US5694176A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for generating television program guides with category selection overlay
Assignee: The AT&T MVPD Group LLC
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Filing: 1996-02-29
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Granted: 1997-12-02
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Expires: 2016-02-29
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for generating an on-screen television program guide. The apparatus generates a main menu of a program guide, which includes program source information and program event information for a plurality of program sources, and further generates navigation menus for allowing a viewer to modify the program guide. The navigation menus are generated so as to over-write only a portion of the main menu of the program guide.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeff Bruette
- 👤 Matthew Mohebbi
- 👤 Ellen Martz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 12:58
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/47; H04N21/482; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/162; H04N7/165; H04N7/173
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of generating an on-screen television program guide, said method comprising the steps of: generating a main menu of a program guide, said main menu comprising program source information and program event information for a plurality of program sources; and generating navigation menus for allowing a viewer to modify the program guide, said navigation menus generated so as to overwrite only a portion of said main menu of said program guide; wherein said navigation menus allow the viewer to select specific categories of programming.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of generating an on-screen television program guide, said method comprising the steps of: generating a main menu of a program guide, said main menu comprising program source information and program event information for a plurality of program sources; and generating navigation menus for allowing a viewer to modify the program guide, said navigation menus generated so as to overwrite only a portion of said main menu of said program guide; wherein said navigation menus allow the viewer to select specific categories of programming.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of generating an on-screen television program guide according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said navigation menus comprises a plurality of categories of programming.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of generating an on-screen television program guide according to claim 1, wherein a system controller functions to combine said main menu of said program guide with said navigation menus such that said navigation menus over-write only a portion of said main menu of said program guide.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
93 words
An apparatus for generating an on-screen television program guide, said apparatus comprising: means for generating a main menu of a program guide, said main menu comprising program source information and program event information for a plurality of program sources; and means for generating navigation menus for allowing a viewer to modify the program guide, said navigation menus generated so as to over-write only a portion of said main menu of said program guide; wherein said navigation menus allow the viewer to select specific categories of programming to be included in the program guide.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
93 words
An apparatus for generating an on-screen television program guide, said apparatus comprising: means for generating a main menu of a program guide, said main menu comprising program source information and program event information for a plurality of program sources; and means for generating navigation menus for allowing a viewer to modify the program guide, said navigation menus generated so as to over-write only a portion of said main menu of said program guide; wherein said navigation menus allow the viewer to select specific categories of programming to be included in the program guide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus for generating an on-screen television program guide according to claim 4, wherein said means for generating said main menu and said navigation menu comprises a system controller, said system controller operative for combining said main menu of said program guide with said navigation menus such that said navigation menus over-write only a portion of said main menu of said program guide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus for generating an on-screen television program guide according to claim 4, wherein at least one of said navigation menus comprises a plurality of categories of programming.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
76 words
The apparatus for generating an on-screen television program guide according to claim 4, said apparatus further comprising: means for receiving a signal, said signal containing program source information and program event information for a plurality of program sources; and memory means coupled to said receiving means, said program source information and program event information for a plurality of program sources being stored in said memory means, said memory means also storing data representing said navigation menus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus for generating an on-screen television program guide according to claim 4, wherein said system controller is a microprocessor.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
203 words
A method of generating an on-screen television program guide, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a signal comprising program source information and program event information for a plurality of program sources, said program event information comprising a plurality of classification tags, each of said program events having at least one corresponding classification tag; storing said program source information and said program event information in memory; providing a user input means with predefined buttons, each of which corresponds to one of said plurality of classification tags; generating a main menu of a program guide, said main menu comprising program source information and program event information for a plurality of program sources; generating a navigation menu for allowing a viewer to select, using said user input means, specific categories of programming to be included in a category-specific program guide, said navigation menu generated so as to over-write only a portion of said main menu; and generating a category specific on-screen television program guide in response to depression of one of said predefined buttons on said user input means, said category specific on-screen television program guide comprising only program events having a classification tag corresponding to the classification tag associated with the selected predefined button.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
203 words
A method of generating an on-screen television program guide, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a signal comprising program source information and program event information for a plurality of program sources, said program event information comprising a plurality of classification tags, each of said program events having at least one corresponding classification tag; storing said program source information and said program event information in memory; providing a user input means with predefined buttons, each of which corresponds to one of said plurality of classification tags; generating a main menu of a program guide, said main menu comprising program source information and program event information for a plurality of program sources; generating a navigation menu for allowing a viewer to select, using said user input means, specific categories of programming to be included in a category-specific program guide, said navigation menu generated so as to over-write only a portion of said main menu; and generating a category specific on-screen television program guide in response to depression of one of said predefined buttons on said user input means, said category specific on-screen television program guide comprising only program events having a classification tag corresponding to the classification tag associated with the selected predefined button.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of generating an on-screen television program guide according to claim 9, wherein the user input means comprises a remote control.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of generating an on-screen television program guide according to claim 10, wherein said remote control comprises a separate button for each classification tag included in said program event information.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of generating an on-screen television program guide according to claim 9, wherein said classification tags identify event categories comprising movies, news and sports.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
112 words
The method of generating an on-screen television program guide according to claim 9, wherein said step of generating a category specific on-screen television program guide in response to depression of one of said predefined buttons on said user input means comprises: determining the classification tag associated with the pre-defined button depressed on said remote; searching said program source information and said program event information stored in said memory so as to identify each program event having a classification tag identical to the classification tag associated with the selected pre-defined button; and retrieving and displaying only program events having a classification tag identical to the classification tag associated with the selected pre-defined button.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
222 words
An apparatus for generating an on-screen television program guide, said apparatus comprising: means for receiving a signal comprising program source information and program event information for a plurality of program sources, said program event information comprising a plurality of classification tags, each of said program events having at least one corresponding classification tag; memory means for storing said program source information and said program event information; user input means comprising predefined buttons, each of which corresponds to one of said plurality of classification tags; means for generating a main menu of a program guide, said main menu comprising program source information and program event information for a plurality of program sources; means for generating a navigation menu for allowing a viewer to select, using said user input means, specific categories of programming to be included in a category-specific program guide, said navigation menu generated so as to over-write only a portion of said main menu; and a system controller coupled to said memory means and said user input means, said system controller operative for generating a category specific on-screen television program guide in response to depression of one of said predefined buttons on said user input means, said category specific on-screen television program guide comprising only events having a classification tag corresponding to the classification tag associated with the selected predefined button.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
222 words
An apparatus for generating an on-screen television program guide, said apparatus comprising: means for receiving a signal comprising program source information and program event information for a plurality of program sources, said program event information comprising a plurality of classification tags, each of said program events having at least one corresponding classification tag; memory means for storing said program source information and said program event information; user input means comprising predefined buttons, each of which corresponds to one of said plurality of classification tags; means for generating a main menu of a program guide, said main menu comprising program source information and program event information for a plurality of program sources; means for generating a navigation menu for allowing a viewer to select, using said user input means, specific categories of programming to be included in a category-specific program guide, said navigation menu generated so as to over-write only a portion of said main menu; and a system controller coupled to said memory means and said user input means, said system controller operative for generating a category specific on-screen television program guide in response to depression of one of said predefined buttons on said user input means, said category specific on-screen television program guide comprising only events having a classification tag corresponding to the classification tag associated with the selected predefined button.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus for generating an on-screen television program guide according to claim 14, wherein said user input means comprises a remote control.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus for generating an on-screen television program guide according to claim 15, wherein said remote control comprises a separate button for each classification tag included in said program event information.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus for generating an on-screen television program guide according to claim 14, wherein said classification tags identify event categories comprising movies, news and sports.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
105 words
The apparatus for generating an on-screen television program guide according to claim 14, wherein in response to depression of one of said predefined buttons on said user input means, said system controller determines the classification tag associated with the pre-defined button depressed on said user input means; searches said program source information and said program event information stored in said memory so as to identify each program event having a classification tag identical to the classification tag associated with the selected pre-defined button; and retrieves and displays only program events having a classification tag identical to the classification tag associated with the selected pre-defined button.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-12-01 | 2001-06-02 | 2001-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-12-01 | 2005-06-02 | 2005-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-12-01 | 2009-06-02 | 2009-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |