged such that the program schedule area does not significantly overlap the window area;

displaying additional information from a program listing associated with a first program identifier highlighted by a cursor in a program listing area in a program description area of a video display, wherein the additional information includes information not in the first program identifier, and wherein a plurality of program identifiers, images output by a video signal tuner, and the additional information are displayed simultaneously.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the program identifier comprises at least one program title.

20. The method of claim 18 or 19, further comprising:

based on input received from the user input device, a cursor is moved in the program listing area to highlight the second program identifier and automatically change the additional information in the program description area to additional information from the program listing identified by the second program identifier.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

the video signal tuner is controlled to automatically tune to a channel of a program corresponding to the program identifier highlighted by the cursor in the program list area in response to cursor movement in the program list area in accordance with input received from the user input device.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

the video signal tuner is controlled not to change the tuning when the cursor in the program list area is moved from highlighting the first program identifier to highlighting the second program identifier.

23. The method defined in claim 18 wherein displaying the additional information comprises displaying the program description area so that the program description area does not significantly overlap the window area.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein displaying additional information comprises displaying a program description area such that the program description area does not significantly overlap the program listing area.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein displaying substantially all of the image output by the video signal tuner comprises displaying all of the image output by the video signal tuner.

26. A method of using a video display, a video signal tuner, and a memory, comprising:

storing program listings for a plurality of television programs in a memory;

displaying a plurality of program identifiers in a program listing area of a video display, each program identifier being associated with one of the program listings;

displaying a cursor highlighting the first program identifier in the program list area;

displaying an image output by the video signal tuner in a video area of the video display;

displaying additional information from a program listing associated with a first program identifier highlighted by a cursor in a program listing area in a program description area of a video display, wherein the additional information includes information not in the first program identifier, wherein the program description area is arranged such that the description area does not significantly overlap the program listing area, and wherein a plurality of program identifiers, images output by a video signal tuner, and the additional information are displayed simultaneously.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the program identifier comprises at least one program title.

28. The method of claim 26 or 27, further comprising:

based on input received from the user input device, a cursor is moved in the program listing area to highlight the second program identifier and automatically change the additional information in the program description area to additional information from the program listing identified by the second program identifier.

29. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

the video signal tuner is controlled to automatically tune to a channel of a program corresponding to the program identifier highlighted by the cursor in the program list area in response to cursor movement in the program list area in accordance with input means received from a user input.

30. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

the video signal tuner is controlled not to change the tuning when the cursor in the program list area is moved from highlighting the first program identifier to highlighting the second program identifier.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein displaying additional information comprises displaying the program description area such that the program description area does not significantly overlap the video area.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein displaying the plurality of program identifiers comprises displaying a program listing area such that the program listing area does not significantly overlap the video area.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein displaying the image output by the video signal tuner comprises displaying substantially all of the image output by the video signal tuner.

34. The method of claim 26 wherein displaying the program description area such that the program description area does not significantly overlap the program listing area comprises displaying the program description area such that the program description area does not overlap the program listing area at all.