Patent US5793438A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5793438A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electronic program guide with enhanced presentation
Assignee: Irdeto Access Inc
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Filing: 1996-04-03
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Granted: 1998-08-11
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Expires: 2016-04-03
Abstract
Abstract An intuitively operated Electronic Program Guide (EPG) which presents program guide information in table form at two levels of resolution. Schedule information is presented in icon form over a long time window while textual information is presented for a viewer-selected time slot. The selected time slot may appear to be a magnified representation of the long time window view. In this way, a television screen of conventional resolution may present at least five hours of schedule information for eight channels. The viewer may operate the Electronic Program Guide (EPG) intuitively with simple remote control commands.
Inventors
- 👤 Karen Bedard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:06
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/47; H04N21/472; H04N21/47214; H04N5/00; H04N5/44; H04N5/50; H04N21/482; H04N21/41; H04N21/422; H04N21/42204; H04N21/43; H04N21/431; H04N21/4312; H04N21/4316
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
Apparatus for displaying program guide information on a screen, said apparatus comprising: means for displaying a table of program information on said screen, a first axis of said table representing a time of transmission, a second axis of said table representing a channel, wherein an entry of said table comprises an icon representing a class of program to be transmitted on the channel at the time represented by the position of said entry; means for receiving user input specifying a transmission time of particular interest; and means for overlaying, over a section of said table corresponding to said transmission time of particular interest, a plurality of magnified text entries, each text entry including text representing the program to be transmitted at the transmission time of particular interest on the channel represented by the position of said text entry.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
Apparatus for displaying program guide information on a screen, said apparatus comprising: means for displaying a table of program information on said screen, a first axis of said table representing a time of transmission, a second axis of said table representing a channel, wherein an entry of said table comprises an icon representing a class of program to be transmitted on the channel at the time represented by the position of said entry; means for receiving user input specifying a transmission time of particular interest; and means for overlaying, over a section of said table corresponding to said transmission time of particular interest, a plurality of magnified text entries, each text entry including text representing the program to be transmitted at the transmission time of particular interest on the channel represented by the position of said text entry.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said icon comprises a shape representing a class of program to be transmitted.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said icon comprises a block having a color representing a class of program to be transmitted.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for storing said program information.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for receiving said program information from an external source.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: means for receiving user input specifying a particular program to be transmitted; and means for highlighting a text entry corresponding to said particular program.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising: means for receiving user input requesting further information on said particular program; and means for displaying further information on said particular program in response to said request for further information.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising: means for receiving user input requesting reception of said particular program; and means for selecting said particular program.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for receiving user input is an IR receiver.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
133 words
A method for displaying program guide information, said method comprising the steps of: displaying a table of program information on said screen, a first axis of said table representing a time of transmission, a second axis of said table representing a channel, wherein an entry of said table comprises an icon representing a class of program to be transmitted on the channel at the time represented by the position of said entry; receiving user input specifying a transmission time of particular interest; and overlaying, over a section of said table corresponding to said transmission time of particular interest, a plurality of magnified text entries, each text entry including text representing the program to be transmitted at the transmission time of particular interest on the channel represented by the position of said text entry.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
133 words
A method for displaying program guide information, said method comprising the steps of: displaying a table of program information on said screen, a first axis of said table representing a time of transmission, a second axis of said table representing a channel, wherein an entry of said table comprises an icon representing a class of program to be transmitted on the channel at the time represented by the position of said entry; receiving user input specifying a transmission time of particular interest; and overlaying, over a section of said table corresponding to said transmission time of particular interest, a plurality of magnified text entries, each text entry including text representing the program to be transmitted at the transmission time of particular interest on the channel represented by the position of said text entry.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said icon comprises a shape representing a class of program to be transmitted.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said icon comprises a block having a color representing a class of program to be transmitted.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of: receiving user input specifying a particular program to be transmitted; and highlighting a text entry corresponding to said particular program.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of: receiving user input requesting further information on said particular program; and displaying further information on said particular program in response to said request for further information.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of: receiving user input requesting reception of said particular program; and selecting said particular program.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
162 words
A terminal adapter coupled to a broadcast medium carrying a plurality of video programs and electronic program guide information and further coupled to a display, said terminal adapter comprising: a display generation unit that displays a table of program information on said screen, a first axis of said table representing a time of transmission, a second axis of said table representing a channel, wherein an entry of said table comprises an icon representing a class of program to be transmitted on the channel at the time represented by the position of said entry; a control unit that receives user input specifying a transmission time of particular interest; and said display generation unit overlaying, over a section of said table corresponding to said transmission time of particular interest, a plurality of magnified text entries, each text entry including text representing the program to be transmitted at the transmission time of particular interest on the channel represented by the position of said text entry.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
162 words
A terminal adapter coupled to a broadcast medium carrying a plurality of video programs and electronic program guide information and further coupled to a display, said terminal adapter comprising: a display generation unit that displays a table of program information on said screen, a first axis of said table representing a time of transmission, a second axis of said table representing a channel, wherein an entry of said table comprises an icon representing a class of program to be transmitted on the channel at the time represented by the position of said entry; a control unit that receives user input specifying a transmission time of particular interest; and said display generation unit overlaying, over a section of said table corresponding to said transmission time of particular interest, a plurality of magnified text entries, each text entry including text representing the program to be transmitted at the transmission time of particular interest on the channel represented by the position of said text entry.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The adapter of claim 16 wherein said icon comprises a shape representing a class of program to be transmitted.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The adapter of claim 16 wherein said icon comprises a block having a color representing a class of program to be transmitted.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The adapter of claim 16 wherein said control unit receives user input specifying a particular program to be transmitted; and wherein said display generation unit highlights a text entry corresponding to said particular program.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
The adapter of claim 19 wherein said control unit receives user input requesting further information on said particular program; and wherein said display unit displays further information on said particular program in response to said request for further information.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
The adapter of claim 19 wherein said control unit receives user input requesting reception of said particular program; and further comprising: a tuner that selects said particular program.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The adapter of claim 16 wherein said control unit and said display generation unit are contained within a settop unit.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The adapter of claim 16 wherein said control unit and said display generation unit are contained within a computer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-08-10 | 2002-02-09 | 2002-08-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-10 | 2006-02-09 | 2006-08-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-10 | 2010-02-09 | 2010-08-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |